July 1, 2011_nWLP 6/28/11 10:10 AM Page 5
AFL-CIO affiliate AFGE wins runoff
election to represent airport screeners
Gay Pride, Union Pride
Pride at Work, the newly-chartered Oregon AFL-CIO group for gay and
lesbian trade unionists, came out June 19 with a float at the Portland Pride
Parade. The massive and joyful parade had over 100 entries, and drew tens
of thousands of spectators to downtown Portland. Pride at Work’s entry
consisted of a float festooned with a rainbow made of balloons, which was
followed by marchers holding signs and chanting slogans like “Union pride,
gay pride!” Participants modeled labor unity, with contingents from the
different unions and labor federations marching together. Unions with a
strong presence included AFSCME, marching with green T-shirts and
balloons behind an “AFSCME Pride” banner; SEIU with its “Lavender
Labor” caucus; and UNITE HERE, which has a nationwide “Sleep With the
Right People” campaign, which targets hotels that fight unions and
discriminate against gay employees.
“The difference between try
and triumph is a little umph.”
Anonymous
WASHINGTON, D.C. (PAI) — The
American Federation of Government
Employees (AFGE) won a run-off elec-
tion to represent the nation’s 43,000 air-
port screeners employed by the Trans-
portation Security Administration
(TSA).
In balloting counted June 23, AFGE,
an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, outpolled
the independent National Treasury Em-
ployees Union 8,903 to 8,447.
The results were announced by the
Federal Labor Relations Authority,
which runs labor-management relations
for federal workers.
Transportation security officers
(TSOs) screen passengers at 450 air-
ports nationwide. AFGE Local 1127 is
the union local for workers in Oregon,
and Local 1121 represents workers in
Washington and Alaska.
The TSA was created after airport
security was federalized in the wake of
the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Screeners have been trying to organize
a union since then, but the anti-union
Bush Administration banned unions for
the screeners on alleged national secu-
rity grounds.
After Barack Obama was elected
president, TSA Administrator John Pis-
tole approved collective bargaining
rights for the workers. That led to an
election earlier in April 2011, where the
two unions combined won more than
80 percent of the vote. Neither union
obtained a majority, resulting in a run-
off election.
“We are obviously thrilled with the
results, but more importantly are de-
lighted the transportation security offi-
cers now will have the full union repre-
sentation they rightly deserve,” said
AFGE President John Gage.
Gage said the union will reach out to
TSOs nationwide for input on contract
details, while remembering needs of
screeners at small and large airports
Laborers #483 re-elects Beetle
further gains for a group
In mail ballots counted
of seasonal maintenance
June 15, Richard “Buz” Bee-
workers employed by the
tle was elected to a third
Portland Parks Bureau.
three-year term as business
Local 483 has waged a
manager of Laborers Local
multi-year fight to organ-
483, outpolling challenger
ize the low-wage unit,
Ron McKinney 173 to 134.
which currently consists
Business manager is the
of about 160 temporary
only full-time elected office
employees, Beetle said.
at Local 483, which is a pub-
McKinney, the other
lic-sector local of the Labor-
ers International Union of R ICHARD B EETLE candidate for business
manager, is a sewer repair
North America (LIUNA).
The local represents 846 public sector worker at the Portland Department of
workers, including about 600 at the Transportation and was Local 483’s
City of Portland, plus workers at the president. His former office will now
Oregon Zoo, maintenance workers at be filled by former vice president Scott
Portland International Airport and the Gibson, who ran unopposed. Also
Port of Portland shipping terminals, elected unopposed were: Kevin
landscapers at non-profit Portland Ha- Stampflee, vice president; Thomas
bilitation Center, and municipal em- Gannon Sorg, secretary-treasurer;
ployees in Mt. Angel, Silverton, and Mark Lewis, sergeant-at-arms, and
Mike Murphy and Wesley Buchholz,
Gervais.
Beetle, 63, said his agenda for the at-large members of the Executive
third term will include improving the Board. Gibson and Buchholz also out-
polled Paul LaCroix to win two spots
image of public employees.
“With the attacks we see on public as delegates to the international con-
employees going on across the country, vention.
“This is a very exciting time to be in
we feel it’s more important now than
ever before that public employees organized labor,” Beetle told the Labor
make a stronger connection to the com- Press. “There’s a lot of fear and anxi-
munity,” Beetle said. “We need to be ety, but there’s a lot of opportunity, as
well, to be part of a regeneration of the
seen as a resource, not a liability.”
Another priority will be winning labor movement.”
7LUHG
RI
%HHVRQ&KLURSUDFWLF
:RUNLQJ
LQ
3$,1"
0RVW,QVXUDQFH
3ODQV$FFHSWHG
3 528'/< 6 (59,1*
3 257/$1' : 25.(56
) 25 2 9(5 < ($56
JULY 1, 2011
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
may differ.
“With one nationwide contract, it is
essential that we cover all the bases,”
Gage said. “TSOs care about the work
they do, and AFGE is here to make sure
that they have the tools and support to
accomplish that mission. Only a profes-
sional and highly motivated workforce
can provide the security this country
needs.”
KHOSVEULQJWKH
UHOLHI\RXQHHG
7UHDWPHQWIRUSDLQGXHWR
RYHUXVHDQGUHSHWLWLYHPRWLRQ
&KLURSUDFWLFDGMXVWPHQWV
7UHDWPHQWIRUDFFLGHQWDQG
VSRUWVUHODWHGLQMXULHV
5HKDELOLWDWLRQH[HUFLVHV
7KHUDSHXWLFPDVVDJH
,QWHUQDOGLDJQRVLVDQGWUHDWPHQW
/DEWHVWVDQG[UD\V
'U'DQ%HHVRQ&KLURSUDFWRU
6(7KLUWHHQWK$YHLQ6HOOZRRG
&$//
PAGE 5
