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