April 15, 2011:NWLP
4/12/11
10:17 AM
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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