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September 1, 2017 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
...Hoyle endorsed for labor commissioner RESOLUTIONS
From Page 1
passed 11 policy-setting resolu-
tions.
In his first report since being
elected executive secretary a
year ago, Tim Frew, a member
of IBEW Local 280 in Tangent,
said in the next year he wants to
focus more attention on councils
outside the Portland metropoli-
tan area.
“Willy (Myers) does a great
job with the Columbia Pacific
(Building Trades Council),”
Frew said. “I’ll be where I need
to be to represent you guys, but
what I would like to do — I
want to try to focus more on the
outer regional councils. I want
to beef up our presence in the re-
gional councils in Pendleton,
Southern Oregon, Lane-Coos-
Curry Douglas, and Central
Oregon.”
Gov. Brown thanked the
building trades for helping pass
the transportation package in the
2017 legislative session. She
said the $5.3 billion, 10-year in-
vestment in roads, rail, bridges,
and ports is the largest and most
comprehensive transportation
package Oregon has ever seen
— and will create 16,000 con-
struction jobs in all corners of
the state.
Val Hoyle
“And it wouldn’t have hap-
pened without you,” she said.
Brown gave a shout-out to
the many state-of-the-art build-
ing trades training programs,
and praised the Oregon Legisla-
ture for investing $170 million
in the next biennium to fund
high school career and technical
education (CTE) programs.
“We’re trying to learn from
your good work to create ap-
prenticeship programs in other
industries like health care and IT
(information technology),” she
said.
A day earlier, Oregon Labor
Commissioner Brad Avakian
also lauded the CTE investment,
predicting that by August 2018
there could be nearly 400 shop
classes in high schools through-
out the state.
In her first public appearance
as a candidate for labor commis-
sioner, Hoyle said she picked
the Oregon building trades for a
reason: “I know that I can win
with the building trades by my
side,” she said.
[Avakian’s term as labor
commissioner expires in 2018,
and he is not running for re-elec-
tion.]
Hoyle served seven years in
the Oregon House, starting in
August 2009, when she was ap-
pointed to fill a vacant seat in
District 14. The Eugene Demo-
crat stepped down as House ma-
jority leader to run for secretary
of state in 2016. She lost in the
primary to Avakian, and then
Avakian lost in the general elec-
tion to Republican Dennis
Richardson. [The secretary of
state position opened in 2015 af-
ter Gov. John Kitzhaber re-
signed and was replaced by
then-Secretary of State Kate
Brown. Last November, Brown
was elected to serve the remain-
der of Kitzhaber’s term, which
expires at the end of 2018.]
Secretary of State Richardson
told OSBCTC delegates that a
small business advocate in the
Turn to Page 9
Operating
Engineers
#701 returns
to OSBCTC
Nearly a decade after leav-
ing, Operating Engineers
Local 701 has rejoined the
Oregon State Building and
Construction Trades Coun-
cil. A contingent of seven
delegates and one presen-
ter represented the local at
the building trades’ annual
convention Aug. 23-25 in Lincoln City, where they were welcomed back by Executive Secretary Tim
Frew to a round of applause.
“We are simply stronger together,” Local 701 Business Manager James (Jimbo) Anderson told the La-
bor Press. “When the house of labor is united, it benefits not only members of Operating Engineers,
but all construction workers. When we’re all together it positively impacts our industry and the com-
munities that we live in. That’s what the labor movement is all about.”
Anderson was elected business manager of Local 701 in August 2016. The union represents about
3,400 members who operate heavy construction equipment like cranes and front end loaders, as
well as indoor boiler and mechanical systems.
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) disaffiliated from the AFL-CIO’s Building and
Construction Trades Department in 2006 to form the National Construction Alliance with several
other construction unions. Local 701 in Oregon and Locals 302 and 612 in Washington left their re-
spective state building trades councils two years later. IUOE returned to the national building trades
(now called North America’s Building Trades Unions) in 2014. Locals 302 and 612 returned to the
Washington Building Trades Council in July 2016.
Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council
passed the following resolutions at their convention:
Support a Project Labor Agreement for the UO Campus for Accelerating
Scientific Impact OSBCTC calls on Gov. Kate Brown and Treasurer Tobias Read to
withhold disbursement of $50 million approved by the Oregon Legislature to support
construction of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact at
the University of Oregon, until a PLA has been signed. OSBCTC received verbal
agreements from legislative leaders and university officials that the project, which will
support 1,300 construction jobs, will pay prevailing wages. A PLA has been drafted
and is currently under review. The project consists of two 75,000-square-foot buildings
equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instruments that will be shared by
researchers and local Oregon companies, and will directly support more than 750 jobs.
Support the Jordan Cove LNG Export Terminal and the Pacific Connector
Natural Gas Pipeline OSBCTC calls upon Governor Brown, members of the
Oregon Legislature, and members of Oregon’s Congressional delegation to fully
support the permitting and construction of the Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas
(LNG) export terminal at North Bend, Coos County, Oregon, and the Pacific Connector
Gas Pipeline, to improve the economy of the Pacific Northwest.
Support Advanced Nuclear Power OSBCTC calls on the Oregon Legislature to revise
its policy toward nuclear power to allow for the development of advanced nuclear
power reactors, such as small modular reactors, within its borders. OSBCTC supports
legislation, research, and commercial activities that would position Oregon as a leader
in advanced nuclear technology, and affirms the importance of nuclear energy in
electricity generation, as well as medicine, space exploration, and national defense.
Support a Carbon Tax that Boosts Jobs and the Economy If a carbon tax is
adopted, OSBCTC calls on the Oregon Legislature to craft the tax in such a way as to
ensure positive effects on Oregon workers and the economy; and the rate of the tax
should be balanced so it meets greenhouse gas reduction targets without negatively
impacting jobs or the economy; the carbon pricing system should be designed in a
way that incentivizes energy retrofits; and revenue from the carbon tax should be
dedicated to infrastructure, technology, and services that support low-carbon
economic development and jobs.
Support the Vancouver Energy Terminal OSBCTC affirms its strong support for
the $210 million Vancouver Energy Terminal at the Port of Vancouver, and calls on all
affiliated locals and members to participate in all public review processes to push for
a reliable permitting timeline, and to advocate for high environmental standards.
Support the Provider Tax and Oppose Ballot Measure to Repeal it OSBCTC
supports the health care provider tax passed by the Oregon Legislature in a bipartisan
vote. The tax, assessed on hospitals and insurance companies, protects coverage for
more than 1 million Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan. A group of anti-tax
Republicans is attempting to refer the new tax to the ballot. If they collect enough
signatures it will go before voters in a January special election. OSBCTC urges
members not to sign the initiative petition.
Oppose Douglas County Home Rule Charter, Ballot Measure 10-159 OSBCTC
urges residents of Douglas County to vote against Measure 10-159, which will appear
on the November 2017 ballot. A small group of activists in the county is trying to
dismantle the County Commission and limit the state’s ability to impose restrictions on
the County’s governance. OSBCTC says proponents are known opponents to the Jordan
Cove Project, and have extreme environmentalist views in which they oppose
development and construction projects supported by the OSBCTC.
Support Oregonians To Maintain Community Standards The OSBCTC will levy for
one year, starting the date this resolution is adopted, an assessment of $1 per member,
per month, for the purpose of supporting the efforts and work of OMCS, OSBCTC’s
political action committee. The Executive Board will review any further increases or
decreases in six months, and have the authority to adjust according to need.
Establish a Committee on Charitable and Political Giving The Executive
Secretary will appoint at least five members who will meet at least twice a year to
coordinate charitable and political contributions among member unions. The purpose
is to help coordinate fragmented and duplicative donations, and help increase the net
impact of construction union donations.
Conduct Regular Audits OSBCTC shall conduct a financial audit once every five years,
and within the first six months of tenure of a new Executive Secretary.
Defend Collective Bargaining Agreements OSBCTC and all of its affiliates will put
aside internal disputes and reconfirm their commitment to stand in solidarity, and
also to coordinate with unions outside of the construction crafts to focus its collective
strength in defense of workers’ rights and protections.