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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2011)
May 20, 2011_nWLP 5/17/11 9:34 aM Page 6 NOLC recognition dinner is June 4 Who’s On Our Side? By Tom Chamberlain H ave you ever noticed that pre- cisely when we should be talk- ing about the big issues — when hard economic times hit, or during election season — America doesn’t focus on the things that have a direct impact on real people? Jobs, economic equality and education are thrown by the way- side and, instead, our attention is di- verted to issues that are designed to divide us. Abortion versus choice, same-sex marriage, immigration — these issues divide because they cre- ate fear: the fear of the unknown. Using immigration to divert the fo- cus of Americans away from impor- tant issues is as old as our nation. With the exception of an 1875 law that restricted immigration from China, America had open borders un- til the 1920s, when a wave of immi- grants washed onto American shores. These immigrants came to America with dreams of a richer life; those dreams were lost on the floors of sweatshops, in plants, mines and log- ging camps across America. Shack- led by low-paying jobs and compa- nies that paid in scrip, redeemable only at a company-owned store, those immigrants viewed union member- ship as strength, a road to a better life, the future for their children. Unions adapted and began to or- ganize based on language and ethnic background: Jewish, German, Italian unions. Over time, U.S.-born mem- bers became friends with these mem- bers, neighbors met, their kids played and went to school together. The wedge slowly disappeared, but only with those who we didn’t fear — only with those we knew. As the 2012 election kicks into high gear we will see the vilification of certain groups of immigrants — those who speak a different language, whose skin tones are darker. We stereotype these Americans as crimi- nals, consumers of public services they don’t pay for, the ones who take our American jobs. The targets now are Latin Ameri- cans — and they don’t have a higher crime rate than native born Ameri- cans; they do pay taxes; and they ac- tually use fewer public services than their American-born counterparts. While occasionally these immigrants find good middle-class jobs, by and large they work in low-paying jobs in sweatshops and in agriculture. Recently, I spent time at the Port- land Day Laborer Center and saw the records of the types of jobs day labor- ers work. Mostly, they were low-pay- ing menial jobs: gardening, trash hauling, and cleaning up. These folks are not taking our jobs. Frankly, these workers aren’t the problem. They are taking whatever work is available, just like our out-of- work neighbors would. The real prob- lem is unscrupulous employers who hire undocumented workers because they are out to undercut union em- ployers. Employers who exploit workers must be held accountable. Yesterday, it was the factory owners at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory who locked the exits to increase pro- ductivity and reduce theft. Today it is employers who find ways to avoid paying our legal minimum wage, avoid employer taxes that fund pub- lic services and education, and often only sporadically pay their workers at all. We are a movement founded and built by workers — native and foreign born. We will never grow in strength by ignoring either. When we learn to understand their issues and they un- derstand ours, when we coordinate our efforts, we can identify and hold accountable exploitive employers — and our movement will grow in strength and power. When we exclude any worker, everyone loses. Our history teaches us this over and over again. Because a movement that is on the side of all peoples, of all ages, ideas and language, will succeed, will grow, will become more. Tom Chamberlain is president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. Fire Fighters freeze political contributions The International Association of Fire Fighters, one of the most sought after endorsements in politics, said it is turning off the spigot of millions of dollars in campaign contributions to federal candidates and federal politi- Mt. Hood college, faculty reach last-minute contract A late-breaking contract settlement averted a planned strike at Mt. Hood Community College. For weeks the school had been advertising for work- ers to replace instructors in the event of a strike, which was set to begin May 12. Mt. Hood Community College Board Chair Brian Freeman threatened the college would hire permanent re- placements, and at one point said part- timers might be asked to teach the classes of striking full time faculty. About 33,000 students attend the col- lege in Gresham. But members of Mt. Hood Com- munity College Faculty Association, an affiliate of Oregon Education Asso- ciation (OEA), voted May 10 to ratify a new three-year agreement, and the college board approved it May 11. The union represents 157 full-time faculty at the school. The previous contract ex- pired Aug. 31, 2010. The new one is retroactive to Sept. 1, 2010, and ex- PAGE 6 pires Aug. 31, 2013. Mostly the new contract is conces- sionary, with members agreeing to board demands on salary schedule and medical contributions. It contains a pay freeze in year one, a 1 percent increase in year two, and 2 percent in year three. Faculty will contribute 13 percent of their medical and dental premiums. Those terms are the same as agree- ments ratified in November and De- cember with 500-member Part-Time Faculty and Tutor Association and the Classified Employee Association. But it also contained gains for members, including a requirement that the college negotiate before contract- ing out bargaining unit work. Also, faculty retiring after Oct. 1, 2011, will receive one-party medical coverage until they become eligible for Medicare, or a stipend equal to re- duced two-party medical coverage for a maximum of four years. cal parties because politicians aren’t doing enough to stand up for them in the face of intense attacks. “These state battles are devastating to our members’ future,” said Interna- tional Fire Fighters President Harold Shaitberger. “You would think that we would have our friends in Con- gress stepping up and stepping out and leading and be willing to fight for us. But right now, we don’t feel they have our back.” Shaitberger said for the past two years politicians from both parties have failed to address firefighter is- sues in Washington, D.C., and with no pro-firefighter legislation likely to be advanced in the 112th Congress — “it’s time to take a stand,” he said. Shaitberger said the union will start redirecting federal political con- tributions to defend anti-union attacks on the state level. “I expect this strategic decision to focus our resources on state and local efforts, and the freezing of federal contributions, to last as long as the fights in the states remain at such a high level and until we see some real results and leadership from those in Washington, D.C., on our members’ behalf,” Shaitberger said. NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS The Northwest Oregon Labor Council’s annual Labor Appreciation and Recognition Night is Saturday, June 4. This year’s dinner and awards cer- emony, which serves as a fundraiser for Labor’s Community Service Agency, will be held at Milwaukie Elks Lodge, 13121 SE McLoughlin E E FR Blvd, starting with a n-host cocktail hour at 5 p.m. Dinner tickets (a Mexi- can buffet) are $15 per person. Raffle tickets also will be sold for $1 each or seven for $5. The labor council also is accepting cash and door prize donations. For more information or to order tickets, call 503-235-9444. BARGAIN COUNTER Free classified ads to subscribers DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication Published 1st and 3rd Fridays Now accepting e-mail Send to: Michael492@comcast.net Mail to: NWLP, PO Box 13150, Portland OR 97213 (Please include union affiliation) • 15-20 words • No commercial or business ads • 1 ad per issue • All lower case (NO CAPITAL LETTERS, PLEASE) • Ads MUST include area code or they will not be published A uTomoTivE ‘47 CHEV 4dr, $2,000; ‘52 Ford 4dr, $3,500. 503- 289-0066 ’93 Dakota LE LB reg cab, V6 at, 56k original miles, all stock, non smoker, canopy, $3,400, 503-956-3655 ’95 CHEVY taHoE w/tow pkg, low miles, leather, very clean, runs and looks excellent, $4,295. 503-653-1289 (Don) ’91 CHEVY 350 EFt engine 700 R4 trans and transfer case, $500. 503-975-6460 ’78 MERCURY CoUGaR BRoUGHaM, 48k mi, 4-door, orig & immaculate, V-8, 351, air, 2nd sen- ior owner, $1,500. 503-359-7526/816-6679 H OUSING LinCoLn CitY vacation rental, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, $95/night, sleeps 8, wi-fi, 2 blocks to beach, 4 blocks to casino. 503-804-7976 RoCkaWaY BEaCH rental, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 10, Jacuzzi, 5 min to beach and shops. Vacationhomerentals.com/43026, 503-754-6101 GoLF anYonE? Bandon, oR vacation rental, 3 bedroom 2 bath, 2 blocks to beach $150/night 541-391-9918. RoCkaWaY ocean front 503 777-5076, 5 bdrm, 2 ba, call now for summer rentals! http://home.comcast.net/~rockaway.beach toP FLooR StUDio, renovated, rent or buy in Boston, Ma. www.bostonfen- wayma.com. 503-381-4014 tWo – 200 aCRE parcels, take all or half, $775 per acre, terms. 1-541-468-2961 m iScEllANEouS WELDER LinCoLn idealarc tiG 300/300, aC/DC welder w/cart and tank, $1,450 or offer. 503- 643-6897 (Dale) FREnCH DooRS 5ft 10 light unfinished pine, $125. 503-384-8772 aiR CoMPRESSoR, 220v, 12 gal tank, $150. 503-246-4144 S PorTiNg g oodS ‘91 BLUE WatER CUDDY overnighter 19', V6 4.3 merc alpha 1 oD, VHF, ship/shore radio, depth finder, many extras, $5,500. 503-659-3297 42’ ViC FRank tRoLLER, sgl ds, coastal cruiser, radar, GPS, a-P, health forces sale, $37,500 obo. 503-723-9197 15' SYLVan YUkon 30 Honda tiller-elect, Shore- lander galv trailer, 46lb Minnkota, 2 batt, Bimini top, always garaged, $5,200. 503-658-5043 tko 100 LB heavy bag w/stand, $100; inversion aB table, $100; Health Rider, $450. 503-871- 6722 2006 CoUGaR tRaiLER, 24’, like new, 8’ slide out, all bells and whistles, $10,999. 503-761- 1133 2001 SkYLinE noMaD 30’, aC, micro, bath/shower, full tilt, full awning, well maintained, recalls fixed, no leaks, $16,850. 503-474-4670 W ANTED CoLLECtoR PaYS cash for older and unique items. 503 703-5952 VintaGE MEnS 26” bicycles from the 1890s to 1940s, prefer unrestored origi- nals. 503-255-4029 oLD WooDWoRkinG tools, planes, levels, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, folding rulers, leather tools, tool chests. 503-659-0009 SiLVER CoinS, US and Canadian, 1964 and older dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollars for top silver prices. 503-806-6287 LiFE-LonG Union man and coin collector wants US and world coins to add to collection, paying fairly, any amount welcome. 503-939-8835 CoLLECtoR, WWii German or Japan- ese military items, helmets, uniforms, swords, daggers, rifles, pistols, etc. 503 852-6791 P ORTLAND J OBS WITH J USTICE , a 20 year old labor/community coali- tion of over 90 member organiza- tions, is seeking a full-time Worker Power organizer. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply. Ap- plicants must have a demonstrated commitment to building a social jus- tice movement in a labor, community, or student setting. Labor movement experience is required. Job duties will include relationship-building with member organization leaders and ac- tivists, strategic planning and leader- ship development. Salary range is $32,000-$38,000 depending on ex- perience. Health benefits and vaca- tion are provided. Two years organiz- ing experience required. Applications are due June 1, 2011. For a complete job description and application packet, please email to: margaret@jwjpdx.org or call 503-236-5573 MAY 20, 2011
