Northwest Labor Press: April 7, 2006

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April 7, 2006 Volume 107 Number 7

News

Labor in the Oregon governor’s race: All over the map
For the upcoming May 16 primary election, most Oregon unions have decided by now whether and who to endorse for governor. Uncharacteristically, a number have taken a pass on the incumbent Democrat, and some have even backed a challenger.
Portland on the short list of massive Change to Win organizing drive
Portland is on a list of 35 cities the Change to Win labor federation has selected to be part of a massive organizing campaign it plans to launch the week of April 24. The campaign will be a joint effort to organize workers in transportation, distribution, retail, construction, leisure and hospitality, health care, property services, laundries, food production and processing and other services.
Strike averted at Multnomah Education Service District
A strike was averted, and nearly 400 union workers at Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) got an agreement they can probably live with — thanks to the late-stage intervention of several elected MESD Board members.
Baird blasts Bush for letting Bay Bridge use foreign steel
At a March 21 rally at Oregon Iron Works in Vancouver, Washington 3rd District Congressman Brian Baird accused the Bush Administration of trying to outsource American jobs by failing to enforce "Buy American" provisions in a 1982 law.
Wright appointed business manager of Bricklayers Local 1
Keith Wright is the new business manager of Portland-based Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1. He succeeds John Mohlis, who left late in his term to take a job as executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council.
AFL-CIO asked to rescind Solidarity Charter deadline
The Change to Win labor federation says its unions will suspend their Solidarity Charter per-capita payments to all state bodies and central labor councils on May 1 if the national AFL-CIO doesn't rescind new eligibility and deadline rules for charter applications.
Ambulance crew leaves ATU 757 for independent union
Portland-area workers at American Medical Response voted to disaffiliate from their locally-based union and instead join a relatively new union that has its office in Sacramento, California.

Analysis
Think again
A regular column by Tim Nesbitt
Channeling Sam Gompers
Advice to state candidates who want to speak to working families on schools, health care and jobs: Try channeling that old labor war horse Samuel Gompers.