lir a F rances S c h o e n -'e ts p a p e r Pooa
U n iv e r s it y o f c re y ó n L ib r a r y
U R ens, < rv • ,n
J3
United Minority Workers find success
Nathan Prohy, Director of
the United Minority Workers
IUMW), told the Observer
that his program has been so
surcessful that employers are
now seeking minority trainees
and workers from UMW.
Two training programs to
he held the first of the year
will train minorities for jobs
in construction. Fifteen vet
erans will lie trained in Port
land for employment as
heavy equipment operators.
This is un eight week pro
gram and participants will be
eligible for veteran's cduen
tion Is-nefits during training.
In February, a month long
training program for team
sters will be held at ('amp
Adair near Corvallis. Fifteen
train ees will In- supplied
room und board anil trans
portalion. Trainees in this
group will be qualified as
journeymen truck drivers and
are insured jobs with jour
neyrnen scale when the train
ing is ronrluded,
Proby
stressed that persons com
pleting these training ses
sions will be hired as jour
neyrnen, not trainees. Posi
tions are available in both
programs.
UMW has placed approxi
mutely 80 minority persons
on jobs in the lust six
months. Prohy expects to
place an additional 350 eni
ployess in the next few
months as construction con
tractors get ready for the
spring building perils).
Proby said the government
agencies have been coopera
live and are enforcing af
firm ative action require
ments.
Many of the con
tractors, hoping to avoid
confrontation with the gov
ernment and possible loss of
contracts, are making an
effort to include minorities in
their work forces. All of the
construction trade unions ex
cept the Operating Eitgi
neers #701, against whirh
UMW has filed a complaint
of discrimination, are ro
il,M-rating in getting minority
workers hired by the con
tractors into the unions.
The real breakthrough
came when the General Ser
vire Administration filed a
“show cause” order against
Tisid Construction Company
of Koseburg, charging that
the company was not meet
ing its affirmative action
agreement on its federal
building construction site in
Eugene. Todd had signed an
agreement with UMW, which
became a part of his federal
contract, guaranteeing to use
specific percentages of mi
norities on the job. Todd
later signed a new agree
ment calling for minorities in
8 to 10 percent of the total
man hours on the job to
April 15. 1974; 10 to 20
liercent from April 15 to
September 16th; and 15 per
cent until the project closes
approximately January 18,
1975,
The UMW n to he
notified regularly of compli
ance and has the right to
monitor the site.
Hoffman Construction Com
pany recently notified UMW
that its federal building con
PORTLAND &
Volume 4, No. 9
Portland, Oregon
(H I
O N I Y NIWSRARIR
IN
AN
(O U A l
O RRORTUNIIY (M F lO Y tR
(H I
W H O tt
W IO t
WORLD
(H A I
struction project in Portland
currently has 70 percent
minorities in laborers; 15
percent in carpenters; 50
percent in heavy equipment
operators; and 13 percent in
cement workers
a total
of 28 percent. Hoffman Con
struction Company, Oregon's
largest construction company,
has been unusually resistant
to hiring minorities.
Proby says the reason for
the recent willingness of
contractors to cooperate is
their knowledge that GSA,
the U.S. D epartm ent of
Housing and Urban Develop
ment, and the Environmental
Protection Agency will act
against those who do not
obey the law.
UMW also has notice of
job openings in the near
future.
There will be 75
positions with the Washing
ton State Highway Commis
sion in Vancouver; 15 train
ing positions on highway
construction south of Port
land; as well as other posi
tions for skilled and unskilled
workers.
UMW is acting as a hiring
hall
finding employment
opportunities, referring mi
norities; follow up after
hiring, and counseling. UMW
is investigating charges of
discrimination in hiring and
harassment of minority em
ployees. Government agen
cies have instructed contrac
tors to contact UMW for
referrals of minority workers.
Proby emphasizes the need
for all minority people who
are in need of employment or
OBSERVER
R IA tlY
CARIS
AROUT
R IO R lt
Thursday. December 20. 1973
lOr per copy
Brooks reappointed
G overnor’s Message
There has never been a lime exactly like this one in all
of the tune that has passed. Nothing in the natural
universe is the same now as it was a moment ago.
Stars are growing and dying; the earth is in a place in
4k.- sky- it «>«•• will be i m u - a tree <«ils nt
age and
another rises from the ground.
Man himself changes, and accelerates rhange.
No
greater power to change the world exists on earth than in
the hands of man. We live in an era when man can press
buttons to destroy every living thing on the planet or his
apathy condones the slower killing process, that of
destroying nature.
But surely that was not God's design, for He so loved
the world that He sent His Son to die for us. But is it
possible that God's gift for a second chance for humanity
will In- wasted? Isn’t it possible that in our swing toward
change that we will stumble short of the Promised I .and?
God in his wisdom urged constancy u | m » h us . He asked
that we not lose an awareness of this world and all those
around us. He asked thal we remain always of good will,
that we respect always Christ's message of peace.
The Christmas story is one of constancy
enduring
faith, eternal hope, and everlasting peace. Ia*t man in his
wisdom leave it unchanged.
Dorothy McCammark and
James O. Brooks were ap
pointed to the Housing
Authority of Portland's Board
of Commissioners Mayor Neil
Goldschmidt has announced.
Ms. McUammack, 37. is a
resident of North Portland
and has been active in Com
munity and youth affairs.
She is a member of the
North Portland Citizen Com
mittee; a volunteer coord ma
tor for the University Sum
mer Park Program 11973); a
volunteer case aide for Juve
nile Court (1971 73); and a
member of the Housing
Authority's Personnel and
Resident Committee 11972
731 and their committee on
Model Ia-ase and Grievance
Procedure 11972 731.
M< McCamruack was ,n-
live in Summer "72 and she
hel|M-d form an organizatior
PMSC challenged
Betty Overton and Al
Lucas s)>okc for the Portland
Metropolitan Steering Com
nittee concerning charges
igainst the PMSC Child De
velopment Center made by
members of the Industrial
Workers of the World (IWW).
Mrs. Overton said she par
tirularly resented the inter
Builders discuss miaority share
R ep resen tativ es of the
Jelro Company of Salt laike
City and the United Sewage
Agency met with Al Hicks of
the Enviornmental Protec
tion Agency and repreaenta
tives of the Albina Contrae
tors' Association, the United
Minority Workers, the United
Minority Workers' Aaaoria
tion of Tacoma, and the
Central Contractors' Aaaoria
tion of Seattle to discuss
Jelco's minority obligations
on its upcoming construction
project in Oregon. Jelro will
receive the contract from
Unified Sewage Agency to
construct a sewage treat
ment plant with federal
funds.
The 22 million dollar job
will lake approximately 20
months to complete. Jelro
hail planned to do approxi
mately 90 percent of the
work, excluding electrical,
and to subcontract the elec
trical work plus 10 percent of
the construction. The repre
a
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known as Parent Survival, a
group which works to inform
parents amt their youngsters
about available resources.
James (). Brooks, 19, Direc
tor of Economic Develop
ment and Employment for
the Urban League of Port
land, is a graduate of the
University of Portland with a
B.S. Degree in Zoology 11953)
and a B.A. Degree in Soci
ology 119661.
He has his
certifieate in Urban Sociology
from (ieorge Williams Col
lege (Illinois), and earned his
Masters Degree in Sociology
from the University of Port
land in 1971.
Brooks is a member of the
Portland Chaper of NAACP,
the Portland Irvington Com
munity Association, and the
Board of Directors ol the
Portland Metropolitan Steer
ing Committee.
sentatives of Jelco were in
formed by Hicks of their
responsibility to meet mi
lority workman goals and to
itilize minority business. It
might be necessary for Jeleo
to subcontract a portion of
its 90 percent to minority
contractors. It is also the
responsibility of Jelco to see
that each of its sub contrac
tors designate a portion of
each job to minority ron
tractors.
Ernie Altheimer of the
C entral Area C ontractors
told Jelco rep resen tativ es
that they will need to aban
don their usual way of al
loting subcontracts to meet
the requirem ents of the
Minority Business Program.
This might include negotia
tion of contracts, technical
assistance and help with
bonding.
Nate Proby, Director of
UMW, said his organization
will expect that one out of
five man hours on every job
classification will go to mi
ndFities.
The Jelco EEO
officer. Duane Nealy, said his
company will not make a
number commitment at this
time, hut "will sure try".
Al llieks said his agency
looks on this negotiation
meeting as a milestone. Jelco
and the minority organiza
tions will meet again to work
out the specifics and EPA
will monitor the process.
EPA is responsible for en
forcemenl of the equal op
portunity requirements of the
project and can withhold
funds at any time these are
not met.
jection of racism into the
iasue and the personal at
tacks on Cleveland Gilcrease,
Executive Director of PMSC,
and Gretchen Boynton, direc
tor of the center. She said
the attack on Gilcrease is
typical of the usual racist
attack on Black men in posi
tions of leadership and that
she considers the whole af
fair an attempt to "get Gil
crease".
The IWW, which is at
tempting to unionize the em
ployees of the child care
renter, has made a number
of allegations against Mrs.
Boynton. The issue appar
ently reached a head with
the term ination of Jean
DeMasters. Mrs. DeMasters
was terminated, and went
through grievance proce
dures, whirh determined she
had been improperly termi
nated. She was later termi
nated again by PMSC. IWW
spokesmen claim Mrs. De-
Masters, who is white, was
fired because she was agi
tating for Black control of
the center.
Mrs. Boynton stated that
she has not answered com
plaints publically because she
felt most of the complaints
were untrue and that her
public protest would add the
publicity her detractors de
sire. She stated that she has
discussed staff complaints
with the staff and that the
complaints seem to narrow
down to the desire on the
part of a few to make the
decisions that are her re
sponsibility. She meets reg
ularly with staff members
and asks their advice and
opinion, but the ultimate
decisions are her responsi
bility as director.
On some of the specific
complaints that have been
published, she had the fol
lowing comments: She was
charged with neglecting care
of the bus tires and causing
an accident. Mrs. Boynton
said the tires were checked
and found to be in good
condition and that the wreck
occured when the bus driver
went through a red light.
T he IWW n e w s le tte r
(Please turn to pg. 2. col. 3)
training to contact UMW im
mediately. There are also
non construction positions
open in secretarial fields,
janitorial, food service, ac
counting, etc.
UMW has a working re
lationship with the Chicano
Indian Study Center of Ore
gon through which minority
w orkers can be served
throughout the state. Proby
is currently establishing
branches of UMW through
out Eastern Oregon so that
minority employees can be
quickly dispatched to jobs
anywhere in the state and so
minority workers will have a
contact point to air griev
ances.
UMW is scheduling full-
day workshops with per
sonnei of the Region X
federal agencies to teach its
people how to investigate
and rep o rt discrim inatory
practices.
Any interested
person is invited to attend
these workshops.
Proby emphasized the need
for young Blacks to get into
the construction trades at
the age of 18 or 19. UMW
hopes to be able to provide
training for a few young
people in each of the 15
construction crafts.
These
training programs bypass the
apprenticeship programs
whirh have discrim inated
against minorities - and
put young people into the
work force as journeymen
within a reasonable period of
time.
No, it's not Harold Johnson. It's the real Santa Claus who
came down from the North Pole to hear the secret desires of
Portland children in expectation of his return on Christmas
Eve.
Ramps
delayed
Mrs. Florence Wroten displays award presented by Cos
mopolitan Airtel for "providing efficient and personal ser
vice".
Employee earns award
by Gloria Geao W roten
Mrs. Florence Wroten, an
employee of the Cosmopoli
tan Airtel located at 6221
N.E. 82nd Avenue, became
the recipient of an award for
her assistance in what Airtel
Chief Art Steimle termed
“providing efficient and per
sonal service” to A irtel
patrons.
An employee of the Cos
mopolitan industries since
the 1968 Airtel opening, Mrs.
Wroten was presented the
gold plaque award during the
annual Employees’ Christmas
party held at the Airtel on
December 16th. “We would
like to take this opportunity
to thank you as well as
commend you for your past
five years of service," re
marked Employee Manager
Robert Powers as he pre
sented Mrs. Wroten with the
iward.
Tearful, the mother of five
stood before a crowd of two
hundred and fifty employees
and staff members and said,
"this is one of the greatest
things that has ever hap
pened to me. It has truly
been wonderful working with
you and the other employees
and staff members of the
fabulous Airtel. Thank you,
thank you so very much."
In addition to her award.
Mrs. Wroten will also be
come the guest of the Cos
mopolitan Motel of her choice
anyw here in the United
States.
Mrs. Wroten dis
closed that she and her hus
band Edward will take ad
vantage of the Cosmopolitan
hospitality during their fu
ture stay in Sacramento,
California.
The Portland City Council
voted to postpone the open
ing of the Fremont Bridge
ramps into Albina until a
more comprehensive evalua
tion of their effect on the
community is made.
The
Council responded to the re
port of an Ad Hoc Com
m ittee appointed by the
Council, which recommended
strict regulations of traffic if
the ramps are opened.
The Boise Improvement
Committee and other neigh
borhood groups, including
the Model Cities Citizens’
Planning Board, have op
posed opening the ramps.
A public hearing will be
held early in January.
Paula Conley receives $5.00 check as first-prize winner in
the Observer's coloring contest. Paula is a third grader at
Irvington Elementary School.
Madison High School's “Gambling Gangsters" rally team.
Team brings "belonging”
Mrs. Hazel G. Hays begins work as Director of the Albina
Multi Service Center amid bushels of flowers sent by well
wishers.
by Rosemary Allen
Have you ever been to a
basketball game and watched
the dancing girls at half-time
and it suddenly dawned on
you in your boredom that if
the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 did not
exist, those girls would be in
complete confusion?
If so, you're in for a com
plete change if you get the
opportunity to see Madison
High School’s new dance
team.
They call themselves the
“Gambling Gangsters", The
Gambling Gangsters are com
prised of approximately 20
young Madison High School
students, male and female,
from all four grades. Their
advisor, Lena Bimberry, is a
young, 23 year old English
teacher at Madison High.
Ms. Bimberry saw in the
forming of the dance team a
chance for the students to
participate in a "positive,
non-verbal experience."
"The group is like a family,
they’re very close." explained
Ms. Bimberry. The "family
jewel" is Luerine Wilson, a
senior at Madison and leader
of the dance team. “We call
Luerine the family jewel be
cause everthing evolves
around her,” said Ms. Bim
berry. What evolves around
Luerine Wilson on the gym
floor at half time is a thrill to
see. The Gambling Gang
sters are dressed in red and
white turtleneck tops, blue
jeans cuffed to the knee,
white anklets with red long
socks, red and white .shoes
and gangster hats.
What
they do on the floor is far
beyond turning your head
and moving your arms to a
stiff one, two, three, four
count. Their dance routine is
a reflection of the environ
ment they live in, the things
they see, and the way they
feel.
Some oi the dances in
their routine are derived
from "street dances", like the
Camelot, S eattle Bump,
Tunkie and the Watergate.
However the style of dancing
comes from Luerine Wilson,
who describes her technique
as "just being wild with it."
What makes the Gambling
Gangsters different from the
average dance team is the
feeling they put into the
dance. They practice many
hours each week before and
after school and on week
ends, but there is always a
spark of freshness and energy
in their routine.
One of the reasons why
the Gambling Gangsters put
so much into their dance
team is because they get so
much out. According to one
member of the dance team,
"The drill team makes me
feel like I belong at Madison
High School. It makes me
feel like going to school.''