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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 2016)
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS | November 18, 2016 | PAGE 5 ... Labor reactions to Trump’s election From Page 1 “More than anything, this elec- tion is an indictment of politics as usual. For too long, the politi- cal elites have embraced eco- nomic policies that hold down wages, increase inequality, di- minish opportunity, and ship American jobs overseas. Voters in both the primary and general election have delivered a clear message: Enough.” There are things that organ- ized labor and Trump agree on, like NAFTA. Trump has called it the “worst trade deal in history.” As president, Trump will have the authority to withdraw the United States from NAFTA – af- ter giving six months notice. But he has said he would only with- draw if he can’t renegotiate the terms of the agreement to get a better deal. “The President-elect made promises in this campaign—on trade, on restoring manufactur- ing, on reviving our communi- ties,” Trumka said. “We will work to make many of those promises a reality. If he is willing to work with us, consistent with our values, we are ready to work with him. But make no mistake, we can never back down from our values. The presence of racism, misogyny, and anti-im- migrant appeals caused damage in this campaign and we must all “It’s 30 years of getting screwed by both parties, Democrats and Republi- cans. They were willing to take a chance on anything.” — North America’s Building Trades President Sean McGarvey try to repair it with inclusion, de- cency and honesty.” Trump won’t be sworn in until Jan. 20, but his election has al- ready had an impact on trade pol- icy. Earlier this year, President Obama and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce had hopes of ratify- ing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) during a lame-duck post- election session of Congress. Now, Republican leaders of the House and Senate say they won’t hold such a vote. There’s more: Obama had also conducted se- cret negotiations with the Euro- pean Union on a trade deal called Transatlantic Trade and Invest- ment Partnership (TTIP) that he saw as a companion to the TPP. After the election, the EU trade minister admitted the talks are likely moot for now. It’s hard to know yet what a Trump presidency will mean, because his campaign pledges so often lacked detail or consis- tency. He said both that he was for and against a minimum wage increase. He called for tax cuts, particularly on investment income, but never published a detailed plan. He’s also said he supports right-to-work, and the Republican Party platform calls for a national right-to-work law. But since the election, he ap- pears to have backpedaled on some of his pledges: His Mexi- can border wall now might be in part a Mexican border fence (which already exists.) And he now says he’d keep some popu- lar parts of Obamacare. “The fundamental duty of America’s president, symbol- ized by swearing to uphold our Constitution, is to protect and preserve our democracy and the institutions that make it real,” Trumka said. “We hope to work with President Elect Trump to help him carry out this solemn responsibility.” THOMAS, COON, NEWTON & FROST THOMAS, COON, NEWTON & FROST PEOPLE Merkley hires new labor liaison, field rep Dan Mahr has been hired as a Portland. The American Dream.” field staff representative and la- Working America had created bor liaison for Oregon a full time position in U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley. Portland, and in 2009 He succeeds Ed Hall, a Mahr was hired as the retired firefighter who Western Regional Di- stepped down in May rector, covering Ore- after serving seven gon, New Mexico, and years in that position. Colorado. Mahr, 36, was intro- In 2013, Mahr was duced to the labor hired as the enrollment movement in 2005 director for the Oregon Dan Mahr when he took a job as State Council of the national field rep for Working Service Employees Interna- America, a community affiliate tional Union. In that position he of the AFL-CIO that reaches out helped build a program to enroll to people who don’t have a individuals into health care union at work, but share the plans through Oregon’s health same economic principles that care exchange, Cover Oregon. unions stand for. Working And even though the state’s ex- America has enlisted 3 million change website never func- people nationwide. tioned, 10,000 people were able After opening offices in New to enroll in health care plans. Mexico, Virginia, and Ken- Mahr served as campaign tucky, Mahr was assigned to manager for the 2014 Ballot Portland in 2008 to work on the Measure 91, which legalized No on 64 campaign. Measure marijuana in Oregon. He also 64 was Bill Sizemore’s attempt managed the 2013 Portland Chil- to limit the ability of unionized dren’s Levy renewal campaign. public employees from partici- A native of rural Iowa, Mahr pating financially in politics. graduated from the University The measure failed. of Iowa with a degree in politi- In that same election, Merkley cal science. defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. As labor liaison, Mahr will be Gordon Smith, and Barack Merkley’s point person commu- Obama was elected president. nicating with organized labor. “I loved it here (Oregon), so I He also will serve as Merkley’s decided to stay,” Mahr told the field rep in Clackamas County. Labor Press. “I loaded all my Mahr can be reached at 503- stuff in the back of a truck and 326-3386 or at Dan_Mahr@ moved from Philadelphia to merkley.senate.gov . BUILDING COMMUNITY Labor’s Community Service Agency puts out call for holiday party donations Labor’s Community Service Agency (LCSA) and the North- west Oregon Labor Council (NOLC) are accepting donations of toys and cash for the 20th an- nual Presents from Partners Holi- day Toy Party now through Dec. 13. The event—for families of un- employed union members and those facing temporary hard- ships—will be held in mid-De- cember. Entrance is by ticket only. Members must be referred by their union local. Referral forms will be sent to unions and must be returned to LCSA by Dec. 13. Un- wrapped toys for kids up to 18 years of age can be dropped off at the following locations: IBEW Federal Credit Union, Northwest Oregon Labor Council (Suite 305), or LCSA (Suite 211). All are located in the same build- ing at 9955 SE Washington St., Portland. Oregon AFL-CIO, 3645 SE 32nd Ave., Portland. OPEIU Local 11, 3815 Columbia St., Vancouver. AFT-Oregon, 10228 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland. Portland Federation of School Profes- sionals Local 111, 1110 SE Alder, Suite 205, Portland. Laborers Local 483, 1125 SE Madison, Suite 206, Portland. Painters District Council No. 5, 11105 NE Sandy Blvd., Suite A, Portland. Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Local 5017, 1500 NE Irv- ing, Suite 575, Portland. IBEW Local 48, 15937 NE Airport Way, Port- land. Sunrise Dental Beaverton, 14425 SW Allen Blvd. Sunrise Dental Gresham, 13908 SE Stark, Space B. Sunrise Dental Hillsboro, 627 SE Baseline, Suite C. Cash donations can be sent to LCSA, 9955 SE Washington, #211, Portland, Ore., 97216.
