December 5, 2008 Volume 109 Number 23 Buy union this holiday season — and keep it local To help readers who want to buy union-made and union-delivered, the Labor Press has come up with 10 gift ideas for goods and services made or sold by local union workers. Bill Sizemore jailed on contempt of court charges The law may be starting to catch up with diehard union foe Bill Sizemore. At a Dec. 1 court appearance, Multnomah County Judge Janice Wilson ordered Sizemore jailed for contempt of court. State hospital job off to a bad start The long overdue replacement of the dilapidated Oregon State Hospital has gotten off on the wrong foot for some construction unions. Laborers Local 320 held a rally Nov. 20 to protest the use of nonunion contractors on the first phase of the $250 million prevailing wage project. Organizing drive at Oregon Steel Mills falls short United Steelworkers was unable to find majority support for unionizing among workers at Evraz Oregon Steel Mills plant in North Portland. Union organizer Pete Passarelli said about 200 workers signed cards, but that was about 85 short of the majority the union needed to obtain by a Nov. 26 deadline. Oregon AFL-CIO prioritizes ‘09 state legislative agenda The Oregon AFL-CIO Executive Board on Nov 18 approved several legislative concepts it will introduce when state lawmakers convene in Salem in January 2009. Cash needed to complete Workers Memorial in Salem The Fallen Workers Memorial on the State Capitol Mall in Salem is just about ready to proceed — when enough money is collected to get the green light. Clay takes helm at UFCW Local 555 Dan Clay has been appointed acting president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, Oregon's largest private-sector union. Clay was elected president of the union in October, but the term of office wasn't to start until Jan. 1. After 32-year career, Pronovost retires from UFCW Local 555 After 32 years in the business, Gene Pronovost decided not to run for a fifth term as president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555. Pronovost, 55, started out as a boxboy and grocery clerk. His last day was Nov. 6. Bakers Local 114 re-elects Lansing, Beaudoin, Clark Terry Lansing and Gene Beaudoin have been re-elected secretary-treasurer and business agent, respectively, of Bakers Union Local 114. Both men ran unopposed.