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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2013)
NLRB says PIRG fundraiser broke federal labor law Oregon AFL-CIO E-Board endorses immigration reform At a March 5 meeting, the Oregon AFL-CIO Executive Board gave unan- imous approval to a resolution in favor of “common sense immigration re- form,” at the request of the national AFL-CIO. The state labor federation is made up of affiliated unions with a combined membership of 104,000, not counting the Working America com- munity affiliate for workers who don’t have a union in their workplace. The immigration resolution reflects principles articulated by the national AFL-CIO and Change to Win federa- tion unions. Those principles include a path to citizenship; an independent commission to assess labor market shortages; an effective work authoriza- tion mechanism to hold employers ac- countable; improvement, not expansion, of temporary work programs; and ra- tional operational control of the border. In a recent poll commissioned by the national AFL-CIO, 62 percent of union members said they favored a compre- hensive immigration reform approach that emphasizes workers rights and in- cludes a roadmap to citizenship for im- migrants currently living and working in the United States. Another 23 percent said they were opposed and 16 percent not sure. Support was highest in manu- facturing unions (67 percent) and lowest in building trades unions (51 percent). Respondents were read a description of this proposal, and asked if they agree: “The federal government would estab- lish a roadmap to citizenship for immi- grants currently living and working in the U.S. Employers who continue to vi- olate the law and hire unauthorized workers would be punished and face strict fines and penalties. In the future, employers would be able to bring in for- eign workers only when the economy is strong enough so that there are real shortages of workers, and those work- ers would have the same rights as all other workers.” Union supporter was fired illegally D AVID N EEL Eight Portland families struggle, in HBO documentary American Winter In the richest country on earth, millions of families have been left out in the cold Finally, a film about the human con- sequences of the Great Recession: On March 18, HBO will air American Winter, an intimate documentary filmed in Portland during the winter of 2011-12. Produced and directed by Emmy award-winning filmmakers Joe and Harry Gantz, it’s about how the economy plays out in the lives of eight Portland-area families. Years into the downturn, formerly middle class families are finding them- selves in financial crisis and needing as- sistance for the first time in their lives. Meanwhile, the social safety net that was created to help people in difficult times has been weakened by budget cuts. The film’s point is urgent enough that the Oregon AFL-CIO is making a copy available for showings at local union meetings. In Washington, D.C., U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) spoke at a March 6 screening. Local unionists are among those captured on film, which also includes interviews with Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish. The film airs on HBO March 18 at 9 p.m., and can be seen on HBO On De- mand. Since two dozen Portland call center workers unionized 16 months ago, their employer, the Fund for the Public In- terest, has fired at least nine union sup- porters. Communications Workers of America Local 7901 protested most of the firings to the National Labor Rela- tions Board, charging illegal retaliation. Up to now, the federal agency has dis- missed the charges: Investigators did- n’t find enough evidence that suppress- ing worker rights was a motive, in a high-turnover workplace where firings are routine. But on Feb. 27, the NLRB issued a formal complaint against the Fund, which is the fundraising arm for the U.S. PIRG network and its spinoff en- vironmental groups. In the complaint, the NLRB says the Fund broke federal labor law when it fired David Neel. Neel, a 35-year-old single father of two teenage boys, had done well as a fundraiser in 18 months at the call cen- ter. But on more than one occasion, he defended the union in arguments with call center director Referd Raley. On Nov. 2, talking with co-workers, Neel criticized Raley’s behavior toward em- ployees. Word got back to Raley, and on Nov. 6, Raley accused Neel of hav- ing submitted false numbers in a phone report, and fired him over the phone while Neel was driving to work. Neel denied that, and says he was fired illegally. The NLRB agreed, say- ing Neel was fired because he “engaged in concerted activities with other em- ployees for the purposes of mutual aid and protection,” and/or “because he en- gaged in Union activities.” Before issuing the formal com- plaint, the agency tried to get the two sides to reach a voluntary settlement. The Fund was willing to settle the charge and compensate Neel with back pay, but balked at his insistence on be- ing reinstated to his job. A federal administrative law judge is scheduled to hear the case June 25. Save Our Postal Service rally in Portland March 17 A Save Our Postal Service na- tional day of action will take place on St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17 — the anniversary of the great postal strike of 1970. In Portland, supporters will gather at Pioneer Square starting at 2 p.m. For more information, go to www.savethepostoffice.com. Washington CLUB golf June 12-13 Mark your calendars for June 12-13 to participate in the 13th annual Wash- ington CLUB Charity Golf Classic at Gold Mountain Golf Complex in Bre- merton, Wash. This year, the fundraiser for Holly Ridge Center, The Children’s Hospital-Seattle, and the Diabetes Re- search Institute expects to break $1 million in donations. CLUB stands for Contractors, Leg- islators, Unions and Business. For more information or to register, go to www.wa-club.org. (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 Telephone: (503) 288-3311 Editor: Michael Gutwig Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non- profit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils including the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore- gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union members. Group rates available to trade union organizations. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old and new addresses and the name and number of your local union. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150, PORTLAND, OR 97213-0150 PAGE 2 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS MARCH 15, 2013
