NEWSLETTEROctober 2008 |
Past Newsletters |
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When you come to meetings,
please remember |
September Meeting ReportBy Bruce Dennis We had 60 members present at our regular September meeting of Carpenters Local 247. New member Jason Meyer was in attendance and was given the Oath of Obligation. Under “Communications,” a letter regarding the “Out of Darkness” upcoming Suicide prevention fundraiser was read, and a letter from the retirees group regarding council terminations was submitted and also read. Under “Reports” we had a political report, organizing report and several delegate reports regarding the recent PNWRCC annual meeting. Our Financial report was given. Last month we were positive on the Building Fund and negative on the General Fund. Under “Good of the Order,” we discussed the Obama campaign, drug testing and compensation for drug testing, Council terminations of four staff members, need for a staff union, Council election results, 9/11 anniversary gathering and job site issues. We also passed the hat for member Lisa Moon, who recently lost her seven-year old son in a motorcycle accident. Under “New Business,” we referred a motion to the trustees calling for a $450 donation to the “Out of Darkness” fundraising effort. We concurred with the political recommendations from the Metro Committee (see Political Report). We also approved the following donation recommendations from our separate Political Fund. Jessica Adamson, House District 26, $247; Tobias Read, House District 27, $247; Peter Buckley, House District 6, $247; Michael Dembrow, House District 45, $750, Mike Shaufler, House District 48, $247; Brad Witt, House District 31, $247; Nick Kahl, House District 49, $500; No on Ballot Measure 63, $500; and No on Ballot Measure 64, $500. We additionally concurred with the PNWRCC endorsement of Christine Gregoire for Governor of Washington and to donate $500 to her campaign. There was also a motion passed calling for a letter to the Council and International expressing our disapproval of the political terminations of Roger Daignault, Bruce Dennis, Mike Settles, and Dave Oury as union representatives. We also agreed to match the $126 which was collected when we passed the hat for Lisa Moon. This report covers the meeting as a summary. For complete info and to participate … ATTEND YOUR UNION MEETINGS. |
General membership
General membership meets the second Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. at the
Carpenters Hall, 2215 N. Lombard, Portland. If you have any questions, please
feel free to contact the office at 503-289-9632. Amanda Fritz will speak at the
October meeting.
Retirees
Retirees meet for lunch the second Monday, Oct. 13, at 11 a.m. at Hometown
Buffet, 10452A SE Washington St., Portland.
Executive Board
Executive Board meets the fourth Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the
Carpenters Hall, 2215 N. Lombard, Portland.
Newsletter committee
Newsletter committee meets the second Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m., first
floor, Small Conference Room, Carpenters Hall, 2215 N. Lombard, Portland.
2008 Out of the Darkness Community Walks
PLEASE JOIN OUR TEAM!
CARPENTERS LOCAL 247
OCTOBER 11, 2008
CHECK IN FROM 10:30 AM TO 12:00
STARTS AT NOON – ENDS AT 2:00 PM
LOCATED AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER PORTLAND, OREGON
PLEASE REGISTER AT WWW.OUTOFDARKNESS.ORG
and SEARCH UNDER “CARPENTERS”
IN MEMORY OF OUR FORMER MEMBER
RAIF ZWINGLI
The following members are celebrating their birthday this month. We would like to wish them all “Happy Birthday”! We hope you enjoy your special day!
Steven Adler, Julian Alarcon, Abraham Andrews, Jason Ashby, Julanda Bailey, Jason Benfield, John Boose, Lisa Boyer, Bryan Brammer, Michael Brassell, Maynard Burkett, Rangel Camara, Drew Carter, Pete Castleberry, Tracey Chambers, Phat Chu, Daniel Coffield, Jacob Coleman, Harold Cook, Richard Cumbow, Dao Dang, Jeremy DeWitt, Larry Didier, Herbert Duncan, Boyd Elliott-Gerlach, Stephen Emanuel, Vinko Galic, Jaime Galman, John Gilligan, Dean Golden, Allen Grass, Donald Hancock, Carl Harvey, Howard Hasbrook, Richard Helvey, Mitchell Herring, Chad Hillard, Keith Hockman, Toyonnia Hodges, Wendy Holmes, Ken Hull, Barry Hutton, John Jackson, Anibal Jaramillo, Aurelio Jimenez, Jacob Jones, Kevin Jones, Russell Kalita, Patrick Landers, Time Lane, Dennis Lawler, Warren Lenox, David Lewis, Dale Logan, Gary Lundervold, Nicholas Lynch, James MacVicar, Stephen Mallin, Peter Martell, Alan Martin, Todd Mason, Robert McDonald, Ryan McEuin, Andrew McShane, Greg Melhorn, Glenn Miller, Rick Miller, Patrick Millius, Carl Moaning, Kenneth Moffitt, David Morton, Lynn O’Neal, Darol Page, Lloyd Parker, Michael Patterson, Brian Paul, Dylan Paul, Ralph Peake, William Peeples, Donald Perry, Anthony Person, Scott Raudonis, Melvin Reber, Amber ReSue, Juan Reyes, Steven Roberts, Larry Romick, Joshua Russell, Michael Sandefer, Phillip Sarono, Jay Scholz, Joel Schrantz, Brian Schutte, David Senter, Wilbur Sergeant, Joshua Shirey, Nathan Shy, Lewis Smith, Tizzy Snelson, Michael Soli, Bradley Stone, Carter Sullivan, Shane Sweet, James Tanner, Timothy Taylor, Jamie Thomas, Tony Vasquez, Richard Walland, Daniel Wanberg, Grant Warneke, Michael Wilson, Richard Wright, Stephen Wright.
Hearing for sweatshop-free Portland
Wednesday October 8, 9:30 a.m.
City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland
Come support the Portland Sweatfree Policy as it goes before a vote at City Hall. This is the last leg of the way to victory as we return to City Council with a sweatfree policy, including strong codes of conduct that will fight worker abuses such as 20-hour shifts and seven days a week of work, toxic fumes and other dangerous conditions, verbal harassment and public humiliation, and poverty wages. This is a huge step forward for the City in strengthening labor standards and making Portland sweatfree!
Fair Trade Rally & Leaflet
Tuesday Oct. 21, 2008 4 p.m.
121 SW Salmon St., Portland
Help Jobs with Justice educate Portlanders about Gordon Smith's positions on issues of concern to working families. We'll be fanning out throughout downtown to educate potential voters about his stances on trade, unions and health care.
By Gabriel Triplett
Member, Local 247
Most Americans believe there is no hope for the situation in Iraq. On one hand, we have the continued occupation of Iraq by U.S. military forces. Most Americans no longer support the occupation or at least don’t believe we can continue paying for it. On the other hand, Iran has a weak, corrupt government. However, if we look a little closer, we will see another force. This force is organized labor, and it is the only force out there that is truly fighting for the interest of the Iraqi working class.
According to the Iraqi Freedom Congress, thousands of electrical workers demonstrated in the streets of Baghdad on September 16. They called for the following: the firing of the Minister of Electricity and all of his cronies; bringing all corrupt police officers and public employees to justice; hiring professional staff who are non-sectarian; and returning political prisoners to their jobs. The workers got their message out. They are tired of corruption and tired of sectarianism. They voiced their anger that the government and the occupation forces have yet to provide adequate infrastructure. (Folks there only receive one hour of electricity a day.)
The rally was called by the General Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq and the Labor Movement Unifying Bureau. The electricians’ demonstration came only six days after the oil workers union had their demonstration in Baghdad, and amidst continued terrorist attacks on the journalists union.
The voice of organized labor is getting louder in Iraq. It is a voice that speaks out against the occupation but also against terrorism and sectarianism. Organized labor may not be popular with the powers that be (on either side) but at this point in time it seems to be the only hope for Iraq and Iraqis.
Monthly Report
FREE TRADE IN OREGON: A Public Forum on the Local Impacts of Free Trade
Agreements, and Opportunities for Change
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.
First Unitarian Church, Elliot Chapel
1011 SW 12th Ave., Portland.
Hear from displaced workers whose jobs have been shipped overseas, immigrants who were pushed from their homelands, environmentalists struggling to address global warming, labor leaders, people of faith, local elected officials and others about the local affects of free trade agreements like NAFTA, CAFTA and the WTO here in Oregon, as well as the opportunities to make real changes to our nation's trade policy.
U.S. Senator Gordon Smith and Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley have been invited to respond to the testimonials and share their views on trade with the audience.
For more info, contact the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign at (503) 736-9777.
Oregon
U.S. Congress
1st Dist. – David Wu
3rd Dist. – Earl Blumenauer
4th Dist. – Peter DeFazio
5th Dist. – Kurt Schrader
Secretary of State – Kate Brown
Labor Commissioner – Brad Avakian
Treasurer – Ben Westlund
Oregon Senate
SD 25 - Laurie Monnes-Anderson
Oregon House
HD 6 – Peter Buckley
HD 8 – Paul Holvey
HD 9 – Arnie Roblan
HD 20 – Richard Riggs
HD 26 – Jessica Adamson
HD 27 – Tobias Read
HD 30 – David Edwards
HD 31 – Brad Witt
HD 38 – Chris Garrett
HD 40 – Dave Hunt
HD 45 – Michael Dembrow
HD 48 – Mike Schaufler
HD 49 – Nick Kahl
HD 50 – Greg Matthews
HD 51 – Brent Barton
HD 52 – Suzanne Van Orman
HD 59 – Mike Ahern
Multnomah County Commission – Judy Shiprack & Carla Piluso
Portland City Council – Amanda Fritz
Ballot Measures
“NO” on the following ballot measures
60 – Merit Pay for teachers
63 – No building permit needed under $35,000 in a year
64 – No money from union dues to politics
Washington
Governor – Chris Gregoire
Washington Senate
49th District – Craig Pridemore
Washington House
17th District – Tim Probst
18th District – VaNessa Duplessie
49th District – Jim Moeller
49th District – Jim Jacks
Clark County Commission – Pam Brokaw
