News briefs

OR-OSHA ‘ergo’ reporting proposal raises labor’s ire

SALEM — Following the Bush Administration’s repeal of the workplace ergonomics standards to protect against repetitive motion injuries, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) added insult to injury by repealing the requirement for employers to track and report such injuries.

Last week, Oregon-OSHA sent a notice proposing to formally adopt the federal policy — which would remove from employer reports any record of musculoskeletal disorders on the “OSHA 300 Log.”

The outcry from organized labor was loud and swift.

After meeting Oct. 7 with Oregon AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Brad Witt and Bob Williams, chair of the state labor federation’s Safety and Health Committee, OR-OSHA Administrator Peter DeLuca clarified in a letter to the state labor federation that the agency intends to continue tracking ergonomic injury data the same way it always has, using data from the state workers’ compensation system.

Witt said the tracking system OR-OSHA uses isn’t always complete, “but they said they’re willing to sit down with us to discuss better ways of tracking injuries.”

A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 1:30 p.m. at the Labor & Industries Building, Basement Conference Room F, 350 Winter Street NE, Salem.

OR-OSHA will take comments through Oct. 31. Comments can be sent to: DCBS/OR-OSHA, 350 Winter St. NE, Salem 97301-3882; or by fax to: 503-947-7461; or by e-mail to: [email protected] .

Longshore workers hold fundraiser for arrested leader

The Pinkos, a punk rock band featuring Steve Moriarty on drums and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) organizer Vanessa Veselka on guitar, played Sept. 27 at the ILWU Local 8 union hall in Portland. They were one of eight bands to perform as a benefit to raise money for the legal defense of Jack Heyman, a business agent for Oakland-based ILWU Local 10. More than $500 was collected.

Heyman was arrested at an April 7 anti-war protest on the Oakland docks at which police fired on several hundred protesters and longshore workers with so-called “non-lethal” rounds — wooden bullets, stinger grenades spewing rubber bullets, and lead-shot-filled bean bags. Nine longshore workers were hit, and five required medical treatment.

Heyman was arrested when he reportedly tried to warn members of his union that the police were firing on protesters. He faces charges of failure to obey a police officer and resisting arrest. In June, the nine longshore workers — plus 31 demonstrators who had also been hit by police fire — filed a civil rights class action lawsuit against the City of Oakland.

AFL-CIO: Please ‘Decline to sign’ referral measure

The Oregon AFL-CIO is asking union members not to sign petitions being circulated throughout the state by a group opposing House Bill 2152 — a bipartisan bill passed by the Oregon Legislature to balance the state budget. A provision in the new law calls for a temporary, three-year income tax surcharge.

The anti-union Taxpayer Defense Fund opposes the surcharge and wants to refer the bill to a statewide election — which requires collecting more than 50,000 signatures of registered voters by Nov. 25 to qualify for a February 2004 ballot.

The labor-backed Voter Education Project (VEP) has been reactivated, and is monitoring signature-gatherers to make sure everything is done according to law.

If you see a petitioner for the repeal of HB 2152, call the VEP and report the place, date and time. The statewide toll-free number is 800 -295-5597.

PCUN’s Ramon Ramirez awarded $100,000 Ford Foundation grant

Ramon Ramirez, president of the Oregon farmworkers’ union PCUN, was one of 17 recipients this year of the Ford Foundation’s “Leadership for a Changing World” award. The award includes an immediate grant of $100,000, plus $15,000 for supporting activities over the next two years.

Over 1,300 people were nominated for the award, intended to recognize people who are “working to bring positive social change to their communities and beyond.”

Ramirez, inspired by the work of César Chavez and Dolores Huerta, leaders of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO, helped found PCUN in 1985, and has worked as an advocate for farmworkers ever since. PCUN stands for Pineros y Campesinos Unidose del Noroeste, Spanish for Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United.

Another Oregonian, Marcy Westerling, was also one of this year’s award recipients. Westerling is executive director of the Scappoose-based Rural Organizing Project, which works in rural areas throughout Oregon to oppose bigotry.

The non-profit Ford Foundation, established by auto magnate Henry Ford and his son Edsel in 1936, gave $598 million in grants last year.

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