Comments for nwLaborPress http://nwlaborpress.org News that matters to working people Mon, 21 May 2012 05:16:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Public confusion and partisan divide as Obamacare turns two by MSA-Oregon in the News… http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/03/ppaca/#comment-3567 MSA-Oregon in the News… Mon, 21 May 2012 05:16:24 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=2182#comment-3567 [...] -March 29, 2012 – NW Labor News – Public confusion and partisan divide as Obamacare turns two [...] [...] -March 29, 2012 – NW Labor News – Public confusion and partisan divide as Obamacare turns two [...]

]]> Comment on To halt layoffs and rescue schools, Mayor Adams dips into little-known internal funds by Farrell Richartz http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/05/liuna-4/#comment-3542 Farrell Richartz Fri, 18 May 2012 18:30:01 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=2523#comment-3542 Thank you for your reporting on this issue. Thank you for your reporting on this issue.

]]> Comment on Labor recommends ‘yes’ vote on Multnomah County Library levy by tom campbell http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/05/library/#comment-3464 tom campbell Fri, 11 May 2012 19:01:55 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=2474#comment-3464 I'm afraid I cannot support the library at this time. They spend money recklessly and don't care that much about their patrons. They spent a fortune on the Belmont Branch for example, and ruined it. They installed a terrible autocheckout and refused to change it and in the case of Belmont, they should remove most of them and put back a table and chairs. People have to sit on the floor in that mismanaged joint. Until there is a place for a person to sit and read in that library, they do not have my support. I’m afraid I cannot support the library at this time. They spend money recklessly and don’t care that much about their patrons. They spent a fortune on the Belmont Branch for example, and ruined it. They installed a terrible autocheckout and refused to change it and in the case of Belmont, they should remove most of them and put back a table and chairs. People have to sit on the floor in that mismanaged joint. Until there is a place for a person to sit and read in that library, they do not have my support.

]]> Comment on Firings lead to union effort at Dave’s Killer Bread by Chris http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/04/bctgm-3/#comment-3439 Chris Tue, 08 May 2012 19:43:15 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=2201#comment-3439 Employers need to be fair in their treatment of all employees. I'm glad that you have had a positive experience. Don't let it blind you to the fact that others are having a very different experience. From your description, it sounds like the person who's been doing the hiring needs to be disciplined if 10% of the people hired deserved to be fired. We hear all the time that if we don't like being mistreated we should just work (or live, etc.) somewhere else. That argument won't ever stand up. The workers must. Employers need to be fair in their treatment of all employees. I’m glad that you have had a positive experience. Don’t let it blind you to the fact that others are having a very different experience.
From your description, it sounds like the person who’s been doing the hiring needs to be disciplined if 10% of the people hired deserved to be fired.
We hear all the time that if we don’t like being mistreated we should just work (or live, etc.) somewhere else.
That argument won’t ever stand up.
The workers must.

]]> Comment on Strike ends at Cascade Steel. Bargaining continues. by Truth be known http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/05/usw-5/#comment-3418 Truth be known Sat, 05 May 2012 06:09:02 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=2424#comment-3418 The decision was entirely the internationals. Progress? Not a full time position. Rally? Just saying… The decision was entirely the internationals. Progress? Not a full time position. Rally? Just saying…

]]> Comment on Unions rally against ‘War on Women’ by Cathy Herman http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/05/women/#comment-3417 Cathy Herman Sat, 05 May 2012 00:37:04 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=2429#comment-3417 Thank you for this well written article. As American Women unite and say "Enough is Enough" our Union brothers and sisters have stood strong at our sides in support, and for that Women of America are grateful. Thank you for this well written article. As American Women unite and say “Enough is Enough” our Union brothers and sisters have stood strong at our sides in support, and for that Women of America are grateful.

]]> Comment on Workers rights go local: Seattle mandates paid sick leave by A union guide to the Portland mayor’s race | nwLaborPress http://nwlaborpress.org/2011/09/sickleave/#comment-3415 A union guide to the Portland mayor’s race | nwLaborPress Fri, 04 May 2012 21:12:47 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=518#comment-3415 [...] three said they would support a requirement that employers provide paid sick leave. [Seattle adopted such a measure in [...] [...] three said they would support a requirement that employers provide paid sick leave. [Seattle adopted such a measure in [...]

]]> Comment on A union guide to the Portland mayor’s race by torridjoe http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/05/mayor-2/#comment-3406 torridjoe Thu, 03 May 2012 21:11:34 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=2433#comment-3406 On banking, I think Smith was actually the first to propose a focus on local banking in Portland, having worked in the Leg to make that legally possible (I believe deposit insurance limits and other limits on credit unions were prior barriers). Mayor Adams took him up on the suggestion last fall, and Council is currently advancing on the plan devised at the state level, as I understand it. As you can probably tell I'm no financial genius, but wouldn't using City funds to guarantee loans expose those funds to default losses? And doesn't that endanger the city's credit rating? I think the city's considerable financial heft can surely be more localized and taken away from the corrupted big 5 national banks, and put to better lending use by community banks and credit unions in town--but let's let the banks do the lending, taking the risk, seeing the profits and managing the losses. That's what they're there for. Thanks for the opportunity! I am a Smith supporter, and like that he is usually on the same page as my union brothers and sisters--but isn't afraid to express an honest disagreement, as on CRC. On banking, I think Smith was actually the first to propose a focus on local banking in Portland, having worked in the Leg to make that legally possible (I believe deposit insurance limits and other limits on credit unions were prior barriers). Mayor Adams took him up on the suggestion last fall, and Council is currently advancing on the plan devised at the state level, as I understand it.

As you can probably tell I’m no financial genius, but wouldn’t using City funds to guarantee loans expose those funds to default losses? And doesn’t that endanger the city’s credit rating? I think the city’s considerable financial heft can surely be more localized and taken away from the corrupted big 5 national banks, and put to better lending use by community banks and credit unions in town–but let’s let the banks do the lending, taking the risk, seeing the profits and managing the losses. That’s what they’re there for.

Thanks for the opportunity! I am a Smith supporter, and like that he is usually on the same page as my union brothers and sisters–but isn’t afraid to express an honest disagreement, as on CRC.

]]> Comment on A union guide to the Portland mayor’s race by portlandia http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/05/mayor-2/#comment-3405 portlandia Thu, 03 May 2012 20:40:26 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=2433#comment-3405 I'm a Jefferson Smith supporter and I really like his proposal to move city deposits from national banks to local community banks and credit unions. We need to put our money to work in the Portland area, making jobs, building houses, helping businesses expand and hire more workers. I am also proud of his continuing support of voter owned elections. The fact that the voters turned it down once doesn't make it a bad idea -- just an idea ahead of its time. If we could get the big money out of politics in Portland that would be a great thing. I’m a Jefferson Smith supporter and I really like his proposal to move city deposits from national banks to local community banks and credit unions. We need to put our money to work in the Portland area, making jobs, building houses, helping businesses expand and hire more workers.

I am also proud of his continuing support of voter owned elections. The fact that the voters turned it down once doesn’t make it a bad idea — just an idea ahead of its time. If we could get the big money out of politics in Portland that would be a great thing.

]]> Comment on A union guide to the Portland mayor’s race by Samuel John Klein http://nwlaborpress.org/2012/05/mayor-2/#comment-3404 Samuel John Klein Thu, 03 May 2012 20:38:56 +0000 http://nwlaborpress.org/?p=2433#comment-3404 Jefferson Smith was ahead of Charlie on this one. In 2010 he helped pass, in the Oregon Legislature, a bill allowing creation of a Credit Union Depository Pool that local governments can take part in, and has an active plank in his platform about Portland kickstarting this thing. Jefferson Smith was ahead of Charlie on this one. In 2010 he helped pass, in the Oregon Legislature, a bill allowing creation of a Credit Union Depository Pool that local governments can take part in, and has an active plank in his platform about Portland kickstarting this thing.

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