Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2014)
Labor groups oppose Tigard ballot measure targeting high-capacity transit Two large labor organizations are opposing a ballot measure in Tigard that they say is designed to cripple the Southwest Corridor Plan — a high-ca- pacity transit connection between Port- land, Tigard and Tualatin. Delegates to the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council (CPBCTC) and the Northwest Oregon Labor Council voted last month to oppose Measure 34-210. Bal- lots in the vote-by-mail special election will be counted the evening of March 11. It is the only item on the ballot. Union officials believe backers of PERC gathering March 20 The 28th annual Public Employ- ment Relations Conference (PERC) will be held Thursday, March 20, at the Salem Conference Center. PERC is a gathering of public sector labor rela- tions professionals from across Ore- gon, including attorneys, neutrals, and representatives from both unions and management. For more details and registration in- formation visit lerc.uoregon.edu or contact Helen Moss at hmoss@ uore- gon.edu. On March 11: Say ‘NO’ to Tigard Measure 34-210 the measure arranged for a special elec- tion (rather than wait until the May pri- mary) in hopes that fewer residents will turn out to vote, thus giving it a better chance of passing. If passed, the measure will make it the official policy of the City of Tigard to oppose the Southwest Corridor Plan unless it is specifically approved by voters. It will also require the City to send annual letters to every state and federal elected official from Oregon re- minding them of their opposition to high-capacity transit. Unless there is a specific measure passed by the voters first, the City couldn’t amend its com- prehensive plan or land-use regulations to prepare for any transit project, bus or rail. Metro, TriMet, Portland, Tigard, Tu- alatin and other area cities have been working on the Southwest Corridor Plan for years. The idea is to bring a high-capacity transit line from Portland to Tualatin, either by MAX light rail or bus rapid transit. Willy Myers, executive secretary- treasurer of CPBCTC, said backers of the measure are anti-light-rail conser- vatives, libertarians and Tea Partiers who are trying to gain a foothold in Washington County. One of the back- ers is the Oregon Transformation Proj- ect, an organization that helped elect conservatives John Ludlow and Tootie Smith to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners. “Their stated strategy is to make an anchor city oppose light rail to stop the funding and thus kill a $2 billion union construction project,” Myers told dele- gates to the NOLC meeting Feb. 24. “It’s time for labor to hold the line and defeat this poorly written and commu- nity-damaging ballot measure.” The Tigard City Council, Tigard Chamber of Commerce, the Westside Economic Alliance, the Oregon Envi- ronmental Council and dozens of other groups also oppose Measure 34-210. The Tigard City Council, which was unanimous in its opposition, pointed out that Tigard’s current city charter al- ready gives residents a transit vote. The charter states that voters must approve any new city fees or revenues for light rail construction in Tigard. Union members pass the hat, collect $450 for slain worker has been a county Delegates to the weighmaster since Northwest Oregon La- 2005. bor Council “passed Under Oregon law, the hat” at the Feb. 24 weighmasters have the monthly meeting and same authority as police collected $450 for the officers to issue citations memorial fund of AF- and even make arrests. SCME member Grady The Clackamas Waxenfelter. G RADY W AXENFELTER County Sheriff's Office Waxenfelter, a has announced a $7,500 Clackamas County weighmaster and a member of AF- reward for information leading to an ar- SCME Local 350, which represents rest, with $5,000 coming from the Clackamas County workers, was shot county and an additional $2,500 do- and killed Feb. 6 after pulling over a nated by O’Malley Brothers Trucking, commercial logging truck with no li- where the suspect was employed. Local 350 has established a memo- cense plate. As of press time, the alleged killer rial fund to benefit Waxenfelter’s fam- was still at large. Police have identified ily. He has a wife and three grown chil- the suspect as Dirck Morgan White, 41, dren. Donations to the fund can be made of Washington state. White has a long to: AFSCME Waxenfelter Memorial criminal record in Washington. Waxenfelter, 47, a resident of Esta- Fund, c/o Sterling Bank, 25529 SW cada, had been a Local 350 member Glen Dr., Wilsonville, OR 97070. You since 1987, when he started with the can also make a donation at any Ster- county as a mechanic. He was pro- ling Bank branch; the account number moted to senior mechanic in 1999, and is 9944634964. Free tax preparation available Labor’s Community Service Agency is spreading the word that low- to mod- erate-income Oregonians can have their income tax returns prepared free by trained volunteers statewide. CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Oregon, a non-profit group in partner- ship with AARP Tax-Aide, supports free tax preparation in 32 counties in Oregon at more than 140 tax sites. Many people who earn very little may be eligible for a refund. Tax credits MARCH 7, 2014 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS that many could qualify for are the Fed- eral and Oregon Earned Income Tax Credit, the Federal Child Tax Credit, and the Oregon Working Family Child Care Credit. Trained volunteers will help taxpay- ers sort through their questions and pro- vide assistance. Free tax preparation sites are avail- able statewide. For more information or to find a location nearest you, call 2-1-1, or visit www.cashoregon.org. PAGE 9
