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