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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2014)
San Francisco passes nation’s first Retail Workers Bill of Rights The San Francisco Board of Super- visors, in a unanimous vote Nov. 25, passed a pair of city ordinances that in- tervene forcefully on the side of workers jerked around by big chain employers. The measures affect chain retail and food stores with 20 or more locations worldwide that have 20 or more em- ployees in San Francisco. Starting next summer, the companies will be required to give workers their schedules at least two weeks in advance, and pay workers one hour of pay for schedule changes made with less than a week’s notice, and two to four hours for changes made with less than 24 hours’ notice. Workers will also get compensation for “on-call” hours, and when they’re sent home early from their assigned shifts. And employers will be required to offer extra hours to current part-time workers before bringing on more part- time or temporary workers. Janitorial and security contractors for the retailers will face the same requirements. The ordinances are a reaction to the widespread adoption of just-in-time scheduling, with companies using soft- ware to decide at the last minute how many workers are needed based on traf- fic, sales, and even weather. Backed by a labor-community coalition led by Jobs with Justice San Francisco, the ordi- nances will improve the lives of an esti- mated 40,000 hourly workers, about 5 percent of the city’s workforce. Laborers Local 483 cartoon asks City of Portland to ‘play fair’ Laborers Local 483, which repre- sents workers at the City of Portland Bureau of Parks and Recreation, has a new publicity campaign calling on the City to end reliance on low-wage em- ployees who are classified as seasonal even when they serve year-round, year after year. The campaign, called “Play Fair PDX” launched Nov. 23 with a two- and-a-half minute video on YouTube. The video (http://ow.ly/EOewb) was produced pro bono by Mike Chastain of Umami Media, and includes cartoons by comic book artist Hazel Newlevant, who used to work for a Rec center. The campaign also has a Facebook page (facebook.com/PlayFairPDX) and a Happy Holidays From Your Local Union Dentist! Over 50 locations to serve you! SW Washington & Oregon Beaverton - 503.641.4207 Chehalis - 360.996.4075 Clackamas - 503.905.3380 Gresham - 503.253.4979 Longview - 360.578.9999 NE Portland - 503.254.0888 Downtown Portland - 503.224.0133 Salem - 503.391.8920 Salmon Creek - 360.718.2355 Tigard - 503.906.8600 Western Washington Arlington - 360.658.3131 Auburn - 253.333.9500 Bellevue - 425.450.9500 Bellingham - 360.734.1999 Bonney Lake - 253.862.1015 Bothell - 425.806.0077 Carnation - 425.333.4101 Everett - 425.513.2000 Federal Way - 253.838.3232 Issaquah - 425.391.7645 Kent - 253.856.3384 Lakewood - 253.581.2888 Lynnwood - 425.744.1022 Maple Valley - 425.432.4131 Marysville - 360.651.1882 Monroe - 360.794.0717 Mount Vernon - 360.848.6777 Olympia - 360.866.7669 Poulsbo - 360.697.2777 Puyallup - 253.770.4342 Renton - 425.430.2029 Redmond - 206.953.5850 SeaTac - 206.243.7788 Other cities and states are reportedly considering similar measures, includ- ing New York City, Washington D.C., Milwaukee, and Santa Clara, and Min- nesota, Delaware, New York and Michigan. Seattle - 206.623.2666 Sequim - 360.797.1100 Shoreline - 206.542.4444 Silverdale - 360.915.5977 Snohomish - 425-374.8451 Tacoma - 253.759.9291 Tukwila - 425.291.9555 Eastern Washington Ellensburg - 509.790.0080 Kennewick - 509.737.8555 Pasco - 509.542.9981 Spokane - 509.536.9999 Spokane (North) - 509.468.0866 Spokane Valley - 509.924.0055 Walla Walla - 509.522.2220 Wenatchee - 509.886.0500 Yakima - 509.457.5050 Twitter handle, @PlayFairPDX. Parks alone has over a thousand workers classed as seasonals, the union says. Many are in fact seasonal, but oth- ers work year-round in a great variety of jobs. Local 483 President Erica Askin said the union is challenging the bureau’s deployment of seasonal workers to do the work of union members, in a griev- ance that’s heading to arbitration. But the goal of the Play Fair PDX campaign is to build community awareness about it, and put pressure on the City. As one of the cartoon characters in the video puts it: “When the community backs up the rec workers, we have a fair shot.” l No out-of-pocket costs for most union trust plans! l Evening and weekend appointments available l No Insurance or Retired? 35% off most dental procedures; specialties are not included. *Please talk to our staff for details on offers and specials l Our more than 250 union members thank you for your support! Use your 2014 benefits before the end of the year! DECEMBER 5, 2014 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 5
