PAGE 4 |
November 6, 2015 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
54 th C onvention of the O regon AFL-CIO
RESOLVED
ORGANIZED LABOR’S EMBRACE: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown exchanges a hug with Oregon
AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain Oct. 25 after convention delegates vote unanimously to
endorse her re-election.
ority for the February 2016 short leg-
islative session.
This convention was also noticeably
might be that dues become entirely vol-
untary for all public employee union younger and more diverse than prior
members nationwide. In the doomsday conventions. The Oregon AFL-CIO has
scenario, once public-sector unions are been busy making allies, and at the con-
weakened, union foes would follow up vention, it showed. Representatives of
with legal assaults on private sector and civil rights, immigrant, and environ-
mental groups filled
building trades unions,
panels and workshops
much as they did in
— and spoke on the
Wisconsin.
“Even if we win in 2016,
convention floor as
Leaders of the two
the fight won’t be over
guests of credentialed
biggest state workers
… Some observers are
union delegates.
unions—Service Em-
“The labor move-
calling the attack on
ployees International
ment
must be part of
Union (SEIU) Local
workers and unions not
the
larger
movement
503 Executive Direc-
just a crisis, but a sus-
for social and eco-
tor Heather Conroy
tained crisis, not just a
nomic
justice,”
and Oregon AFSCME
series of single problems
United Steelworkers
Executive Director
we’re going to have to
International Vice
Ken Allen — said
President Fred Red-
solve … but a systemic
they’re not waiting for
mond told delegates.
the court decision; the
and continual struggle.”
“We’ve got to stand
two unions, once ri-
— Oregon AFL-CIO Secre-
together and win to-
vals, are working
tary-treasurer Barbara Byrd
gether.”
more closely than ever
Delegates were
together, and both are
treated to an hour-
reaching out to repre-
sented workers to make the case for long debate by candidates for Oregon
Secretary of State [See article on Page
continued support of the union.
Already, a business-funded anti- 5]. And they resolved to endorse Gov.
union group has set up shop in Oregon, Brown for re-election in 2016.
Locked-out Steelworkers at ATI in
and is knocking on the doors of SEIU-
represented home care workers to sug- Albany got a boost at the convention.
At the convention welcome party, it
gest they quit their union.
Yet for all the threats, the mood was announced that State Rep. Dan
among delegates was optimistic: This Rayfield (D-Corvallis) will introduce a
year the Oregon Legislature passed a bill in February to extend unemploy-
statewide paid sick leave mandate that ment benefits for locked out workers to
national AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer 12 months (up from the current six
Liz Shuler told delegates is a model for months). And delegates twice passed
the nation. And the biggest debate at the the hat, raising over $2,700 for the ATI
convention was an enviable debate to workers and striking Iron Workers at
be having: whether to get behind a $15 Instafab.
“As long as we fight there is hope,”
or $13.50 statewide minimum wage. In
the end delegates opted for “all of the Chamberlain said. “This is our moment
above”—and heard commitments of in history. Let’s fight for a change.”
support for raising the minimum wage
from Gov. Kate Brown and House
Speaker Tina Kotek. Kotek said passing
SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE CONVENTION:
a minimum wage increase is the top pri-
Flickr.com/photos/nwlaborpress
From Page 1
Anti-worker trade votes Members of Oregon’s
Congressional delegation who supported Fast Track
legislation will get no endorsement or contribution
from the Oregon AFL-CIO in the 2016 election cycle.
But the federation will reconsider for those who oppose
the Trans Pacific Partnership.
Black lives matter The Oregon AFL-CIO commits to the
principle that “Black Lives Matter,” and will hold at least
one racial justice workshop for unions in 2016. It will
also petition the National AFL-CIO to choose Portland
as the site of one of a series of Race and the Labor
Movement town hall meetings it’s planning.
Raise the minimum wage The Oregon AFL-CIO
resolves to support the highest minimum wage
possible, affecting the most workers possible, phased
in as quickly as possible through legislation and/or a
ballot measure. It will also encourage affiliated unions
and their members to volunteer and support actions
organized to support the $15 minimum wage ballot
initiative.
Make corporations pay their fair share The Oregon
AFL-CIO supports Initiative Petition 28, aimed at the
November 2016 ballot, which would increase the
corporate minimum tax on companies with over $25
million a year in sales, and use the funds to pay for
education, healthcare, and senior services. It also
encourages affiliate unions to participate in signature
gathering efforts, contribute to the campaign, and
promote the ballot measure.
Invest in transportation The Oregon AFL-CIO supports
passage of a transportation infrastructure financing
plan based on the proposal brought forward in 2015 by
Oregon Transportation Forum.
ELECTED
President:Tom Chamberlain, Fire Fighters
Secretary-treasurer: Barbara Byrd, American
Federation of Teachers-Oregon
Vice presidents: Ken Allen, Oregon AFSCME; Jeff
Anderson, UFCW Local 555; Kelly Bach, International
Association of Fire Fighters; Paul Goldberg, Oregon
Nurses Association-AFT; Jon Hunt, Amalgamated Transit
Union Local 757; John Mohlis, Oregon State Building
Trades; David Rives, AFT-Oregon; Gary Young, IBEW
Local 48; Noel Willet, Machinists District Lodge W24
Executive Board members: Dan Clay, UFCW Local
Housing crisisThe Oregon AFL-CIO acknowledges there’s
an affordable housing crisis, and will work in coalitions
to make solving it a campaign issue at the state level.
No more starving students Oregon AFL-CIO supports
legislation to change state and federal eligibility rules
for food stamps so grad student employees are no
longer barred. Currently, students must work at least 20
hours a week to be eligible, but Oregon universities
prohibit graduate teaching and research assistants from
working more than 19.6 hours a week.
Free community college Oregon AFL-CIO supports
legislative efforts to promote access to two years of
post-secondary education in the state of Oregon at no
cost to students.
Ban the box The Oregon AFL-CIO calls for the
elimination of criminal history screening questions on
initial employment, housing, and financial aid
applications — as part of a larger goal of reducing
discrimination against people with a criminal history.
High stakes testing The Oregon AFL-CIO opposes any
legislation or statewide policy that links teacher merit
pay to high stakes testing.
Save the Postal Service The Oregon AFL-CIO calls on
the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors to offer non-
bank financial services to residents, especially in
underserved and underrepresented communities —
along the lines of recommendations outlined by the
Inspector General.
ONLINE EXTRA:
The final text of all the resolutions, as passed by
delegates, will be available at oraflcio.org.
555; Chip Elliott, Machinists District Lodge W24; Jim
Falvey, National Association of Letter Carriers; Bruce Fife,
American Federation of Musicians; Harold Fleshman,
Oregon Nurses Association-AFT; Jim Gourley, United
Steelworkers; Jeff Klatke, Oregon AFSCME; Drew
Lindsey, IBEW Local 280; Amanda Schroeder, American
Federation of Government Employees; Ken Saether,
Communications Workers of America; Al Shropshire,
Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290; Dave Tischer,
Laborers Local 737; Nelda Wilson, Operating Engineers
Local 701; Brian Dunsmore, American Postal Workers
Local 28.
HONORED
Legislator of the Year State Rep Paul Holvey (D-Eugene)
Rookie of the Year State Rep Rob Nosse (D-Portland)
Labor 2014 (Oregon AFL-CIO electoral effort)
Most volunteer shifts Oregon AFSCME, AFT-Oregon,
IATSE Local 28, IBEW Local 48, Iron Workers Local 29,
Laborers Local 296, NALC Branch 82, OSEA, UFCW
Local 555, United Steelworkers
Outstanding participation
Zack Culver of Laborers Local 296
Leadership in the workplace flier program
Willy Myers, Columbia-Pacific Building Trades
Leading By Example Award IATSE 28 President Rose
Etta Venetucci, for showing up to every event with 10
percent of her members
Union organizing
Largest private sector organizing victory
Oregon Nurses Association, at Providence Newberg
Medical Center
Largest public sector organizing victory
AFSCME, at Douglas County Juvenile Department
Most innovative industry campaign
UFCW Local 555 for organizing cannabis workers
Best long-term leverage campaign
UNITE HERE’s campaign at the Portland airport HMS
Host and World Duty Free