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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2017)
PAGE 4 | September 1, 2017 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS IN MEMORIAM Gary D. Kirkland May 19, 1947 - Sept. 8, 2017 Gary Kirkland, a long- time member of Office and Professional Em- ployees International Union (OPEIU) Local 11, passed away Sept. 8, 2017, following a short bout with cancer. He was 70 years old. Kirkland was involved with OPEIU for 40 years. At the age of 28 he was elected a vice pres- ident to the international union’s Executive Board, and he served as an international representa- tive. Prior to that he was an or- ganizer and business representa- tive for Local 11. He was appointed secretary- treasurer of Local 11 in January 1978, following the resignation of Stu Crosby. Eight months later, International President Howard Coughlin appointed him to be OPEIU’s regional di- rector of organizing. The new re- sponsibility came in addition to his duties as head of Local 11, and as an international vice pres- ident. He served as Local 11’s secretary-treasurer until May 2002, when he lost re-election. During his tenure, Kirkland negotiated landmark “joint ac- cords” with NW Natural Gas that guaranteed no layoffs. The last contract he bargained in 1997 was a seven-year deal. It was preceded by five-year and three-year agreements guaran- teeing no layoffs. During his career Kirkland also served on the Executive Board of the Multnomah County Labor Council (and later the Northwest Oregon Labor Coun- cil) as a representative of the Maritime Trades Council. He served for many years as president of the Oregon La- bor Press Publishing Co. Board of Directors, and on the Executive Board of the Union Labor Retirement Association, which operates Kirkland Union Manors I, II, and III, Westmoreland Union Manor, Marshall Union Manor, and Kirkland Union Plaza. The federally-financed apartment buildings for retired workers carry the name of Kirk- land’s father, labor leader Earl Kirkland, who was a founder. G ARY D EAN K IRKLAND was born in Vancouver, Washington, on May 19, 1947, to Earl B. and Lois (Hash) Kirkland. After graduating from Columbia River High School in 1965, he at- tended Clark Community Col- lege while working at Alcoa Aluminum. Kirkland enlisted and served in the U.S. Army as a transportation rank staff ser- geant. After the military he en- tered the apprenticeship program of Heat and Frost Insulators Lo- cal 36. Shortly after that he started his career with OPEIU. Kirkland is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Dean; daugh- ter, Brandi M. Kirkland; their mother, Janice M. (Mahoney); two grandchildren; and three sis- ters. He was preceded in death by his son, Kristian; twin brother, Larry; and his parents. A memorial service with full military honors was held Sept. 22 in Vancouver. Remem- brances can be made to the Rocky Mountain Elk Founda- tion at www.rmef.org. BUILDING COMMUNITY Labor Roundtable pays tribute to allies in SW Washington VANCOUVER — A record 274 union members, politicians, family, and friends attended the 33rd annual Labor Roundtable of Southwest Washington awards banquet, held Sept. 29 at the Vancouver Hilton Hotel and Convention Center. Awards were presented to individuals and organizations whose leader- ship has made a significant impact on organized labor and the community at large. Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib, the keynote speaker, said when the average person talks about ‘making America great again,’ they’re not think- ing about immigration or the environment. They’re nostalgic for economic security. “That’s what people remember. They remember having a union that represented them. Having wages that kept up with — and actually led — the standard of living; a pension so they could protect and plan for their future. They had health insurance that made sure they were taken care of and their kids were taken care of. They had labor protections at the workplace so that they wouldn’t get injured, but if they got injured they would have good fed- eral protections and workers’ compensation. And they had a plan to be able to buy a home and in- vest in their kids’ future because of the work that unions did. ... We need to make sure that we re- member the recipe for greatness in this country. We know what it was. ... We know how to do all that.” Award recipients were: Phil Parker Public Service Award for Excellence: Evelina Kurilenko, Supervisor, Clark County Sheriff’s Office Union Member of the Year: Carl Sofie, United Food & Commercial Workers #365 Labor Leader of the Year: Gil Freeland, Vice President, Plumbers & Fitters #290 Labor Union of the Year: Operating Engineers Local 701 Community Service: Marc Boldt, Chair, Board of Clark County Councilors Lifetime Achievement: Gay Lincoln, Machinists District W24 Labor Service Award: Brian Wolfe, Port of Vancouver Commissioner Business of the Year: Cowlitz Indian Tribe Legislator of the Year: Sharon Wylie, State Rep 49th District In Solidarity Award: Katie Archer Jolma President, Clark County Democratic Women Presented by the SW Washington Central Labor Council Citizens Honored for Military Service: Richard Brown, Laborers #335, US Army 1958 -1962
