News briefs

Gardner proposes lunch breaks for farm workers

WOODBURN - Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner Dan Gardner has filed a proposed administrative rule that would provide farm workers with meal and rest periods.

Gardner made the announcement at Woodburn High School April 23 at a celebration commemorating the late United Farm Workers of America labor leader Cesar Chavez.

Currently 16 states provide required meal periods to agricultural workers and four states provide rest periods. "I have exercised my authority as commissioner by proposing a rule that will provide rest and meal periods to agricultural workers throughout Oregon," said Gardner, a member of Portland-based Electrical Workers Local 48. "It has been long established that meal and rest periods address the health care needs of workers, help avoid accidents and exhaustion, and provide adequate time to take care of sanitary needs," he continued. "Farm workers labor for long hours often under extreme weather conditions, but they do not enjoy the same protections as other workers. Farm workers deserve equal treatment."

A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled June 16 in Woodburn.

Alcoa union and management protest Bonneville price increase

Dave Boyer, general manager of Alcoa Intalco aluminum smelter in Ferndale, Wash., led a group of 400 Machinists Lodge 2379 members in a chant on the front steps of the federal Bonneville Power Administration in Northeast Portland. Company officials and union workers were in town April 16 to testify against a BPA-proposed 15 percent increase in electrical power rates that would essentially shut the plant down and put about 750 people out of work. Aluminum smelters use an immense amount of power, and the availability of cheap power in the Northwest has historically been an attraction for the industry. Boyer said a 15 percent rate hike would increase the smelter's power costs by $20 million a year. "No smelter, not in China, Australia or Europe, can operate at the price BPA Administrator Steve Wright is proposing," he said. The Ferndale plant shut down for a year following the 2001 power crisis, reopening at reduced capacity in April 2002. BPA, the biggest power provider in the Western United States, said it may have to raise wholesale rates in October due to low hydropower supplies and the agency's poor financial condition. Ferndale, population 8,000, is located in the northwest corner of Washington approximately six miles north of Bellingham.

Providence Milwaukie nurses in critical mode

Registered nurses at Providence Milwaukie Hospital picketed their employer April 22, frustrated by a near-halt in bargaining. They voted over a year ago to join Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and are still without a first contract. The hospital, part of the Providence chain, had been requiring bargaining committee members to use their paid time off to take part in bargaining. With no progress on the key goals of the union - union shop, a voice in management decisions, and a better pension plan - the nurses were reluctant to continue meeting during their work hours, and demanded afternoon or evening negotiations. Management complained to the National Labor Relations Board that the union was refusing to bargain, but that complaint went nowhere, and as of press time, the two sides had agreed to meet again. Another demonstration is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 - Nurse's Day -at the hospital, 10150 SE 32nd Ave. in Milwaukie.

House committee approves bill to limit voting times

SALEM -The House Rules Committee advanced a bill April 24 that will establish tighter deadlines for voting in Oregon elections. HB 2825-A would reduce the number of days Oregonians can vote by mail, from 18 days currently to 11 days and establish stricter conditions for cutting off voting by voters still waiting in line at 8 p.m. on election day. Proponents of the bill said that limiting the number of days that Oregonians could vote was necessary to curb election campaign spending. HB 2825 is "the most effective form of campaign finance reform we can enact this session," testified Troy Nichols, executive director of the House Republicans political action committee (PAC).

"It's unlikely that PACs are going to spend less no matter what the voting period," noted Oregon AFL-CIO Political Director Steve Lanning. "They spend what they raise, and what they raise keeps going up and up."

Kappy Eaton of the League of Women Voters said her organization opposes the bill primarily because of a provision that would order election workers to refuse ballots from voters standing in line at 8 p.m. The committee passed the bill on a party-line vote, with all Republican members voting in favor.

Labor strikes it big for Muscular Dystrophy Association, raises $22,218

Portland area labor unions raised $20,375 at the Muscular Dystrophy Labor Bowl Challenge April 27 sponsored by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC).

In 14 years, union members have raised over $215,000 for kids with the disease, said Nell Higgenbotham, program services coordinator for the Portland Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) chapter.

Seventy-eight bowlers participated in this year's event held at Cascade Lanes in Northeast Portland. Amongl the bowlers was Oregon MDA Goodwill Ambassador Katelyn Minock of Beaverton and her family.

As they have for many years, members of Portland Fire Fighters Local 43 led all unions in fundraising. This year they collected $3,450. Sharon Mask of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 was the top fundraiser, at $2,730. Manuel Fagumdes of Local 43 raised $1,317; Deborah Petroff, wife of Bob Petroff, directing business representative of Machinists District Lodge 24, collected $1,260; and Jerri Gillean of Tualatin Valley Fire Fighters Local 1660 brought in $1,240 for MDA.

Kurt Millspaugh of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 8 was the top bowler with a three-game series of 644. Sharon Kolb of Local 43 garnered the top spot for women with a three-game series of 479. Low series for men went to Matthew Silva of Local 43 and low series for women was captured by Lydia Woodman of Local 1660.

Unions participating in this year's Labor Bowl Challenge were Local 43, Local 555, Local 1660, Local 8, National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 82, Machinists District Lodge 24; Operating Engineers Local 701; Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1; Plumbers and Fitters Local 290; and School Employoees Local 140.