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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1997)
- *.-. - . r ir .^ S n ^ f a S O ^ ^ S æ B » I m P ortland O bserver • O ctober 15, 1997 P age A3 Brings Portland Into Race Talks ope in the Cities is the title of a conference de scribed as “an honest conversation on race, reconcilia tion and responsibility,” par, of a national dialogue. I his conference will take place on November 1 -2 at Portland State University and is initiated by Moral Re-Armament (MRA) in associa tion with Portland State Univer sity, the Urban League of Portland, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, the Institute for Judaic Studies and the Office of Neighborhood Asso ciations. MRA’s goal is global transfor mation carried forward by people ot different convictions and faiths who seek G od’s inspiration for in dividual and common action. The purpose of the conference is to establish an ongoing dialogue H among the diverse ethnic, racial and religious communities in the area. Participants will be invited to come to grips with subtle racism, latent anti-Semitism, stereotyping, urban-rural divisions, and the col lision of values as newcomers move into the community The conference will launch a "Call to Com munity” which has been signed by a national group of leaders and by local officials in cluding Governor Kitzhaber, former Governors Atiyeh, Hatfield, and Roberts, and Mayor Vera Katz, Multnomah County Commission Chair Bev Stein, and some thirty prominent citizens from different backgrounds. “We must demonstrate," states the Call, “that our diversity is our greatest strength and that out of this diversity is rising a new Ameri- can community." The conference will build on the work of the Richmond (VA) based Hope in the Cities, which is an i n terracial, multi-faith coalition of in dividuals in business, government, education, media, religious and community organizations. The Richmond delegation will be led by State Senator Henry Marsh III, the first African-Ameri can Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and his successor as Mayor, Walter Kenney. Among speakers from overseas will be Hari Shukla, for nineteen years head of race rela tio n s in the E n g lish city o f Newcastle upon Tyne Case studies will be presented from other parts of the U S. and time in small facilitated groups will enable participants to get to know each other. Registration will lake place at 8 a.m. on Saturday, November I in P o rtlan d S ta te U n iv e r s ity ’s Harrison Hall. The conference includes a Sat urday evening banquet and will conclude with a concert by African American singer Joe Carter at 2:30 p m. on Sunday, November 2, at Neveh S halom sy n ag o g u e on Peaceful Lane in SW Portland. To ensure p articipation and meals, registrations are asked for by October 20. Cost is $10 for any or all sessions, Saturday Box Lunch $6, Saturday night banquet $15, and Joe Carter Sunday afternoon concert $7.50, with discounted ad mission of $5 for Seniors and stu dents. For further information, contact Michael Henderson at (503) 636- 5454. Kaiser Service Employees Are Back aiser Permanente service em ployees are back at work after voting to ratify a new 21-month con tract, thus ending a 33-day strike. Most employees reported to their jobs on Monday, October 6. | The new contract meets our objec tive of keeping health care affordable for members while ensuring that our total compensation package for em ployees remains among the best in the community,” says Jim Pruitt, Kaiser Permanente’s director of labor rela tions. “Service employees are joining the majority of other Kaiser Permanente em ployees and contributing an amount equal to 10 percent of their monthly benefits package, for the service employees about $80,” he adds. The new contract, which ends June 30,1999: It immediately boosts wages 2-per- cent and provides another 2 -percent increase on July 1,1998. It phases in over the next 15 to 30 years employee contributions to ward post-retirement medical cov erage. This is a benefit that is not even provided to other local health care workers. With the change, fu ture retirees will ultimately pay 30 percent of their coverage’s cost; current retirees will continue to re ceive fully employer-paid cover age. It requires service employees to pay $7 for medical or dental visits and $3 for prescription. And it raises the amount Kaiser Permanente contributes to the union’s education The first day back on the job was filled with emotions for all staff as people began getting back to normal routines. In many locations, employ ees brought cookies or other baked goods to welcome the returning em ployees. Hundreds of staff who had been temporarily replacing the service employees returned to their regular jobs. Individual and small-group meet ings took place in all the medical and dental facilities, offering people a chance to talk about what happened during the strike and to focus on meet ing members’ needs. Kaiser Permanente s Operational Support Services M anager Ray Robertson says, “Everyone worked very hard to care for our members during what turned out to be a long strike. We missed our colleagues, and it’s good to have them back as part of our health care team.” K FOG PORTLAND DEVELOPMENT "COMMISSION COMMISSION MEETING Date: October 24,1997 Place: Masonic Hall 5811 S.E. 92nd Portland, OR Time: 3:00 p.m. HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM? « For most people gambling is an occasional thing to do for fun. But for some, gambling can become a compulsion affecting every aspect of their lives. Problem Gambling is There’» HOPE. There’» HELP. 1-800-233-81,79 Commission meetings are open to the public. A complete agenda is available at PDC or by calling 823-3200. Citizens w ith disabilities may call 823-3232 or TDD 823-6868 for assistance at least 48 hours in advance. PDC is the C ity o f Portland's urban renewal, housing and economic development agency. Joe Carter entertains at Hope in the Cities Conference a treatable illness. To get help for yourself or someone you know, call the Gambling Hotline. . . Sponsored by the Oregon Lottery and the Oregon Gambling Addiction Treatment Foundation. ■
