Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2012)
...A union guide to the Oregon ballot (From Page 1) projections by more than 2 percent. When the corporate kicker refund is is- sued, Our Oregon points out, most of the money goes to out-of-state compa- nies. • WOOD VILLAGE CASINO: M EASURES 82 AND 83 would enable de- velopment of a casino at a former grey- hound track in Wood Village, just east of Portland. Measure 82 amends the Oregon Constitution to allow private off-reservation casinos, and Measure 83 grants permission specifically to the Wood Village casino, which is known as The Grange. The Grange has pledged to employ union workers during the building phase of its proposed casino APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 23: Oregon & SW Washington Applications may be requested Sept. 5, 2012, through Oct. 4, 2012, by mail: Scott McGinty/ NEIEP Area Coordinator 5009 Pacific Hwy East, Unit 18 Fife, WA 98424 Or by email: smcginty@neiep.org Completed applications must be received between Oct. 5-25, 2012. Applicants must be at least 18- years of age, and must possess a high school diploma or GED. Ap- plicants will be selected without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin. More information can be found on the IUEC Local 23 website: http://iueclocal23.org/ and entertainment complex, and to pro- vide health benefits to permanent em- ployees and remain neutral if they choose to unionize. ESTATE TAX: The Oregon AFL- CIO OPPOSES M EASURE 84. Sponsored by former Oregon Republican Party chair Kevin Mannix, Measure 84 would phase out Oregon’s estate and inheri- tance taxes by 2016. Less than 3 percent of estates are affected by Oregon’s es- tate tax, which applies only to estates worth more than $1 million. The estate tax doesn’t apply to surviving spouses, only to children; the tax is 10 to 16 per- cent after that first $1 million. It’s a small brake on the creation of an idle rich, and it raises over $100 million a year, revenues which are spent on schools, public safety, and social serv- ices. Backers are claiming the measure is about saving small farms, but state law already exempts farm, forest or fishing property valued at up to $7.5 million from the estate tax. MARIJUANA LEGALIZA- TION: One other initiative has a labor endorsement: M EASURE 80 —the Ore- gon Cannabis Tax Act — is backed by United Food & Commercial Workers Local 555, Oregon’s largest private-sec- tor union. Measure 80 would regulate the cultivation and sale of cannabis to persons 21 and over via state stores, and use the proceeds to fund state programs and drug abuse treatment. It would also help kick-start an agricultural hemp in- dustry in Oregon and promote hemp as a source of fiber, food and biodiesel fuel. In its Voters’ Guide statement, Lo- cal 555 argues that lifting restrictions on hemp could create thousands of new jobs, including a revitalized pulp and paper sector, as well as biofuel; and de- criminalizing marijuana would free up $60 million a year in police resources that would be better spent fighting dan- gerous crime. RETAKING THE OREGON HOUSE: Three and five years ago, the Democrat-led Oregon Legislature passed notable pro-union legislation, in- cluding making it easier for public-sec- tor employees to unionize, and making it harder for private-sector employers to force workers to attend anti-union meet- ings. But for the last two years, the Ore- gon House of Representatives has been split 30-30 between Democrats and Re- publicans. Unions find support from some individual Republicans on some issues, but on others, legislators largely divide on party lines. The Oregon AFL- CIO is putting energy into backing 10 candidates for the Oregon House of Representatives: Shemia Fagan, Ben Unger, Joe Gallegos, Brent Barton, Chris Gorsek, John Lively, Claudia Kyle, Caddy McKeown, David Gomberg, and Nathan Hovekamp. The state federation is also helping state Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson in her cam- paign for re-election, and Arnie Roblan, a state rep who is running for an open seat in the Oregon Senate. The Oregon AFL-CIO is also taking sides in two judicial races: • For OREGON SUPREME COURT, the state labor federation has endorsed Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Richard Baldwin, a former Legal Aid and workers-side workers’ compensation lawyer. Baldwin signed the AFL-CIO’s “statement of princi- ples” supporting the rights of workers to form a union without employer coer- cion. Baldwin is running for an open seat on the court against Nena Cook, a civil attorney and pro tem judge in Union volunteers in Labor 2012 T-shirts get ready to canvass door-to-door for Kate Brown and Brad Avakian. Brown is seeking re-election as secretary of state and Avakian is running for a second term as labor commissioner. Multnomah County. She is a partner in the corporate law firm Sussman Shank and is running with endorsements from Teamsters Joint Council No. 37 and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Oregon Area District Council. Cook was the winner in a three-way May primary, capturing 37 percent of the vote. Baldwin finished second with 31.5 percent. The two are vying to succeed Asso- ciate Justice Robert “Skip” Durham, who is retiring. The Oregon AFL-CIO is seeking volunteers to make phone calls to fel- low union members. To sign up, contact Jess at jess@oraflcio.org or 503-232- 1195, ext. 114. There’s also a canvass scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27. Union volunteers are fed, thanked, and given union-made T-shirts and jackets. “And it’s fun,” says Oregon AFL-CIO spokesperson Elana Guiney. • For COURT OF APPEALS, the Oregon AFL-CIO is backing Linn County Circuit Court Judge James Egan, a former U.S. Marine and Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army in Kuwait. He faces business lawyer Tim Volpert, a partner in the massive Davis Wright Tremaine law firm. Volpert successfully defended Legacy Good Samaritan when it was sued for missed rest and meal breaks. K NOw Y Our r IGhTS I f your employer forces you to work In dangerous work condItIons you can make a confIdentIal osHa by callIng (800) 922-2689. report to PAGE 4 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS OCTOBER 19, 2012
