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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2014)
EE R F Who’s On Our Side? By Tom Chamberlain T his April’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down limits on the total amount of campaign contributions a person can make was a deliberate power shift from the middle class to the 1%ers. We’ve created a super-class of Americans who control more power and wield more influence than we’ve seen in 100 years. You’ve heard this before. But I hope you’ll keep reading, because it’s possible that the Supreme Court is about to make it even worse, and you need to know what’s coming. There is no question that income inequity and its impact on the American family is entering a criti- cal phase. Between 1991 and 2011, Oregon’s median income dropped by approximately $5,000. According to Pulitzer Prize-win- ning journalist David Cay Johnston, real wages for the bottom 90 per- cent of American wage earners be- tween 1966 and 2011 grew by $59 per year. The average income growth for the top 10 percent over the same period of time was $116,071 — and we know the bulk of that increase was in the top 0.1 percent. To put that into perspective: if you say a $59 boost is equivalent to one inch, the incomes of the top 10 percent of Americans rose by 168 feet. I can’t think of an elected official who isn’t talking about wage in- equality. But while politicians wring their hands and talk in sound bites, AFSCME and the Service Employ- ees (SEIU) have taken action by or- ganizing low-wage workers. Childcare and home health care workers provide essential services for society. They take care of our kids while parents work, and in- crease the quality of life for the physically challenged and elderly. They are also very low-wage work- ers who have few, if any, benefits. AFSCME and SEIU have em- powered these workers, bargained higher wages, and sought health care and other benefits on their be- half. In 2000, 63 percent of Oregon voters amended the Oregon Consti- tution to create the Oregon Care Commission for the Elderly and Disabled, giving homecare workers the right to join a union and collec- tively bargain. Childcare workers were given similar rights in 2005. Tens of thousands of Oregon work- ers and their families are shrinking the wage gap thanks to these changes. In 2013, California Gov. Brown signed into law the Domestic Work- ers Bill of Rights, giving thousands of domestic workers the right to join a union and collectively bargaining for the first time. As union members, we must lift all workers up. Achieving collective power for workers who are exempt from the National Labor Relations Act through state laws is central to rebuilding the middle class. This brings us back to the Supreme Court, where we are awaiting a decision on a case called Harris v. Quinn. The decision in this case could not only reverse the gains made for low-wage workers, but could upend public-sector unionism. Harris v. Quinn is a constitu- tional challenge to the inclusion of state-paid homecare workers under Illinois’ public sector collective bar- gaining laws. The case was brought by the National Right to Work De- fense Foundation. The plaintiffs are non-member homecare workers. The plaintiffs argue that requir- ing all workers in the unit to be rep- resented by a union and requiring non-members represented by a union to pay their fair share of the cost of representation is forced as- sociation, which is forbidden by the First Amendment. The federal Court of Appeals in Chicago rejected this argument and upheld the law. Their ruling was based on a 1977 U.S. Supreme Court decision that rejected the First Amendment defense in a case re- garding fair share fees in the public sector. Worst case scenario: the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the 1977 decision and implements a free rider system that gives non-mem- bers the right to all the benefits of a union in the workplace without paying a dime. Even if the court doesn’t go this far, a decision that focuses on home healthcare, child- care and domestic workers would reverse 15 years of hard-fought gains for low-wage workers. Best case: the Court upholds the Court of Appeals decision, main- taining collective power for these workers. A lot is at stake in this decision. Our Supreme Court has ruled in fa- vor of corporations and against working people, but in this case we have strong precedent on our side. Some time in the next month, we’ll know where the justices stand when it comes to putting workers ahead of corporate profits. Tom Chamberlain is president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. Motorcycle poker run June 14; tickets to win a new Harley Davidson motorcycle still available The 12th annual Unions for Kids Motorcycle Poker Run & Chili Cook-off will be held Saturday, June 14, starting at 9 a.m. Unions for Kids is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization established in 2003 by union members and supporters to raise money for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. One hun- dred percent of the proceeds from its events go to that cause. To date, $390,000 has been donated. Most of the money is raised through a raffle to win a Harley Davidson Softail Classic motorcycle valued at $21,569. Tickets are $10 each, with only 5,000 tickets sold. The 75-mile motorcycle poker run starts and finishes at the IBEW Local 48 Hall, 15937 NE Airport Way, Portland. Registration is from 8:30 to 10 a.m. All poker hands must be returned by 2:45 p.m. to be eligible to win cash prizes. The event also features vendors, raffle prizes a silent auc- tion, and chili cook-off competition. The drawing for the motorcycle will be held at 4 p.m. PAGE 10 Unions for Kids president Lee Duncan said Hampton Inn, 3039 NE 181st Ave., Portland, is offering a discounted room rates for participants. The phone number is 503-669- 7000. For more information about Unions for Kids, the Poker Run, or to purchase a Harley motorcycle raffle ticket, visit www.unionsforkids.org, or call Duncan at 503-260-5905. 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 ’87 TOYOTA MOTORHOME, 21’, 48k miles, new tires, new roof air, automatic,15 mpg, $4,500. 503-473-4706 H OUSING ROCKAWAY BEACH rental, 3 bed, 2 bth, sleeps 10, Jacuzzi, 5 min to beach/ shops.Vacationhomerentals.com/43026 ROCKAWAY ocean front, 503-777-5076, 5 bdrms/2ba, huge home on the beach! http://rockawaybeachfrontrental.com 100 ACRES, trees, wildlife, will carry con- tract, Spray Oregon, $750 per acre OBO. 541-468-2961 2002 PREMIER PARK model, 39.5’, Ocean Park, WA with or without lot. 503- 289-0027 or 503-816-2000 special, needs tires, $700 OBO. 503-647- 2153 CRAFTSMAn 6hp, Hd rear tine tiller, $400; Farmall C with sickle bar mower, needs paint, gd rubber, $2,000 OBO. 360- 265-0869 S PORTING G OODS COllAPSIBlE TRI-POd, 24”-60” tilt swivel, $50; Celestron spotting scope, 12 to 36 zoom, 50mm $50. 360-823-3486 REMIngTOn 870 12 gauge pump (Wing- master) short barrel tact, stock and original stock, $325. 360-823-3486 (Jim) 1989 CABIn CRUISER, 24’, inboard out- board mtr, 15hp kicker mtr, lots of elec- tronics, runs fine, $7,500. 503-505-4622 RUgER SInglE six .22/.22 mag nib, $410; Marlin 39a golden Mounty .22 lever action, $800. 360-750-1739 W ANTED Old WOOdWORKIng tools, planes, lev- els, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, folding rulers, axes, hatchets, leather tools, tool chests. 503-659-0009 BUYIng US & world coins to add to col- lection, paying fairly, any amount wel- come. 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 costume jewelry. 503 703-5952 1947 FRAnKlIn High School yearbook. 503-522-6542 Low Prices! Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9:30-5:30, Sun 12-6 M ISCELLANEOUS BElT SAndER, 4”x106”, CR laurence CR 12200RP, wet abrasive w/roller platen, extra belts, $800; misc glazing equip. 360- 274-6397 HORSE TRAIlER, 2 axel, handy man Broadway Floral for the BEST flowers call IRS PROBLEMS? • Haven’t filed for ... years? • Lost records? • Liens - Levies - Garnishments? • Negotiate settlements. • Prepare offer in Compromise. Call Nancy D. Anderson Enrolled Agent NPTI Fellow/America’s Tax Expert LTC-1807 503-288-5537 www.nancydanderson.com 1638 NE Broadway, Portland 503-244-2577 Harley Davidson motorcycle raffle tickets can be pur- chased at the following locations: IBEW & United Workers Federal Credit Union, 9955 SE Washington St., Portland; Teamsters Council 37 Fed- eral Credit Union, 1866 NE 162nd Ave., Portland; Bounty Hunter Saloon, 11445 SW Pacific Hwy., Tigard; Midnight Roundup Saloon, 345 NW Burnside, Gresham; Gateway Pub, 39100 Pioneer, Sandy; Dita’s Chocolates, 38915 Proctor Blvd., Sandy; and Wooden Chicken Pub, 12500 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland. NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS MAY 16, 2014
