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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2013)
Young elected business manager of IBEW #48 Flores, New face runoff for vice president’s post Gary Young, a 24-year member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 48, won elec- tion to a full three-year term as the union’s business manager. In mail bal- lots counted June 24, Young received 646 votes, Nancy Cary 402, and John Wilson 186. Young, 52, was appointed April 8 to succeed Clif Davis, who resigned as business manager to take a job at the international union as business devel- opment representative for IBEW’s 8th and 9th districts. Members also chose 13 other union officers from among 35 candidates. Erik Richardson was re-elected presi- dent, turning back challenger Dennis Ward. For vice presi- dent, Armando Flores will face Paul New in a July 15 runoff elec- tion; the two outpolled a third candidate, Jodi G ARY Y OUNG Tillinghast. Kathy Duncan was reelected recording secretary, outpolling challenger Cory Wyatt. For treasurer, incumbent John Sargent ran unopposed. Four candidates ran for and were elected to four positions on the Exam- ining Board, which evaluates candi- dates for membership in the local: Ray Lister, Oscar Merida, Terry Reigle, and Forrest Chapman. And six seats on the Executive Board were filled by the top vote-get- ters among 23 candidates: Members re- turned incumbents Rod Belisle, Paul Behrman, Marjorie Ramirez, Christina Daniels, and added newcomers Bruce Barnes and Topher Edwards. Voter turnout was 29.8 percent of the membership. Newly elected officers will take the oath of office at Local 48’s July 24 meeting. All terms are three years. The Portland-based union repre- sents construction electricians and sound and communications technicians in an area that encompasses Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. The local’s approximately 4,200 members work under 25 different con- tracts, the biggest of which is its agree- ment covering inside wiremen electri- cians in commercial and industrial construction employed by members of the National Electrical Contractors As- sociation. Local 48 members also have a presence in residential construction, Supreme Court overturns DOMA, LGBT working families celebrate WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, paving the way for the federal recognition of same-sex marriages. In a separate 5-4 ruling, the court dismissed an appeal by opponents of marriage equality of a lower court decision that found Cali- fornia’s Prop. 8 ban on same-sex mar- riage was unconstitutional. The dis- missal of the appeal means that same-sex couples in California can be- gin getting married again and that the states without equal marriage laws have some work to do to make sure everyone is receiving the full federal benefits that marriage brings, but that domestic partnerships do not. 7LUHG RI 3$,1" 0RVW,QVXUDQFH 3ODQV$FFHSWHG 3 528'/< 6 (59,1* 3 257/$1' : 25.(56 ) 25 2 9(5 < ($56 JULY 5, 2013 all couples with respect, but it also has major financial and legal impacts that will allow more same-sex couples to more effectively support their fami- lies,” Phelps said. “We will continue ef- forts to win marriage equality in more states, but there are also vital issues re- maining for the LGBT community — our lives are about more than mar- riage.” The Oregon AFL-CIO is among 200 coalition partners working to qual- ify the Freedom to Marry and Reli- gious Protection Initiative for the No- vember 2014 ballot. The initiative would make marriage legal for Ore- gon’s same-sex couples. The Oregon AFL-CIO says union members will be essential to getting the ballot measure passed in Oregon. %HHVRQ&KLURSUDFWLF :RUNLQJ LQ The Court’s ruling says that couples who are legally married are entitled to equal treatment under federal law. That allows all legally married couples to re- ceive the same income tax and Social Security benefits, among other federal benefits. “For LGBT workers, the decision means married couples must be treated as married in accordance with the laws in their state,” said Darren Phelps, ex- ecutive director of Pride at Work, a constituency group of the AFL-CIO that organizes mutual support between the labor movement and the LGBT community for social and economic justice. Pride at Work has more than 20 chapters nationwide, including Oregon. “Marriage equality is about treating KHOSVEULQJWKH UHOLHI\RXQHHG work as material handlers at industrial and commercial facilities, or are em- ployed by local broadcasters and gov- ernment entities. Young said one of his top priorities will be increasing market share, partic- ularly as the Intel expansion winds down in about a year. The project cur- rently employs about 1,300 union elec- tricians. “The future is bright,” Young said, “and we will take every opportunity we can to move things forward.” Young said he will also work to en- sure enforcement of standards in the electrical industry, to continue Local 48’s tradition of volunteerism and com- munity involvement, and to build unity within the wider labor movement. Lo- cal 48 will be locking arms with other unions,Young said, to defend the union movement against attacks like a pro- posed “right-to-work” ballot measure aimed at public sector unions. ‘Labor: A Working History’ opens July 11 in Vancouver VANCOUVER, Wash. — “Labor: A Working History,” will be on exhibit at the Clark County Historical Society and Museum July 11 through Dec. 31, 2014. An opening reception will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 11. Following the reception, author and University of Washington professor Dr. Michael Honey will present a special Second Thursday lecture entitled, “Links on the Chain: Labor and Civil Rights in Story and Song.” Refresh- ments will be provided by The Grant House Restaurant. Historical society members, military veterans, and active duty military per- sonnel and their families all receive free admission to the museum; otherwise, regular admission rates apply. It is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors/students, $2 for children, and $10 for families. The Clark County Historical Society & Museum is located at 1511 Main St., Vancouver, Washington. Oregon AFL-CIO confab in Bend Sept. 27-29 7UHDWPHQWIRUSDLQGXHWR RYHUXVHDQGUHSHWLWLYHPRWLRQ &KLURSUDFWLFDGMXVWPHQWV 7UHDWPHQWIRUDFFLGHQWDQG VSRUWVUHODWHGLQMXULHV 5HKDELOLWDWLRQH[HUFLVHV 7KHUDSHXWLFPDVVDJH ,QWHUQDOGLDJQRVLVDQGWUHDWPHQW /DEWHVWVDQG[UD\V BEND — Union leaders and ac- tivists, mark your calendars for Sept. 27-29 and the 53rd biennial Oregon AFL-CIO Convention. The convention will be held at The Riverhouse Hotel and Convention Center: 3075 N Busi- ness 97, Bend. Registration opens Friday, Sept. 27. That evening a Welcome Party will be held. Convention business gets under way Saturday morning, Sept. 28. The popular Union Label Show is scheduled Saturday evening. For more information, call the Ore- gon AFL-CIO at 503-224-3169, or from Salem call 503-585-6320. 'U'DQ%HHVRQ&KLURSUDFWRU 6(7KLUWHHQWK$YHLQ6HOOZRRG &$// NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS SW Washington Labor Council endorsements for August primary VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Southwest Washington Central Labor Council has issued endorsements for the Aug. 6 primary election in the state of Washington. Ballots are in the mail starting July 17. The labor council endorsed the re- election of Tim Leavitt for mayor of Vancouver and the re-election of Jack Burkman for Vancouver City Council, Position 1. Leavitt is being challenged by city councilor Bill Turlay. Burkman faces three challengers in the primary. The top two vote get- ters move on to the general election Nov. 5. Union delegates issued dual en- dorsements for two separate Vancou- ver City Council races. For Position 2, the labor council is backing political newcomers Alisha Topper and Ty Stober. They are chal- lenging incumbent Jeanne E. Stewart. For Position 3, the labor council has endorsed Anne McEnerny Ogle and Galina Burley. They are among four candidates trying to unseat in- cumbent Jeanne M. Harris. ...Bargaining continues at City of Portland (From Page 1) as a true assault on core union values,” said Local 483 spokesperson Megan Hise. Under the existing contract, the City has to notify affected union members if their work is going to contracted out. It also must demonstrate that contracting out will save the City money, and that the savings won’t be based solely on lowering wages and benefits. It’s a prac- tice that puts the reputed “magic” of pri- vate sector efficiency to the test. “We feel that [the contracting out clause is] not only good for job security for our members, but it’s a good protec- tion for the taxpayer as well,” said AF- SCME staff representative and DCTU chief negotiator Rob Wheaton. “We’re able to watchdog that it actually saves the City money.” The City is proposing wage in- creases, but City negotiators are saying the raises won’t be retroactive to the June 30 expiration of the previous con- tract. One City negotiator told union bargainers the City will save $4,000 for every day longer that it takes to resolve the contract. The next bargaining session is scheduled for July 10. PAGE 9
