Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2014)
Blood drive challenge issued at Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park The Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC) and Labor’s Community Service Agency (LCSA) are teaming up with Amer- ican Red Cross this Labor Day for a blood drive competition at the Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park. For many years, Red Cross has brought a bloodmobile or two to the picnic for blood donations. Typically, 30 to 35 pints of blood are collected, with the record being 70 pints. Last year, however, a labor dispute with the Oregon Nurses Association canceled the blood drive. But all of that has been settled, and the Labor for Life blood drive is back on. The labor organization that collects the most units of blood will have its name added to a perpetual trophy, plus bragging rights for the entire year. Roofers Local 49 won trophy rights the first year, and the ru- mor is they’re gearing up to take it again in 2014. According to the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in America gets a blood transfusion. Five million patients will need blood this year, with an urgent need for types O negative (the universal blood type), and B negative. One pint of blood can save up to three lives. Bloodmobiles will be parked at this year’s Labor Day picnic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizers are asking that union members pre-register so that donations can be collected as quickly as possible. The blood donation process takes about an hour. All donors will receive a free mason jar tumbler. You can pre-register online at www.red- crossblood.org. Plug in sponsor code “NOLC.” For more information, you can also call LCSA at 503-231-4962. (Editor’s Note: Oregon Nurses Associa- tion has represented nurses at the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross for more than 30 years. Teamsters Local 223 rep- resents support staff there.) Scavenger hunt will teach youngsters about unions A scavenger hunt for youngsters ages 1 to 18 will be held again this year at Oaks Park. The scavenger hunt entails using clues found in a “passport” to find the various unions at the pic- nic. For example, a clue might be: “We are the union that delivers your mail.” The answer is: the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). Participants must find the NALC picnic site (look for signage) and have their passports stamped there. Youngsters can pick up passports at Labor’s Community Service Agency’s (LCSA) booth at the picnic starting at 10 a.m. Once the required number of stamps are obtained, kids must return their passport to the LCSA booth, where they will be eligible for a drawing to win a bi- cycle and helmet, and other prizes. All participants will get free union-made (Franz Bakery) cookies. “It’s a fun way to educate youngsters — and their parents — about what it is union mem- bers do,” said Jeff Klatke, president of Oregon AFSCME Council 75 and chair of the children’s game planning committee for the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. For more information, call Klatke at 503-704-1665. Limited free food scrip offered at Oaks Park Labor’s Community Service Agency (LCSA) will provide free food and drink scrip for union families who are out of work and want to take part in the Labor Day picnic festivities at Oaks Park. Scrip will be limited to a certain amount per fam- ily on a first-come, first-served basis. “We want everybody to be able to come out and have a good time,” said LCSA Executive Director Vickie Burns. “We’ll verify their union membership and call members back with instructions on where to pick up their scrip at Oaks Park.” To make arrangements for scrip, call Labor’s Community Service Agency at 503-231-4962 and leave a message that you would like some scrip for the picnic. Presents From Partners toy drive begins Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC), in partnership with Labor’s Community Service Agency (LCSA), began working on their annual Presents From Partners toy drive last week. “It’s never too early to start thinking about how our friends and neighbors in need will cope with the holidays this year. The holidays will be here all too quickly,” said Bob Tackett, executive secretary-treasurer of NOLC. Presents From Partners is a holiday party for children of out-of-work union members. For the last 16 years, several hundred youngsters and their parents have enjoyed a catered holiday lunch, a visit from Santa, and the opportunity to receive several gifts. The BULL (Business, Union and Legislative Leaders) Session Charity PAGE 4 Golf Tourney in September generally marks the official kickoff of the toy drive. But this year, Tim Carrier, a re- tired business representative of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 5, took advantage of a huge blow out sale at Fred Meyer, and on Aug. 8 he dropped off a truck-load of toys. LCSA will be at the BULL Session collecting toy donations. This year’s event is Sept. 9 at The Reserve Golf Course in Aloha. Tackett has also requested that NOLC delegates bring an unwrapped toy to the Aug. 25 night meeting. Both NOLC and LCSA will accept toy donations now through Dec. 10. They are located at 9955 SE Washing- ton St., Portland, Suite 305 (NOLC) or Suite 211 (LCSA). Union Jobs Mean A Better Community Happy Labor Day from Roofers Local 49 Russ Garnett Business Agent Financial Secretary NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS • 5032 SE 26th Ave. Portland, OR 97202 503-232-4807 AUGUST 15, 2014
