nwlaborpress.org | November 6, 2009

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November 6, 2009 Volume 110 Number 21
		Tensions escalate at Fred Meyer stores Three UFCW reps are arrested at a Hillsboro store, and a Spokane UFCW local mounts a region-wide protest of cashier firings.
Boeing rejects Machinists ‘no strike’ offer Boeing unions called its plan to build a 787 assembly line in non-union South Carolina a bad business decision — and said it had been clear during confidential talks that the company wasn’t serious about bargaining a “no-strike” pledge. But buried in the Boeing announcement was contradictory news — unionized Everett, Washington WILL be the site of the second assemby line, for a time. Wages down in two new Carpenters contracts Hard times in the construction industry — and last year’s stock market meltdown — took a bite out of compensation in recent contract settlements covering thousands of Oregon and Southwest Washington Carpenters. Fire at SEIU Local 49 headquarters being investigated as arson An early morning fire at the SEIU Local 49 office is being investigated as an arson. Damage is estimated at over $100,000, mainly to the building lobby, and the building is off-limits to staff use for now. Teachers unions file lawsuit against Bill Sizemore and Loren Parks Two Oregon teachers unions filed a civil lawsuit in Multnomah County Oct. 29 against Bill Sizemore, Loren Parks and his organizations, for racketeering. The claim is that Sizemore and Parks, a Nevada millionaire, conspired to set up a sham charitable organization to cover up their political activities. Oregon AFL-CIO 2009 convention coverage Labor must target younger workers Delegates attending the 51st convention of the Oregon AFL-CIO committed to bolster the federation’s constituency groups and reach out to younger workers. Oregon AFL-CIO rates state lawmakers Democratic State Rep. Tina Kotek of Portland was named the Oregon AFL-CIO’s “Legislator of the Year in the federation's rankings of state lawmakers for the 2009 legislative session. The rankings were released just before the convention. Geek Squad workers in fight for right to join IBEW 48 IBEW Local 48 organizer Terry Reigle says he knew it would be a challenge to help Geek Squad home theater installers unionize. No U.S. workers at Geek Squad — or parent company Best Buy — are union-represented. Murder tale brings Northwest labor history back to life For 10 years, union attorney Susan Stoner has had a secret: In between arbitrations and grievance-handling for ATU Local 757, she’s been moonlighting as mystery novelist S.L. Stoner. Pete Savage resigns from Regional Council of Carpenters Longtime Carpenters leader Pete Savage resigned his staff position at Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Oct. 9 — at the request of Executive Secretary-Treasurer Doug Tweedy. AFSCME Local 88 president won’t seek re-election AFSCME Local 88 President Becky Steward will step down when her term ends Nov. 18. Steward, 59, plans to retire in the next year from her job as senior business analyst at Multnomah County’s Department of County Management. Local 88 vice president Michael Hanna is running unopposed to succeed her. LNG-motivated recall vote held in Clatsop County One Clatsop County commissioner was removed, and another survived, in a recall campaign launched against the commissioners for supporting a union-built $650 million liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal.