PAGE 8 | June 21, 2019 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Labor Appreciation Night raises $13,000 for community service
The Northwest Oregon Labor
Council (NOLC) recognized indi-
viduals, organizations, and busi-
nesses for their commitment to bet-
ter the lives of people at work and
in their communities at a labor ap-
preciation and recognition night
held June 8 in Northeast Portland.
The event also doubles as a
fundraiser for Labor’s Community
Service Agency (LCSA). More
than 300 people attended the event,
raising over $13,000.
The top recognition is the Del
Ricks Community Service
Award in honor of the late Del
Ricks, who was LCSA’s executive
director for 17 years. The 2019 re-
cipient is Ed Barnes, a retired
business manager of IBEW Lo-
cal 48 and “volunteer extraordi-
naire.” At age 85, Barnes serves
as second vice president of
NOLC. He remains involved in
politics, community activities,
and fundraisers. A veteran of the
Korean War, he is now on a mis-
sion to raise money for a na-
tional memorial in Washington,
D.C. “When you think of labor,
you think of Ed Barnes,” said
NOLC vice president Everice
Above, recipients of 2019 Labor Appreciation Night awards pose for a group photo with their plaques. Above right, Ed Barnes (wearing blue jeans) gets a
standing ovation after being announced as the recipient of the Del Ricks Community Service Award. Offering congratulations are Multnomah County
Chair Deborah Kafoury and State Treasurer Tobias Read.
Moro, presenting the award.
“His dedication and commit-
ment to labor are a true inspira-
tion to all of those around him.”
The “Heritage Award” was
presented posthumously to Lee
Duncan, retired from IBEW Lo-
cal 48. Duncan, who died May
23, was a longtime business rep
for the union. In 2003, he co-
founded the Unions for Kids
motorcycle poker run to raise
money for Doernbecher Chil-
dren’s Hospital. “Lee Duncan
was a man who exemplified the
very meaning of outstanding and
long-lasting accomplishments
and contributions to the labor
movement,” said local building
trades leader Willy Myers pre-
senting the award.
A Lifetime Achievement
award went to Tom Chamber-
lain, president of the Oregon
AFL-CIO. Chamberlain is retir-
ing in September after serving
14 years in labor’s top post. The
award was presented by U.S.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer.
American Medical Response
received the Business Award.
AMR has contracts with three
Teamsters locals in Oregon and
SW Washington providing high
standards in wages, benefits and
working conditions. Randy Lauer,
general manager of Oregon oper-
ations, was in attendance to accept
the award.
Recognition awards went to:
Leslie Sloy, Karine Robburts, and
Dave Tully of Teamsters Local
223; Joe Clyde, Terry Howard, and
Kyle Newell of Amalgamated
Transit Union #757; Marcus Swift
of American Federation of Teach-
ers-Oregon; Shane Nehls and Neal
Hopwood of Iron Workers Local
29; John Kleiboeker of Machinists
Lodge 63; Scott Strickland of Op-
erating Engineers Local 701; Diana
Hess of Oregon School Employees
Local 6732; Christina Daniels of
IBEW Local 48; Barbara Byrd,
secretary treasurer of the Oregon
AFL-CIO; Penny Painter, manager
of the Bureau of Labor and Indus-
tries-Oregon Department of Trans-
portation Workforce Development
Program; Kids’ Chance of Oregon;
American Federation of Govern-
ment Employees Local 1127; The
Young Machinists of Lodge 63;
and to the Sunshine Division.