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March 6, 2015 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
IN MEMORIAM
Operating Engineers Local 701
member killed in crane accident
Christopher Pierson, a
member of Operating
Engineers Local 701 em-
ployed at Axis Crane,
was killed Feb. 17 when
a 35-foot beam he was
placing detached and
pierced the cab of his
crane.
According to the
Multnomah County
Medical Examiner’s Office,
Pierson died of blunt force head
trauma. The accident is under
investigation by the Oregon Oc-
cupational Safety & Health Ad-
ministration.
Pierson, 40, was married and
had three children (see photo).
His widow, Robin, is a stay-at-
home mom to Aeri, 11; Owen,
9; and Braylen, 3. The family
moved to Keizer from Nevada
three years ago, at which time
he joined Local 701.
Robin Wicklander, president
of Local 701, said Pierson was
driving piles on a retaining wall
project for Union Pacific. The
accident occurred near the rail-
road tracks at 301 N.E. Second
Ave. in Portland at about 5:30
p.m. Wicklander said he
couldn’t remember the last time
a member of his union was
killed on the job.
Delegates at the monthly
meeting of the Northwest Ore-
gon Labor Council held a mo-
ment of silence for Pierson.
A GoFundMe account has
been set up on Facebook to sup-
port the family. Go to www.go-
fundme.com/mph5h4.
New Hilton contract raises wages above $15
UNITE HERE Local 8 has
reached tentative agreement with
the Portland Hilton Hotel and
Executive Tower on a new three-
year contract covering about 265
workers. The contract raises
wages $1.55 an hour and main-
tains health benefits and pension
contributions at current levels. If
ratified, housekeepers will get an
immediate 50-cent pay increase
retroactive to Aug. 1, 2014, and
another 25 cents every six
months, reaching $15.20 an hour
by the contract’s July 31, 2017
expiration. Wages for line cooks
and hosts are somewhat higher,
and dishwashers and banquet
bartenders slightly lower. Bell
staff and banquet servers get
minimum wage plus tips, but
have full union benefits and pro-
tections.
Management dropped a pro-
posal that it have the right to
schedule workers for short shifts;
under the contract, shifts have to
be eight hours.
Bargaining had been under
way since mid-October, but the
two sides reached agreement
Feb. 10 — two days before a
planned rally and picket.
Local 8 Secretary-Treasurer
Eric Van Rossum led bargaining,
but every bargaining session was
observed by 60 to 80 workers,
including the entire housekeep-
ing department, which would
come in on breaks to watch.
The union is recommending
ratification. Voting will be held
in mid-March.
The Portland Hilton is the
largest of four union hotels in the
Portland area, and has the high-
est wages. Others are the Para-
mount and Benson hotels, where
contracts expire this December,
and the Vancouver Washington
Hilton, which settled a contract
last June.
... Iron Workers topping out
From Page 1
building (by Anson Barrow, a
member of Operating Engineers
Local 701) for placement.
“This was a dream of my
grandfather’s for two decades,”
said Vanessa Sturgeon, president
and CEO of TMT Development.
Her grandfather, company
founder Tom Moyer, died in No-
vember.
The high rise initially broke
ground in 2008, just as the Great
Recession hit. Work was halted
in early 2009, which left a huge
hole in the middle of the city for
several years. TMT Develop-
ment restarted the project in
2013. Sturgeon told the Labor
Press Park Avenue West is on
time and on budget. Apartments
will be ready for move-in start-
ing in January 2016. Office
space will open in July 2016.
“I really enjoy working with
the labor unions,” Sturgeon said.
“They understand the balance
between the business-side and
the work-side. They’re smart
and savvy. They protect their
workers, but at the same time
they’re reasonable.”
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