IAM District W24 recognized as ‘Labor
Partner of Year’ at United Way function
Machinists District W24 was named
“Labor Partner of the Year” at United
Way of the Columbia-Willamette’s an-
nual Celebration of Caring recognition
dinner April 19 in Portland. This year’s
Community Giving Campaign raised a
record $22,005,560.
United Way of the Columbia-
Willamette covers four counties in the
Portland/Vancouver area.
The Labor Partner of the Year award
is selected based on unions that not only
participated in this year’s campaign, but
that also showed outstanding support of
United Way and community services.
In presenting the award, United Way
said: “... the International Association
of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
District W24 set a strong leadership
standard in promoting and supporting
United Way of the Columbia-Wil-
lamette. Whether raising funds to bene-
fit Guide Dogs of America and Labor's
Community Service Agency, volunteer-
ing to serve on local boards and partic-
ipate in community-building events, or
standing steadfast in support of United
Way, the Machinists ‘Live United’ spirit
Social Security will not go broke
By ROSS EISENBREY
Economic Policy Institute
Social Security will never run out of
money. Even in 2033, when the multi-
trillion dollar buildup of funds for the
baby boomers is used up, there will be
hundreds of billions of dollars of con-
tributions to the trust fund, and Social
Security will continue to pay three-
fourths of promised benefits.
Many claim younger workers will
never claim Social Security benefits.
Far from it. Even for workers who re-
tire after 2033, benefits will be higher
in inflation-adjusted terms than they are
today, though they will replace a shrink-
ing share of pre-retirement earnings.
It is true, however, that reducing
promised benefits is a bad thing. We
should avoid it by making better-off
Americans pay the same Social Secu-
rity tax rate as average Americans. The
loophole that shelters all but a tiny por-
tion of millionaires’ income should be
closed. Warren Buffet and Mitt Rom-
ney should pay Social Security taxes at
the same rate on their income as their
secretaries pays on theirs.
The worst way to address the poten-
tial benefit cuts that could happen two
decades from now is for Congress to
jump the gun and cut benefits now. Cut-
ting benefits by raising the retirement
age or reducing cost-of-living increases
is no solution for future benefit cuts.
That should be obvious, but there are
plenty of snake-oil-selling politicians
who want to do just that. There is only
one way to avoid benefit cuts, and that
is by raising more revenue.
is the inspiration throughout the labor
community and beyond.”
Organized labor is always a major
participant in the fundraising campaign‚
both in promoting the agency at union
worksites and through donations.
Vickie Burns, executive director of La-
bor’s Community Service Agency,
served on the 2011 United Way Cam-
paign Cabinet. The cabinet was chaired
by Gregg Kantor of Northwest Natural.
Bob Tackett, secretary-treasurer of the
Northwest Oregon Labor Council, sits
on United Way’s Executive Board, as
does Barbara Mathey, CEO of the
IBEW & United Workers Federal
Credit Union.
Eighteen labor organizations, in-
cluding the Northwest Labor Press,
were among 100 award nominees for
2011. The International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers Local 48 was a col-
laborating partner for community im-
pact projects and initiatives.
More than 1,000 local companies
conducted employee giving campaigns.
Intel Corporation led the way, with a
record contribution of $7.2 million.
United Way of the Columbia-
Willamette President and CEO Keith
Thomajan said individual and em-
ployee giving was a factor in outpacing
last year’s total by nearly $900,000. It
is the ninth consecutive year for cam-
paign growth and puts the Portland area
chapter of United Way among the top 4
percent of United Ways in the nation,
placing 42nd out of 1,249.
Willie Groshell of Portland-based National Association of Letter Carriers
Branch 82 and Eryn Byram of Labor’s Community Service Agency collected
six mail bins full of food at this year’s Celebration of Caring recognition
dinner for United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. The food collection was
a head start the NALC’s “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive May 12.
I AM HONORED TO HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT OF: O REGON AFL-CIO; AFSCME;
O REGON N URSES A SSOCIATION ; O REGON E DUCATION A SSOCIATION ; A MERICAN F EDERATION OF
T EACHERS -O REGON ; P ORTLAND A SSOCIATION OF T EACHERS ; O REGON S TATE F IRE F IGHTERS
C OUNCIL ; I NTERNATIONAL L ONGSHORE AND W AREHOUSE U NION ; IBEW LOCAL 48; U NITED
S TEELWORKERS D ISTRICT 12-L EGISLATIVE AND E DUCATION C OMMITTEE ; T EAMSTERS J OINT
C OUNCIL N O . 37; B ROTHERHOOD OF L OCOMOTIVE E NGINEERS AND T RAINMEN ; A SSOCIATION
OF O REGON C ORRECTIONS E MPLOYEES ; O REGON S TATE P OLICE O FFICERS ; O REGON C OUNCIL OF
P OLICE A SSOCIATIONS ; N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION OF L ETTER C ARRIERS B RANCH 82; AND O REGON
S TATE B UILDING & C ONSTRUCTION T RADES C OUNCIL
“I am ready to hit the ground running in Salem and be a champion
for the middle class. I hope I can count on your vote in this
Democratic primary.”
- Jennifer Williamson candidate for HD 36
Paid for and authorized by Friends of Jennifer Williamson
www.jenniferfororegon.com
MAY 4, 2012
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
PAGE 9