Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2016)
PAGE 12 | September 2, 2016 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS A DAY FOR PICNICS Every year on Labor Day, union members come together to celebrate family and community. Here are this year’s events. PORTLAND — The region’s largest Labor Day picnic takes place at Oaks Amusement Park in Southeast Portland, sponsored by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, AFL-CIO. FOOD-DRINK-FUN Members and their families from dozens Deluxe ride bracelets $10 Food/drink scrip 50¢ of unions – up to 20,000 people – turn Burger + chips 3 scrip Hot dog + chips 2 scrip out for barbecue, Chili 1 scrip games, carnival rides, Beer 4 scrip raffle drawings, Pop 2 scrip music, and a chance Water 1 scrip to hear from local politicians. The picnic runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Politicians take the stage at 1 p.m. There will be a blood drive challenge, kids scavenger hunt, and free scrip for out-of-work union members. For more information, call the Northwest Oregon Labor Council at 503-235-9444. Best way to get there: Parking can be scarce in and around Oaks Park on Labor Day, the park’s busiest day of the year. But there’s plenty of parking five miles LABOR DAY Monday, September 5 north at OMSI, the McLoughlin Overpass, McCoy Millwork, and the Portland Opera. The Oregon Pacific Railroad shuttles between OMSI and Oaks Park from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. — $5 round trip for adults, free for kids 12 and under. The train boards at Southeast 4th and Caruthers. ASHLAND — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Emigrant Lake, Picnic Shelter D, 5505 Highway 66, Ashland. Lunch will be served at noon. Sponsored by the Southern Oregon Central Labor Chapter. BEND — 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Pioneer Park, NW Wall St., Bend. There will be food, drinks, and music. Please bring dessert; everything else is provided. Bring your family! Invite your friends! Sponsored by the Central Oregon Central Labor Chapter. COWLITZ-WAHKIAKUM COUNTIES — Toutle River RV Resort, 150 Happy Trails, Castle Rock, Washington, Exit 52 off I-5. Grilling hamburgers and hot dogs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your favorite side dish to share. There will be music, swimming, kids’ games, a bouncy house, a giant croquet tournament, and more. Please bring a school supply or two to donate to the local school district. EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD — Willamalane Park Shelters, 6100 Thurston Road, Springfield (behind splash pool). Starts at noon. Please bring a side dish to share. Sponsored by the Lane County Central Labor Chapter. NORTH BEND/COOS BAY — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ferry Road Park, North Bend. Music, games and fun for the whole family. Please bring a donation of non- perishable food items. Sponsored by the Southwestern Oregon Central Labor Chapter. SALEM — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Waterfront Park. A barbecue, side dishes and soft drinks will be provided from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost: two non- perishable food items per person, or $2 per person for the Marion/Polk Food Bank. Sponsored by Marion- Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Chapter. McConnell says TPP won’t get Senate vote in lame-duck session WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc- Connell (R-Kentucky) on Aug. 26 said he will not bring up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement for a Congres- sional vote in the post-election lame duck session. The sweeping trade deal be- tween the United States and 11 Pacific Rim nations was negoti- ated in secret by government of- ficials and corporate lobbyists. It received fast track status, al- lowing for an up-or-down vote by Congress, with limited de- bate and no amendments. The Obama Administration has made a major push to round up majority support for the TPP and have Congress vote on it this year—before a new admin- stration takes over in 2017. The TPP is opposed by both major party presidential nominees. McConnell’s announcement was applauded by opponents of the trade deal, including organ- ized labor. “Oregon’s unions have not typically agreed with the deci- sions made by Sen. McConnell, but the choice not to hold a vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership is absolutely the right call,” said Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain. Chamberlain said Oregon and the United States can’t af- ford another NAFTA-style free- trade deal that sends more jobs overseas for the sake of corpo- rate profits. “What we need are trade policies designed to give working people opportunities instead of shuttered factories, unemployment, and a global race to the bottom,” he said. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D- Oregon) said pushing the trade deal through at the last minute before a new adminstration takes over “would simply be wrong.” Merkley said the U.S. needs trade policies that work for working Americans, “not a rush to ram through giant trade agreements that repeat the mis- takes of past job-killing trade deals.”
