News briefs

Gardner names Amy Klare as civil rights director at BOLI

Former Oregon AFL-CIO Research and Education Director Amy Klare has been named director of the Civil Rights Division of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries by Labor Commissioner-elect Dan Gardner.

The Civil Rights Division enforces laws granting individuals equal access to jobs, career schools, promotions and work environment free from discrimination and harassment. The laws ensure that workers' jobs are protected when they report worksite safety violations, use family leave or the workers' compensation system. The division also handles civil rights complaints on housing and public accommodations.

Klare served as research and education director from 1987 to 1997. Since leaving the state labor federation she has worked as a political consultant and lobbyist for various unions and other clients.

Gardner, a member and former vice president of Portland Electrical Workers Local 48, will be sworn into office Monday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m. in the Senate Chambers at the State Capitol in Salem.

Town returns to Painters Council

Dave Town has been appointed assistant business manager of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 5. He succeeds Stan Deuel, who resigned effective Dec. 9.

District Council 5 represents painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, floor coverers, soft tile applicators, truck painters, paint makers and trade show decorators in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. It is headquartered in Seattle, but maintains satellite offices in Portland and Spokane.

Town, a member of Vancouver Painters Local 360, served as business manager of the former Painters District Council 55 from 1990-99 -before it was merged with Washington and Idaho in April 1999. At that time, the international union appointed Town as a general organizer and named Deuel, then business manager of Sign Painters and Paint Makers Local 1094, as assistant business manager of the newly-created district council.

Six months ago Town was tapped as a general president representative.

His appointment as assistant business manager was made by District Council 5 Business Manager Michael Ball.

Ball, a member of Seattle Glaziers Local 188, was elected to the council's top post last May. He succeeded Bob Matson, who retired.

Town told the Northwest Labor Press the appointment is temporary.

Mehrens re-elected head of CPBCTC

Wally Mehrens has been re-elected secretary-treasurer of the Columbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council.

Also re-elected to a new three-year term as president was John Mohlis.

Mehrens is a member of Plumbers and Fitters Local 290 and Mohlis is business manager of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1. Mehrens has served as executive secretary since 1988.

Other officers elected were Vice President Joe Esmonde of Electrical Workers Local 48; Conductor Vern Manselle of Operating Engineers Local 701; Sergeant-at-Arms, Stan Deuel of Sign Painters and Paint Makers Local 1094; Trustees Bruce Temple, business manager of Cement Masons Local 555, Lynn Lehrbach of Teamsters Joint Council 37, and Dave Ritchey, business manager of Vancouver Laborers Local 335. All terms are for three years.

The building trades council represents more than 16,000 construction workers at nearly 2,000 signatory contractors in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington.

The 15 unions that make up the council have members that perform over 25 million hours of work annually with an economic value of more than $75 million.

Originally chartered as the Portland Building and Construction Trades Council in 1908 with just under 1,000 members, the council will celebrate its 95th anniversary next year.

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