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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2011)
June 3, 2011_nWLP 5/31/11 10:21 aM Page 10 Senators Murray and Merkley to NLRB: Don’t cave to GOP political pressure Rep. Wu also weighs in on Machinists dispute with Boeing U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have joined eight other U.S. senators in writ- ing a letter to the National Labor Rela- tions Board (NLRB) asking it to ignore political pressure it is receiving follow- ing its complaint against the Boeing Co. Moreover, Oregon Congressman David Wu sent a letter to the Machinists Union strongly supporting its petition to retain production of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the Pacific Northwest. In April, the NLRB’s general coun- sel accused Boeing of illegally retaliat- ing against union members for previous strikes in Washington and Oregon when it picked South Carolina for the second 787 production line. The Board is seek- ing a court order requiring the airplane maker to operate the second line in the Puget Sound. Boeing has denied the allegation. An NLRB hearing is scheduled June 14 in Seattle. The complaint against Boeing set off a barrage of near hysterical criticism from Republicans. Several members of Congress, state governors, and state at- torneys general called for the labor board to drop the complaint, then threat- ened to block future presidential nomi- nees to the NLRB if it didn’t. Some GOP members of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Commit- tee demanded the NLRB reveal the de- tails of its legal arguments and strategy in the complaint against Boeing. Merkley, Murray and eight members of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee responded in a May 19 letter to the NLRB, saying that caving to political pressure would un- dermine the Board’s decision. “The question at issue is a critically important one: whether workers who exercised their rights under the law Gradine ‘Grady’ Storms equity group P rinciPal B roker Low interest rates have ‘Home Affordability’ closer than most realize. First time buyers are people who have not owned in the last 3 years. If you don’t know your purchasing power, it’s time to find out, for free! Call me for more information. • Call/Text; 503-784-8326 Grady@GradyStorms.com faced illegal discrimination and retalia- tion. This is a charge of serious miscon- duct that affects the rights of thousands of hardworking people,” the senators wrote. “We do not write to express any opinion about the proper outcome of this case. However, we do feel strongly both parties have the right for this important issue to be decided in the due course of the administration of justice. This case should be determined based on the facts and the law, not based on politics.” Further, the senators wrote: “We be- lieve it would be inappropriate for the general counsel’s office to compromise its litigating position by detailing its le- gal strategy in this manner.” In addition to Merkley and Murray, the letter was signed by Democratic Senators Tom Harkin of Iowa, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Bernard Sanders of Vermont, Robert Casey Jr. of Pennsyl- vania, Al Franken of Minnesota, Shel- don Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Wu’s letter to the Machinists Union asserted that Boeing’s transfer of pro- duction to South Carolina, a right-to- work state, was indeed a violation of the National Labor Relations Act. “There is extremely clear evidence that Boeing’s plan ... is solely motivated by a desire to avoid complying with fed- eral labor laws,” Wu wrote. “I applaud the NLRB’s investigation of this unfair labor practice complaint ... I will strongly encourage that (the) Board or- der Boeing to comply with the remedies recommended in the NLRB complaint.” EE R F BARGAIN COUNTER Free classified ads to subscribers DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication Published 1st and 3rd Fridays Now accepting e-mails 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 ’72 chevy suburban, 350 v8, auto, 2 WD, new tires, shocks, brakes, radiator, 123,00 miles, $5,000 obo. 503-246-1276 ’89 aerOsTar DeLIvery van, 105k miles, passed emissions, runs very good, sturdy ladder racks, $1,100. 360-892-8530 H OUSING rOcKaWay ocean front 503-777-5076 http://home.comcast.net/~rockaway.beach 5 bdrms, 2 bath, call for summer rentals LIncOLn cITy vacation rental, 3 bdrms, 2 bath, $115/night, slps 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/shops. vacationhomerentals.com/43026. gOLf anyOne? bandon, Or vacation rental, 3 bdrms, 2 bath, 2 blocks to beach, wifi, full kitchen, $150/night. 541-391-9918 se POrTLanD home, 1,096 sqft, 3 bdrm, 1½ bath, w/w over hdwd, upgraded doors, windows, air, $137,500 503-390-9433 ...EEOC lawsuit (From Page 9) two Yakima County farms —Green Acres Farms and Valley Fruit Orchards. EEOC is seeking back pay, compen- satory and punitive damages, as well as federal court orders to prevent further abuses. EEOC’s mission is enforcement of Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act, which bans employers from treating workers differently on the basis of race, national origin, or other factors, said Justine S. Lisser, Senior Attorney-Advisor in EEOC’s Office of Communications. “What’s different in these cases is the magnitude of abuse,” Lisser told the La- bor Press. PAGE 10 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS TWO – 200 acre parcels, take all or half, $775 per acre, terms. 1-541-468-2961 vancOuver reMODeLeD ranch, 7409 ne 57th st., 3 bdrms, 2 bath, near mall and I-205, contract possible, $148,500. 503-654-3045 yuMa arIZOna mobile home, 55+ park, $15,000, monthly space rental $300. 360- 256-1449 M ISCELLANEOUS bLuecrOP bLueberry bushes, ap- prox 20 yrs old, approx 5-6' tall, weigh 150 lbs, dug and tied w/burlap. 503-312-1518 DeLcO eLecTrIc motor w/3” dia ad- justable v pulley, $15; hwd oscillating fan, 3 spd, $10 obo. 503-753-1714 S PORTING G OODS 42' vIc franK Trawler, sgl, ds, coastal cruiser, radar, gPs, a-P, health forces sale, $37,500 obo. 503-723-9197 PaIr eXTensIOn mirrors for truck or trailer, $25. 503-253-3330 ’01 sKyLIne nOMan, 30’, ac, micro, bath/shower, full tilt, full awning, well main- tained, $16,850. 503-474-4670 W ANTED OLD WOODWOrKIng tools, planes, lev- els, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, folding rulers, leather tools, tool chests. 503-659-0009 cOLLecTOr Pays cash for older and unique items. 503 703-5952 sILver cOIns, us and canadian, 1964 and older dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollars for top silver prices. 503-806-6287 MOTOrcycLes, quads, scooters, boats, riding lawn mowers, cash paid, will pick up 503-880-8183 LIfeLOng union man and coin collector wants us and World coins to add to col- lection, paying fairly, any amount welcome. 503-939-8835 haM raDIO and short wave radio equip- ment, particularly older 1950s/60s equip- ment that uses tubes, 503-823-4577 JUNE 3, 2011