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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 2015)
PAGE 4 | October 2, 2015 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS OREGON MULTNOMAH COUNTY Oregon right-to-work measure could get rewrite $15 minimum wage ballot measure hits the streets $13.50 minimum wage ballot measure filed A pair of anti-union ballot meas- ures are expected to be with- drawn after the Oregon Supreme Court on Sept. 10 up- held the state’s official sum- mary: “Non-union public em- ployees may benefit from union bargaining without sharing rep- resentation costs.” That sum- mary would poll poorly with voters, so the measure’s chief petitioner says she’ll draft a new version and try again to get a more advantageous ballot title. On Sept. 26, volunteers in 20 Oregon cities began collecting signatures to qualify an Oregon ballot measure to increase the state minimum wage. The meas- ure — which has been endorsed by dozens of unions — would raise the wage to $11.50 in 2017, $13.25 in 2018, and $15 in 2019. To place the measure on the November 2016 ballot, supporters need to collect 88,184 valid signatures by July 1, 2016. The recently-formed Raise the Wage coalition announced Sept. 28 that it’s filing a ballot meas- ure to increase Oregon’s mini- mum wage to $13.50 over two years — and let cities go higher. The labor-community coalition, backed by some of the same unions behind the $15 measure, wants Oregon lawmakers to pass its proposal in February 2016. If they fail to do so, Raise the Wage would try to get it on the November 2016 ballot. Teamster Lehrbach and AFGE’s Schroeder to vie for Multnomah County Board seat Retired Teamsters leader Lynn Veterans Administration since Lehrbach says he plans to run 2005. She is a rating specialist, for Multnomah County determining whether Board for the District 4 and how much benefits seat currently held by veterans are entitled to Diane McKeel. That when they file claims. would make him the A third-generation second union leader to union member, she’s seek that seat: Amanda been president of Local Schroeder — president 2157 since 2013. She of American Federation sits on the human rights of Government Em- Lynn Lehrbach committee of her na- ployees (AFGE) Local tional union, and is na- 2157 — announced her tional women’s advi- candidacy Aug. 29. Mc- sory coordinator for Keel is serving her sec- AFGE’s eight-state ond four-year term on District 11. Thus far, the board, and is pre- she’s been endorsed by vented from running CWA Local 7901 and again by term limits. AFGE Local 3937. Lehrbach said he will Neither Lehrbach launch his campaign at nor Schroeder have of- Amanda an upcoming meeting ficially filed to run yet. Schroeder of the Northwest Ore- The filing deadline is gon Labor Council, March 8, 2016. where he was formerly first vice The one candidate who has president. Lehrbach — a former filed is insurance agent Lori president of Teamsters Local Stegmann, a member of Gre- 162 — was the long-time repre- sham City Council. Stegmann sentative of Teamsters Joint made her campaign announce- Council 37, and worked as a ment at a meeting of the Gre- construction representative for sham Chamber of Commerce, the Teamsters international where she’s a former board union. He currently is president member. Stegmann is registered of the Teamsters Retirees Club. as a Republican; Lehrbach and He served one four-year term on Schroeder are Democrats. the TriMet board of directors. County Board seats are non-par- Schroeder has worked at the tisan. AFSCME’s Botkin picked for MESD Board You need a lawyer who understands how your union disability benefits and your Social Security disability benefits will fit together. Mary Botkin, a retired was sworn in Sept. 15. lobbyist for Oregon The appointment is for AFSCME Council 75, two years. was appointed to fill a Workers at MESD vacant Zone 2 seat on are represented by AF- the Multnomah Educa- SCME Local 1995 and tion Service District’s the Oregon Education board of directors. Association. MESD pro- The MESD Board vides special education voted unanimously for and other services to eight Mary Botkin Botkin, who won out school districts, including over two other applicants. She Portland Public Schools. PERSONNEL CHANGES Chris Hewitt, director of organ- izing at the Oregon AFL-CIO, left to work for Oregon Nurses Association in September. The Oregon AFL-CIO is looking for a replacement. The Oregon AFL-CIO has hired a new staffperson for Cen- tral Oregon: Darcy Bedortha begins work Oct. 6 at the Bend office, replacing Bruce Morris. At Oregon Nurses Associa- tion, labor relations director Paul Goldberg has retired after 11 years in the job. His replace- ment is Alan Yoder, who served as ONA’s in-house attor- ney from 2000 to 2015. Elizabeth Swager, director since 2013 of the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign, went to work Oct. 1 as national organ- izer for the Citizen Trade Cam- paign, OFTC’s parent group. OFTC is looking for a replace- ment. Swager will remain in Portland in her new position.
