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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2014)
Labor council stays out of Portland City Council races — for now Delegates vote to endorse Deborah Kafoury in heated race for Multnomah County chair Delegates to the Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC) voted Feb. 24 to stay out of Portland City Council elections until the City has a new col- lective bargaining agreement with the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU). City employees represented by seven unions rejected a tentative agreement Feb. 10 after nearly a year of contentious bargaining. The City has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the DCTU and, at press time both sides were in a 30-day cooling off period after having submitted their “last, best and final” offers to a state mediator on Feb. 25. Commissioners Dan Saltzman and Nick Fish are running for re-election. Neither has what is considered to be se- rious opposition. Both commissioners have endorsements from various union locals not associated with the city. In other political action, NOLC en- dorsed Deborah Kafoury for Mult- nomah County chair. Kafoury resigned as county com- missioner to run for chair. The seat opened mid-term, following the resig- nation of Chair Jeff Cogen. Kafoury is being challenged by former Portland city commissioner Jim Francesconi. Both candidates have received en- dorsements from various labor unions. Kafoury, however, was able to attain a two-thirds majority vote by NOLC del- egates. In Multnomah County, NOLC also endorsed incumbent Commissioner Loretta Smith; Jules Bailey, who is seeking Kafoury’s old seat; and the re- election of Sheriff Dan Staton. In Clackamas County, NOLC en- dorsed Commissioners Paul Savas and Jim Bernard for re-election. In Washington County, the labor council is backing Commissioner Greg Malinowski for re-election, and former Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse, who is trying to unseat incumbent Commis- sioner Bob Terry in District 4. At Metro regional council, NOLC endorsed the re-election of president Tom Hughes and the re-election of Councilors Shirley Craddick, Carlotta Collette, and Kathryn Harrington. NOLC took action on two ballot measures that will be on the May bal- lot. Delegates voted to oppose the Port- land Public Water District ballot meas- ure. Measure 26-156 would strip the Water Bureau from the city, taking with it several hundred union jobs, and plac- ing them under a new water board. Five large corporate backers cov- ered more than 90 percent of the costs to buy enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. It includes $55,000 from Su- perfund polluter Wacker Siltronic and $50,000 from timber baron Harry Merlo, formerly of Louisiana Pacific. The group spent more than $130,000 Workers consider strike after City of Portland worsens its offer The City of Portland doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to get a deal with its 1,600 workers who are represented by the seven-union District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU). Two weeks after DCTU members rejected a tentative contract agreement Feb. 10, the City submitted a “last, best, and final offer” that contains even less favorable terms. DCTU unions are now determining, one by one, whether to accept those terms or authorize a strike. Each DCTU union has its own process for deciding. Credit union to celebrate 60th anniversary at annual meeting April 15 Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 15, to attend the IBEW & United Workers Federal Credit Union’s 60th anniversary annual meeting. The meeting will be held at the IBEW Local 48 Hall, 15937 NE Air- port Way, Portland, starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call the credit union at 503-253-8193. Under Oregon’s Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act, the City workers may legally strike as soon as March 28 — at the expiration of a 30- day cooling-off period. Alternately, the City could “implement” its offer. (That’s labor relations parlance for when an employer imposes its terms on workers without their agreement.) Oregon AFSCME Council 75 Exec- utive Director Ken Allen said if the City implements, it would be like nu- clear war. “[With this worsened proposal], they hope to punish,” said DCTU chief negotiator Rob Wheaton, a union rep for AFSCME Local 189, the largest of the DCTU unions. “It underscores the City’s paternalistic attitude toward la- bor relations: ‘You guys have not be- haved. We’re going to punish you.’ They don’t see labor unions as equal partners.” Wheaton said he doesn’t believe the City will implement, considering that it’s facing political attack by a group of big water users. A ballot initiative on the May primary ballot would take water and sewer operations out of City con- Low Prices! trol and hand it over to a newly created public utility district. The proposed dis- trict would be led by an elected board, but the intiative contains many restric- tions on who could serve. AFSCME has so far contributed $20,000 to the cam- paign, making it the largest funder of the “no” campaign so far. “It’s going to be very difficult for them to do such an egregious act as im- plementing an agreement on us, while continuing to ask for political support,” Wheaton said. Texas Hold’em poker tournament March 15 for Doernbecher kids The third annual Unions for Kids Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament will be held Saturday, March 15, from 4 to 10 p.m. at Sheet Metal Workers Local 16 Hall, 2379 NE 178th Ave., Portland. Buy-in is $50. Top three winners will receive Visa gift cards of $1,000, $500 and $250. All proceeds from the tournament, which is in association with the Union for Kids Motorcycle Poker Run held in June, go to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. For more information or to register, call Emmy at 503-254-0123. Gradine Storms, Principal Broker Member of CWA Local 7901 7886 SE 13th, Portland, OR•Cell/Text 503-784-8326 Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9:30-5:30, Sun 12-6 PAGE 10 gstorms@equitygroup.com Linkedin/GradyStorms NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS on paid signature gathers. The labor council also endorsed a local-option levy for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. TVF&R is Oregon’s largest fire district, serving approxi- mately 452,000 citizens in the cities of Beaverton, Durham, King City, River- grove, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, and Wilsonville, as well as unincorporated portions of Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties. Brian Smith, vice president of the 350-member Tualatin Valley Fire Fighters Local 1660, told NOLC’s Ex- ecutive Board the fire district levy has- n’t sought an increase in nearly 15 years. A local option levy of 25 cents EE R F per $1,000 of assessed property value initially passed in 2000. Voters renewed the levy in 2004 and again in 2008. The money allowed for the hiring and/or re- tention of 36 firefighter medics; the ad- dition of two rescue units; replacement of firefighting safety equipment, in- cluding breathing devices and thermal imagers; purchase of rescue tools for accident scenes; construction of a new training tower, and more. In May, TVF&R will seek an addi- tional 20 cents, or 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. At press time, the local option levy had not re- ceived a ballot number. 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 ’96 HONDA CIVIC, 4cyl, 2dr, rebuilt 5spd, new clutch, headlights, timing belt, radiator, battery, black, $2,800. 541-206-0812 PARTING OUT two ’76 Chev and GMC ½ ton p/u, 2 whd, cheap parts. 503-630-4177 ’04 GMC SIERRA SLT, gas, extended cab, 4wd, loaded, low miles, one owner, $16,950. 971-201-8238 H OUSING ROCKAWAY BEACH rental, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 10, Jacuzzi, 5 min to beach/shops; Vacationhomerentals. com/43026 ROCKAWAY ocean front, 503-777-5076, 5 bdrms/2 ba, call for Fisherman’s Special, http://rockawaybeachfrontrental.com 100 ACRES, trees, wildlife, will carry con- tract, Spray Oregon, $750 per acre obo. 541-468-2961 W ANTED OLD woodworking tools, planes, leather tools, levels, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, rulers, chests. 503-659- 0009 MOTORCYCLES, quads, boats, tractors, RVs, trailers, bicycles, autos, lawnmowers, cash paid will pick up 503-880-8183 U.S., GERMAN, Japanese military, avia- tion, uniforms, helmets, swords, daggers, bayonets, rifles, pistols. 503-852-6791 BUYING US & world coins to add to col- lection, paying fairly, any amount welcome. 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 cos- tume jewelry. 503-703-5952 270 CALIBER RIFLE, bolt action, also 30.06 dies. 503-267-5695 G-100 JET PUMP, (Outboard Jet Pump Corporation), possible trade for Merc 100hp lower unit or ? 541-544-2030 S PORTING G OODS GOLF CLUBS, left-hand iron sets w/ bags; Titleist DCI 926, $45; TopFlite Tour, $45; Adams a2 hybrids, $100. 503-522-6542 KEL-TEC .32 pocket auto w/ Aim Point laser sight $250; Charter Arms .38 special snub nose $250. 503-209-3457 AMMO, NEW, 7.62X51(308 win) 350 rounds of match grade 147 gr, FMJBT in ammo can $300. 503-366-0218 24’ MARLIN 1989 240hp with 15hp Merc kicker, fresh water cooler, many electron- ics, runs fine, $7,500. 503-505-4622 1967 HI-STANDARD Sport King .22 auto pistol w/two interchangeable barrels, exc cond, w/holster, $375. 503-798-6517 1969 RECONDITIONED 14’ Fiberform boat, 40hp Merc, new canvas, deck, seats, paint, trailer, $5,000. 541-746-1928 SIG 229R custom, magnaport, carry melt, cust trigger box, 4 18rd mages, $1,000 obo. 360-750-1739 RUGER #1A 30-06 in 98% cond; Savage 99F .308 in 90% cond; Remington 700 ADL .270 in 99% cond. 360-225-5108 ’75 REINELL fiberglass cabin cruiser, 21’, trr new, inbrd 4 Chev, more extras. 503- 475-9268 or 503-637-6878 31’ CHRIS CRAFT Sportfisherman, 1968, twin 454s, freshwater cooled, newer elec, well maintained. $16,000. 503-504-7876 WINCHESTER model 1887 10 guage shotgun, good cond., $1,100. 503-953- 6511 GOOSE HUNTING lay-down blind, Final approach Prolander, new in box, $125. 503-830-8313 M ISCELLANEOUS BEAUTIFUL LADIES DIAMOND RING, 1/2cttw round & baguette, like new, cost $1,000, asking $400. 503-580-8797 MARCH 7, 2014
