News briefs

Boydstun workers stymied on desire to join Local 16

With an aggressively anti-union employer, a slow-as-molasses federal oversight agency, and a workforce that is narrowly divided over whether to unionize, the outcome of the organizing campaign at Boydstun Metal Works in North Portland is still uncertain months after employees voted 51-45 to join Sheet Metal Workers Local 16.

Company owner Robert Boydstun challenged the eligibility of some workers to vote in the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) June 20 election, and the union challenged others, and charged that company violations of labor law had called the fairness of the election into question. When the NLRB ruled on the challenged ballots, the result was a 52-52 tie, but the agency agreed with the union that violations of workers' rights warranted a re-vote.

The second vote, held Oct. 31, resulted in a 68-70 loss for the union, except that Local 16 challenged six ballots and charged that new employer violations of workers' rights influenced the outcome.

Among the violations: Boydstun has threatened and spied on employees, prohibited them from participating in legally-protected pro-union activities, and reassigned the union's most vocal supporter to isolated duty in a different building.

As the second election approached, the company held a feast for workers at which New York steak was served. "You should never let someone buy you lunch," said Local 16 Business Representative Del Brown.

The day before the election, Brown said, the company told workers they would have to pay dues equivalent to those paid by the much-higher-paid Sheet Metal construction workers rather than the union's dues formula for production workers, and suggested that the union as a whole would be able to vote on whether Boydstun workers would have to strike.

Brown said the union tried to refute the distortions, but organizers were forbidden to speak to workers on company property and were hindered at the plant gates. He said company managers and Boydstun himself were present at the gate as union organizers passed out handbills, which had a chilling effect on willingness to take the literature. "If the company can stir up enough doubt without the union being able to respond, workers tend to stay with what they know, when the economy is this bad."

Boydstun manufactures auto transport trailers with a largely immigrant workforce at a site on the west end of North Columbia Boulevard.

Crown Cork Seal workers okayed for U.S. benefits

About two dozen workers at Crown Cork and Seal Co. in Portland have been ruled eligible to apply for retraining assistance under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the U.S. Department of Labor announced.

The certification covers the period of Aug. 1, 2001 to Oct. 7, 2004.

Workers laid off or reduced to part-time work during this time period may be eligible for extra benefits and services. The Labor Department has identified 21 employees who produced metal can ends as eligible to apply. The Labor Department found that the company had shifted production of metal can ends to Canada.

Most of the employees are represented by the Machinists Union.

After they are certified as eligible, workers may apply for benefits at state employment service offices that include extended unemployment insurance, career counseling, job placement assistance and relocation allowances, to name a few of the programs.

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