Above. Congratulations to Vernon Hochstetler and Jeremy
Larsen. They were in attendance to receive their journeyman certificates and
were presented with Local 247 Carhartt jackets for attending the meeting.
Journeyman get the jackets if they appear in person to receive their
certificates.
Right. Mark Wagoner and his son
John attended the September union meeting, and his son won a fishing pole in the
membership drawing. Mark was also recognized for his outstanding service
volunteering for a variety of Local 247 volunteer projects.
President
We had 67 members present
at our last regular meeting.
Dick Springer, director of the Fair
Contracting Foundation, addressed the members regarding wage recoveries and
an upcoming need for volunteers for a small project at the Portland Relief
Nursery. Jim Robison, candidate for PUD Commission, was also present at the
meeting, and he fielded questions about the Nov. 4 election
Under reports of accidents, sickness and
death, it was reported that Earl Khoury was badly burned in a gas stove
explosion in Alaska. We understand that Earl has made remarkable progress,
considering 85 percent of his body was burned. It was also reported that
Johnny Bias fell 65 feet erecting a scaffold in Portland. He too is doing
well and is on the road to recovery.
Under reports, Doug Tweedy, training director,
reported about training issues and the recent loss of Dean Hawkins’ wife.
Dean is one of our millwright instructors. Ben Embree, PNWRCC organizer,
reported on organizing activities and his candidacy for Longview City
Council. We had several other reports from our metro representatives and
organizers.
Under “new business,” a motion was made to
send Dean a $247 care package and a sympathy card. A motion was also made
endorsing the Gresham Urban Renewal District plan. It was also decided to
send four Local 247 members to the Architectural Museum, Bosco-Milligan
fundraising auction. The final action, prior to adjournment, was to purchase
10 turkeys for November door prizes.
We hope to see you present at the November
meeting.
As per usual, there were other things
discussed at the meeting. For more complete coverage of YOUR UNION … ATTEND
YOUR MEETINGS!!!
General membership Meets the second Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Carpenters Hall, 2215 N.
Lombard, Portland. A representative from the Metropolitan Alliance for the
Common Good will talk about the group’s goals and upcoming actions.
Retirees Retirees meet for lunch the second Monday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. at JJ
North’s, 10520 NE Halsey, Portland. There will be a retirement party Nov. 15 for
Eldon Middleton at the union hall starting at 5 p.m. in the upper hall. Call the
office for details.
Executive Board Executive Board meets the fourth Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. at the
Carpenters Hall, 2215 N. Lombard.
When you come to meetings, please
remember to bring donations for the food bank.
Turner Construction has recently signed an A.G.C.
Compliance Agreement with the Carpenters Union. We have met periodically with
Turner for over ten years. They are a large national company who will be
valuable as a Union Contractor. Turner has four jobs in the area already. One is
a large condo job at Hayden Island, starting early next year.
We are collecting toys for needy children ages 1 -
13, to be donated to Toy & Joy Makers. If you are interested in donating a toy,
please bring it to our office. If you would like to gift wrap it, please
indicate the age and gender on the outside. If you have questions, please feel
free to call the office at 503-289-9632. Thanks so much!!
In Gresham at Southeast 169th and Stark, a project
has started called Lillian Place.
Habitat for Humanity works to encourage
participation with organized labor. Currently, IBEW Local 125, jointly with
Portland General Electric, has agreed to install the underground power. Next,
IBEW Local 48, jointly with Rose City Electric, has pledged to support the
inside wiring for the project. Thirdly, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 290,
jointly with Peninsula Plbg Co., has pledged to support the inside plumbing for
the project. Members from various other organized labor groups have
participated, as well as small independent businesses.
Mount Hood Habitat for Humanity needs those
interested to help in constructing foundations for three buildings. The
Community Center, is 22’ x 42’, slab on ground. Another foundation is 40’x 60’,
for three four-bedroom units. The last building is 54’ x 34’, for three
two-bedroom units. Each building site has been excavated recently. It would be
nice to get two or three key people from Local 247 to help guide a crew of
volunteers building these foundations.
It is the vision for Mount Hood Habitat for
Humanity to develop strong communities where all persons have decent and
affordable places to live. Their goal is to partner with organized labor, to
bring together all sectors of the community in common respect for each other,
and to make known the ongoing community service contributions of unions.
If you are interested in volunteering, please
contact Arnold Williams, Mt. Hood Habitat for Humanity at 503-572-1042.
Gene Picariello, Andy Wagner and Joe
Baron work on the historical storefront for the North Precinct Community
Policing office.
Tim Collins and Ron Kochman work on interior framing at the North Precinct
Community Policing office.
What’s next: Volunteers needed for West’s
Block
The renovation of the West’s Block Building at 701 SE Grand is well under
way and, when finished, will house the non-profit Architectural Heritage
Center. This building was built in 1883. This is the same year that the
first Carpenters Hall, Local 50 — 247’s ancestor — was chartered in
Portland, and members of our local may have built it. To date, classes
from the Willamette Carpenter Training Center have put over 700 donated
hours into this project. The Pacific Northwest Regional Council has made a
$10,000 contribution, and the carpenters employed onsite by Robertson, Hay
and Wallace are making a significant donation by agreeing to work for low
scale to make the Architectural Heritage Center a reality. On Saturday,
Nov. 22, work parties will start and volunteers are needed. To sign up or
for further information contact Sherrie at the Local 247 office,
503-289-9632, or Rich Carasco with Robertson, Hay and Wallace at
360-521-3398.
“Ten thousand times has the labor
movement stumbled and bruised itself. We have been enjoined by the courts,
assaulted by thugs, charged by the militia, traduced by the press, frowned on in
public opinion, and deceived by politicians. But not withstanding all this,
labor today is the most vital and potential power this planet has ever known,
and its historic mission is as certain of ultimate realization as the setting of
the sun.” — Eugene Debs, American Railway Union
1700s Colonial America: Guild system, skilled
masters, journeymen, then apprentices many of whom are indentured servants.
Demand for skilled carpenters is very high. Apprentices make twice as much as
English counterparts. The Carpenters Company of Philadelphia is founded and
publishes a Book of Prices which standardizes cost of construction.
1773 -- The Ship Carpenters and Caulkers of Boston
play a leading role in the Boston Tea Party.
1776 -- The Constitutional Assembly meets in
the Philadelphia Carpenters Hall on July 4 to sign the U.S. Declaration of
Independence.
1788 -- Again the Constitutional Assembly meets
in the Philadelphia Carpenters Hall to draft the US Constitution.
1790 -- The first textile mill is established
in Pawtucket, Rhode Island by Samuel Slater. All the workers are children under
age 12.
1791 -- The Union of Society Carpenters
organize and strike for a uniform workday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and no winter
piece rate work.
1793 -- Cotton gin invented, which speeds up
production of cotton and increases pressure on slaves.
1800s -- Empire in Wood, by Robert A. Christie,
tells us that three basic changes took place from 1791 to 1881 which
influenced the development of carpenters unions in the United States: (1) A
change in the basic organization of the industry; (2) A widening of the labor
market;(3) An advance in technology.
1806 -- Eight Philadelphia shoemakers are found
guilty of a criminal conspiracy after striking for higher wages under an old
English common law dating back to 1349 which forced survivors of the black
plague to work for fixed wages. The Power Loom is invented which takes the
weaving of cloths out of homes and into the factories where women and children
are worked 12 to 16 hours a day, seven days a week.
1825 -- The United Textile Workers of New York
conduct the first all women’s strike for higher wages. Women are accused of
striking against God and mankind. In the carpenter trades, the masters become
employers, journeymen and apprentices respond as employees.
1830 -- Mary Harris Jones is born in Cork
County Ireland. Emigrates to the United States at age eight with her family. She
is the most controversial labor activist in American history. Becomes popularly
known as “The Miner’s Angel’’ “Mother Jones”and as the “Most Dangerous Woman in
America.” She is hired as the first woman organizer by the United Mine Workers,
and her most active years in labor are between the ages of 60 to 100. The
Factory Girls Association is organized in Lowell, Mass.
Labor’s Untold Story By Richard O. Boyer &
Herbert M Morais. This is one of the very best Labor history primers
available.
A Peoples History of the United States By
Howard Zinn
Toil & Trouble: A History of American Labor By
Thomas R Brooks
History of the Labor Movement in the United
States: Ten Volumes By Philip Foner
We Were There: The Story of Working Women in
America By Barbara Wertheimer
Rebels in the Woods: The IWW in the Pacific
Northwest By Robert L. Tyler
Big Trouble By J. Anthony Lukas This is a big
book, but a very thorough examination of the attempted frame-up of Western
Federation of Miners leaders for the murder of an ex-governor of Idaho in
1905.
Where the Sun Never Shines: A History of
America’s Bloody Coal Industry By Priscilla Long. This is an amazing book!!!
Making Sense of the Molly Maguires By Kevin
Kenny This is the most thorough examination of the Mollies to date.
The Labor Spy Racket By Leo Huberman
Strike! By Jeremy Brecher
The Road to Dignity (Carpenters History) by
Thomas R. Brooks
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters By Walter
Galenson
Empire in Wood : A History of the Carpenters
Union By Robert A. Christie This book is very-very hard to find!
Fear at Work: Job Blackmail, Labor, and the
Environment By Richard L. Grossman & Richard Kazis
