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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2011)
Labor Day PICNICS Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 5 Every year, labor unions throughout Oregon hold Labor Day picnics. Here is a list of picnics taking place: BEND — Solidarity Day Picnic, *Sunday, Sept. 4, at Pioneer Park in Bend. 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Central Oregon Central La- bor Council. Contact Linda Bradetich at 541-350-0965 or Steve Williamsen at 541-678-0235 for more information. * Note the date is not Labor Day. EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD — John Lively Picnic Shelters, behind SPLASH at 6100 Thurston Road in Springfield. Noon – 4 p.m. Please bring a side dish. SPLASH will offer a swim rate for picnic participants that wish to use the wave pool. Sponsored by the Lane County Central Labor Council. Contact Cj Mann at 541-913-0056 for more information. MEDFORD — TouVelle State Park, 8425 Table Rock Road, Central Point. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Donations accepted and there is a $5 charge for parking. Sponsored by the Southern Oregon Central Labor Council. Call Kathy McUne at 541-664-0804 for more information. NORTH BEND — Ferry Road Park in North Bend. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Southwestern Oregon Central Labor Council. For more information, call Robert Westerman at 541-756-3907 or e-mail at ibew932@frontier.com. PORTLAND — Oaks Amusement Park in Southeast Portland. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with a brief program at 1 p.m. Scrip sells for 50 cents. Deluxe ride bracelets are $9. The Oregon Pacific Railroad Shuttle Train will transport people ($2 per person roundtrip) to and from Oaks Park from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking will be available at the Portland Opera, 211 SE Caruthers St., and in the vicinity of SE Ivon and 4th Street. Sponsored by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. Call 503-235-9444 for more information. AFL-CIO won’t hold endorsement vote until U.S. Rep. Wu’s resignation is official The Oregon AFL-CIO won’t con- sider an endorsement in the soon-to-be vacant 1st Congressional District until the incumbent, David Wu, officially re- signs. The seven-term Democrat an- nounced July 26 that he was leaving the U.S. House of Representatives follow- ing allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances on the 18-year-old daughter of a political supporter. The resignation was to take affect as soon as Congress resolved the debt ceiling is- sue. That vote had just taken place as this issue of the Labor Press went to press. Wu voted for the bill. Two Democrats have already launched campaigns for the 2012 pri- mary to challenge Wu. They are State Rep. Brad Witt, an official with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, and Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. Others are expected to enter the race. No Republicans have an- nounced their candidacy. At the quarterly meeting of the Ore- gon AFL-CIO’s Committee on Political Education July 29, the labor federation said it will not consider an endorsement until Wu’s resignation is official and un- til Gov. John Kitzhaber has scheduled a special election — which he can’t do until Wu formally notifies him that he is stepping down. The AFL-CIO’s next gathering is its state convention Sept. 25-28 in Eugene. Wu, the first Chi- nese American elected to the House, has been under fire for erratic behavior since his re- election. Six longtime high-level staffers re- signed because of pub- lic outbursts and odd behavior leading up to At a labor breakfast in March, Congressman David the election. Questions Wu apologized for his erratic behavior leading up to of his mental health the 2011 elections, and said he was ready and able to were raised, along with serve his constituents in the 1st District. reports of possible pre- scription drug and/or told union officials that he regretted alcohol abuse. Wu, 56, said that he was under some of the things he had said and the tremendous stress in 2010 as he dealt way he had acted that resulted in staff with the tough re-election campaign, a quitting. He said he was getting coun- difficult divorce, taking sole custody of seling. On July 26, the Oregonian newspa- his two children, and caring for his eld- erly mother. He emphatically denied a per reported Wu had made unwanted drug or alcohol problem, but acknowl- sexual advances toward a teen-age girl. edged having a bad reaction to diazepam Wu said the encounter was consensual. Shortly after that, several prominent and Ambien in the past. Several newspapers said he wasn’t fit Democrats, including U.S. Senators for office and called for his resignation. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, called for At a labor breakfast in March, Wu Wu to resign. SALEM — Riverfront Park in Salem. 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Sponsored by Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Council. Cost: two food items per person. Call Judy at 503-362-7057 for more information. THE DALLES — Sorosis Park Shelter in The Dalles. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Potluck. Sponsored by Mid-Columbia Central Labor Council. Call Walt Denstedt at 541-298-4783 for more information. OREGON STATE FAIR - The Oregon AFL-CIO labor booth in the central canopy area continues to be staffed with union volunteers during the entire two weeks of the fair, including Labor Day. PAGE 12 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS AUGUST 5, 2011
