The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.
Candidate Nick Fish who is running for City Council attended and thanked us
for his support and asked us for our help. Bob Hansen informed the members
that John Steffens was appointed as interim director at the WCTC. He also
advised us that the Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good (MACG) had a
meeting with the mayoral candidates, which raised issues of prevailing wage
for all PDC work.
There were no new members to swear in. We had
a moment of silence for Brother George Derkson, who passed away of a heart
attack. Ed Glad asked for volunteers to help with political sign-waving.
Dave Oury reported on School District negotiations, trade show work and the
shipyards. Ken Stroup reported on the lack of clean-room work and invited
members to the Metro Stewards’ meeting.
Under New Business, a motion was passed to
purchase Labor History calendars and pocket calendars. We also passed a
motion to purchase turkeys and hams for the November meeting. In addition,
the trustees recommended a special called meeting in December to vote on a
dues increase. The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.
November is Labor History Month in Oregon. Back in
1990, I drafted a resolution, while a member of Lumber & Sawmill Workers Local
2949 of Roseburg, that eventually went to the Oregon House and Senate as House
Concurrent Resolution 3 in 1991.
A. Philip Randolph
The idea for a Labor History Month came about
after noticing that all the displays for months that celebrate women’s history
and Black history were absent any leaders of labor unions. There were plenty of
books on display dealing with civil rights and women’s suffrage, but none
dealing with women or Blacks who were involved with the labor movement. No
posters displaying A. Philip Randolph of the Sleeping Car Porters, or Mother
Mary Harris Jones of the United Mine Workers. After all, the rights of us all
are intertwined with the labor movement. Work is the tie that binds us all —
that is, of course, those who work for a living. Mother Jones saw this clearly
back when she prioritized the fight against child labor as opposed to the
struggle for women to vote.
But why November, you may ask? In November there
is a cluster of events where working men and women paid a heavy price for their
efforts to make life and work better for themselves and us.
Nov. 5, 1916, over 200 Industrial Workers of the
World members were headed to the docks of Everett, Washington, on the ship
Vernoa to participate in a Free Speech Fight in support of the rights of union
members to speak on the street corners. While they attempted to dock, a group of
over 500 deputy sheriffs opened fire on the peaceful unarmed crowd, killing 11
and wounding 27. This is known as the Everett Massacre.
Mother Mary Harris Jones
Nov. 11, 1887, four of the anarchist leaders of
the Chicago eight-hour movement were executed because they advocated ideas of
workplace justice. Albert Parsons, August Spies, George Engle, and Adolph
Fischer are now forever known as the Haymarket Martyrs. In June of 1893 Illinois
Governor John Peter Atgeld issued posthumous pardons to these men, proclaiming
them victims of a biased judge and a packed jury.
Nov. 11, 1919, a group of Legionaries marching to
celebrate Armistice Day attacked an IWW union hall in Centralia, Washington. The
IWW members fought back, killing four of their attackers before being captured
and taken to jail. That night Wesley Everest was taken from his cell. He was
castrated, then taken to a bridge and hung. While hanging over a river he was
shot full of holes. Then his body was taken back to the jail and laid out in
view of the other prisoners for several days. This is known as the Centralia
Massacre.
Nov. 13, 1974, union activist Karen Silkwood was
killed when her car was mysteriously run off the road. There was enough evidence
to suggest foul play.
Nov. 19, 1916, IWW organizer, songwriter, and
troubadour Joe Hill was executed by the State of Utah after being convicted of
murder on flimsy circumstantial evidence. A worldwide movement to free Joe Hill
included the Swedish Government and a plea from President Wilson for a “thorough
reconsideration of the case,” to no avail.
Nov. 22, 1886, in Thibodaux, Louisiana, by some
accounts between 30 to 100 striking black sugar workers were massacred. A
newspaper of that time recorded, “Lame men and blind women shot. Children and
hoary-headed grandsires ruthlessly swept down! The Negros offered no resistance,
they could not as the killing was unexpected…”
Nov. 29, 1919, in the town of Bogalusa, Louisiana,
once stood the world largest lumber mill, owned by the Goodyear Corporation. The
United Brotherhood of Carpenters attempted to organize the mill, with wide
support from the mill hands. After a lengthy campaign of intimidation, terror,
and beatings the company goons attacked the union hall, killing four Brotherhood
organizers. Lem Williams, Stanley O’Rourke, J.P.Bouchillon, and Thomas Gains
were cold-bloodedly gunned down as they sat in the office of the Bogalusa’s
Central Trades and Labor Council.
These few examples of labor massacres are why we
celebrate labor history month, so that lest we forget, our children may pay this
price again.
At the December general membership meeting,
members will vote on the proposed increase to the monthly, quarterly and yearly
dues amount. The proposal is as follows:
• $1.00 per month increase for monthly and quarterly dues
• $2.00 per month increase for annual dues
Please be sure to attend this meeting!
Thanks
I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who volunteered their
time to help the candidates that we supported! Your phone-banking efforts and
the time you took to wave signs were greatly appreciated! Also, thanks to all of
you who voted!! Your vote does count!
— Joe Baron, Political Chairman
Toy Drive
We are collecting toys for needy children ages 1 through 13. These toys will be
donated to the 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 any additional questions, please feel
free to call the office at 503-289-9632. Thanks so much!!
Our office will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 25,
and Friday, Nov. 26, in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. We wish all of
you a safe and wonderful weekend!
