Organizing a top priority for Nesbitt, Witt

NORTH BEND - Declaring that the Oregon AFL-CIO "will fight fire with fire," newly elected President Tim Nesbitt ignited delegates at the 44th annual convention of the state labor federation with an acceptance speech vowing to spur organizing and proactive political activity.

Nesbitt, a member of Oregon Public Employees Local 503 of the Service Employees International Union, and incumbent Secretary-Treasurer Brad Witt were elected by acclamation Sept. 21.

Nesbitt asked delegates to rededicate themselves to the fight to defend living wage and prevailing wage levels in the state and to prepare to turn out more union members to the ballot box.

"Those who scheme to silence our voice need to be exposed for what they're really trying to do," he said.

The labor movement is on the move, Nesbitt said, in the wake of collective bargaining and organizing victories at the Boeing Co., Powell's Books and with teaching assistants at Oregon State University.

"But far too many workers are not represented," he stated. "More than half the jobs in Oregon pay less than a living wage, with no benefits."

Nesbitt vowed to lead a statewide campaign to "bring fairness to every workplace."

The first Executive Board meeting under his leadership is slated for Friday, Oct. 1 in Gladstone.

Nesbitt said he plans to hold regular board meetings at union halls throughout the state.

Witt, who begins his third term as secretary-treasurer, told delegates that organizing will be the Oregon AFL-CIO's top priority.

"There are only two kinds of workers in this state: union workers and potential union workers," he said, leading the more than 400 delegates in a chant, "We must organize! We must organize! We must organize!"

He said organized labor has a "moral, solemn duty to offer every worker in this state the opportunity to earn family wages and benefits, with dignity on the job - just like we have."

And even though the labor movement remains under constant attack from right-wing business owners and organizations, Witt said that such attacks "only make us stronger as a labor movement."

He said Oregon is on the brink of yet another "paycheck deception" campaign by Bill Sizemore's anti-union Oregon Taxpayers United, but he reminded delegates that labor has a 5-0 record in defeating ballot initiatives aimed at cutting wages, weakening labor by making it harder to join a union and more difficult to collect dues.

"Our strength, resolve and solidarity should serve warning to all our enemies," Witt declared. "Test us if you will, but know full well we are up to the challenge."

In contested elections for officers and Executive Board seats, Alice Dale, executive director of OPEU Local 503, defeated Ken Allen, executive director of Oregon Council 75 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), for second vice president. Dale is the incumbent.

Dave Plant, directing business representative of Machinists District Lodge 24, defeated Joe Devlaeminck, president of AFSCME Council 75, for a District 1 (Clackamas County) Executive Board seat. Devlaeminck campaigned all year to become president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, but dropped out of the race two weeks before the election. Plant is the incumbent.

Mike Moran, president of Western Council of Industrial Workers Local 2851 in La Grande, defeated Becky Marks, a member of AFSCME Local 3742 in Pilot Rock and president of the Umatilla-Morrow Labor Council, for the District 10 Executive Board position.

Bert Larson, a business representative of Machinists-Woodworkers District Lodge 1, was elected by acclamation as first vice president after Gene Prono-vost, president of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555, was nominated for the vacant slot but withdrew the morning of the election.

Garry Rogers of OPEU Local 503 of the Service Employees ran uncontested for the E-Board seat in District 4. The incumbent, Jeff Anderson, a business representative of UFCW Local 555, was nominated for re-election but withdrew the morning of the election.

Others elected to the Executive Board by acclamation were:

District 1, Position 1 (Multnomah County) - Judy O'Connor, a member of Office and Professional Employees Local 11 and executive secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council;

District 1, Position 2 (Multnomah County) - Gary Kirkland, executive officer/secretary-treasurer of Office and Professional Employees Local 11;

District 1, Position 3 (Multnomah County) - Bob Williams, business representative of UFCW Local 555;

District 1 (Washington County) - Richard Schwarz, executive director of the American Federation of Teachers; District 2 (Clatsop-Columbia counties) - George Kiepke of PACE Local 8-1097;

District 3 (Lincoln-Tillamook counties) - Lloyd Carver, directing business representative of Machinists-Woodworkers District Lodge 246;

District 5 (Benton-Linn counties) - Carl Tyner of Steelworkers Local 6163;

District 6, Position 1 (Lane County) - Rick Henson, secretary-treasurer of Service Employees Local 49;

District 6, Position 2 (Lane County) - Pat Riggs-Henson of AFSCME Local 2831 and secretary-treasurer of the Lane County Labor Council;

District 7, Position 1 (Coos-Curry counties) - Mike Cole, directing business representative of Machinists-Woodworkers District Lodge 261;

District 7, Position 2 (Curry-Douglas counties) - Roger Bissonnette, business representative of Western Council of Industrial Workers Local 2949;

District 8 (Jackson-Josephine counties) - Barbara Kellogg of OPEU Local 503;

District 9 (Gilliam-Hood River-Jefferson-Morrow-Sherman-Wasco counties) - Gil Hayes of Steelworkers Local 9170 and secretary-treasurer of the Mid-Columbia Labor Council;

District 11 (Crook-Deschutes-Wheeler counties) - Marty Demaris of Machinists-Woodworkers Lodge 12 and president of the Central Oregon Labor Council;

District 12 (Harney-Klamath-Lake counties) - Ron Schill of Machinists-Woodworkers Lodge12;

District 13 (Baker-Grant-Malheur counties) - Cliff McKee of AFSCME Local 3940;

At-Large - Diane Rosenbaum of Communications Workers Portland Local 7901; Pat Davis of Pacific Northwest District Council of Carpenters, Wamic, and Jim Gourley of Paper, Allied, Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers Local 8-1189, Halsey.