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December 1, 2017 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
BUY UNION
UNION-MADE GIFT IDEAS
Buying any gifts this holiday sea-
son? If you buy union, you help
keep good jobs in the commu-
nity, and vote with your dollars
for enterprises that pay your fel-
low workers a living wage with
benefits. Union-made can be
hard to find. Here are some ideas.
BOOTS
Danner got its start in 1936 making boots for
loggers. Eighty years later, their boots are still
built to last, whether for work, hunting, hiking,
or around town. Danner makes about half its
products at its Northeast Portland factory,
where workers are represented by UFCW Local
555. Check the label: If the boots are U.S.-
made, they were made here with union labor.
SMART PHONE
The smart phone itself is most likely
assembled in China, but the workers who
maintain the cellular network will be
members of Communications Workers of
America (CWA) if you choose AT&T or
Cricket. When you visit a company-owned
AT&T store in Oregon and Southwest
Washington, you’re talking with a member
of CWA Local 7901. And union members
can get a 15-20 percent discount on some cell plans. To download a discount coupon,
visit unionplus.org/benefits/home/att-discounts.
WINE
BLANKETS
KITCHENWARE
Store shelves may be crowded with
foreign-made goods, but you can still
find gifts for the home cook that are
union-made in America. All Pyrex
products are made in Charleroi,
Pennsylvania by 310 members of
United Steelworkers (USW) Local
53G. “There’s a lot of pride in our
product,” says Local 53G president
Thomas Seal, a 34-year employee at
the plant. Other USW members in
Pennsylvania and New York make
All-Clad Stainless Steel Cookware
and Cutco cutlery. And U.S.-made
Fiesta brand dinnerware is made in
West Virginia by members of the
Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastic and
Allied Workers union.
Nothing says Pacific Northwest pride like a Pendleton Woolen Mills blanket.
Warm and durable, Pendleton blankets (but not apparel) are made in Washougal,
Washington, and Pendleton, Oregon, by 210 members of the Service Employees
International Union (SEIU) Local 49. Their
union contract means wages of $15.94 to
$18.90 an hour, plus overtime after eight
hours, and health and pension benefits. You
can see how the blankets are made with free
tours at both locations.
MOVIES
Portland’s last unionized movie projectionist was laid
off by Cinema 21 in 1997. But most Hollywood films
themselves are still overwhelmingly union
productions, from the stars in SAG-AFTRA to the
gaffers in IATSE. Who wouldn’t love to get a gift card
to Regal Cinemas, or nonprofit Hollywood Theater, or
even Living Room Theaters across from the unionized
downtown Powell’s Books?
PEOPLE
Oregon’s largest union is looking
Rudiger was elected in Sep-
for a new executive director. tember 2016, succeeding
Service Employees Interna- Heather Conroy, who became
tional Union (SEIU)
executive vice president
Local 503 announced
of SEIU’s international.
Nov. 20 that current ex-
Rudiger will continue as
ecutive director Brian
executive director until
Rudiger will be step-
the Executive Board
ping down and not seek-
finds a replacement to
ing a second term, citing
serve out the remainder
an inability to balance
of his term, and plans to
the demands of the role
continue with Local 503
with his family needs.
in a different role. Local
Local 503 represents Brian Rudiger 503 will next elect offi-
about 57,000 workers at state and cers, including executive direc-
local governments, universities, tor, in September 2018.
and nursing homes.
MUSIC
Oregon Ballet Theater, the
Portland Opera, the Oregon
Symphony: All of them employ
members of American Federation of
Musicians Local 99, IATSE Local 28
crews, and IATSE Local B-20
members, who work as ushers, ticket
takers and elevator operators. The
biggest employer of union musicians
is the Oregon Symphony, with 76
full-timers. Session players earn
$200 per two-hour appearance, plus
pension and healthcare
contributions.
Unions are rare in the wine industry,
but Washington’s award-winning
Chateau Ste.
Michelle is an
exception. It
employs members
of United Farm
Workers in its
vineyards, and
members of
Teamsters Local 117
in the barrel room,
warehouse,
production,
shipping and
maintenance
departments at its
Woodinville facility.
Company labels include Columbia
Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle
wines, Domaine Ste. Michelle,
and Snoqualmie, and others.