Eugene weekly., August 31, 2006, Page 13, Image 13

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS
reported in the New York Times on Aug. 28 that real wages
have fallen 2 percent in the past three years alone and that cor-
porate profits have climbed. “The elite one percent, the
Hiltons of the world,” Chamberlain says, “their income has
gone up 135 percent.”
So what are unions doing?
For one thing, they’re starting to organize more Latino and
other immigrants. “Latino immigrants aren’t just farm work-
ers,” Claire Syrett says, and it’s not only the UFW or PCUN
that can represent those workers. Guadalupe Quinn, the
regional coordinator for CAUSA, Oregon’s statewide immi-
grant rights coalition, says that getting unions involved in
immigrant organizing was a long time coming, but is vital.
“We need to support the rights of all workers,” she says. “It’s
important for [unions] to support the immigrant rights agen-
da, and it’s important for immigrants to support labor rights.”
Among the building trades, there’s been a recent push to
bosses,” Van Vactor wrote, “Lane County unions have been
work
with day laborers and Latino immigrants in general.
part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
Chamberlain says that immigrant construction workers “are
Many observers see political implications behind the ad. In
absolutely taken advantage of, no workers’ comp, no health
a May 2003 New Yorker profile of Republican strategist Karl
care, nothing.” The national AFL-CIO has gotten involved
Rove, Nicholas Lemann wrote that Rove and the Republicans
with organizing day laborers, and so have the building trade
in general planned to take away one Democratic Party fund-
unions. “Five years ago, we had very few Spanish speakers on
ing source by “shrinking the part of the labor force which
staff,” says Patrick Smith, the business rep for Painters Local
belongs to … public-service unions.”
1277. Smith says that since the Painters began training their
One way to shrink public sector unions is to make the state
English-speaking workers in Spanish and recruiting organiz-
budget smaller. Measures 41 & 48, to be on the ballot this
ers from the Latino
November, would do this
$900
workforce, communi-
by setting caps on govern-
857
809
cation has improved
ment
spending
and
$800 801
dramatically. With the
decreasing the amount of
744
731
$700
federal courthouse and
money available to
673
656
622
$600
new
PeaceHealth
schools, the Oregon
692
559
RiverBend
hospital
Health Care Plan and
$500
500
under construction,
many other public servic-
449
$400
Smith says, there’s a
es, according to the
labor shortage, and
Oregon Center for Public
$300
that makes it easier to
Policy.
$200
organize in the Latino
Chamberlain says he’s
$100
community.
Smith
freaked out by Measure
adds
that
when
a
newly
48, but not only because
$0
organized
construction
of the impact on workers:
Total
Men
Women
African
Latino
Asian
American
worker “gets his health
“It’s racheting down
care, takes his baby to
spending on essential
Union
Nonunion
the doctor maybe for
services, and it’s targeted
CHART SOURCES: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS AND THE AFL-CIO
the first time … it’s the
at every citizen in this
most exciting thing.”
state. Every school child, every son or daughter in college,
And unions are organizing in new workplaces and in new
everyone who drives on the roads, that’s who this is targeted
ways. In September of 2005, Governor Kulongoski recog-
at.”
nized AFSCME Council 75 as the union for over 5,000 regis-
On the private sector side, the National Labor Relations
tered and licensed child care providers in the state. An addi-
Board (NLRB) has five sitting members, four of whom were
tional 6,000 license-exempt child care providers, who can
appointed by the current president. In the cases known as
care in their homes for three children who aren’t theirs along
Kentucky River (see EW 7/13), the NLRB may reclassify
thousands of workers as supervisors. Oregon politicians,
(continued on page 14)
including U.S. Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden, have
spoken against the board’s tactics. Chamberlain says,
“Elected folks are starting to take notice that the middle class
OREGON DMV EMPLOYEES SONYA REICHWEIN
is in danger.” The alarm has even sunk into popular culture.
AND ERIKA HARRIS AREN’T SCOWLING.
Steven Colbert of “The Cobert Report” produced a hilarious
piece on the Kentucky River decisions, available on YouTube
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arSyu4he-kU
Organize or Die
Average worker pay didn’t keep up with inflation last year,
while average CEO compensation rose 27%, to $11.3 million.
And, partially because of factory shutdowns, union member-
ship has fallen to 12.5 percent nationwide. Unionized work-
ers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, make 29
percent more than their colleagues who aren’t in unions.
Union income level differences are even stronger for women
(31 percent more) and people of color (31 percent more for
African Americans and 50 percent more for Latinos).
But national trends are discouraging for workers. “If you
look at the U.S. when we had the highest union density, 1947
through 1973, and you look at income,” Chamberlain says,
“workers’ incomes went up 86 percent.” Meanwhile, those in
the top one percent of income saw their income go up about
one percent. But since 1980, Chamberlain says, things have
been different. Steven Greenhouse and David Leonhardt
COMMEMORATING UAW’S
1ST CONTRACT WITH GM.
Getting to
Know U(nions)
EW’s list o’ terms
BY
M ARTHA C ALHOON
W
hen labor disputes dominate local headlines and you
can’t decipher the lingo because you don’t know a
Zipper Clause from a Unilateral Change (or either one from your
elbow), don’t despair! Allow EW to guide you through the jargon
with our short Super Hip (TM) Labor Glossary!
Benefits: AKA bennies. You know, the stuff we really want
(besides a living wage): Health insurance, pensions, vacations
and sick pay.
Binding Arbitration: One way bosses and workers solve
volatile issues. Under binding arbitration, a neutral third party
hears arguments from both sides. The arbiter’s decision is final,
enforceable in courts and must be adhered to by both sides.
Two types exist: interest arbitration during contract negotia-
tions, common when the workers are part of protective servic-
es (fire, police, etc.) and don’t have the right to strike, and rights
arbitration, for struggles around grievances.
Business Agent: Also known as “reps,” these beings are not
like Tom Cruise’s handlers, but are in fact full-time, paid union
officials. It’s their job make sure the boss and the workers are
holding to the contract and to deal with worker grievances
when there’s a problem.
Collective Bargaining Agreement: AKA the contract. The
result of negotiations which establish the conditions of employ-
ment (wages, hours, benefits and so on) and ways to settle dis-
putes arising during time of contract.
National Labor Relations Act (NLRA): Since 1935, this act
guarantees workers the right to participate in unions free from
management reprisal.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): This is an agency
created by NLRA to adminster the provisions of the NLRA.
Appointed by the prez.
National Labor Relations Community (NLRC): Just kidding!
There is no NLRC.
Negotiations: How workers and bosses decide on bennies,
pay, working conditions, etc. Negotiations usually involve an
exchange of proposals and discussion until compromises are
reached or demands are dropped.
Organizing: How workers pursue recognition of a union by
their employer. Often means a campaign and a secret ballot
election. Though most elections are provided for under law,
employers can voluntarily recognize a union that speaks for a
majority of their workers without an election.
Pensions: Retirement pay. In addition to health care, pensions
have recently become hot issues during negotiations.
The Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA):
Passed in 1978, this act set up the Employment Relations Board
to resolve disputes (unfair labor practice charges) and oversee
the organizing and bargaining processes in Oregon’s govern-
ment sector.
Public Sector: Government workers — city, county, state, fed-
eral, school district, etc.
Our expert Super Hip (TM) Labor Glossary sources!
American Rights at Work: www.araw.org
Barbara Byrd, Secretary-Treasurer, Oregon AFL-CIO
University of Maryland: www.umbc.edu/collectivebargaining/glossary.html
AUGUST 31, 2006 13