...Wyden warns against ‘unfettered export of natural gas’
(From Page 1)
ments. “If any one of those facilities is
going to be built, I’m going to lead the
way to see that it’s union jobs that are
building it,” he said. “But we need jobs
right now, not 10 years from now.”
Keynote speaker U.S. Sen. Ron
Wyden (D-Ore.) said he wants to work
closely with labor on U.S. energy pol-
icy that results in a win, win, win for
everyone. “Energy is what drives our
ability to manufacture and create good
family-wage jobs,” he said.
Wyden, who will chair the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Commit-
tee next year if Democrats retain control
of the chamber, cited a “hot off the
presses” report showing carbon dioxide
emissions in the U.S. have fallen to their
lowest levels in 20 years. He said all the
evidence points to increased use of nat-
ural gas as the reason why.
“Natural gas has become a strategic
American advantage for us in the last
year and half. We got it and the world
wants it,” he said.
“So, if we go with unfettered ex-
ports, for example to Asia, I’m really
concerned about what that means for
our big industries here, for equipment,
and manufacturing, and construction,
and food processing, and the like.”
[OSBCTC passed a resolution at the
convention calling for an expedited re-
view of proposed coal and liquefied
natural gas export terminals in the state.
Regional building trades councils have
signed letters of understanding with
several companies to build the termi-
nals with union labor. ]
“We’re going to have to work
through the various issues on natural gas
exports, and also work through the is-
sues on coal exports that I know all of
you care a great deal about,” Wyden
said. “I think if we think it through to-
gether — and working families and the
coalition of progressive voices deal with
this right, we can strike that balance be-
Developers agree to build proposed
casino in Wood Village 100% union
Developers of a proposed $300 mil-
lion entertainment center in east Mult-
nomah County have signed a letter of
understanding with the Columbia Pa-
cific Building and Construction Trades
Council to build it with union labor.
The LOU was signed Aug. 23, the
day developers unveiled The Grange, a
multi-use entertainment center featur-
ing local restaurants and pubs featuring
local wines and beers, a four-star hotel
with a water playground, an outdoor
plaza for farmers markets and other
community events, a bowling alley,
movie theater, concert hall, and an up-
scale, smoke-free casino.
The Grange will be located between
Halsey and Glisan streets in Wood Vil-
lage, where the abandoned Multnomah
Kennel Club operated a greyhound
racetrack for nearly 50 years.
But before ground can be broken,
voters must approve two statewide Bal-
lot Measures — 82 and 83 — in the
November general election. One meas-
ure amends the Oregon Constitution to
allow privately owned casinos to oper-
ate in the state. The companion meas-
ure gives specific approval to build a
casino in Wood Village. If both meas-
ures pass statewide, voters in Wood Vil-
lage still would have to approve it.
At the LOU signing, developers em-
phasized that the complex will use only
private money with no public subsidies,
and will be operated by an Oregon
company that pays all state and local
taxes. They pledged also to recruit and
prioritize Oregon companies for the
materials, supplies, and labor to build
and operate it.
The ballot measures are endorsed by
Wood Village City Council, the Oregon
State Building and Construction Trades
Council, and the Northwest Oregon La-
bor Council.
“The Grange will be a sustainable
development, generate thousands of
jobs, millions of dollars a year for
schools and other services and without
a cent of taxpayer dollars,” said Wood
Village Mayor Patricia Smith. “It will
be a fun destination for Oregonians and
good for Oregon’s economy.”
For more information, go to:
www.thegrangeoregon.com.
Rosenblum won the Democratic
tween having affordable energy, which
is important for all of us for good-paying primary for attorney general in May
and was ap-
jobs, and we can pro-
pointed to the
tect our treasures
post by Gov.
(land, air and water).” “I think if we think it
John Kitzhaber
On Medicare re- through together — and
in June, fol-
form, Wyden said
lowing the res-
steps must be taken working families and the
ignation of
to hold down costs to coaltion of progressive
John Kroger.
protect the Medicare
guarantee. “Anyone voices deal with this right, She is serving
the ap-
who thinks we don’t
we can strike that balance in
pointed posi-
have to do anything
tion until Janu-
about Medicare between having
ary and must
needs to think about
win the general
just one statistic: affordable energy, which
election in No-
10,000 Americans is important for all of us
vember to re-
will turn 65 every
tain the posi-
single day for the for good-paying jobs, and
tion. She is
next 20 years.” we can protect our
Oregon’s first
Wyden said Presi-
female attor-
dent Obama started treasures (land, air and
ney general.
the process with the water).”
In conven-
Affordable Care Act,
and it’s important that it not be repealed. tion business, delegates passed a hand-
ful of resolutions, elected officers, and
“But there’s a lot more to do,” he said.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen handed out two $1,000 college schol-
Rosenblum told delegates that she is a arships.
Kevin Jensen of Iron Workers Local
strong supporter of project labor agree-
ments and prevailing wage laws, and 29 was re-elected president and John
that PLAs should be standard on all pub- Mohlis of Bricklayers and Allied Trades
lic pre-bid construction contracts. “Pre- Local 1 was retained as executive sec-
vailing wage laws are critical to sup- retary. Also elected by acclamation
porting working families,” she said. “I were Calvin McKinnis of Plasterers Lo-
will work aggressively to defend them.” cal 82, vice president; Clif Davis of
IBEW Local 48, guard; Bud Bartunek
of Painters and Allied Trades District
Council No. 5, conductor; trustees Al
Shropshire of Plumbers and Fitters Lo-
cal 290; John Candioto of Sheet Metal
Workers Local 16; Stan Danielson of
Insulators Local 36; Matt Eleazer of
Bricklayers Local 1; Brett Hinsley of
Cement Masons Local 555; Russ Gar-
nett of Roofers Local 49; Jeff Gritz of
Laborers Local 121; and Board mem-
bers Pat Smith of Lane, Coos, Curry,
Douglas BCTC; Jon Flegel of Southern
Oregon BCTC; Jodi Guetzloe Parker
of the Columbia Pacific BCTC; Dave
Burger of Central Oregon BCTC;
Leroy Marney of the Salem BCTC; and
Chuck Little of the Pendleton BCTC.
Scholarships were awarded to Tay-
lor Rice and Courtney Hamer. Taylor is
the daughter of Laborers Local 296
member Dusty Rice. The Gresham
High grad will attend Linfield College
this fall where she will study athletic
training. Courtney is the daughter of
Glenn Sandstrom of Plumbers and Fit-
ters Local 290. She lives in Laurel-
wood, Colorado, and attends the Den-
ver School of Nursing.
The scholarships were funded by
$1,000 contributions from Ferguson
Wellman Capital Management and
Quest Investment. Recipients were
picked by Duke Shepard, a policy ad-
viser to Gov. John Kitzhaber.
...More NOLC endorsements
(From Page 4)
natural resource businesses. Opponents
of the measure say ending the estate tax
would impact approximately 1,000 of
the richest estates each year and cost the
state’s general fund around $200 mil-
lion every budget cycle.
NOLC delegates also took action op-
posing Measure 3-401, the only issue
that will appear on a special election bal-
lot in Clackamas County on Sept. 18.
Measure 3-401 was submitted by the
Tea Party and would require voter ap-
proval before spending county re-
sources on any passenger rail projects.
PAGE 12
The measure is being funded mostly by
out-of-state conservatives, including
Nevada millionaire and self-described
sex hypnotist Loren Parks. Also in-
volved is the Oregon Transformation
Project PAC, whose treasurer is Rob
Kremer, a leader of the Oregon Repub-
lican Party.
In other action, a vote of “no confi-
dence” in Postmaster General Patrick
Donahoe passed unanimously (see
Page 1). And a motion to endorse HR
3591, a bill sponsored by Oregon Con-
gressman Peter DeFazio to save the
Unites States Post Office, also received
unanimous support.
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2012