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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2013)
Two Oregon schools receive $5,000 AFL-CIO ‘Adopt-A-School’ grants Who’s On Our Side? By Tom Chamberlain O ver my 30-year career in the union movement, I have been to scores of conventions. Few have really left me inspired, educated, motivated, or with a clearer vision of our road map for the future. Last week’s national AFL-CIO conven- tion in Los Angles hit a home run. The AFL-CIO wanted a conven- tion that was a game changer, and they got it. Hundreds of “listening sessions” where held throughout the country over the past year. These listening sessions included affiliated leaders, rank-and-file members, activists, community members, educators, constituency group members ... I could go on. Four listening sessions were held in Oregon. The information gathered from those listening sessions were pre- sented to three pre-convention com- mittees: the Committee on Growth, Innovation and Political Action; the Committee on Shared Prosperity in the Global Economy; and the Com- mittee on Community Partnerships and Grassroots Power. I was assigned to the Committee on Growth, Innovation and Political Action. Our first meeting was held in Washington, D.C., in May to avoid the rushed review of impor- tant policies that happens at con- ventions. Oftentimes there just isn’t enough time to delve into the details and provide real direction and vi- sion. So, after four months of work, the pre-convention committees pro- duced resolutions ranging from trade policy to organizing, from deepening our community relation- ships to building worker-centers, and from new forms of membership to transparency and accountability. Collectively, these resolutions will transform our union movement into a workers’ movement. Not every American has an op- portunity to have a union contract. But all Americans who work for a living need the support that the la- bor movement can provide. A tran- sition to a workers’ movement re- quires us to develop strategies that improve workers’ lives at the ballot box, in state legislatures, in city halls, as well as through direct ac- tion, such as the Walmart and Fast Food campaigns. We’ll have to create new types of memberships that are community- based and bring like-minded groups together to create local community power. Resolutions also were passed to develop a strategy to organize the South. The automotive industry is an example of a growing manufac- turing sector in the right-to-work South. To grow our movement re- quires that we do not walk away from right-to-work states, but de- velop strategies and commit re- sources to increase union member- ship. In Texas, the American Federa- tion of Teachers is organizing teach- ers and gaining power through strong community relationships, and they’re growing power at the ballot box. We can do this in other states. The AFL-CIO convention placed a greater emphasis on state federations and central labor coun- cils, understanding that they are the delivery system for our movement. This requires that all state federa- tions and central labor bodies, as part of their annual strategic plans, develop an organizing component. This is significant. For the first time, the national AFL-CIO and national affiliates recognize the potential for state and central bodies to help move an organizing agenda. Resolutions also directed Presi- dent Richard Trumka to appoint a committee comprised of national affiliates, leaders from state feds and central bodies, and AFL-CIO staff, to establish a criteria for a peer review process for all local bodies. Each year the committee will select 10 states to undergo a performance audit. The audit will include the se- lected state federation and all cen- tral bodies, and it could lead to guidance in how to improve pro- grams, or suggestions for restruc- turing. The goal of the program is to ensure that we have high per- forming state federations and cen- tral labor bodies across the country. In exchange, national unions will be asked to ensure that their mem- bers are affiliated in all state federa- tions and central labor bodies. These are big changes, and they only scratch the surface of what was discussed at the convention. It was inspirational. It was motivating. And it laid out a clear path forward for the labor movement: one that will cause some growing pains, but that will set us up to be a stronger movement, fighting for our mem- bers and helping all workers get ahead. It made it clear whose side we must be on, and how to get ahead. Tom Chamberlain is president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. Sitton Elementary School in Port- land and the Clackamas County Chil- dren’s Commission Head Start in Mil- waukie have been selected as recipients of the AFL-CIO Adopt-A-School grant program. The one-time $5,000 grants were awarded to 21 public schools nation- wide to commemorate the 50th an- niversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The grant money will help support curriculum that shows students the his- torical connections between workers’ rights and civil rights. Local labor lead- ers and workers’ rights activists will be invited into classrooms to speak with students. The two Oregon grants were an- EE R F BARGAIN COUNTER Free classified ads to subscribers DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication Published 1st and 3rd Fridays Now accepting e-mails Send to: Michael492@comcast.net Mail to: NWLP, PO Box 13150, Portland OR 97213 (Please include union affiliation) • 15-20 words • No commercial or business ads • 1 ad per issue • All lower case (NO CAPITAL LETTERS, PLEASE) • Ads MUST include area code or they will not be published A UTOMOTIVE W ANTED ’55 chevy 210, 2 dr hT, totally restored, 350 c.i., turbo 350, dual exhaust, runs & drives great, $24,500. 503 630-3877 or 503-310-9417 OLd WOOdWORKinG tools, planes, lev- els, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, folding rulers, axes, hatchets, leather tools, tool chests. 503-659-0009 MOTORcycLeS, quads, boats, tractors, Rvs, trailers, bicycles, autos, lawnmow- ers, cash paid will pick up 503-880-8183 U.S., GeRMAn, Japanese military items, uniforms, aviation, hats, helmets, swords, daggers, bayonets, rifles, pistols. 503-852- 6791 BUyinG US & world coins to add to col- lection, paying fairly, any amount wel- come. 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 costume jewelry. 503 703-5952 ThiS OLd hOUSe, July 2013 issue. 503- 667-1093 H OUSING ROcKAWAy BeAch rental, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 10, Jacuzzi, 5 min to beach/shops.vacationhomerentals.com/4 3026 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/2ba, huge home on the beach! http://rockawaybeachfrontrental.com 200 AcReS, Spray Oregon, trees and wildlife, will carry contract, $750 per acre or reasonable offer,. 541-468-2961 Sporting Goods S&W MOdeL 25-2/1955. 45AcP cal re- volver, target model, 6.5” barrel, niB con- dition, 25 moon clips, $900. 503-366-0218 31’ chRiS cRAfT Sport fisherman, 1968, twin 454s, freshwater cooled, newer electronics lots of upgrades, $18,000 obo. 503-504-7876 1987 KAWASAKi motorcycle, Z5B, only 26,400 miles. $800. 503-539-0288. .45 AcP neW 8-Rd magazines by Wilson combat, stainless, some extras, $80. 503- 975-9011 Men’S hOdGeMenS breathable fishing waders, XL, new, $75; mens/womens farmer John’s wet suits, $50 ea. 971-409- 9625 PAGE 6 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS nounced Sept. 16 by the Oregon AFL- CIO and the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. “We’re extremely proud to present these awards and look forward to working with the schools to ensure that all students have access to quality edu- cation and that teachers have the re- sources they need to teach Oregon’s next generation of leaders,” said Bob Tackett, executive secretary-treasurer of the labor council. 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