Oregon will be test state for national AFL-CIO's 'New Alliance' program


The national AFL-CIO Executive Council has selected Oregon as one of nine states to proceed with implementation of its "New Alliance" program.

The New Alliance is the brainchild of the AFL-CIO. The thinking is that by restructuring its operation state by state working families will be in a better position to capture more victories in local organizing and politics. That restructuring could include the formation of area-wide labor councils (via mergers), complete with full-time staff and resources. These new councils would work hand-in-hand with state labor federations to develop agendas that put all affiliates on the same page, working on the same program.

With less duplication and full participation of union locals, the AFL-CIO could better use its resources on coordinated education, training and technology for grass-roots actions withing their states and communities.

Moving forward with the New Alliance test program, the Oregon AFL-CIO Executive Board last month unanimously approved a resolution to create two new vice president positions on its Executive Board, add two at-large seats, and expand representation in District 4 (Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties).

The resolution is expected to be approved by national AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. Effective May 1, new vice presidents will be Gene Pronovost, president of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555, and Ken Allen, executive director of Oregon Council 75 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Ron Heintzman, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, and Lin Mayes, grievance director of UFCW Local 555, have been tapped for at-large positions, and Jeff Anderson, a business representative of UFCW Local 555, was appointed to a new seat in District 4.

The additional seats will continue "until implementation of the New Alliance or until expiration of the current officers' term of office, whichever is sooner," the resolution read.

Additionally, the Oregon AFL-CIO Executive Board voted to appoint Alison Hamway, a field representative of AFSCME Oregon Council 75 in Bend, to the vacant District 11 Board seat (Crook, Deschutes and Wheeler counties). She succeeds Marty Demaris, directing business representative of Machinists-IWA Lodge W112, who resigned after relocating to Klamath Falls.

With these changes, the new Executive Board has more equal representation for its largest affiliates, said AFL-CIO President Tim Nesbitt.

AFSCME, UFCW and the Service Employees International Union now have one board seat for each 4,000 to 5,000 members, whereas the proportions used to range from 4,200 to 15,600 respectively. With Heintzman's addition to the board, each of the state labor federation's largest affiliates will be represented on the board.

Full implementation of the New Alliance program will not be undertaken until after the November general election, Nesbitt said.

Meantime, a drafting committee is being created to adopt a timeline for deliberations and hearings. The committee is being appointed by Sweeney in consultation with international union presidents and will include representation from the 15 largest AFL-CIO unions in Oregon, the state labor federation and two central labor councils.

Thus far, the committee consists of Tim Nesbitt of the Oregon AFL-CIO; Judy O'Connor of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council; George Kiepke of the Clatsop-Tillamook Counties Labor Council; Alice Dale of the Service Employees; Joe Devlaeminck of AFSCME; Pronovost of UFCW; Dave Plant of the Machinists; Richard Schwarz of the American Federation of Teachers; Mark Holliday of Operating Engineers; Lee Clinton of the Laborers; Gaylon Prescott of the Steelworkers; Linda Rasmussen of Communications Workers; and Heintzman of the Transit Union.

The Postal Workers, Letter Carriers, Teamsters, Electrical Workers and Carpenters also will be represented on the committee but have yet to name delegates.


April 7, 2000 issue

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