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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.