Governor appoints unionists to state boards
A recent batch of executive appointments nominated by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown contained a number of names familiar to organized labor.
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 President Dan Clay was appointed to the Oregon Retirement Savings Board. The board is overseeing the establishment of a soon-to-launch retirement savings plan open to all private sector workers in Oregon whose employers don’t sponsor one. Local 555 is Oregon’s largest private sector union, representing workers in grocery and retail, food production, and other industries.
Rachel Brozovich, president of Keizer Fire Fighters Local 3881, was named to the Workers’ Compensation Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC). The com- mittee advises the Legislature about any proposed changes to the state workers’ compensation system.
Siobhan Martin, deputy executive director of Service Employees International Union Local 503, will serve on the Public Employees’ Benefit Board (PEBB), which oversees the administration of benefits for about 140,000 state employees.
Union-side labor attorney Jennifer Sung, a partner at the McKanna Bishop Joffe law firm, was named to the Oregon Employment Relations Board. The three-member board functions as a kind of Supreme Court for Oregon’s public employee collective bargaining law, interpreting the law and resolving disputes between public employee unions and employers.
The appointments will take effect later this month following a confirmation vote by the Oregon Senate.
D Pei Wu leaves helm of Portland Jobs with Justice
D Pei Wu is stepping down after two years as executive director of Portland Jobs with Justice, a non-profit worker justice coalition made up of over 100 member faith, labor, and community organizations. A search is under way for a successor.
