| Neither
free nor fair: Union elections violate U.S. democratic standards
Most
American workers say they would like to have a union in their workplace,
according to polls. Yet most don’t actually have a union in
their workplace. What’s preventing the majority from getting
what it wants?
Wyden
and Smith cast deciding votes for CAFTA in committee
In a test vote June 14, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden broke ranks with
seven fellow Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee with his
vote to approve CAFTA in the form in which it was presented by the
Bush Administration on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. The committee
vote was 11-9. A “no” vote by Wyden would have resulted
in a 10-10 tie that would have dealt a blow to the Bush Administration’s
drive to pass the trade treaty.
Iraqi
unionists tell Portlanders of hardships and repression
Union members and others in Portland heard accounts from two Iraqi
trade union leaders June 22, accounts that suggest that the anti-union
policies of the Bush Administration have been exported to occupied
Iraq.
Union fights plan to
outsource custodial work at Hillsboro schools
To save money, Hillsboro School District — Oregon’s
fourth largest — is proposing to contract out 58 custodial
and grounds-keeping jobs. Assistant superintendent Betsy Biller
told the Northwest Labor Press the savings would come from lower
benefits.
Labor
snubbed in PDC search; selection of hotel developer delayed
Portland Mayor Tom Potter has appointed businessman Sal Kadri to
fill the fifth and final slot on the Portland Development Commission.
Potter had indicated after his election last November that he would
appoint someone from organized labor to the commission, which is
the development arm for the city.
Richard
Beetle elected business manager of Laborers Local 483
Longtime union activist Richard “Buz” Beetle won election
as business manager of Portland Laborers Local 483, defeating incumbent
Wayne Marine in a June 15 union election.
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