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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 2011)
E E FR Who’s On Our Side? Free classified ads to subscribers By Tom Chamberlain President Obama’s Sept. 8 speech on job creation laid out a concrete plan to put millions of Americans back to work and push our economy into high gear. As we enter the 2012 election cy- cle, every candidate — everyone even toying with the notion of running for office — agrees that America must create jobs, and create them as soon as possible. But often, that is where the agreement stops and the rhetoric begins. And rhetoric rarely translates into a solid plan that is strategic and achievable. So consider this a message to any candidate seeking a union endorse- ment on why rhetoric won’t cut it, and why union members will be asking for achievable job-creation plans in 2012. While Oregon is a state that prides itself on creating jobs in an emerging green economy, green energy has not surpassed manufacturing as our jobs base. Oregon is still a manufacturing state, in a region that is known for making things — from streetcars to trucks, medical equipment to micro- chips, solar panels, aviation parts and more. Candidates must not only recog- nize the importance of those indus- tries to our economy, but they must understand that the bulk of our manu- factured goods are exported through our ports and airport. Those facilities are the conduit that connects products from across the Northwest to markets around the world. For our economy to grow, our ports and airport must keep up. Now let’s be very clear: A good job is a good job, whether in the pri- vate or public sector. All too often we hear that cutting government will cre- ate jobs. Cutting government usually means cutting jobs. Public sector jobs infuse millions of dollars into our economy. These are jobs that support local business, who pay taxes that fund our state’s essential services, and build roads and bridges which create jobs in the private sector. When we cut public sector jobs we increase de- mand for unemployment, food and health care subsidies, and other serv- ices that low wage earners and the un- employed need. As candidates increase their jobs rhetoric they must remember the im- portance of a plan, because it does something rhetoric does not: It sets the path to create jobs. And a good- paying job with benefits is the answer to most of what ails us. A job is the answer to the low in- come housing shortage; it is the path to quality education; a job decreases the crime rate, and increases revenue so that we can afford to provide vital services. We cannot answer Oregon’s, or this country’s problems until we in- crease employment. Candidates must be ready to fight for federal and state funding to re- build our crumbling infrastructure. This alone will put thousands of Ore- gonians back to work. And they must be willing to develop a jobs strategy that attracts new business and main- tains and expands existing compa- nies, all while maintaining a healthy environment. Achieving rapid job creation is the responsibility of every level of gov- ernment, the private sector and yes, unions. We must elect candidates who understand that they can’t shirk their responsibility to create jobs, and who are committed to the resurgence of a strong middle class. With unemployment still over 9 percent, and in fact over 18 percent when you factor in those who have given up looking or who are working part time when they need full time work, I challenge candidates to quit the rhetoric and follow President Obama’s lead. Show us a plan. Show us you’re on our side. And I challenge union leaders and members to listen to those seeking your endorsement very carefully. If creating jobs is not their number one priority, whose side are they really on? Tom Chamberlain is president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. Workers rights go local: Seattle passes paid sick leave Seattle businesses with at least five employees will be required to offer paid sick leave under an ordinance ap- proved Sept. 12 by Seattle City Coun- cil. Public health was the rationale for the measure. Workers without sick leave lose wages when they call in sick, so they’re more likely to go to work sick, exposing co-workers and customers. Children are more likely to be sent to school sick if their parents must lose wages to care for them. Un- der the new ordinance, workers will be allowed to use the sick leave to care for themselves or immediate family mem- bers. The measure was proposed in May by a coalition of 70 labor and commu- nity groups. It was strongly opposed by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. But it enjoyed wide pub- lic support in Seattle. A late August poll of likely voters by Grove Insight opinion research found that 69 percent supported the measure, while only 22 percent opposed it. PAGE 10 In the days leading up to the vote, union members and other supporters of the measure flooded City Council with phone calls, postcards and e- mails. City Council members received over 1,000 e-mails. Supporters also rallied and filled council chambers the day of the vote. The vote was 8 to 1 in favor. The measure requires established companies with 5 to 49 employees to provide at least five days a year of paid sick leave. Companies with 50-249 employees would provide at least seven days, and those over 250 at least nine. The ordinance will take effect Sept. 1, 2012. Employees start earning the time off after six months on the job. Businesses less than two years old would be exempt from the require- ment. The Economic Opportunity Insti- tute, an independent public policy re- search center, estimated that 190,000 of Seattle’s 500,000 workers don’t cur- rently have paid sick leave, but would BARGAIN COUNTER get it under the ordinance. That in- cludes nearly 30,000 in accommoda- tion and food service, 20,000 in retail, and close to 20,000 in health services. Seattle is home to about half a million jobs. San Francisco and Washington D.C. passed similar ordinances in 2008. Milwaukee voters approved a sick leave initiative in 2008, but that measure was nullified this year by the Republican majority in the Wisconsin state legislature. And the Philadelphia city council passed a sick leave ordi- nance in June 2011 that was vetoed by its mayor. Connecticut became the first state to pass such a requirement in June 2011. The Connecticut law requires five days a year of paid sick leave, and applies to hourly workers in service sector businesses of 50 or more em- ployees. As to whether Portland would con- sider such an ordinance, a spokesper- son said Portland May Sam Adams’s office would have to look into it. 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 ’32 ford high boy coupe/roadster, re- movable top, 283, turbo 400, 9", runs exc. $19,995 971-275-7109 ’82 & ’89 ford C-6 trans, 351w, $100 each. 503 -630-4177 ’04 ToYoTA CAMrY, one owner, clean, 58,700 miles, $13,500. 503-658-8788 H ouSiNg LInCoLn CITY vacation rental, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, $115/night, slps 8, wi-fi, 2 blocks to beach, 4 blocks to casino. 503-804-7976 roCKAWAY BEACH rental, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, sleeps 10, Jacuzzi, 5 min to beach and shops. Vacationhomerentals.com/43026, ocean front for rEnT, 2 bedroom 1 bath, patio 1 level, small yard, $650 month, near 92nd & foster 503-637-5361 SPrAY orEGon, 200 or more acres, $750 per acre, will carry contract. 541- 468-2961 ’91 MoBILE HoME in 55+ court, 3 bed, 2 bath, new roof, new heat pump, new floor- ing, etc., Prineville, or. 928-718-6977 m iScEllANEouS BrECKWELL PELLET SToVE, model 23fs with remote control & piping, excellent cond, $700 obo. 503-760-8696 dUMBELLS, HEX HEAd, 3 pairs, 15lbs, 25lbs and 35lbs, all $100. 503-493-7413 rIdInG LAWnMoWEr, Craftsman, LTX 1000 42”, new, used once, no bag, $750. NW Oregon CLC to recommend Witt The Northwest Oregon Labor Council will recommend that the Ore- gon AFL-CIO endorse State. Rep. Brad Witt in the special Democratic primary election Nov. 8 in Oregon’s 1st Congressional District. Witt is a union representative of United Food and Commercial Work- ers Local 555. Several Democrats — including La- bor Commissioner Brad Avakian and State Sen. Suzanne Bonamici — are vying for the seat, with the winner tak- ing on the Republican primary nominee in a special election Jan. 31 to succeed David Wu, who resigned mid-term. Under AFL-CIO policy, central la- bor council’s don’t endorse in federal races. Rather, they make recommen- dations to the state body for action. The Oregon AFL-CIO will take up the matter at its convention in Eugene later this month. NOLC’s vote to recommend Witt was held at a delegates’ meeting Sept. 12. NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS 503-643-6897 BLACK LEEr fiberglass canopy, 5’, fits king cab, $350; metal engine stand, $55; bird cages & Playstations, different prices. 360-624-0300 S PoRTiNg g oodS M-1 GArAnd 30-06 rIfLE with 5&8 rnd clips, $850; rCBS piggyback Lowder with 44 mag dies, 38cal. 503-771000 2 rIfLE aluminum lock case, airline ap- proved, $80; 30-06 Enfield, Boyds stock, Timney 6x scope, $300. 503-658-6108 W ANTEd oLd WoodWorKInG tools, planes, levels, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, folding rulers, leather tools, tool chests. 503-659-0009 MoTorCYCLE PArTS, quads, scoot- ers, boats, VW’s, guitars, riding lawn- mowers, cash paid, will pick up 503 880- 8183 CoLLECTor PAYS cash for older toys, older oil paintings and older American art pottery. 503 703-5952 CoLLECTor wants U.S., German, & Japanese military items, hats, helmets, uniforms, flags, swords, bayonets, rifles, pistols, etc. 503-852-6791 SILVEr CoInS, US and Canadian, 1964 and older dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollars for top silver prices. 503-806-6287 F oR THE H omE BEdrooM SET, french Provencial, 6 drawer dresser w/mirror, night stand, padded chair, $430. 503-753-1714 Rain Forest Boots Made in America! Try a pair on, you’ll like them. Tough boots for the Northwest. AL’S SHOES 5811 SE 82nd, Portland 503-771-2130 Mon-Fri 10-7:30 Sat 10-5:30 Sun 12-6 SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
