Protesters disrupt airport mail facility in Portland
Calling themselves “postal protec-
tors,” 10 people blocked the entrance
to the Portland Air Cargo Center
(U.S. Postal Service) June 15, dis-
rupting several morning mail runs.
The 10 were among 40 demonstrators
chanting, picketing and holding ban-
ners that read “Stop Privatization of
the People’s Postal Service” and
“Save Family Wage, Union Jobs.”
“Postal truckers, mail handlers and
mail processing clerks are losing their
jobs to profiteering, private corpora-
tions,” said Jamie Partridge, a retired
member of Letter Carriers Branch 82,
and one of those who blocked the en-
trance. “We intend to disrupt this at-
tack on our communities.”
The protesters are members and
supporters of Portland Communities
and Postal Workers United
(PCPWU), which has been fighting
cuts and closures to the postal service
for the past year. In May of 2012, 10
activists were arrested occupying
Portland’s University Station post of-
fice, which has since been closed. In
April, five protesters went to jail for a
civil disobedience action at the Salem
mail processing plant, which is now
being dismantled with mail process-
ing machines moving to Portland.
Postal mail handlers and process-
ing clerks are losing their jobs in
Salem as the work is being subcon-
tracted to a low-wage, non-postal,
nonunion corporation in Portland.
At the same time, Portland postal
truckers are being put on standby
“Postal protectors” block the entrance to the Portland Air Cargo Center June
15, disrupting several mail runs by the U.S. Postal Service. The protesters are
members and supporters of Portland Communities and Postal Workers
Union, which is fighting cuts and closures to the postal service.
while a low-wage, non-postal,
nonunion trucking company takes
their work.
“This privatization and union-bust-
ing is being carried out in the name of
a phony financial emergency,” said
Rev. John Schwiebert, who was part
of the June 15 blockade. “The secu-
rity, safety, and timely delivery of the
mail are all at risk. Rural communi-
ties, seniors and the disabled, small
businesses and low-income commu-
nities are hit the hardest. Postal man-
agement needs to stop and reverse
these closures, cuts, and subcontracts
which are sending our beloved postal
service into a death spiral.”
PCPWU and postal unions say the
“financial emergency” is phony.
Since 2006 the USPS has been forced
to spend nearly 10 percent of its
budget pre-funding retiree health ben-
efits 75 years in advance. No other
U.S. agency or private business faces
such a crushing financial burden. Not
only would the postal service have
been profitable without the mandate,
the USPS has also over-paid tens of
billions into two pension funds.
In the past year, the postmaster
general has closed 30 percent of mail
processing plants, reduced hours by
25 to 75 percent in half of post of-
fices, put 30 percent of post offices up
for sale, subcontracted trucking and
mail handling, eliminated tens of
thousands of family wage postal jobs,
and delayed mail delivery.
Postal workers have seen their
wages cut by 25 percent for new
hires. Bottom tier postal support em-
ployees (truckers and clerks) and mail
handler assistants now make less in
wages and benefits than the non-
postal, non-union sub-contract work-
ers, PCPWU said.
The agenda of corporate America,
their friends in Congress and in postal
management, according to the
CPWU, is to cripple the USPS, to
soften it up for union busting and pri-
vatization. The USPS is a $65 billion
annual business with over $100 bil-
lion surplus in its pension and retiree
health benefit funds, over 30,000 post
offices and 200,000 vehicles. Postal
activists claim that America is being
confronted with a huge transfer of
public wealth to for-profit, private
corporations.
Maritime unions formalize Maritime Labor Alliance
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Leaders
from the International Longshore and
Warehouse Union (ILWU), the Amer-
ican Radio Association, the Inland-
boatmen’s Union (IBU), the Interna-
tional Longshoremen’s Association
(ILA), the International Organization
of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P)
and the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial
Association (MEBA) met in Washing-
ton, D.C., June 6 to formalize the Mar-
itime Labor Alliance.
Participants unanimously appointed
MM&P President Don Marcus as pres-
ident of the Alliance, which was
formed in 2012 to protect maritime
unions’ jurisdiction. MEBA President
Mike Jewell was tapped secretary-
treasurer.
The Alliance’s Executive Commit-
tee will be comprised of ILWU Presi-
dent Bob McEllrath, ARA President
John Radcliffe, IBU President Alan
Cote, and ILA President Harold
Daggett.
“The members of the Maritime La-
bor Alliance are united and speak with
one voice,” Marcus said. “Our respec-
tive memberships, whether shore side
or at sea, are stronger together under
the Alliance.”
Marcus said the existing structures
that the unions work within “aren’t suf-
ficient.”
“We will work more closely to-
gether to promote the economic viabil-
ity of U.S. ports and the United States-
flag shipping industry. Our jobs
depend on it. It cannot be business as
usual,” he said.
ILA’s Daggett views the Maritime
Labor Alliance “as a powerful labor
force that will protect maritime unions’
jurisdiction and make certain all mar-
itime voices are heard and respected.”
Attempt by House GOP to repeal
Davis-Bacon proviso goes down
WASHINGTON, D.C. (PAI) —
Another attempt by House Republi-
cans to repeal federal Davis-Bacon Act
requirements went down in flames on
June 4.
The Davis-Bacon Act requires con-
tractors to pay area prevailing wages
on federally-funded construction proj-
ects. The law prevents fly-by-night
contractors from low-balling bids and
exploiting workers.
U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa)
tried to attach an amendment to the
2014 military construction and veter-
ans Affairs appropriations bill (H.R.
2216) to exempt all military construc-
tion projects from the Davis-Bacon
Act.
The motion failed 231-192, with 36
Republicans joining 195 Democrats in
opposition.
King has made a name for himself
as one of the GOP’s outstanding haters
of unions. King is a Tea Party favorite
and a contender for the seat of U.S.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who is re-
tiring next year.
King tried unsuccessfully to kill
Davis-Bacon last year, too.
National AFL-CIO Building Trades
President Sean McGarvey lauded the
PAGE 4
lawmakers for keeping Davis-Bacon
and said King’s defeat should signal
House GOP leaders to stop future tries.
McGarvey called the votes to kill
Davis-Bacon “a waste of time.”
“Even within what is widely con-
sidered to be the most conservative
House of Representatives in a genera-
tion, the amendment was defeated by
a decisive vote,” McGarvey said. “No-
tably, 36 Republicans voted ‘no,’ reaf-
firming the fact that a significant num-
ber of conservatives recognize the
utility of ensuring that federal con-
struction projects do not become the
vehicle through which local commu-
nity standards are undermined by ‘low-
road’ contractors that seek competitive
advantage through the deployment of
a low-wage, low-skill, easily exploited
workforce.”
H.R. 2216 was approved by the
House on a vote of 421-4.
Broadway Floral
for the BEST flowers call
503-288-5537
Expires 05/31/2013
1638 NE Broadway, Portland
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
MAY 17, 2013