Judge unable to determine whether public has the
right to attend TriMet/ATU Local 757 negotiations
A Multnomah County Circuit Court
judge wants more information from
TriMet in order to resolve a legal fight
the agency is having with Amalga-
mated Transit Union Local 757 on
whether the public has a right to ob-
serve contract negotiations.
Local 757 says its members have
the legal right to require that the nego-
tiations be open to all stakeholders, in-
cluding community advocates, the pub-
lic, and the media, without restrictions.
TriMet, in contrast, argues that labor
negotiations aren’t subject to Oregon’s
Public Meetings Law; it proposes to
bar the public, and allow only media it
deems acceptable.
Bargaining on a new contract was
set to begin Nov. 30, but was put on
hold until the legal question is resolved.
On March 21, Judge Leslie Roberts
issued a 14-page opinion stating that it
Broadway Floral
for the BEST flowers call
503-288-5537
1638 NE Broadway, Portland
is not clear whether the negotiating ses-
sions are covered by state public em-
ployee collective bargaining laws or
open meetings law. She asked the par-
ties to submit information that clarifies
the role of TriMet’s general manager,
labor relations director and bargaining
team in the bargaining process.
“Rather than clearing the way for
new contract talks to move forward, the
judge’s opinion indicates that TriMet’s
process for negotiations remains murky
and confusing,” said Local 757 Presi-
dent, Bruce Hansen. “That confusion
left the judge unable to make a decision
without first obtaining additional infor-
mation.”
“We believe these sessions need to
be open because of previous claims
made during the parties’ last efforts to
obtain a new contract. Those claims are
proving to be untrue,” Hansen said.
“Executive pay raises hidden in a con-
tingency fund and service cuts and fare
increases tied to the purchase of a new
electronic fare system are just two of
many such instances where public
scrutiny might have yielded a different
outcome — for everyone.
“As the days pass, we are discover-
ing additional instances where the truth
turns out to be something quite differ-
ent from what was said during the bar-
gaining process.”
Hansen said the union remains com-
mitted to community attendance at ne-
gotiations and that he is “eager to sit
down and start bargaining in good
faith.”
Judge Roberts offered to do what-
ever she could to assist the parties in
achieving a speedy resolution.
On another front, the Oregon Em-
ployment Relations Board (ERB) on
March 15 denied TriMet's “motion to
stay” enforcement of a portion of an
earlier Board order that found the tran-
sit agency unlawfully implemented
health insurance charges on ATU mem-
bers starting in 2011.
The decision means TriMet must
post notices of its illegal actions and re-
imburse members for health insurance
premium contributions and medical ex-
penses while its appeal is pending be-
fore the Court of Appeals.
“It is important to remember that the
overwhelming evidence in this case
proved that TriMet decided to charge
employees more for health insurance
for the wrong reason,” Hansen said. “It
was not to save money. Instead, the ev-
idence showed it was to punish workers
EE
R
F
because their union filed a complaint
charging TriMet with negotiating in
bad faith.”
BARGAIN COUNTER
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DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication
Published 1st and 3rd Fridays
Now accepting e-mails
Send to: Michael492@comcast.net
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• 15-20 words • No commercial or business ads • 1 ad per issue
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Ads MUST include area code or they will not be published
A UTOMOTIVE
’12 mustang gt, all options except
gps, sticker $41k. asking $29k, has 5k
miles, candy apple red. 503-747-3967.
‘99 kIa sportage, 4-wheel drive with
hitch for towing over 100 miles $3,500.
503-637-5361
H OUSING
rockaway beacH rental, 3 bed, 2 bath,
sleeps 10, Jacuzzi, 5 min to beach/shops.
Vacationhomerentals.com/43026
lIncoln cIty vacation rental, 3 bdrm, 2
bath. sleeps 8, wi-fi, 2 blks from beach, 3
blks from casino. 503-653-2069
rockaway ocean front, 503-777-5076,
5 bdrms/2 ba, book now for summer!
http://rockawaybeachfrontrental.com
cedar HIlls House for rent, yard, 3
bdrm, 1.5 bth, $1,550/mo, near parks,
bus, maX, nike. 503-292-3308
VancouVer, 3 bed, 1 bath, beautifully
remodeled, non-smoking, no cats, $1,300
mo. 360-989-5177 (michelle)
Sporting Goods
HolIday rambler, 32’ travel trailer,
large slide, good cond, $8,000 obo. 503-
888-1019
2007 prowler, 30’, m-290fk, lrg slide,
2 doors, rear bdrm, like new, non-smoker,
1 owner, title, $14,000 obo. 971-219-3254
1995 companIon 5th-wheel, large slide-
out, 30 ft with Highjacker hitch ul 16. 503-
625-6538
16 ga wIncHester model 3, 12 pump
shot gun, $2,000 obo. lots of fishing gear,
poles, waders. 503-652-8590
12-foot Valco 1988, calkins trailer
1998, 1958 5.5 Hp Johnson, many extras,
$1,500 obo. 503-236-5822
daggers, bayonets, rifles, pistols. 503-852-
6791
buyIng us & world coins to add to col-
lection, paying fairly, any amount welcome.
503-939-8835
collector, cash paid, old fishing
tackle, wood plugs, reels, creels, salmon
fishing photos, etc. 503-775-4166
collector pays cash for older toys,
oil paintings, american art pottery, and cos-
tume jewelry. 503 703-5952
Ham radIo & short wave radio equip,
(no cbs), including older 1950s/60s/70s
equipment w/tubes. 503-823-4577
saVage rIfle mod. 99, .22 cal hi-power,
rotary mag, curved butt plate, take down
mod. 503-246-0742
M ISCELLANEOUS
roadmaster stowmaster towbar com-
plete with pouch $350. 503-649-4665
4-wHeel electrIc scooter, new,
paid $1,300, selling for $595 obo. 503-
799-1715
bruno lIft Vsl 600, lifting 300 lb, set
up for Jazzy scooter. 541-271-1321
cHIpper/sHredder, craftsman 14:1
ratio, good cond, 8.5hp horizontal motor,
owners manual, $200 obo, 541-752-6299
electrIc HospItal bed w/side rails,
trapeze, mattress, $475. 702-524-8207
george forman baby george rotis-
serie, used very little, like new, $40. 503-
252-5571
VIssanI 4.9 beer keg cooler refrigerator,
cleaning kit, empty keg, two years old,
$225. 360-892-6244
antIQue oregon license plates, 1919,
21, 22, fair condition, $50. 503-780-0374
(colton)
W ANTED
old woodworkIng tools, planes, lev-
els, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes,
wrenches, folding rulers, leather tools, tool
chests. 503-659-0009
motorcycles, quads, boats, tractors,
rVs, trailers, bicycles, autos, lawnmowers,
cash paid will pick up 503-880-8183
u.s., german, Japanese military items,
uniforms, aviation, hats, helmets, swords,
PAGE 10
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
APRIL 5, 2013