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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2012)
In Clackamas County Resolution prioritizes living wage, local jobs in contracts The Clackamas County board of commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Jan. 12 pledging to prioritize the use of local source hiring of work- ers, materials, and expertise that pro- vide family wage jobs whenever it puts out for bid public construction projects and/or personal and professional serv- ice contracts. The resolution, submitted by County Chair Charlotte Lehan, says the county “will place as a priority the selection of projects that result in jobs that pay living wages to skilled and ed- ucated workers with high productivity, provide health care benefits, encourage the longevity of workers in their posi- tions, promote safety, advance the cer- tifications of workers, and provide the opportunity for a pension.” The resolution further states that “using local sources for workers, ma- terials, and expertise is recognized as the method producing the most imme- diate economic benefit to the workers and businesses of Clackamas County” Clackamas County Chair Charlotte Lehan (center) signs a resolution that calls on the county to prioritize local source hiring and family wage jobs when letting contracts. With her at the Jan. 12 signing ceremony at Machinists District W 24 in Gladstone are Commissioners Jim Bernard (left), Jamie Damon, and local union officials. and that commissioners will “observe at all times the requirements for bid- ding on public improvement contracts and the prevailing wage law that pro- vides a living wage for workers” as set out in state regulations. A few hours after the 5-0 vote, a signing ceremony was held at the Ma- chinists District W 24 hall in Gladstone with labor officials from construction unions, Machinists and Woodworkers locals, Teamsters, AFSCME and the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, Lehan and Clackamas County Com- missioners Jim Bernard and Jamie Da- mon. “Local hire is the most important part of this resolution,” Bernard said. “We want local businesses to get the business.” “This proclamation solidifies our commitment to living wage jobs,” Da- mon added. Lehan said the unanimous vote “makes this proclamation a much more powerful statement.” Troutdale City Council gets earful from IBEW Local 48 members The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 48 and allies in East Multnomah County protested before the Troutdale City Council Jan. 10 the awarding of a con- tract to an out-of-state, nonunion elec- trical contractor on a new police station currently under construction. Local 48 and its training center are located a few miles west of Troutdale and many of the union’s members live in Troutdale. Last year voters approved a $7.5 million bond to build the police station. Local 48 endorsed the bond measure and most of its members liv- ing in Troutdale voted for it. P & C Construction was awarded the general contract, and it in turn awarded the electrical portion of the job to nonunion Prairie Electric of Vancou- ver, Washington. Local 48 Business Manager Clif ...Shropshire takes helm at #290 business manager Matt Wal- (From Page 3) ters. In more than 15 years in Waits representing Plumbers; that job he covered pipeline Randal Nelson Jr. and Ramon and gas distribution; mem- Ramon outpolled three other bers in east Portland through candidates to represent Pipefit- the Columbia Gorge to Mor- ters; and Eric Fanning and Erv row County and Southwest Garrison topped two other Washington; and for a short candidates to represent ACR. A L time the Portland shipyard. Local 290 represents 4,200 S HROPSHIRE He has served on Local members working in all 290’s joint apprenticeship branches of the piping industry in con- training committee and he’s been a struction, industrial, and at shipyards journeyman instructor at the training in Oregon, Southwest Washington, and center. four counties in Northern California. “My favorite part of working as a Shropshire, 58, is a 37-year mem- business agent was enforcing our mas- ber of the union. He started his career ter labor agreement, fighting for our as a pipefitter in 1973 working in ship repair at the Portland shipyards. In jurisdiction, and most of all standing 1979 he passed the pipefitters exam for up for members on the job,” he said. In 2008, Shropshire ran unsuccess- building trades construction and sub- fully for business manager. He re- sequently worked on commercial and turned to work in the field in early industrial jobs. Shropshire comes from a pipe 2009, and retired in November that trades family. His grandfather, father, same year. He was drawing a pension brother, wife, and two sons are all check when de decided to run again for union pipefitters — the latter three are the union’s top post. Shropshire and all other officers members of Local 290. were installed Jan. 20. All terms are for Shropshire was hired as a business three years. agent for the union in 1993 by the late PAGE 8 Davis told the Labor Press that Prairie Electric was up against three nonunion and one union contractor for the job. Davis said the initial union bid by Heil Electric wasn’t the lowest, but it was $20,000 lower than Prairie’s bid. “The construction manager cited ‘non-responsive bidder’ issues as the reason for the decision, but has failed to show us the basis for this claim,” Davis said. “They will be profiting from a project paid for in part by our members due to the fact that the con- struction manager chose to exclude the union bid for reasons that have not been explained.” Davis told city councilors the deci- sion to use an out of state contractor could cost the city millions in lost rev- enue. “Governments always talk about the ripple effect of public works proj- ects where a million dollars turns into as much as four million dollars to the local community due to wages, taxes and other spending related to the jobs created. So Troutdale is choosing to send millions across the river.” Additionally, several members of Local 48 who live in Troutdale pointed out to city councilors the donated work, supplies, and money they and their union have contributed to the commu- nity. Those donations include, in part, the installation of electrical services, outlets and modifications of the street lamps that are along the Historic Co- lumbia River Highway in downtown Troutdale, and a scoreboard for the lo- cal high school. “This was at zero cost to the City of Troutdale. The City requested this of us and we willingly donated it to them,” Davis told the Labor Press. “Yet the project was awarded to a company with NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS absolutely no community ties or any history of community involvement.” Troutdale Mayor Jim Kight directed the city staff to prepare a response to the issues brought up by the electri- cians. “We will take your comments to heart and see what we can do for the fu- ture,” he said. Local Motion December 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 56 40 12/20 Pacific Coast Camera and Crewing (Boring) IATSE 51 9 12/28 Comcast SportsNet Northwest (Portland) IATSE 11 15 12/2 Parry Center for Children (Portland) SEIU Local 503 DECERT Unionizing by majority sign-up Date Workplace (Location) Union Number of workers in unit 12/21 Metro seasonal parks and environmental workers (Portland) Laborers Local 483 5 Requesting a union election Workplace (Location) Union Number of workers in unit Ochoco Manufacturing water truck maker (Prineville) Iron Workers Local 516 DECERT 5 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. JANUARY 21, 2012
