Record crowd turns out for Labor Day picnic


Workers across the country took time off to celebrate Labor Day and to honor brothers and sisters serving in the military. And with Election Day just two months away, workers also took some time to talk about taking back America by letting their lawmakers know they must support good jobs, health care and strong communities.

One of the largest gatherings in the country took place at Oaks Park in Southeast Portland, where more than 18,000 union members, their families and friends gathered for a day of hot dogs, hamburgers, carnival rides and politics.

“It was a good day for working people and their families to come together and enjoy the day. And it was a good opportunity for them to hear the concerns of others, and to express their concerns to our lawmakers,” said Judy O’Connor, executive secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, which sponsored the picnic.

There were plenty of political ears to bend, including those of Governor Ted Kulongoski, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Darlene Hooley and David Wu, Attorney General Hardy Myers, State Treasurer Randall Edwards, Labor Commissioner Dan Gardner and numerous state and local lawmakers.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees International Secretary-Treasurer Bill Lucy of Washington, D.C., spent the morning with union members, as did Vietnam veteran and Florence resident Jim Rassmann.

Rassmann, a 33-year member of the Republican Party, is a staunch supporter of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, who pulled him to safety during the Vietnam War. Touring Oaks Park with Kulongoski and a group of veterans from various unions, Rassmann told the crowd, “George W. Bush has been no friend to the middle class. I know John Kerry and I trust him and I know he will work hard for you ... don’t believe what the Bush regime is trying to foist off on you.”

Governor Kulongoski, a former Marine, called it “the most important election of our lifetime.” He discounted the notion that America would be safer under a Republican president, pointing out that John Kerry has never run away from a fight.

“The strongest America is an America that is working,” Kulongoski said. “An America that has health care and good-paying jobs.”

Wyden said Democrats are “zeroing in on the economic needs of Oregon’s working families and seniors because a lot of them are hurting.”

Tim Nesbitt, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, said, “On Labor Day 2004 we ought to have bragging rights. All the studies tell us so. We work longer hours, and we turn out more goods per hour than any other workers in the world. But, here’s the catch: We’re working longer hours in fewer jobs that are paying less for doing more.”

(A few days after Labor Day, Oregon’s unemployment rate for August jumped to 7.4 percent)

“They (Republican leaders) try to bully those of us who are telling the truth about this economy,” Nesbitt continued. “Did you hear what Governor Arnold-on-Steroids called those who dare to challenge the Bush record on the economy? I heard he used the term, ‘Girlie-men.’ Which is kind of like saying real men don’t need jobs. Or real men don’t need to worry about their kids. Or real men don’t need health care for their families. But the Terminator wasn’t a real man in any sense of that word, even if he does serve as a good example of what the Bush Administration is doing to our jobs.”

All of the speakers seemed in agreement that the Bush-Cheney campaign can’t defend what they’ve done to jobs, incomes and health care “so they talk about the war on terrorism and, then, in desperation, they unleash a war on heroism,” Nesbitt said. “And they brag about what they’re doing to make us safer and more secure. But are our jobs any safer? Is our health care more secure?”

Michael Arken, a Navy veteran and AFSCME retiree, read the names of Oregon union members and family members now serving military duty or having returned from serving in the Middle East.

“Instead of wearing union hats and T-shirts celebrating Labor Day, these brothers and sisters are wearing military uniforms in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Arken said.

The list included Kevin Devlaeminck, Plumbers and Fitters Local 290; Staff Sgt. Charles Riggs, Iron Workers Local 29; A.J. Pilant, Laborers Local 1400; Staff Sgt. Jerry Kinman, Local 1400; Schwab, Bakers Local 114; Micah Lansing, Local 114; Oscar Olvera, Local 290; Bart Eckhoff, Letter Carriers Branch 82; Rich Ramos, Branch 82; Bob Taylor, Branch 82; Michael Fellows, Branch 82; Scott Lucas, Electrical Workers Local 125; and Mark Harmon, Local 125.

The Oregon AFL-CIO is compiling a list so it can honor union members who are either serving in or have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, or have a family member who is serving in the Middle East. If you know of anyone with Oregon union connections, contact the Oregon AFL-CIO at 503-224-3169, 503-585-6320, or go to the Web site oraflcio.unions-america.com.

AFSCME’s Lucy urged all those in attendance to “take advantage of the opportunity that lies before you” in November. “We cannot suffer through another four years at the national level as we’ve just been through,” he said. “Make a difference on Election Day.”

In Eugene, picnic-goers were entertained by singer Carole King, who is campaigning for Kerry. At the picnic, sponsored by the Lane County Labor Council, union members signed up to volunteer to work to elect Kerry and participated in a horseshoe tournament.

Nearly 500 people gathered at the North Bend Community Center for a picnic sponsored by the Southwest Oregon Central Labor Council. Secretary of State Bill Bradbury was a featured speaker, along with many local politicians. Entertainment was provided by the Oregon Coast Lab Band, a group made up of area youths.


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