Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2012)
A call for an ‘independent labor movement’ goes out at Washington conclave By DAVID GROVES WENATCHEE, Wash. — AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker brought her contagious enthusi- asm and optimism to the Washington State Labor Council 2012 Convention Aug. 7. She also brought what’s be- come a familiar message from the AFL- CIO this year: the need to build an in- dependent labor movement that supports only its true champions. “It is important to put our resources into our own PACs (political action committees) and programs instead of any political party,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming, but we finally get it. Only with an independent labor movement can we campaign day-in and day-out for working people.” That doesn’t mean withdrawing from the political process, Holt Baker said. On the contrary, it means targeting labor’s efforts — and making them even more intense — on behalf of those individual elected officials who have demonstrated their support for strength- ening the middle class, protecting the right to have a voice at work, and op- posing right-wing efforts to suppress the vote among minorities and low-in- come Americans. “This political season we have every reason to go the extra mile,” she said. “We’re building a grassroots movement like America hasn’t seen in generations. We’ll struggle to keep democracy strong in America so every one that has a right to cast a vote can cast that vote and have it counted.” (Editor’s Note: David Groves is communications director of the Wash- ington State Labor Council.) ATPA Sheet Metal Workers Local 16 Members, Officers & Staff Wish All Workers in Oregon and Washington a Safe and Happy Labor Day Officers Staff JOHN CANDIOTO, Business Manager/FST DELBERT BROWN, Business Representative WILLY MYERS, Business Representative RUSS BENTON, Business Representative DENNIS DOVER, Business Representative JOE HARRIS, Business Development SHARON ALLEN, Office Manager ROBERTA LUNDQUIST, Secretary EMMY KEEVER, Secretary RIC OLANDER, President ART HIMM, Vice-President MATT O’NEILL, Recording Secretary RON HERGENRADER, Warden Executive Board Trustees Darrell Alcorn Devin Hasking Joel Hutchinson Charlie Johnson Seth Kerner James Ramos William Willman Ed Dawes Tom Harding Jim Philley Administrators of Employee Benefit Plans Wishing all our Friends in the Labor Community a Safe and Happy Labor Day 7600 SW Mohawk St. Tualatin, OR 97062 503 454-3800 2379 NE 178th Avenue, Suite 16, Portland, Oregon 97230 • 503-254-0123 • Fax: 503-254-0157 www.smw16.org Pati Piro-Bosley Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor This Labor Day! PAGE 4 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS ATPA AUGUST 17, 2012
