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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 2011)
E E FR Who’s On Our Side? By Tom Chamberlain T housands of Oregonians who believe in the message of the 99% flooded downtown Portland Saturday and Sunday in support of maintaining the Occupy Portland en- campment. For many, the camp itself was the movement. For others, the camp was an important symbol of a larger movement that has captured the imagination and the promise of hope for Americans who believe that their government has failed them, who lost confidence in elected officials when they close their eyes to the lack of jobs and the loss of homes, in favor of deep-pocketed supporters from Wall Street. For others, the closure of the camp is positive, unshackling the movement from the camp that had become a magnet for the homeless, mentally ill, and those in the grip of alcohol and drugs — the people most failed by the system the 99% is protesting but, unfortunately, also those whose presence brought a growing need for services and grow- ing public safety concerns. Over several weeks I have met with various members of the en- campment’s committees. They all had the symptoms of weariness about their eyes, but all were fear- less, and have a true belief in their message and mission of social and economic justice. Pundits have tried to define the 99ers as a political movement. They are not, and they may not evolve into one. Remember — in large part, these are the folks who dove into the 2008 election of change and ex- pected a new America, where we all shared in wealth and prosperity. In- stead, they have witnessed more wealth transferred to the über-rich. They are disenfranchised from the political system and believe that change can only occur from social activism. The strength of the 99% is not in their political ambitions, and it is not dependent on an encampment. Physically occupying a park long-term isn’t sustainable. But such a strategy was essential, bring- ing attention and focus to the move- ment and the problems inherent with an economic and social system that has forgotten about the vast majority of Americans. For the 99% — at least in Port- land — to survive will require it to evolve into a sustainable movement. To do so they must maintain their unique identity. They must continue to deny any group the power to co- opt them. As union leaders we need to un- derstand that while we are part of the movement, we are not the leaders of the movement. Much like the rela- tionship between the Civil Rights and union movements, our move- ments will often complement each other. We have similar goals and objec- tives, and we can fight shoulder-to- shoulder to restore American social and economic justice. But we must treat the 99% leadership, whether it is the general assembly or commit- tees, a new governance structure or a continuing evolution of leadership, as equals. Our best chance for change in America is ensuring that the 99% movement survives and evolves — beyond the park encampments — and into the future. They will need funds, supplies and support. We will need to develop a relationship with them where we all listen and respect each other’s ideas and perspectives. The 99% is on our side. It is a moment in history that will not be repeated for generations. We must continue to be on their side. Let’s not waste this moment. Tom Chamberlain is president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. BARGAIN COUNTER Free classified ads to subscribers 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 ford 351-w gt heads, complete, big valves, potted, converted to 3/8 studs, $500. 503-630-4177 ’52 ford 4dr, $2,500; ’91 ford pickup ¾, $1,750. 503-289-0066 (ed) ’04 toyota camry, clean, ac, ps, pd, 58,900 miles, $12,000. 503-658-8788 h ousing lincoln city vacation rental, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, $100/night, slps 8, wi-fi, 2 blocks to beach, 4 blocks to casino. 503-804-7976 rockaway ocean front, 503-777-5076, 5 bdrms/2 ba, call for fisherman’s special http://home.comcast.net/~rockaway.beach rockaway beach rental, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, sleeps 10, jacuzzi, 5 min to beach and shops. vacationhomerentals.com/43026, ocean front avail 3 bdrm, 2 bth duplex, 214 e 20th st, vancou- ver/arnada area, no smoke/pets, $1,195/mo, view at craigslist.org posting id 2696026305, then call 503-803-0118. m iscEllAnEous CWA #7901’s Elder to co-chair group promoting greater access to broadband Citing broadband’s ability to spur economic growth and improve the qual- ity of life among many communities, a coalition of busi- nesses, unions, and non-profit groups have formed an Oregon chapter of the Internet Innova- tion Alliance (IIA) to promote broad- M ADELYN band access and E LDER adoption through- out the state. IIA is a national coalition that in- cludes companies such as AT&T, OneEconomy, and Connected Nation. “Broadband drives opportunity in everything, from our economy to edu- cation and entrepreneurship to health care,” said Madelyn Elder, president of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7901. Elder recently was named co-chair of Oregon IIA, along with Brad Hicks, CEO of the Med- ford/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. “High-speed Internet helps busi- nesses connect to new markets and stu- dents connect to classrooms anywhere in the world. Those opportunities PAGE 6 should be available to every family and business person in the state, no matter where they live,” Elder said. Oregon IIA will spend the coming months educating state leaders and oth- ers about the importance of mobile broadband and its many benefits. The state ranks 27th in the country in Inter- net access, according to the National Broadband Map. The Internet Innovation Alliance supports reforming the Universal Serv- ice Fund to include broadband. It also supports the more efficient use of spec- trum, as well as the proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile, which it says is a key way to achieve broadband avail- ability to more than 97 percent of the U.S. population. For more about IIA, go to www.internetinnovation.org. IBEW Local 970 in Longview merges with Portland-based #48 Two local affiliates of the Interna- tional Brotherhood of Electrical Work- ers (IBEW) have merged as of Nov. 1 — 191-member IBEW Local 970, based in Longview, Washington, will now be part of Portland-headquartered IBEW Local 48, which had 3,647 members prior to the merger. Members of both unions approved the merger in voting held in September. Local 970’s business manager and president become members of the Lo- cal 48 Executive Board. Wages and benefits are slightly lower in Local 970’s jurisdiction — Washington’s Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties — but those are slated to in- crease incrementally until Jan. 1, 2014, when they will equal Local 48’s wage and benefit package. Members who were on Local 970’s out-of-work lists were added into Local 48’s lists based on the date they registered. Local 970 business manager Mike Bridges joins Local 48’s staff as a busi- ness representative for Southwest Washington, and Local 970 office ad- ministrator Sue Harris will join Local 48’s staff in a similar capacity. The Local 970 business office will maintain office hours until January, and will be closed thereafter. NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS solid wooden rocking airplane, perfect. $50. 503-771-1570 vintage drag saw built in portland in 1927 by vaughan motor works, needs work, asking $300. 503-730-0604 matte black, never used, $125. 503-493- 7413 w AntEd old woodworking tools, planes, levels, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, folding rulers, leather tools, tool chests. 503-659-0009 motorcycles, scooters, quads, run- ning or not, riding lawnmowers,vws, trac- tors, 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 lifelong collector buying us and world coins to add to collection, paying fairly, any amount welcome. 503-939- 8835 F or thE h omE s Porting g oods mini 14 clips, 30-40 rd, new $15, $20/ astra a-100 9mm nickel, new in box, sell or trade. 503-949-9314 rifle scope, bushnell elite 3200, 2x7, 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 Broadway Floral for the BEST flowers call 503-288-5537 1638 NE Broadway, Portland NOVEMBER 18, 2011
