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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 1983)
Portland Observar, November 2, 1963 Page 9 Shipbuilding firm employs out-of-state strikebreakers by Robert Lothian Three hundred worker« al F M C Corporation's barge and shipbuild ing operation on N W Front Avenue have been on «trike since August 12th, fighting an uphill battle against a union-busting manage ment. according to strike leaders. “ Reagan started i t ," said picket captain Joseph Chavez, referring to what he describes as an anti-union atmospher in which strikers are trying to negotiate a new contract. Chavez and fellow picket captain Larry Zarb, both welders apd mem bers o f Boilermakers Local 72, say that F M C management is offering the strikers a “ take it or leave it" final offer o f a 8 4 /hr. wage cut, a 50 percent cut in health and welfare ben efits and a 67 percent cut in pension benefits. The strikers, according to Chavez and Zarb, are asking for a three- year wage freeze to hold onto what they have, and a contract similar to that won recently by shipyard w ork ers up and down the west coast. F M C was hit hard by the reces sion, with its rail car division losing so much work that the workforce dropped from 1500 to a skeleton crew. “ W e are so far below survival levels it’s not even fu n n y ," said Bruce Harm an, F M C public rela tions representative. “ W e ’re using the word depression. ” F M C industrial relations manager Jim Johnson says the company has made union members a final offer which includes "adjustments in wages and benefits that would help to make us more cost com petitive." "O th er people in this business are able to get business because they have lower labor costs," said John son. And without business, he said, there's no jobs. Adjustments in management's contract offer in clude reductions in "some o f the costs o f wages and benefits," he said. “ W e ’re aware o f the economy, we don't want to price ourselves out o f business," said Zarb. But he con tends that management isn't serious about signing the contract. " Y o u can see they’re trying to break the union when they offer something like th a t," he said. In July, F M C 's remaining senior shop employees voted to decertify the union, “ turning the clock back at least ten years” with a $ 3 /h r. wage cut, for welders, according to Boilermakers Union representative C arl McLem ore. N ow , say Chavez and Zarb, man agement would like something similar to happen in F M C 's marine division. Over 100 strikebreaking workers have been hired through ads in The Oregonian and C olum bian, they say, and cars with A rizona, Texas and New York li cense plates have been observed in the parking lot. " I don’t think it’ s right that they are taking our jobs.*' said Zarb. But in spite o f the pressure, he said, strikers have been maintaining an orderly picket line with six to twelve pickets on duty daily. "There's been no violence on the picket line. W e don't allow th a t," he said. According to M cLem ore, F M C management's strategy is to "load u p " the workforce with anti-union workers, hiring them into the shop area and then shifting them later into the marine division. "They promise them permanent employ ment only if they vote against the unio n," he said. “ T hat's just pure nonsense,” F M C 's Johnson responded. "A n y voting that goes on is in a free and private election," he said. M cLem ore also charges F M C 's supervisors with using psychological warfare on the picket line, threaten problem s." Also, says Zarb, the in jury rate among the new workers is up since the strike began. “ Basically, we're just letting them hang themselves," said Zarb. “ Eventually, there's going to be a fatality. W e're not hoping for that, but . . . " Bat according to Johnson, " W e have the best safety record in the in dustry on the west coast. O ur safety is im proving," ever since the strike began, he said. Both Zarb and Chavez say that in the face o f what they see as manage ment's hard line, the strikers are prepared to stay out "u n til hell freezes over, or the day a fte r,” to win their new contract. Introducing... "District 18 expects: Openness Accountability Results... will deliver... Schools seek HOSTS Twenty-four Portland Schools are seeking volunteers to ha*p ele mentary students^.improve their reading skills through a program called H O S T S (H elp One Student to Succeed). H O STS is a special reading pro gram which targets a student’s read ing deficiencies and then provides daily, half-hour tutoring sessions to improve those skills. A child's self concept is also improved through working one-to-one with a caring helper. A volunteer comes to the school and tutors a child for one-half hour using the easy-to-follow reading les sons prepared by the teacher. One half-hour, one day a week, would help (every day would be better). Tutoring for elective credit or on free time can be arranged. Your high school counselor can help. Par ents, friends, and relatives are en couraged to call a school and sign up to tutor, also. Schools were volunteers can tutor in our area are: Hum boldt, 281- 6797; King. 288-6391; Beach, 265- 4569; Sabin, 268-1198. For more inform ation about the program, please call the HO STS Teacher at the school o f your choice or Marsha Farrow, Portland Public School« H O STS Corodinator. 249- 2000, ext. 381. ing worker« with lots o f their jobs if they continue the strike. The bottom line is, they’re just union busting." said Chavez. "T h ey're using the same tactics that brought unions into existence— low wages, low benefits and unsafe working conditions." Both Chavez and Zarb charge the company with turning out a shoddy product with strike-breaking w ork ers who don't have near the skills and experience the regular workers have. “ W e had the best crew on the west coast," said Zarb, "lik e one big fa m ily ." Now, according to Chavez, “ They don't care about quality. There's nothing but production rr The Democratic Candidate i i . nV Margaret Carter for All the People - 1 for State Representative District 18 Eye clinic opens doors Pacific University College o f O p tometry and the Portland Com m u nity College Optical Technology De partment now run a newly opened health clinic to serve the visual needs o f the general public. Complete eye examinations in cluding glaucoma testing and ocular health evaluations are offered by optométrie interns under supervi sion o f a Pacific University staff op tometrist. Reasonably priced frames and lenses are available through the optical dispensary staffed by faculty and students from the PCC Optical Cast your straw ballot for Margaret Carter 1-6 p.m., Nov. 5th Vancouver Ave. Baptist Church N. Vancouver at Morris Technology Program. The vision clinic is located at 705 N . KiUingsworth in the P C C Cas cade Campus Bookstore. The clinic honors those on medi cal assistance and offers * 25 per cent reduction in fees on diagnostic services to senior citizens and full time college or vocation^ students. Appointments can be made by call ing 240-5319. She listens___ She will a c t,. . . Paid for by C om m ino* to Elect Margaret Conor Kan Adair, Treasurer. 3738 N.E. 18th » BM BM I ï
