News briefs

ATU international appoints Heintzman as a vice president

Ron Heintzman, president and business representative of Portland-based Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, has been appointed international vice president.

He will fill the unexpired term of Mel Schoppert, who passed away last month after 30 years with the international. The term runs until September 2004, when the position is open for election at the convention.

Heintzman, of Mt. Angel, has been president and business rep of Local 757 for the past 14 years. He said his duties will include assisting Local 757 on an "as-needed" basis, as well as locals in Washington, Idaho and some parts of California.

"Mel probably spent 75 percent of his time assisting us," Heintzman said. "I don't imagine that will change much." The international union operates with a president, executive vice president, secretary-treasurer, and 19 international vice presidents.

Heintzman will remain in the local's top post until a replacement is elected next month. Nominations will take place at the Monday, July 15, union meeting. Ballots will be mailed to members and counted Aug. 5.

Laborers Local 483 elects new officers

Wayne Marine has been elected business manager of Portland Laborers Municipal Employees Local 483. He defeated incumbent Jim McEchron in a mail-in vote.

Marine has served the union as its president for the past three years. He has been a member and shop steward since 1981, coming out of the Bureau of Maintenance Traffic Department.

In the only other contested race, Stanley Held defeated incumbent Myron Hall for recording secretary.

Running unopposed were first-time officeholders Troy Hogeland, president; Bruce Easley, vice president; and Executive Board members Dan Forner and Bill Beckerdite; Tom Clough, sergeant-at-arms; and auditors Kurt Bonar, Debbie Timmins and Ken Lyles. Richard Beetle was re-elected secretary treasurer. All are three-year terms.

All but Marine ran on a slate of the "Proactive New Leadership Team," which called for more member participation, communications and leadership at the workplace. The slate did not endorse either candidate for business manager. Local 483 represents more than 800 members employed at the Portland Parks Department, Bureau of Maintenance, Oregon Zoo, Metro, Port of Portland, Portland International Airport and other facilities.

The union is bargaining first-time contracts at the private non-profit Portland Habilitation Center, where it represents landscapers, and for a group of seasonal workers contracted by the City of Portland to work at community centers through the Parks and Recreation Department. Local 483 recently won voluntary card recognition at the City of Mt. Angel for seven public employees there.

In addition to Marine, the union employs a full-time field representative, Damon Mabee; a field agent/organizer, Ben Nelson; and office manager, Darlene Marie.

Leonard gets NOLC support in City Council race

Randy Leonard of Portland Fire Fighters Local 43 and a candidate for Portland City Council has been endorsed by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. Their Committee on Political Education also contributed $500 to his campaign.

Leonard, a former president of Local 43, resigned his recent Democratic nomination to the Oregon House of Representatives to run for the Position 2 council seat vacated a month ago by Charlie Hales. Leonard has served as a Democratic state senator and state representative from Southeast Portland since 1993.

A special election for the council seat is set Sept. 17. If no candidate gets 50 percent plus one of the vote, a runoff will be held in November.

Currently there are 10 candidates filed for the race. Leonard's strongest opposition is from Multnomah County Commissioner Serena Cruz, who also sought an endorsement from the labor council.

Thus far, Leonard has most labor endorsements, including the Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council, Teamsters Joint Council 37, Laborers Local 483, Portland City Employees Local 189, Carpenters Local 247, Local 43 and others.

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