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