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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2021)
PAGE 2 | November 19, 2021 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 in Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non-profit mutual ben- efit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils includ- ing the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union or- ganizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Office location: 4275 NE Halsey St., Portland, Oregon Mailing address: P.O. Box 13150, Portland, OR 97213 Phone: (503) 288-3311 Web address: https://nwlaborpress.org Editor & Manager: Michael Gutwig Senior staff reporter: Don McIntosh Office manager: Jill Lukens Printed on recycled paper, using soy-based inks, by members of Teamsters Local 747-M. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Individual subscriptions are $15 a year for union members, $23 a year for all others. Pay by credit card online at nwlaborpress.org/subscribe, or send a check to our mailing address (above) along with your name, address and union affilia- tion, if any. Group rates of 48 cents an issue per member — $11.52 a year are available for 25 or more subscriptions; call 503-288-3311 for details. CORRECTIONS: See an error? Please let us know at editor@nwlaborpress.org or by phone at 503-288-3311. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you move, let us know at nwlaborpress.org/subscriber-ser- vices or by mail at our mailing address (above). Be sure to provide your old and new addresses and the name/number of your local union. Please allow three weeks for the change to take effect. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS P.O. BOX 13150 PORTLAND, OR 97213-0150 Hours: Mon-Sat 12-6 pm Closed Sunday UNION DEMOCRACY Multnomah County union has new top officer By Don McIntosh AFSCME Local 88 has a new president, Josyln Baker. Baker ran unopposed after in- cumbent Percy Winters Jr. opted not to run for a third two-year term, and she was sworn into of- fice at the local’s Nov. 17 gen- eral meeting. With about 3,400 members, Local 88 represents most em- ployees who work for Mult- nomah County. It also includes workers at Central City Concern and Transition Projects Inc., two large nonprofits that have con- tracts with the county. Baker, 55, grew up in Fre- mont, California, where her fa- ther was a high school teacher active in his union. She moved to Portland in 1992 and got a job at Multnomah County. Twenty- nine years later, she’s still at the county, having held 13 jobs in four departments over that time. In recent years she’s worked on county efforts to combat domes- tic violence and sex trafficking, and to comply with OSHA and COVID safety rules. Local 88 president Josyln Baker is a 29-year employee of Multnomah County. “I think the common thread linking my work is seeking jus- tice for both employees and the communities that we serve as county workers,” Baker told the Labor Press. Baker is currently a project manager for county chief oper- ating officer Serena Cruz, and will remain on the county pay- roll while working full time for the local under an agreement be- tween the union and the county. She got active in Local 88 about 10 years ago, and became a union steward. “Eventually I became the lead steward for DCJ [Depart- ment of Community Justice] and primarily focused on cases where people with protected- class identities were experienc- ing some kind of workplace dis- crimination, harassment, harm,” Baker said. She later joined the Local 88 Executive Board, and since May, has also served as Region 3 vice president at the union’s statewide council, Oregon AF- SCME. As president of Local 88, she’ll lead a team of rank-and- file union officers, supported by three union staff representatives: Eben Pullman, Mecca Scott, and Brian Dunnaville. Holding managers account- able will be a priority, Baker said. She also wants to take a new look at the “trial service” period for newly hired employ- ees, and questions whether the one-year probationary period is too long. Contract bargaining will be big on her to-do list. “Our members are fired up about bargaining,” Baker said. The local’s collective bar- gaining agreements with the County expire June 30, 2022. Members are currently filling out surveys to determine what priorities will be when negotia- tions begin. One likely concern will be cost-of-living increases, given the recent increase in in- flation. Other top Local 88 officers were also unopposed and de- clared elected by acclamation: ■ Vice president Raymond De Silva ■ Treasurer Matt Davis ■ Secretary Jackie Vitron ■ Trustees Shirley Bailey, Gordon Long, Jeanne Ramsten
