SERVING ORGANIZED LABOR IN OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON SINCE 1900
NORTHWEST
LABOR
PRESS
Hall of Shamers
VOLUME 119, NUMBER 23
IN THIS ISSUE
EXIT INTERVIEW Washington’s top union leader shares
insights from his 40 years in the movement. | Page 2
THE REST OF THE STORY: A look back at stories we
reported in 2018 … and what happened after | Page 4
Meeting notices p.23
Union-made gift guide p.18
PORTLAND, OREGON
DECEMBER 21, 2018
UNION DEMOCRACY
The millionaire union member athletes who crossed
hotel maid strike picket lines
Boeing Machinist Larry Brown wins close race to
lead Washington AFL-CIO
It’s bad enough when members
of the public cross a strike picket
line. It’s worse when union
members do, and worse still
when those union members are
millionaire athletes who are
looked up to by children as role
models. But that’s what hap-
pened at the Boston Ritz-Carlton
Hotel when 1,500 union maids
and bellhops walked off the job
for better wages and benefits —
part of a wave of strikes by
UNITE HERE members at Mar-
riott hotels in seven cities. Their
livelihoods on the line, striking
members of UNITE HERE Lo-
cal 26 in Boston paid close at-
tention to who was crossing
their picket line.
Among the first to do so were
the New York Yankees, in town
to play the Red Sox. Talk about
giving baseball fans one more
reason to hate the Yankees.
[During their stay at the struck
By Don McIntosh
Washington State Labor Coun-
cil (WSLC) will have new
leadership Jan. 5. After a
closely contested race, veteran
Machinist union political direc-
tor Larry Brown was elected
president with the support of
affiliated unions totaling 52.1
percent of WSLC’s member-
ship. Brown outpolled Lynne
Dodson — WSLC’s current
secretary-treasurer — who was
backed by outgoing WSLC
president Jeff Johnson and af-
filiated unions totaling 47.9
percent. Dodson was on a
ticket alongside WSLC Politi-
cal Director April Sims, who
ran unopposed for WSLC sec-
retary-treasurer.
The election results, an-
nounced Dec. 6, also included
28 other members of the
WSLC Executive Board.
WSLC is the coordinating
Ritz-Carlton, picketers switched
their “No contact, no peace”
chant for “Yankees suck.”]
Next to cross were the Los
Angeles Dodgers, also in town
for games against the Red Sox.
The Dodgers tried to dodge bad
publicity by entering the Ritz-
Carlton through the back door,
but were caught on camera by
strikers.
And baseballers weren’t the
only union member athletes to
earn disgrace. Three NBA teams
also scabbed. The Boston
Celtics hosted a fundraiser at the
Westin Boston Waterfront, a
Marriott property. And the Or-
lando Magic and Chicago
Bulls, in town for games against
the Boston Celtics, crossed the
same UNITE HERE picket line
at the Ritz-Carlton.
In the National Hockey
Turn to Page 17
Washington State Labor Council
President Larry Brown says his first
task will be to reach out to those who
voted for Lynne Dodson.
body for more than 600 AFL-
CIO-affiliated local unions in
Washington, representing
about 450,000 workers.
In the contest for WSLC
president, Brown was backed
by the Machinists, Teamsters,
Fire Fighters, and most build-
ing trades unions, while Dod-
son had the support of United
Food and Commercial Work-
ers and most public sector
unions. The two candidates
waged an energetic but respect-
ful campaign from June to De-
cember. Brown, praising Dod-
son as a trailblazer and champ-
ion for social justice, said his
first job will be to reach out to
her supporters.
Brown, 64, said he wants to
see WSLC focus on core labor
issues, while empowering its
affiliated constituency groups
to work on issues of social jus-
tice. Brown has served as leg-
islative and political director
for Machinists (IAM) District
Council 751 since 2006. A self-
described aerospace geek, he
Turn to Page 26
A Labor of Love
L
The
Presents
from Partners
holiday party
is all about
putting smiles
on kids’ faces.
abor unions from Oregon and Southwest Wash-
ington came together to host a fabulous holi-
day party Dec. 15 for families experiencing difficult
times. Nearly 400 kids from toddlers to teens, and
their parents or caregivers, enjoyed the festivities.
Labor’s Community Service Agency, the Northwest
Oregon Labor Council, members from 40 union lo-
cals, and 15 labor allies donated toys and cash for
the event. Each child took home three gifts, plus a
game, sports ball, book, and stuffed animal. Sev-
enty bikes were donated by the ILWU Local 8 Credit
Union. Kids also got a Christmas stocking made by
retirees of the American Federation of Teachers-
Oregon; a hot lunch donated by Spin Catering; and
cake made by members of Bakers Local 114. There
was face painting and coloring, and, of course,
some face time with Santa Claus, played by Car-
penter Marcus Rodriguez. United Food and Com-
mercial Workers Local 555 set up shop to hand out
a bag of groceries to each family; and IBEW &
United Workers Credit Union sponsored a room for
kids to pick out and wrap a gift for their parents, as
well as a clothing boutique of quality used clothes
for parents to choose from. “This day defines soli-
darity,” said LCSA Executive Director Eryn Byram.
“Although the economy is booming, families are
struggling with heavy healthcare bills and unsus-
tainable housing costs. The love given to this pro-
gram, union-wide, is breathtaking. Thank you, or-
ganized labor!”
400 KIDS
260 ADULTS
170 VOLUNTEERS
Photos by Michael Gutwig