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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2014)
Teach a Kid to Fish ... Union members spent a Saturday baiting hooks, untan- gling fishing lines, and reeling in fish at the 15th annual Klineline Kids Fish-in April 12 at Salmon Creek Park in Van- couver. April 11 was set aside for special needs children. About 300 kids participated. Hosted by Klineline Kids Fishing Nonprofit, with help and support from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Clark Public Utilities, Fire District 6, unions, and local busi- nesses, the program is aimed at getting kids outdoors and in- volved in fishing. Two days before the event, Klineline Pond is closed to the public and stocked with nearly 14,000 trout. More than two dozen union members from various locals joined other volunteers to help an estimated 3,000 kids ages 5 to 14 learn to fish. “We probably had 10,000 people go through the park on Saturday,” said Dustin Hysmith, a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 16 who serves as secretary on the Klineline Kids Fishing Nonprofit. “It’s a great event that keeps growing every year.” For a $5 registration fee, each child re- ceived a fishing rod and reel and a T-shirt with sponsor logos. Trophies are awarded for biggest and smallest fish caught, and there are raffles throughout the day for bikes and other fun stuff. Unions helping out this year were Sheet Metal Workers Local 16, IBEW Local 48, La- borers Local 296, Teamsters Locals 58 and 305, Machinists Lodge 63, Boilermakers Lo- cal 500, and the Fire Fighters Union. Plumbers and Fitters Local 290 members ratify two-year deal with contractor group Members of United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 290 rat- ified a new two-year contract with the Oregon chapter of the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association (PMCA). In voting held April 27 at the Ore- gon Convention Center and simulcast to Local 290 facilities in Salem, Springfield, Redmond, Medford and Eureka, California, members accepted the contract by a margin of 552 to 225. The previous three-year contract ex- pired March 31. Bargaining began in February, with the sides meeting twice a week until mid-April. “It was a very difficult negotiation,” PAGE 2 said Local 290 Business Manager Al Shropshire. “We look forward to a pro- ductive next two years.” The deal provides for pay increases of $2.75 the first year, and $2.75 the second year. Increases will come every six months at a rate of $1.50, $1.25, $1.50, and $1.25. At the contract’s expiration in March 2016 a journey-level fitter and journey-level plumber will earn $63.58 an hour in combined wages and fringe benefits. As is typical in construction bar- gaining, members decide how to divvy up the new money — whether it be in wages, pension contributions, or for health insurance. At the ratification vote on April 27 members decided to put the first $1.50 raise on their check. The group will meet again in Septem- ber to decide where to apply the next raise, which is due Oct. 1. UA Local 290 is a multi-craft union made up of more than 4,000 active and retired members specializing in the fab- rication, installation and servicing of piping systems throughout Oregon, Southwest Washington, and Northern California. PMCA represents over 250 plumb- ing and mechanical contractors in that area. NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS JR Robertson (photo above left) advises a youngster on the art of fishing. A few minutes later they landed a nice rainbow trout. Ronnie Jimmerson (photo above) helps a young girl and her mother bag a trout at Klineline Pond in Vancouver. Several dozen union members from IBEW Local 48, Sheet Metal Workers Local 16 and Laborers Local 296 volunteered on Saturday, April 12. “ I come out because I get a kick out of it,” said Jimmerson, who said he just started fishing a few years ago — and he loves it. •Preserves funding for 42 firefighters •Provides funding for 44 more firefighters over the next 5 years •Provides funding for up to 7 additional fire stations •Would improve response times and effectiveness M EMBERS OF T UALATIN V ALLEY F IRE F IGHTERS U NION IAFF L OCAL 1660 FULLY SUPPORT THIS LEVY Ballots are due by May 20th Join us and VOTE ‘YES’ for Measure 34-211! MAY 2, 2014
