Meeting Notices

General membership
General membership meets the second Tuesday, March 10, at 6 p.m. at the Carpenters Hall, 2215 N. Lombard, Portland. Election for Local 247 president and regional council delegate will be held at this meeting.

Retirees
Retirees meet for lunch the second Monday, March 9, at 11 a.m. at Hometown Buffet, 10452A SE Washington St., Portland.

Executive Board
Executive Board meets the fourth Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Carpenters Hall, 2215 N. Lombard, Portland.

Newsletter committee
Newsletter committee meets the second Thursday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m., first floor, Small Conference Room, Carpenters Hall, 2215 N. Lombard, Portland.

Special called meeting March 10!
Local 247 union officer elections

At the general March membership meeting, members will elect the candidates that were nominated at the February Special Called Meeting. The following members were nominated:
President: Willie Gore, Christie Kern, Gene Lawhorn
Delegate: Mike Brassell, Julio Figueroa, Willie Gore, John McGraw, Dave Oury, Gene Picariello
It is important that you attend! The meeting will be in conjunction with the regular membership meeting and begins at 6 p.m.

February meeting report

By Ben Basom
Recording Secretary

We had 77 members and seven guests present at our regular February meeting of Carpenters Local 247.

Under reports, Cliff Puckett gave a rundown of recent activities regarding some of the substandard contractors that our staff is focusing on, including the recent conviction of a labor broker who had been supplying cash-paid labor to companies like South Border Drywall and Westside Drywall. This labor broker was charged with counts of racketeering, fraud and tax evasion and is facing a five-year prison sentence. The Organizing Department has become a major factor in the market. There was a VOX (volunteer organizing committee) formed at this meeting. Mike Brassell will be chair of the newly formed VOX, so stay tuned for details and meeting information so you too can get involved.

There was much discussion on the ongoing problem of the Laborers performing our work. In these times of economic downturn we cannot continue to let our work slip away and be given to other crafts. If you see this happening on your job, call the Council office and let someone know. Our work is our work and we need to protect it.

We had nominations for president and delegate to the Regional Council due to the recent retirement of Brother Bruce Dennis (who we all hope is enjoying his retirement). We have three individuals running for the vacant president spot and six individuals running for the open delegate spot. It is now up to you to elect the president of your Local and the person you want to represent you at our Regional Council.

Come to your local meetings. It is a small commitment to ensure the longevity and perseverance of our union. Remember, it is up to you to make our union the way you envision it. Get involved and stay involved.

Transition to Trainer workshop

Saturday March 14, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Carpenters Local 247-Upper Hall

Lunch will be provided.  Participation is limited to 20 members.

Have you been looking for a mentor? Have you thought about being a mentor? Would you like to find out what a mentor does? Would you like to get to know a few members of this Local a little better? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then the Transition to Trainer workshop was written with you in mind. Please register by calling the Local 247 office at 503-289-9632.

Council quilt goes to Seattle

By Christie Marie Kern
Delegate

As you enter the 247 office, you may notice that something is missing from the wall.  The Council Quilt was raffled at the February PNWRCC Delegates meeting in Spokane.  It was won by Seattle Local 131, and raised $375 for Labor Community Services of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Seattle Local 131 has the opportunity to display it in their hall and the choice of the next charity to receive the proceeds from the May raffle.

I was inspired to make this quilt after seeing the tote bag made by Marcy Schram, Office Manager of Carpenters Local 1388 in Oregon City for Carole Lane, the President of that Local at that time.

This Quilt has been raffled as a symbol of unity and commitment to community service at every PNWRCC Delegate meeting since November of 2000.  Over $10,000 has been donated to various causes throughout the Council with the proceeds.

Resources for an aspiring labor activist

By Michael Brassell
Member

The purpose of this article is to provide our members with tools to become more effective organizers. The union is only as strong as its members. Questions I ask myself: Will I build public support for the union as a popular movement? Will I be a labor militant and organize in the field? Will I organize committees and institutions that strengthen our capacity to support our members? Will I go political and fight for laws that help our union? Or organize across the trades to build the power of the working class? My hope is that these resources will help you and me answer questions like these.

Books: Democracy is Power:
Rebuilding Unions from the Bottom Up
By Martha Gruelle and Mike Parker

With a focus on union activity in the workplace, the authors describe democratic approaches to contracts, grievances, communications, and leaders’ relationship with members. They shine a revealing light on democratic union culture, yet also attend to the more obvious parts of democracy, like elections and bylaws.

A Peoples History of the United States
By Howard Zinn

A concise history from the perspectives of workers, immigrants and the most oppressed classes. Knowledge is power, and in order to make informed decisions about our communities future it is critical to have a solid understanding of our past.

Groups: The Association for Union Democracy
www.uniondemocracy.org

The Association for Union Democracy is a pro-labor non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the principles and practices of democratic trade unionism in the North American labor movement. It is the premise of AUD that internal democracy makes unions stronger and better able to fight for the rights and interests of working people. No other organization is dedicated solely to advancing the democratic rights of union members.

UO Labor Education & Research Center
www.uoregon.edu/~lerc/

Since its inception in 1977, the Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) at the University of Oregon has made the resources and expertise of the higher education system available to workers, unions, policy makers, and community organizations throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Through teaching, research, technical assistance, and consultation, they fulfill the outreach and public service mission of the University by assisting people and communities throughout Oregon. LERC is also integrally involved in the life of the UO campus and participates in the academic mission of the University through teaching and service activities.

Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
www.tradeswomen.net

Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) is a membership driven, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the success of women in the trades through education, leadership, and mentorship. OTI was founded on the principle that women deserve and can attain economic self-sufficiency, freedom from gender-based discrimination in non-traditional workplaces, and equal consideration in workforce policymaking. Founded in 1989, today OTI has more than 300 dues-paying members, and three solid programs: Pathways to Success (which includes the FREE state certified pre-apprenticeship Trades and Apprenticeship Class), Trades Offer Girls Options (TO GO) youth program introducing girls to nontraditional careers, and Tradeswomen Organized for Outreach, Leaderhship and Support (TOOLS). They also produce the annual Women in Trades Career Fair, now in its 17th year!

Portland Jobs with Justice
www.jwjpdx.org

Jobs with Justice is a coalition of labor organizations and community groups dedicated to protecting the rights of working people and supporting community struggles to build a more just society. There are 40 Jobs with Justice chapters nationwide. JwJ mobilizes support for labor and community struggles at rallies, on picket lines, in educational settings and at meetings and hearings. The basic building block of JwJ is a pledge that people sign to turn out to support other people’s struggles at least five times a year.

Cross Trade Solidarity
Cross Trade Solidarity is a resource for building trade unionists interested in building solidarity across trades lines. They are committed to principles of social justice, and building a broad coalition to support rank and file activism for democracy in the individual unions. They meet on the third Sunday of each month. For support, or more information please e-mail them at cross-trade@lists.riseup.net.