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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2011)
April 15, 2011:NWLP 4/12/11 10:17 AM Page 8 Machinists reel in cash for Guide Dogs ...Dosha salon employees join CWA Local 7901 The inaugural Salmon Fishing Derby sponsored by Machinists District W24 raised $11,500 for Guide Dogs of America (GDA). The International Association of Machinists founded GDA in 1948 in Syl- mar, California, to train and provide guide dogs to the blind, free of charge. It re- ceives no government funding. “We depend solely on fundraising events like this, voluntary donations and bequests,” said Guide Dogs Director and derby participant Dale Hartford, noting that to breed, raise and train one guide dog costs approximately $38,000. Nineteen guided fishing boats, each with four-person teams, dropped lines in the Columbia River at the crack of dawn April 2. Eight hours later, the wet, cold, windswept fishermen and women weighed their catches on the dock of the Red Lion Hotel on the River-Jantzen Beach. The winning catch was a 25.9-1/2 pound salmon reeled in by Mike James of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (photo right). He received a $200 gift certifi- cate to Wholesale Sports. Second and third place prizes ($150 and $100 gift cer- tificates) went to District W24 Rep Mike Rose for a fish weighing 22.11-7/8th pounds; and Kim Sass, with a catch of 15.9-1/8th pounds. She’s the spouse of District W24 Secretary-Treasurer Dan Sass. (ABOVE LEFT) The team of Mike Rose, Steve Fluke, Bruce Spalding, Lauren Wills and Don Fike show off their catch at the first-ever Salmon Fishing Derby fundraiser for Guide Dogs of America. (ABOVE RIGHT) Roben White of Painters and Drywall Finishers Local 10 meets two guide-dogs-in-training. The event, held April 2 on the Columbia River in Portland, was sponsored by Machinists Lodge W24 and raised $11,500 for Guide Dogs of America. (From Page 1) owner Ray Motameni is also co-owner of the Aveda Institute Portland where the training takes place. He did not re- spond to an interview request.] For some, just having a contract, pe- riod, would be grounds for enthusiasm: A union contract, someone said, would be like an employee handbook, but without the clause that management can change the rules at any time. Other goals include clearer, more accountable pay decisions; more af- fordable health insurance; more attain- able product sales targets; and an easier time taking vacation. Current conditions have produced relatively high turnover at Dosha, workers say; ex-employees are prolif- erating at salons around town. As a re- sult, Dosha has gotten a reputation as an undesirable employer, Dosha and other industry workers told the Labor Press. In the salon industry, image is every- thing. CWA supporters hope Dosha owners can be persuaded that there’s a business case for increasing the kinds of investments that entice employees to stick around. If so, employees would achieve their goal of turning a starter job into a sustainable career. And the business could recast its image — in a progressive-leaning city — as a busi- ness that makes customers beautiful and treats workers with respect. After the Dosha union vote, the Ore- gon AFL-CIO issued a call on its web site (oraflcio.org) for people to support the “brothers and sisters” at Dosha by patronizing the salon. The business cur- rently has four locations: 3490 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 2281 NW Glisan St., and 500 SW Washington St., Portland, and Bridgeport Village in Tigard. Ap- pointments for hair, nails, makeup and massage can be made at 503-228-8280. ‘Portland Rising’ rally and march April 16 Portland Jobs with Justice is organ- izing a mass rally and march at noon Saturday, April 16, at Pioneer Court- house Square in Portland. The event, “Portland Rising: March and Rally for Jobs and Benefits, Not Cuts,” is backed by 60 labor organiza- tions and faith and community activist groups. Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wiscon- sin, will be a guest speaker. Mitchell has been the public face of the protest against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s attack on public employees. Participants are also asked to bring non-perishable food for the Oregon Food Bank. For more information about the event, go online at jwjpdx.org. OSHA issues hazard alert to hair salon workers on products that could release formaldehyde WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration issued a hazard alert to hair salon owners and workers about potential formaldehyde exposure from working with some hair smoothing and straightening products. Responding to complaints and refer- rals about possible exposure to formaldehyde, federal OSHA and many state occupational safety and health agencies are conducting investigations. Federal OSHA has found formalde- hyde in the air when stylists used hair smoothing products, some of which do have formaldehyde listed on their labels or in material safety data sheets as re- quired by law. During one investigation, the agency’s air tests showed formalde- hyde at levels greater that OSHA’s lim- its for a salon, even though the product tested was labeled as formaldehyde- free. Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Connecticut’s Department of Public Health, and agen- cies in several other states already have issued warnings. Formaldehyde presents a health haz- ard if workers are exposed. It can irri- tate the eyes and nose; cause allergic re- actions of the skin, eyes and lungs; and is linked to nose and lung cancer. The hazard alert is available on OSHA’s website at http://www.osha. gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/hazard_alert.h tml. Trades fair will focus on careers for women Nearly 2,000 girls and women job- seekers are expected to participate in hands-on activities such as operating a crane, climbing a pole and soldering a copper pipe at the 19th Annual Women in Trades Career Fair, sponsored by Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. This year’s fair will be held Thurs- day, May 12, through Saturday, May 14 at the NECA/IBEW Electrical Training Center, 16021 NE Airport Way, Port- land. Saturday, May 14 is “Careers For Women Day,” and the fair is open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. At 10:30 a.m., a special workshop for dads PAGE 8 and daughters will take place. Coffee and refreshments will be served. The event is free of charge. On May 12, middle-school students will tour the fair, and May 13 is re- served for high school students. An es- timated 1,400 students from more than 50 middle and high schools across Ore- gon and Southwest Washington are ex- pected to participate. Connie Ashbrook, executive direc- tor of Oregon Tradeswomen Inc., said the fair provides an atmosphere where girls are encouraged and supported by adult female role models to explore skilled living-wage careers in construc- tion, mechanical, utility, and other trades. The fair allows students and women to meet more than 70 employ- ers, learn about apprenticeship pro- grams, and community college trades training, and participate in numerous hands-on workshops and demonstra- tions. The Women in Trades Fair offers free parking, free child care, and a free shuttle from the Gateway Transit Cen- ter located at 9900 NE Multnomah, Portland. For more information, call 503-335- 8200, or go to their Web site at www.tradeswomen.net. NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS Hire Oregon Vets is provided in partnership by Community Solutions for Clackamas County, The Oregon Employment Department, and Labor’s Community Service Agency, Inc. Preparation of this item was made possible by the U.S. Department of Labor for grant number E-9-5-6-0015. This document does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, products or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government APRIL 15, 2011
