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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2011)
Feb. 4, 2011:NWLP 2/1/11 10:14 AM Page 8 Fishing Derby to benefit Guide Dogs of America The inaugural Salmon Fishing Derby fundraiser for Guide Dogs of America will be held Saturday, April 2, at the Red Lion Hotel on the River — Jantzen Beach. The fishing derby is sponsored by the International Association of Ma- chinists District Lodge W24. Guide Dogs of America was founded in 1948 by the Machinists Union to train and provide guide dogs B ENJAMIN L AWVER Lawver to join AFL-CIO as Western field representative Benjamin Lawver, political director for the Washington State Labor Coun- cil, has resigned from the Council ef- fective Jan. 31 to join the national AFL- CIO staff as senior field representative for the Western Region, a position for- merly held by Janet Conner. As senior field representative, Lawver, 33, will represent the interests of the national AFL-CIO with state fed- erations, central labor councils, local union affiliates and constituency groups in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. His primary responsibility will be to help build state and local labor federation structures that will strengthen and grow the labor movement. “I see myself as a humble servant, willing to do whatever I can to help out,” Lawver said. “I’m excited about the opportunity.” Lawver was raised in Kettle Falls in Northeast Washington. Since joining the WSLC staff in May 2006, he has helped to build the labor federation’s Labor Neighbor grassroots political program, establish DIME (Don’t Invest in More Excuses) political action com- mittee, and revise the Council’s legisla- tive voting record and assessment process. He is a member of Office and Pro- fessional Employees Local 9. Lawver will travel extensively throughout the region, but will be based in Seattle. He can be reached at 206- 419-7287. PAGE 8 for the visually impaired. The Machinists also host an annual golf tournament fundraiser in late sum- mer. Registration for the Salmon Derby is $200 per person and includes an expe- rienced guide service, bait, tackle and lunch. The limit is four persons per boat. Prizes for biggest fish will be awarded. Sponsorships are available starting at $100 for a bronze all the way up to $1,500 for a diamond. Sponsors will be recognized at the event and in a special ad in the Northwest Labor Press. Registration deadline is Feb. 15. For more information, call Dan Sass at 503- 238-5550, extension 117, or e-mail him at dan@iamdl24.org. All proceeds benefit Guide Dogs of America. Oregon AFL-CIO forms group for the unemployed The Oregon AFL-CIO is forming a new group for unemployed workers, Oregon Wants to Work. The group is part of a national AFL-CIO effort to or- ganize unemployed workers, not in a traditional union sense, but along the lines of the AFL-CIO’s community af- filiate, Working America. But unlike Working America, Oregon Wants to Work is expected to meet monthly to serve as a support network for unem- ployed workers to share resources, tips, and ideas. The group will also serve as a collective voice to advocate politi- cally for jobs, and unemployment ben- efits. Oregon AFL-CIO spokesperson :RUNLQJ 0RVW,QVXUDQFH 3ODQV$FFHSWHG 3 528'/< 6 (59,1* 3 257/$1' : 25.(56 ) 25 2 9(5 < ($56 Elana Guiney said the intent is to create a movement of out-of-work union and nonunion workers — to re-create com- munity, and to testify at the legislature any time lawmakers discuss issues of employment and unemployment. Oregon Wants to Work will have its founding meeting 5:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the PCC Work- force Center, 5600 NE 42nd Avenue (42nd and Killingsworth) in Portland. The Northwest Oregon Labor Council, Labor’s Community Service Agency, and Working America are also taking part. KHOSVEULQJWKH UHOLHI\RXQHHG RI 3$,1" Bud Williams, Russ Garnett, James Barrett, Kelly King and Vance Ricks — out-of-work members of Roofers Local 49 — hold an informational picket line Jan. 26 at the Fred Meyer store under construction in Wilsonville. The roofing contract was awarded to nonunion Mountain States Roofing of Idaho, even though several local roofing contractors bid on the job. Garnett said Mountain States Roofing pays its workers about $15 an hour, about half of what a local union roofer earns, not including fringe benefits. The 12-man nonunion crew is expected to be on the project for more than a month. “We could certainly use the work,” Garnett said. Local 49 represents about 450 workers in Oregon and Southwest Washington. It is experiencing nearly 35 percent unemployment. Roofers are handing out fliers at the busy corner of Southwest Boones Ferry and Wilsonville roads informing residents of the out-of-state contractor. The union is asking union members to call the Kroger-owned Fred Meyer and let them know they are unhappy with its use of out-of state contractors and workers. The phone number is 503-232-8844. The general contractor is CSI Oregon. %HHVRQ&KLURSUDFWLF 7LUHG LQ Roofers say ‘Shame on Fred Meyer’ 7UHDWPHQWIRUSDLQGXHWR RYHUXVHDQGUHSHWLWLYHPRWLRQ &KLURSUDFWLFDGMXVWPHQWV 7UHDWPHQWIRUDFFLGHQWDQG VSRUWVUHODWHGLQMXULHV 5HKDELOLWDWLRQH[HUFLVHV 7KHUDSHXWLFPDVVDJH ,QWHUQDOGLDJQRVLVDQGWUHDWPHQW /DEWHVWVDQG[UD\V 'U'DQ%HHVRQ&KLURSUDFWRU 6(7KLUWHHQWK$YHLQ6HOOZRRG &$// NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS FEBRUARY 4, 2011
