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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 2011)
SW Washington CLC ends Columbian boycott; endorses city council pols Local Motion August 2011 A list of Oregon and Southwest Washington workplaces deciding whether to be union-represented – as reported by the National Labor Relations Board and the Oregon Employment Relations Board. Voting in union elections Date Workplace (Location) Union Yes No 6/29 Childrens Farm Home (Corvallis) SEIU 503 59 59 8/10 Planned Parenthood (Portland, Bend, Salem) SEIU 49 97 43 8/22 City of Milton-Freewater Police (Milton-Freewater) MFPA 11 0 Requesting a union election Workplace (Location) Union Number of workers in unit Parry Center for Children (Portland) SEIU Local 503 DECERT Architectural Metal Works (Portland) Sheet Metal Workers Locals 16, 66, 55 Kaiser Permanente membership services (Portland) SEIU Local 49 DECERT 120 45 96 L EGEND : workers will be union-represented DECERT : workers will be on their own : A decertification election occurs when some union-represented workers declare that the union no longer has majority support. A ‘yes’ vote is a vote for the union. Labor Roundtable of Southwest Washington banquet Sept. 30 The Labor Roundtable of South- west Washington will host its annual Labor Awards Banquet Friday, Sept. 30, at the Vancouver Hilton, 301 West 6th Street Vancouver, Washington. A no-host bar will be provided starting at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. The annual event recognizes labor unions, labor organizations, labor lead- ers, and union allies for their outstand- ing service not only to the labor move- ment, but to the community as well. Tickets are $60 per person or $480 for a table of eight. The Roundtable also suggests each person donate an item for a door prize. For more information, or to order tickets, call 360-921-2864 or e-mail eboctran@comcast.net. VANCOUVER — The Southwest Washington Central Labor Council has ended its boycott of the Columbian newspaper. The daily newspaper, which covers the greater Vancouver/Southwest Washington area, was put on the “Do Not Patronize” list in February after delegates complained of slanted cover- age against unions and public employ- ees. The resolution calling for the boy- cott instructed delegates to revisit the action at the end of July to determine whether or not the newspaper had ex- panded its coverage “to represent all of the community.” If it did, the boycott would be withdrawn. During that time period, the boycott was joined by the Portland-based Northwest Oregon Labor Council; the Columbia Pacific Building and Con- struction Trades Council; as well as many of the 39 labor organizations af- filiated with the Southwest Washington CLC. Rank-and-file union members were encouraged to cancel their sub- scriptions and politicians were asked not to advertise in the newspaper. However, at the labor council’s monthly meeting in August, delegates decided that coverage had become more favorable, so the boycott was lifted. “Not everyone was in favor of end- ing our action against the Columbian,” said Secretary-Treasurer Roy Jennings, a member of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757. “Some of our dele- gates still believe the newspaper has an anti-labor sentiment. While we can agree to disagree on many issues, we believe that at this time the Columbian has reached a turning point. Clearly the Columbian has done better in its re- porting.” The labor council has invited pub- lisher Scott Campbell to attend its meeting Oct 27. It also posted on its web site a link directing union mem- bers how to subscribe to the newspaper. In other action at the August meet- ing, the labor council issued the follow- ing political endorsements: • Re-elect Bart Hansen for Vancou- ver City Council, Position 4. Hansen was appointed to the council in January 2010, filling the seat vacated by Tim Leavitt after he was elected mayor. He won the seat outright in a special elec- tion last year. • Elect challenger Anne McEnerny- Ogle to Vancouver City Council, Posi- tion 6. The Vancouver City Council is non- partisan. • Re-elect Jim Irish mayor of La Center. • Support Proposition 1, to increase the sales tax by 0.2 percent (2 cents on a $10 purchase) to preserve C-TRAN local fixed route, limited, commuter and connector service The general election is Nov. 8. Anti-union initiative withdrawn Without explanation, sponsors of an anti-union ballot initiative effort with- drew their initiative on Aug. 30, just four weeks after they turned in 1,484 signatures to get the process started. The initiative was aimed at making it harder for public employee union members to give to their unions’ polit- ical funds, and had the fingerprints of business lobbyist Mark Nelson on it. Chief petitioner Mel Zucker told the Labor Press that conservative former Oregonian columnist David Reinhard, who works for Nelson, was central to the effort. But neither Reinhard nor ei- ther of the chief petitioners returned calls from the Labor Press seeking ex- planation as to why the measure was withdrawn. The initiative was in an early stage and had not yet been ap- proved to circulate. Resources could be part of the an- swer; Zucker told Oregonian reporter Jeff Mapes that the campaigners didn’t get support they thought they were promised. A similar initiative — sponsored by an associate of perennial union foe Bill Sizemore — may still be gathering sig- natures for the 2012 ballot. The union- backed ballot initiative watchdog group Defend Oregon is calling on supporters to report sightings of signature gather- ers at www.defendoregon.org/peti- tions.html. Know Your Rights The only time you must go to a doctor chosen by the workers’ compensation insurer is if you receive a proper notice of an “independent medical exam (IME). This one-time appoint- ment is for their expert to comment on your case. Paid for and authorized by the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council SEPTEMBER 16, 2011 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
