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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2010)
NOV. 19, 2010:NWLP 11/16/10 9:27 AM Page 3 Local 21 Motion October 2010 Union certifications and decertifications in Oregon and Southwest Washington, as reported by the National Labor Relations Board and the Oregon Employment Relations Board Recognition elections Results: Name of employer Date Name of union Union Union Yes No Location Fred Meyer (decertification) 10/18 UFCW Local 555 Coos Bay National Car Rental/Alamo (decertification) 10/21 Teamsters Local 305 Bend 46 13 39 18 Recognition by card check Location Number of employees Name of employer Date Name of union City of Cottage Grove (law enforcement officers) 10/25 Laborers Local 121 Cottage Grove 13 Requests for recognition election Name of employer Name of union Location Number of employees City of Newport (Public Works Department) Newport Employees Assn. vs AFSCME Council 75 Newport 20 Free Geek Communications Workers of America Local 7901 Portland 18 Baycrest Village (registered nurses and LPNs) Teamsters Local 206 Knife River LTM (decertification) Teamsters Local 962 North Bend 15 Delta flight attendants say no to union In votes counted Nov. 3, Delta Air Lines flight attendants chose not to be represented by Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA). That means Delta will remain the least-unionized among top U.S. airlines. While 8,778 Delta flight attendants voted for AFA- CWA, 9,544 voted for “no representa- tion.” Turnout was very high, with more than 94 percent of 19,887 eligi- ble workers casting a ballot. “Delta management overwhelmed flight attendants with heavy handed in- timidation and coercion of voters,” said AFA-CWA President Patricia Friend in a press statement. It was Delta flight attendants’ third unionization vote in a decade, and union campaigners should have had an easier time. A federal agency rule change ended the practice of counting non-voting workers as “no” votes. And Delta absorbed 7,500 unionized North- west Airlines flight attendants when the two companies merged in 2008. The vote result will mean an end to a union contract for the former North- west flight attendants, a group that had been union for 63 years. Though Delta won’t legally have to recognize a union or bargain, Friend said AFA-CWA will do everything it can to continue to fight on behalf of the Northwest flight atten- dants. Free Geek employees vote to join Portland CWA Local 7901 A group of 19 workers at the cele- brated local non-profit Free Geek have unionized with Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7901. The Portland group accepts used computers and electronics, recycles or refurbishes them, and donates them to low-income people in exchange for community service. Begun in 2000, Free Geek prides it- self on an unusual form of manage- ment, in which all major decisions are made by democratic consensus, by 11 employees who are members of a “col- lective.” But as the group grew, a sub- caste developed of lower-paid employ- ees who weren’t in the collective. Earlier this year, they revolted, issuing a manifesto this summer — and last month filing a representation petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In an NLRB-super- vised election Nov. 3, the workers voted 12-2 to join CWA. Although non-collective staff make several dollars an hour less than mem- bers of the collective, pay isn’t what drove unionization, said Local 7901 President Madelyn Elder. “It’s about respect,” Elder said. Workers want more regular workplace practices and a clearer path to advance- ment. Now, Elder said, they’ll have a chance to negotiate that. AFA-CWA said it would file a se- ries of objections with the National Mediation Board (NMB), including charges accusing Delta management of using illegal and unfair methods to sway the vote. NMB oversees workers’ union rights in the railroad and airline industries. Still to come were election results for three other groups of Delta workers who are deciding whether to be repre- sented by International Association of Machinists (IAM). About 14,000 Delta baggage handlers — including 4,700 formerly at Northwest — will decide in ballots tallied Nov. 18, after this is- sue went to press. Then 700 Delta “stock and stores” workers will have their ballots counted Nov. 22. And 16,000 passenger service workers will decide in ballots counted Dec. 7. ‘Holiday Party’ Dec. 4 in Salem SALEM —The 70th annual “Holi- day Party for Children” will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Elsi- nore Theatre, 170 High St. SE, Salem. The free event, sponsored by the Marion, Polk, Yamhill Counties Labor Council, will feature holiday songs by Patrick Lamb, a showing of the movie How to TrainYour Dragon, a visit from Santa Claus, and a free goody bag. Lamb is a popular musician in Oregon and is a member of Musicians Local 99. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. Central Point 31 • Investment Consulting/Monitoring for Taft-Hartley Plans only. • Many years of experience actually managing pension fund money. • Trustees, your Plan doesn’t have to be in the yellow or red category. You, too, can be green. 503-227-2895 T ERRY G. H ANNON P RESIDENT E-Mail: solidarity2@earthlink.net KnowYour Rights If you were treated poorly by an IME doctor in your workers’ comp claim, you can lodge a complaint with the Workers’ Compensation Division by calling 503-934-6001. NOVEMBER 19, 2010 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 3
