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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2010)
OCT. 15, 2010 :NWLP 10/12/10 10:03 AM Oregon Labor Employment Relations Association Conference, Reception/Awards, Annual Meeting November 10, 2010 World Trade Center 121 SW Salmon Street, Portland, OR The Conference (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) “The Good, The Bad, and The Barely Satisfactory” Employee and Management Performance in the Workplace Speaker, author and employment attorney Jathan Janove is presenting an interactive workshop based on his popular book “MANAGING TO STAY OUT OF COURT - How to Avoid the 8 Deadly Sins of Mismanagement.” Afternoon workshops feature union and man- agement professionals covering topics includ- ing: Performance Management” with person- nel from Kaiser; “Employee Involvement in Decision Making” featuring Partners In Con- struction Cooperation; “Joint Training” with speakers from PGE, and the “OHSU Labor Man- agement Center.” For registration information, contact Bill Rector at 503-939-3421 or email oregonlera@aol.com Page 2 ...Kitzhaber endorsed by most unions in Oregon (From Page 1) Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire — to see how they can get the project off the ground quickly. Both candidates also oppose build- ing a new casino in the Columbia Gorge, a project the building trades have supported. Kitzhaber said he’s been candid with trades unions about why. “I think being consistent is a value that’s important,” Kitzhaber told the La- bor Press. “I negotiated the contracts with the sovereign Native American tribes when I was governor, and we had a couple of provisions: one casino per tribe, and no casinos on after-acquired land.” HEALTH CARE On health care, Kitzhaber wants to reform delivery and rein in costs. Kitzhaber is the architect of the Oregon Health Plan, which attempts to stretch federal Medicaid dollars to cover more low-income Oregonians. Now he pro- poses to pool 800,000 Oregonians — Medicaid recipients and public employ- ees and their dependents — into one de- livery mechanism, which would save money by focusing on prevention and wellness and efficient management of chronic health conditions. PUBLIC SERVICES On fiscal policy, Dudley says he wants tax cuts for businesses and in- vestors, but he says the state should spend more money on higher education — and put away 3 percent of its rev- enues for a “rainy day.” How he would manage to cut taxes, increase spending and not borrow money is not explained. He also proposes to privatize liquor sales, and use alcohol taxes to fund schools; Kitzhaber opposes that idea. Kitzhaber wants a capital gains tax cut too, but not an across-the-board one as Dudley is advocating. Kitzhaber pro- poses that proceeds from the sale of an Oregon business not be taxed if they’re used to buy another Oregon business within a few years — not unlike the way home sale proceeds aren’t taxed if they’re used to purchase another home. As governor, Kitzhaber required a biennial tax expenditure report that tal- lied the dollar value of each tax break, and he told the Labor Press he’s in favor of “sunsetting” tax breaks unless they’re periodically reauthorized by the Legis- lature. To cushion against future state budget shortfalls, Kitzhaber thinks the state should not issue “kicker” tax re- funds until a rainy day fund is filled. Kitzhaber’s positions match labor’s on a number of issues that have come up in recent ballot measures and leg- islative sessions. He said he supports the establishment of a paid family leave benefit; favors Buy America and Buy Oregon requirements for state pur- chases; defends the requirement to pay prevailing wage on public construction projects; and would support minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, as long as the ratios are based on the qual- ity of patient care. He doesn’t support basing teacher pay on student test scores. And he does not foresee taking part in a regional cap-and-trade pro- gram for regulating greenhouse gas emissions. There’s no equivalent information on Dudley’s positions. “We don’t know where he stands on the issues,” said Oregon AFL-CIO Pres- ident Tom Chamberlain. “That’s be- cause he’s never given us the time of day.” Unlike past Republican candi- dates, Dudley never asked for union support, declined to fill out question- naires, and didn’t respond when unions like the International Association of Fire Fighters — which backs Republicans more often than most unions — invited him to discuss their issues. “Kitzhaber, on other hand, has a pretty deep history running the state, and dealing with unions, in good times and bad,” Chamberlain said. “It hasn’t been all hearts and flowers. But John has plan to move the state forward with jobs, and that’s the crux of this elec- tion.” Unions fight Washington ballot measure to privatize state’s workers’ compensation system There’s a lot at stake on the Wash- ington ballot this year, and the Wash- ington State Labor Council — the statewide body of the AFL-CIO — is working to get the word out about ballot measures that will impact workers. Washington is the fourth most unionized state in the country. The roughly 400,000 members of WSLC- affiliated unions can be a formidable force politically. For WSLC, the absolute top priori- ties are returning Patty Murray to the U.S. Senate, and defeating I-1082 — a ballot initiative that would privatize Washington’s workers’ compensation system. Initiative 1082 is funded by out-of- state insurance companies and by the anti-union Building Industry Associa- tion of Washington. The measure asks voters to privatize Washington’s work- ers’ compensation system, which pays workers’ medical bills and lost wages when they are injured on the job. The system is currently run by the state La- (Turn to Page 8) (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 Telephone: (503) 288-3311 Editor: Michael Gutwig Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non- profit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils including the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore- gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union members. Group rates available to trade union organizations. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old and new addresses and the name and number of your local union. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150, PORTLAND, OR 97213-0150 PAGE 2 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS OCTOBER 15, 2010
