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