Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current, February 07, 2014, Image 7

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Northwest labor press., February 07, 2014, Page 7, Image 7

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Newspaper Page TextOregon AFL-CIO prioritizes bills for 35-day legislative session SALEM — Oregon lawmakers be- gan a short legislative session Feb. 3, with plans to adjourn by March 9. Coor- dinating for organized labor, the Oregon AFL-CIO is prioritizing several bills. One would make it illegal for large employers to cut workers’ hours in or- der to avoid the obligation to provide health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Federal penalties of $2,000 a year per full-time employee were sup- posed to kick in Jan. 1 for companies with over 50 employees — if any of their employees purchased government- subsidized coverage through the new individual insurance exchanges because their employer wasn’t providing it. But President Barack Obama last fall an- nounced he would delay enforcement of that provision for one year. Some companies are seeking to avoid the penalty by reducing hours below 30 in a week — the law’s threshold for defin- ing full-time. Under Oregon Senate Bill 1543, sponsored by State Senator Michael Dembrow, companies could owe back pay and punitive damages if they reduce hours for the sole purpose of evading the law’s requirements. SB 1543 also contains a provision making health insurance available to commu- nity college and public university fac- ulty whose part-time hours at several schools add up to full time. The other priority bill, says Oregon AFL-CIO Legislative Director Elana Guiney, would make it clear that ap- prenticeship training programs are part of Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber’s “40-40-20” education goal. Under leg- islation passed in 2011, the state set a goal that by 2025, all adult Oregonians would have at least a high school diploma: 40 percent would have a bach- elors degree or higher, 40 percent would have an associates degree or some kind of post-secondary certificate, and 20 percent would have just a high school diploma or GED. SB 1543, which passed unanimously out of committee on the session’s first day, would add ap- prenticeship programs registered with State Apprenticeship and Training Council to that middle 40. They were overlooked previously. Guiney said the state labor federa- tion will also be pushing to revive plans for a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River. The Oregon Legislature last year approved spending $450 million for the bridge on condition that the Washing- ton Legislature match it and the project get federal funding. But the Washing- ton Senate refused to vote on a trans- portation funding package. Since then, Kitzhaber has tried to renew funding on a go-it-alone basis, but Oregon legisla- tors have balked. If it’s ever built, the bridge would be a massive employer of construction workers. But Kitzhaber has said he will declare the project dead if the Oregon Legislature doesn’t act during this session to resuscitate it. As of press time, no bridge building bill had been introduced. Guiney said the Oregon AFL-CIO will also act to support bills backed by affiliates and other unions. Those could include bills that would: • Curb initiative petition circulator abuses; • Bring certain firefighters currently classed as supervisors into the category of workers eligible for union represen- tation; • Let private individuals hire home care workers for themselves or family from the state registry maintained by the Home Care Commission; and • Require agencies employing indi- viduals with disabilities to pay state minimum wage and otherwise comply with state labor and occupational health and safety laws. IMPORTANT DATES: Work ses- sion for bills must be set by Feb. 7. Only bills that make the deadline and are scheduled for a hearing by Feb. 13 will move forward this session. Your Local Union Dentist! Convenient locations throughout Washington and Oregon • REFER A FRIEND! or family member and receive a $25 gift certificate from a unionized grocery store (not including immediate family). • ORTHODONTICS! For union members and their families receive 25% off Orthodontic or Invisalign services (not available at all locations). • NO INSURANCE/RETIRED? Receive 35% off for most dental procedures (specialties are not included). Over 50 locations to serve you in Oregon & Washington! Oregon and SW Washington Beaverton - 503.641.4207 Chehalis - 360.996.4075 NEW! Clackamas - 503.905.3380 Gresham - 503.253.4979 Longview - 360.578.9999 FEBRUARY 7, 2014 NEW! NE Portland - 503.254.0888 NEW! Downtown Portland - 503.224.0133 SE Portland - 503.788.1415 Salem - 503.391.8920 Salmon Creek - 360.718.2355 NEW! Tigard - 503.906.8600 Western Washington Arlington - 360.658.3131 Auburn - 253.333.9500 Bellevue - 425.450.9500 Bellingham - 360.734.1999 Bonney Lake - 253.862.1015 Bothell - 425.806.0077 Carnation - 425.333.4101 Everett - 425.513.2000 Federal Way - 253.838.3232 Issaquah - 425.391.7645 Kent - 253.856.3384 Lakewood - 253.581.2888 Lynnwood - 425.744.1022 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS Maple Valley - 425.432.4131 Marysville - 360.651.1882 Monroe - 360.794.0717 Mount Vernon - 360.848.6777 Olympia - 360.866.7669 Poulsbo - 360.697.2777 Puyallup - 253.770.4342 Renton - 425.430.2029 Redmond - 206.953.5850 SeaTac - 206.243.7788 Seattle - 206.623.2666 Sequim - 360.797.1100 Shoreline - 206.542.4444 NEW! Silverdale - 360.915.5977 Snohomish - 425-374.8451 Tacoma - 253.759.9291 Tukwila - 425.291.9555 Eastern Washington Ellensburg - 509.790.0080 Kennewick - 509.737.8555 Pasco - 509.542.9981 Spokane - 509.536.9999 Spokane (North) - 509.468.0866 Spokane Valley - 509.924.0055 Walla Walla - 509.522.2220 Wenatchee - 509.886.0500 Yakima - 509.457.5050 PAGE 7