Carpenters Local 247 March 2004 meeting report By Bruce Dennis Above, Local 247 members are honored at the March meeting for a year’s perfect attendance at union meetings. Honorees received a Carhartt jacket with the union logo, or a $50 Home Depot gift certificate. Our March meeting started a little late because members and guests were enjoying a Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner prepared by Vice President Willie Gore and Delegate Andy Wagner. City Commissioner candidate Nick Fish was present to address the membership and take some questions. Fish was later endorsed by Local 247. Under Communications a letter was read from Oregon AFL-CIO President Tim Nesbitt, commending The Carpenters Union for our participation in the rally at Portland Community College, welcoming the U.S. Department of Labor to town. Under reports, 247 member and Apprenticeship Instructor Jim Murphy introduced Skill Advancement Coordinator Joel Darling, who reported on Bridge Builder Training and other classes offered through the Training Center. Benefit Trustee Bob Hanson, reported on both Pension and Health & Welfare issues. Organizer Ben Embree thanked members for participation in the Health Care Rally downtown and reported on various recent activities. Business representatives Ken Stroup, Bruce Dennis, Pete Savage and Dave Oury reported on a wide variety of jobsite issues and projections. Under Good of the Order we heard about volunteer opportunities; Montana Harley raffle, May Day planning, Workers Memorial Day, and the recent dedication of the Community Policing office near the union hall. 247 members were well recognized at the event. Under New Business, there was a motion passed endorsing Nick Fish and also Mike Sullivan, who is running for a Yamhill County Commissioner position. The motion included recommended contributions to Randy Leonard, Portland City Commissioner, and Paul Holvey, Oregon State Representative, as well as for Fish and Sullivan. The Local previously endorsed Randy and Paul. 247 also agreed to help pay for a booth at the Clark County Fair. The meeting went smoothly and the food was great. Be there next month.

Meeting Notices

General membership
Meets the second Tuesday, April 13, at 7 p.m. at the Carpenters Hall, 2215 N. Lombard, Portland. Steelworker Mike Sullivan, a candidate for Yamhill County Commission, will speak about his campaign.

Retirees
Retirees meet for lunch the second Monday, April 12, at 11 a.m. at JJ North’s, 10520 NE Halsey, Portland.

Executive Board
Executive Board meets the fourth Tuesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at the Carpenters Hall, 2215 N. Lombard.

May Day: As relevant now as it has ever been

By Pete Savage
Financial Secretary

The last few years we have been assaulted by health care costs that took a higher and higher percentage of our wages. Our only recourse has been to cut benefits and divert money from our checks.

How many of you could have found another use for that money? How many goals for yourself and your families have been delayed or denied?

We can complain in the job shacks and at our union meetings, but until we realize this for the crisis it is, we will continue to fall victim to a system that spends more on lobbying and advertising than it does on research!

We will merge our health plans, and that will help, but when we are staring at 14 percent increases year after year for the foreseeable future … we must face this for what it is, a crisis! If we do not, then we are doomed to losing health care as we know it.
We have a president who is about to sign a bill that will eliminate overtime for 8 million Americans, including police, fire, nurses, retail managers and medical therapists. Are we next?

What can we do? We are only carpenters. Well, let’s look at the history for a minute. In 1886, Peter McGuire, founder of the UBC, and Samuel Gompers decided it was time for workers to stop working sunup to sundown for a day’s pay. That’s right, in those days we agreed to work by the day for a set rate, approximately $3 a day in Portland. So they called for a national strike. There were many stops and stutters along the way. Workers were killed, jailed and beaten to try and break the movement; but on May 1, 1890, workers all over the country refused to work.

Here in Portland, the strike was planned and coordinated by Carpenters Local 50. For over two years, all the trades participated and the eight-hour day as we know it was born.

We have been active as a local in bringing the local Mayday march and celebration back to those roots, and this year we have gained the support of the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council, so we can count on support from the other trades. The march is permitted, and the police are working with us to keep it safe.

Come join us this year as we try to make this the biggest and best one yet! We need to show our faces in the streets to let the government know we will not stand idle and watch our health care and overtime go away … or will we? I hope not. We have the power!
This year we are focusing on health care, jobs and overtime, and the right to organize. If any or all of these strike a nerve in you, then come down and join us. Bring your spouse, kids, parents, neighbors, friends, or anybody who cares.

Health care crisis draws nationwide demonstrations

America’s health care system may be reaching such a crisis point that it will require people take to the streets in protest. That’s the implication of a March 4 Portland demonstration in which an estimated 200 people turned out to march and rally for health care. Portland was one of dozens of U.S. cities where activists observed a national day of action to demand “common sense” solutions to the health care crisis.

Almost no one disputes that the system IS in crisis.

In every other industrialized country, tax-supported health care systems ensure everyone has access to health care. But in the United States, nearly 44 million people are uninsured, including 8.5 million children and half a million Oregonians.

And for those who ARE insured, benefits are eroding and skyrocketing premium costs are taking a greater and greater bite: They either pay directly, with increased premiums, or indirectly, when employers hold back wage increases to pay increased premiums.

Health care premiums have gone up an average of 15 percent in the last year, and there are 2.4 million more uninsured than a year ago.

Not since 1999 have health care premiums gone up less than 10 percent a year. In 2003, employer-paid health care premiums averaged $9,068 for family coverage and $3,383 for single coverage. If costs continue to go up just 10 percent a year, the employer-paid health care coverage for a family will cost $23,520 a year in 10 years.

Health care advocates are wondering how long the political system can resist systemic reform. Health care is now the number one issue in every union contract negotiation. Keeping health care coverage was what drove 70,000 Southern California grocery workers to strike for four months, Ed Clay of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 told the crowd.

After a short rally in Pioneer Courthouse Square, demonstrators marched through downtown Portland streets behind a fire truck.

The day of action was organized by Jobs With Justice in coalition with unions and community organizations, including Carpenters Local 247. The groups are calling for the federal government to lead the way with some kind of program of universal coverage.

They say Bush's package of Medicare privatization and prescription drug benefits — which won’t begin until 2006 — is less a solution than a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry and the insurance companies. If the purpose of the program were to help the greatest number of seniors, one would think the government would want to get the greatest bang for the buck, the critics argue. Instead, Bush’s prescription drug program specifically PROHIBITS the government from using its purchasing power to bargain better drug prices from pharmaceutical companies.

Benefit rule changes

The recent communications from Associated Administrators outline two rule changes, which were improvements for Union Carpenters. When a member is disabled, the hour bank can be frozen for six months before utilization of those hours for coverage. Health and Welfare benefits will continue during this six-month period.

If a member works for a contractor who pays benefits late, benefits will be provided along with proof of employment. The prior rule only allowed this coverage to happen two times, regardless of whether the payments were ever made. This improvement is one that Local 247 specifically requested.

Bosco Milligan work day

Signatory contractor Robertson, Hay & Wallace is organizing a volunteer work day May 15 to help with the Bosco Milligan Westblock building project, in which two of the oldest buildings on the East side of the river are being renovated. Tasks to complete include stairs, metal stud framing, sheeting, and countless others. Lunch and beverages will be provided. Call the union hall for info.

Labor history timeline
Compiled by Tom Day & Gene Lawhorn

1906-1929 In the Landis Decision, Judge Kenesaw Landis slashes wages beyond contractors proposals and weakens the closed shop for five years. The International Longshoreman’s Association strike for union recognition at the Port of Portland. The pickets are attacked by police and over 500 are arrested. The Palmer Red Raids hit Portland and every known member of the IWW is arrested. The stock market crashes, sending the economy in a downward tailspin.

1930 Mother Mary Harris Jones dies at the age of 100. The Davis-Bacon Act becomes law requiring employers to pay prevailing wages to workers of contractors and subcontractors on all public construction projects. This is one of the most important laws dealing with the construction industry and is under constant attack by big business. Wisconsin enacts the first unemployment insurance act in the nation. President Roosevelt installs Francis Perkins as Secretary of Labor. She is the first woman to ever serve in a U.S. cabinet position.

1935 The National Labor Relations Act becomes law. This is the first national law to protect a worker’s right to organize and bargain collectively. The Committee for Industrial Organization is formed within the American Federation of Labor.              — To be continued

Second Annual Building Trades Unions Motorcycle Poker Run

a benefit for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Registration 10 to 11 a.m., $10 entry

Sponsored by Columbia-Pacific Building Trades, affiliates and other local trade unions

All riders welcome. Come for a nice ride, good people, and the best chili (you being the judge.)

Where: Run will start and finish at IBEW Local 48, 15937 NE Airport Way,
Portland, Oregon

What: A scenic round-trip ride with four checkpoints. Participants will receive
a playing card at registration, at each of the four checkpoints and return
to the IBEW. You may then donate $5 for a sixth card if you like.

Fun: Cash prizes awarded for HIGH and LOW hands.
Vendor Appreciation drawing and 50/50 tickets for sale!
Chili cookoff between the trades.
Hot dogs and sodas available for sale.

All proceeds benefit Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

For additional information, call Holly Wheeler at 360-907-3289, Lee Duncan at 503-260-5905 or Kathy Streifel at 503-658-7412.