Mail Handlers hold international
union convention in Portland
The National Postal Mail Handlers
Union held its 100th anniversary con-
vention at the Hilton Hotel in Portland
the week of Aug. 6-11.
Aug. 6, 1912 is recognized as the
union’s birthday because that was the
first day in which the U.S. Postal
Service recognized its right to organ-
ize and to engage in the grievance
process. The union is an affiliate of
the Laborers Union.
The theme of the convention,
which attracted 280 delegates, was
“Honor the Past, Shape the Future.”
The host local was Portland-based
Local 315.
During the week, international
union elections were held, with in-
cumbent President John Hegarty and
incumbent Secretary-Treasurer Mark
Gardner re-elected by acclamation.
Delegates also passed a resolution
endorsing the re-election of President
Barack Obama.
Guest speakers throughout the
week included Arlene Holt-Baker, ex-
ecutive vice president of the AFL-
Broadway Floral
for the BEST flowers call
503-288-5537
1638 NE Broadway, Portland
CIO; Terry O’Sullivan, general presi-
dent of the Laborers International
Union of North America; Fred
Rolando, president of the National
Association of Letter Carriers; Ore-
gon AFL-CIO President Tom Cham-
berlain; Billy Hayes, general president
of the Communication Workers Union
of the United Kingdom; Sen. Ron
Wyden (D-OR), who was recognized
as the first U.S. senator in history to
be elected by a mail-in ballot; Rep.
Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon); Rep.
Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon),
Danny Davis (D-Illinois), Raul Gri-
jalva (D-Arizona); Rep. Richard Neal
(D-Massachusetts); and Portland City
Commissioner Amanda Fritz.
The National Postal Mail Handlers
Union represents 47,000 postal em-
ployees responsible for loading and
unloading trucks, transporting mail
within the facility, preparing, sorting,
and containerizing the mail for distri-
bution and delivery, and operating a
host of machinery and automated
equipment.
The convention was held at a time
when some in Congress are trying to
dismantle the U.S. Postal Service —
and with their contract talks headed
for arbitration, due primarily to the
legislative uncertainty.
Union Jobs Mean A Better Community
Happy Labor Day
from
Roofers Local 49
Russ Garnett
Business Agent
Financial Secretary
•
5032 SE 26th Ave.
Portland, OR 97202
503-232-4807
Labor Day Is Our Day!
Be Union! Be Proud!
From the Officers, Representatives and Office Staff of
Machinists District W24
Lodge 63 in Gladstone, Lodge 1005 in Gladstone, Lodge 1432 in Gladstone, W12 in Klamath Falls, W246 in
Springfield, W261 in Central Point, W2 in Aberdeen, W38 in Shelton, W130 in Centralia, W157 in Tacoma,
W536 in Longview, W98 in Arcata, California, W364 in Lewiston, Idaho, and Local 88 in Butte, Montana
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, 25 Cornell Ave., Gladstone, OR/503-656-1475 or 503-238-5550
AUGUST 17, 2012
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
PAGE 7