Laborers #296 gun raffle nets big cash for LCSA
Portland-based Laborers Local 296
held a gun raffle fundraiser to benefit
Labor’s Community Service Agency
and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance.
The local sold 200 tickets at $20 each
for a chance to win a Remington
semi-automatic pistol. The raffle
netted each organization $1,315.
Vickie Burns, executive director of
LCSA (pictured above with Local
296 Business Manager Ken Morgan),
said the money will go into its
Helping Hands fund. The grand
prize winner was Casey Scott of Scott
Wealth Management Group.
Paratransit workers
ratify first contract
Paratransit workers at First Transit-
Region 3 had a little more to be thank-
ful for on Thanksgiving, and they’re
looking forward to a holiday season
where money is a little less tight.
That’s after workers — members of
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
Local 757 — voted 110-11 to ratify their
first contract with First Transit, a con-
tractor TriMet uses to provide paratran-
sit services. The vote was held Nov. 21.
TriMet divides the service area into
three paratransit regions. For years, two
of those regions have worked under
union contracts for significantly higher
wages, better benefits, and with consis-
tent workplace policies in place.
Last year, by an overwhelming vote
of 110-31, workers in Region 3 voted
to join ATU. After a year of negotiations
they came to terms on a contract just in
time for the holidays.
Major workplace improvements in-
clude raises that bring Region 3 pay
closer to pay at the other two regions,
benefits for part-time workers who are
driving full-time hours, and a consistent
disciplinary policy, which some work-
ers say is the most important piece of
the contract.
Most drivers saw the contract as a
major step forward that can be im-
proved upon in the future.
Broadway Floral
for the BEST flowers call
503-288-5537
1638 NE Broadway, Portland
PAGE 12
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
DECEMBER 6, 2013