January 1, 2016 555 Leader

SERVING ORGANIZED LABOR IN OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON SINCE 1900
INSIDE
LABOR
PRESS
NORTHWEST
VOLUME 117, NUMBER 1
PORTLAND, OREGON
First Day
Sick Pay
Comes to
Oregon!
Next Up,
Washington
I
t took over three and half
years, but your union has won
Paid Earned Sick Leave for all
of Oregon, making us the fourth
state in the nation to adopt such
a law. This is a victory for every
one of our members who testified in Portland and Eugene, and
then again at state hearings held
earlier in 2015, as well as for
every hard working family in
Oregon.
The Active Ballot Club
(ABC) contributions were critical to funding canvassing, communications, and member education that helped to create this
law. Effective January 1, 2016,
workers in Oregon will have access to sick pay on the very first
day, with some delayed hours
accrual. A general outline of the
law from the Oregon Bureau of
Labor and Industries is next to
this article.
I worked hard on these laws
because I know how difficult it
is to have to make the choice between paying rent by going to
work sick, or staying home to
get better. No one should have
to make that choice. Your Union
worked so hard to pass this law
ZYh/ZDEd^K&KZ'KE͛^^/<d/D>t
How much sick time does the law require? Employees begin accruing sick time on the first day of employment
and earn one (1) hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked or 1 1/3 hours for every 40 hours worked. Employees
may use accrued sick time on the 91st calendar day of employment and may use sick time as it is accrued.
ŵƉůŽLJĞƌƐŵĂLJĐŚŽŽƐĞƚŽƐŝŵƉůLJŐŝǀĞĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞƐ;͞ĨƌŽŶƚůŽĂĚ͟ͿϰϬŚŽƵƌƐŽĨƐŝĐŬƚŝŵĞĂƚƚŚĞďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐŽĨƚŚĞLJĞĂƌ
rather than track the number of sick time hours accrued. Employers may also select the 12-month period to be used
ĂƐƚŚĞĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƚĞĚ͞LJĞĂƌ͕͟Ğ͘Ő͕͘ĐĂůĞŶĚĂƌLJĞĂƌ͕ĨŝƐĐĂůLJĞĂƌ͕ĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞĂŶŶŝǀĞƌƐĂƌLJdate, etc.
Employees may carry over up to 40 hours of unused sick time from one year to the next; however, employers may
adopt policies that limit employees to accruing no more than 80 hours of sick time or using no more than 40 hours
of sick time in a year.
Paid time off (PTO) policies that include time off for other purposes (such as vacation and other personal time off)
comply with the sick time law as long as the policy is substantially equivalent to or more generous than the
requirements of the law.
Employees must use accrued sick time in hourly increments unless to do so would pose an undue hardship to the
employer, in which case the employer may require sick time to be taken in minimum increments of four hours if the
employer allows employees to use at least 56 hours of paid leave per year.
When must sick time be paid? Employers with 10
or more employees (6 or more in Portland) in the state
must pay employees for sick time taken at the
ĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞ͛Ɛ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌ ƌĂƚĞ ŽĨ ƉĂLJ. All other employers
must provide unpaid sick time.
The number of all employees employed by the
employer in Oregon must be counted ʹ including fulltime, part-time and temporary employees.
notice to employees of the requirements of the law,
employers are required to provide quarterly
notifications to employees of the amounts of accrued
and unused sick time.
Employers may require employees to provide notices,
verifications and certifications for using sick time under
certain circumstances. For example, if the need for sick
time is foreseeable, employers may require employees
to provide up to 10-ĚĂLJƐ͛ŶŽƚŝĐĞ of the need to use sick
time. Refer to the law and rules for more information.
Discrimination/Retaliation
Secretary-Treasurer
because it is needed, and more
importantly, because you deserve it.
Next up, Washington State!
Your Union is working with labor and community partners to
put an initiative on the November 2016 ballot that provides
workers in Washington State the
same or better laws that Oregon
adopted on sick leave.
Wishing you and your family
a Happy New Year.
Brad Avakian, Commissioner
Effective January 1, 2016, employers that employ employees in the state of Oregon are required to implement sick time policies
and provide sick time to employees. ŵƉůŽLJĞƌƐĂƌĞĂůƐŽƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚƚŽƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞƐǁŝƚŚĂŶŽƚŝĐĞŽĨƚŚĞůĂǁ͛ƐƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶƐ͘ This
notice is intended to summarize the major provisions of the law, but should not be relied upon as a full and complete summary of
the law. The full text of the law and administrative rules adopted by the bureau are available at www.oregon.gov/boli.
Notices and Verification: In addition to providing a
JEFF ANDERSON
JANUARY 1, 2016
Prohibited:
It is
unlawful for an employer to deny, interfere with,
restrain or fail to pay for sick time to which an
employee is entitled; or retaliate or in any way
discriminate against an employee because the
employee has inquired about the provisions of the law,
submitted a request for or taken sick time. Complaints
may be filed with the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
Collective Bargaining Agreement Exception: The
sick time law does not apply to certain employees who
are covered by a collective bargaining agreement,
employed through a hiring hall and whose benefits are
provided by a joint multi-employer-employee trust or
benefit plan.
For what purposes may sick time be used?
Employees are entitled to use sick time for the
following purposes:
x &Žƌ ĂŶ ĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞ͛Ɛ Žƌ ĨĂŵŝůLJ ŵĞŵďĞƌ͛Ɛ ŵĞŶƚĂů Žƌ
physical illness, injury or health condition or need for
medical diagnosis of these conditions or need for
preventive medical care.
x To care for an infant or newly adopted child under
18, or for a newly placed foster child under 18, or for a
child over 18 if the child is incapable of self-care
because of mental or physical disability.
x To care for a family member with a serious health
condition.
x To recover from or seek treatment for a serious
health condition that renders the employee unable to
perform at least one of the essential functions of the
ĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞ͛ƐũŽď͘
x To care for a child of the employee who is suffering
from a non-serious illness, injury or condition.
x To deal with the death of a family member by
attending the funeral or alternative, making
arrangements necessitated by the death of a family
member, or grieving the death of a family member.
x To seek legal or law enforcement assistance or
remedies to ensure the health and safety of the
ĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞŽƌƚŚĞĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞ͛ƐŵŝŶŽƌĐŚŝůd or dependent
for proceedings related to domestic violence,
harassment, sexual assault, or stalking.
x To seek medical treatment, recover from injuries, or
obtain services related to domestic violence, sexual
assault, harassment or stalking incidents to the
ĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞŽƌĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞ͛ƐŵŝŶŽƌĐŚŝůĚŽƌĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ͘
x To donate sick time to another employee for
qualifying purposes if the employer has a policy
allowing such donations.
x For certain public health emergencies.
Provision of this notice to employees complies with the requirement in the sick time law for employers to provide written notice
of the requirements of the law to employees.
For more information, visit our website at www.oregon.gov/boli, or contact us at 971-673-0761 or [email protected].
PAGE 2 |
January 1, 2016 | NW Labor Press / UFCW LOCAL 555 LEADER
Cowlitz County Safeway and Fred Meyer get a treat from UFCW 555 Elves!
UFCW Representative
Lynda Hart, along with Vice President and Steward Glen Espersen, go on a sleigh ride around Cowlitz
County to give out goodies to the union members who work so hard to make the customer's holidays bright! Happy New Year from our Union family to your family!
UFCW 555
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Corinne O'Donnell is a new bakery sales
clerk at Safeway 1047 in Lake Grove. Located at the I-5 and Bridgeport crossroads,
Corinne's store is extremely busy. Despite
the demands of a fast-paced store, Corinne
loves her work because great co-workers
and friendly customers make her job fun. A
happy work environment is a much welcomed change for Corinne, who used to
work at Walmart. “My former co-workers
and customers weren't nearly as pleasant.”
she says. Corinne is looking forward to another big change in the near future, health
insurance coverage. "The union's medical
insurance is a good plan. That is so comforting in this day and age."
“I support my union for many reasons. First, they
assure me with job security. Second, they continually fight for better benefits and contracts. My
union is in my corner at all times. Thank you, local
555!”
“I love the fact that my union cares about me. Thank
you for the cash that I won in the raffle for signing up
for Active Ballot Club.”
Beau Hanson, UFCW Local 555 Member
“I won one of the ABC raffles. It couldn’t have happened at a better time. I just turned 21 and am taking a camping trip vacation.
This is going to make it much more fun. Thank you, UFCW and
the ABC.”
Jerold Graves Jr., UFCW Local 555 Member
Jaymee Acoba, UFCW Local 555 Member
NW Labor Press / UFCW LOCAL 555 LEADER |
January 1, 2016 | PAGE 11
New Member
Member Meeting:
Meeting: Orientation
Orientationto
tothe
theUnion
Union
New
UFCW
555 understands
understands that
that for
for many
many people
people belonging
belonging to
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wehold
holdNew
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Meetingsevery
everymonth
monthtotointroduce
introduceyou
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UFCW Local
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your
Attending this
this meeting
meeting will
will give
give you
you some
some much-needed
much-neededinformation
informationabout
aboutwhat
whatititmeans
meansto
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say“Union
“UnionYes!”
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andthe
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contract, along
alongwith
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informationregarding
regardingmedical
medicaland
andpension
pensionbenefits.
benefits.You
Youwill
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During the meeting you will receive a copy
to ask questions and get information about
about the
the Northwest
Northwest Community
CommunityCredit
CreditUnion.
Union.
For those
those who
For
who qualify,
qualify, you
you will
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receive aa one-time
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credit of
of up
up to
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$50off
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feefor
forattending
attendingthe
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meeting. Contact
Contactyour
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UnionRepresentative
Representativefor
formore
moreinformation
information
on
the
next
meeting
in
your
area
or
call
1-800-452UFCW.
You
may
also
check
the
online
calendar
at
www.ufcw555.org.
on the next meeting in your area or call 1-800-452- UFCW. You may also check the online calendar at www.ufcw555.org.
UFCW Local
UFCW
Local 555
555 January
January 2016
2016 Quarterly
Quarterly Meeting
Meeting Notices
Notices
Meeting Place
Meeting Place
Date / Time
Meeting Place
Date / Time
Meeting Place
Date / Time
Date / Time
Albany
Albany
Central Electrical Training Center
Central
Electrical
33309 Hwy
99E Training Center
Wednesday, January 20
Wednesday,
January
Quarterly:
9 am
& 7 pm20
Quarterly:
9 am10&am
7 pm
New
Member:
& 6 pm
33309
Hwy 99E
Astoria/Seaside
New Member:January
10 am &20
6 pm
Wednesday,
Labor Temple
Astoria/Seaside
926 Duane
St
Labor
Temple
926
Duane St
Bend
Quarterly:
6 pm
Wednesday,
January 20
New
Member:
5 pm
Quarterly: 6 pm
Pendleton
Red
Lion
Pendleton
304
SE
Nye Rd
Red Lion
Tuesday, January 5
Quarterly:
pm
Tuesday, 6January
5
New
Member:
5:30
pm
Quarterly: 6 pm
New Member:
5 pm12
Tuesday,
January
Quarterly:
9
am
& 7 pm
Tuesday, January
12
New Member: 10 am & 6 pm
304 SE Nye
Rd
Portland
- Clackamas
Denny’s
Portland - Clackamas
15815 SE 82nd Drive
New Member:
5:30 pm
Wednesday,
January
27
Quarterly:
9
am
&
7
pm
Wednesday, January 27
New Member: 10 am & 6 pm
Jan. 15
Thur.,
Jan. 14 10 am &Fri.,
New Member:
6 pm
Portland
Eastside
15815 SE -82nd
Drive
Teamsters Hall - Joe Edgar Hall
Portland
- Eastside
1850
NE 162nd
Wednesday,
January
276 pm
New Member:
10 am &
Quarterly: 9 am & 7 pm
Wednesday,
New
Member: January
10 am & 627
pm
Portland - Hillsboro
1850 NE 162nd
National Guard Armory
Portland
- Hillsboro
848
NE 28th
Wednesday, January 27
New Member: 10 am & 6 pm
Quarterly: 9 am & 7 pm
Wednesday,
New
Member: January
10 am & 627
pm
Quarterly: 9January
am & 7 21
pm
Thursday,
New
Member:
10
am
& 6 pm
Quarterly: 7 pm
New
Member:
6 pm 21
Thursday,
January
National Guard
Portland
- NorthArmory
848
NE
28th
KP Town Hall
3704
N Interstate
Portland
- NorthAve
Quarterly: 9 am
& 7 pm
Wednesday,
January
27
New
Member:
10
Quarterly: 9 am & 7am
pm& 6 pm
New
Member: January
10 am & 627
pm
Wednesday,
Quarterly:
7 pm
Tue.,
Jan. 12
KP Town Hall
Portland
- Southeast (New Location)
AFL-CIO
Building Ave
3704 N Interstate
3645 SE 32nd Ave
Quarterly: 9 am
& 7 pm
Wednesday,
January
27
Quarterly:
9 am 10
& 7am
pm& 6 pm
New Member:
New Member: 10 am & 6 pm
New Member:
6 pm 4 Quarterly: 9 am
Monday,
January
Quarterly:
7
pm
New Member:
Quarterly and New Member:
6 pm 10 am
Portland
- Tigard
AFL-CIO Building
UFCW
Local
555
3645 SE 32nd
Ave
7095 SW Sandburg
Wednesday,
January
27
Quarterly: 9 am
& 7 pm
Quarterly:
9
am
&
7
pm
New Member: 10 am & 6 pm
New Member: 10 am & 6 pm
Monday,
January
4 Fri., Jan. 15
Thurs.,
Jan.
14
Roseburg
UFCW Local 555
Labor Temple
7095 SW Sandburg
742 SE Roberts
Thurs., Jan. 14
Wed.,
Jan. 13
Quarterly:
9 am & 7 pm
Quarterly: 7 pm
Quarterly: 9 am
NewMember:
Member:
10 am New
& 6 pm
New
6 pm
Member: 10 am
Red Lion
Bend
1415 NE 3rd
Red Lion
Coos NE
Bay3rd
1415
Labor Temple
Coos
BaySt (North Bend)
3427 Ash
Labor Temple
Eugene/Springfield
3427 Ash St (North Bend)
Teamsters Hall
Eugene/Springfield
711 Shelley St (Springfield)
Teamsters
Florence Hall
711
(Springfield)
BestShelley
WesternStPier
Point Inn
85625 Hwy 101
Florence
Best
Western
Grants
Pass Pier Point Inn
LaQuinta
Inn101
& Suites
85625
Hwy
243 NE Morgan Lane
Grants Pass
Hood River
LaQuinta
Inn & Suites
The NE
Ranch
DriveLane
In
243
Morgan
950 12th St
Hood River
Klamath Falls
The Ranch Drive In
Woodworker’s Hall
950
12th St
3836 Altamont Dr
Quarterly: 9 am & 7 pm
New Member: 6 pm
Thur., Jan.
14
Quarterly:
7 pm
New Member: 10 am
Fri., Jan. 915
Quarterly:
am
New Member: 6 pm
New Member: 10 am
Tuesday,
19 Quarterly: 9 am
Quarterly: January
7 pm
Quarterly: 9 am & 7 pm
Tuesday,
January
19& 6 pm
New
Member:
10 am
Wed., Jan. 13
New
6 pm
NewMember:
Member:
6 pm Quarterly: 9 am
Quarterly: 7 pm
New Member: 10 am
Tue., Jan. 12
Wed., Jan. 13
New
Member:
New Member:
Quarterly
and5:30pm
New Member:
6 pm 10 am
Quarterly: 6 pm
Quarterly: 9 am
Newport
Newport
Denny’s
Teamsters Hall - Joe Edgar Hall
Portland - Southeast (New Location)
Portland - Tigard
See Lincoln City
See Lincoln City
Quarterly: 9 am & 7 pm
Quarterly: 9 am & 7 pm
Wednesday, January 27
Wednesday, January 27
Klamath
LakeviewFalls
Woodworker’s
Hall
Lake County Community
Center
3836
11 N. Altamont
G Street Dr
New Member:
Member: 5:30pm
5:30pm New
NewMember:
Member:10
10am
am
New
Quarterly: 66 pm
pm
Quarterly:99am
am
Quarterly:
Quarterly:
Roseburg
Salem
Labor Office
Temple
Salem
742 SE
Roberts
1655
Capitol
St NE Suite 1
Wed., Jan.January
13
Thursday,
21 Thurs., Jan. 14
Quarterly: 79 pm
Quarterly:
am & 7 pm Quarterly: 9 am
NewMember:
Member: 610
pm
New
am & 6New
pmMember: 10 am
Lakeview
Lincoln City
Lincoln
City Community
Lake
County
CommunityCenter
Center
2150
Oar Pl
11
N. NE
G Street
Wednesday,
Wed., Jan. 13January 20
Thurs., Jan. 14
Quarterly:
10 am
& 7 pm
New Member:
5:30pm
New Member: 10 am
New
Member:
pm
Quarterly:
6 pm 9 am & 6Quarterly:
9 am
Salem
St.
Helens
Best
Western
Salem
Office Oak Meadows Inn
585
S Columbia
Hwy1
1655
Capitol St River
NE Suite
Thursday,January
January14
21
Thursday,
Quarterly:
Quarterly:69pm
am & 7 pm
New
pmam & 6 pm
NewMember:
Member:510
Longview
Lincoln
City
Columbia
River
Merc BldgCenter
Lincoln
City
Community
1339
Commerce,
2150 NE Oar Pl Suite 311A
Thursday,
January
21 20
Wednesday,
January
Quarterly:
Quarterly: 910am
am& &6 7pm
pm
New
Member:
10
am
&
pm
New Member: 9 am & 65pm
The
BestDalles
Western Oak Meadows Inn
Madras
Longview
Black Bear Diner
Columbia
River Merc Bldg
237 SW 4th St
Monday, January 11
Thursday, January 21
New Member: 5:30pm
Quarterly: 9 am & 6 pm
Quarterly: 6 pm
Tillamook
Ashley Inns
The Dalles
1722 Makinster Rd
Thursday, January 21
Quarterly: 6 pm
See Hood River
New Member: 5 pm
Medford
Madras
Labor Temple
Black
Bear Diner
4480 Rogue
Valley Hwy #3
Mon., Jan. 11
Vancouver (New Location)
Tillamook
4610
NE 77th Avenue
Ashley
Inns
Suite
105
Tuesday, Janaury 12
Thursday,9 January
21
Quarterly:
am & 6 pm
Quarterly:
6
pm
New Member: 10 am & 5 pm
237
SW 4th St
Newberg
Coffee Cottage
Medford
808 Hancock
Labor
TempleSt
4480 Rogue Valley Hwy #3
Quarterly: 6January
pm
1722 Makinster Rd
Thursday,
28
Quarterly:
am & 6 pmTues., Jan. 12
Vancouver (New Location)
Mon., Jan.911
New
Member:6 pm
10 am &Quarterly:
5 pm 9 am
New Member:
4610 NE 77th Avenue
Quarterly:
7 pm
New
10 am ontoSuite
105
You can
keep up-to-date
onMember:
events by logging
www.ufcw555.org
and checking the calendar.
Newberg
Coffee Cottage
808 Hancock St
Thursday, January 28
Quarterly: 9 am & 6 pm
New Member: 10 am & 5 pm
1339 Commerce, Suite 311A
Thurs.,Jan.
Jan.1314
Wed.,
Fri., Jan.
1514
Thurs.,
Jan.
New Member: 10 am & 5 pm
Tues., Jan. 12
Monday,
January
New
Member:
6 pm 11 Quarterly: 9 am
New Member:
Quarterly:
7 pm 5:30pmNew Member: 10 am
St. Helens
585 S Columbia River Hwy
You can keep up-to-date on events by logging onto www.ufcw555.org and checking the calendar.
Thursday, January 14
See
Hood River
Quarterly:
6 pm
New Member: 5 pm
New Member: 5 pm
Tuesday, Janaury 12
Quarterly: 9 am & 6 pm
New Member: 10 am & 5 pm
PAGE 12 |
January 1, 2016 | NW Labor Press / UFCW LOCAL 555 LEADER
UFCW 555
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
“I signed up for the ABC because I thought it would do a lot of
good things. Now we have first day sick pay . Thank you UFCW
for the things you do through the ABC.”
Tomi Jo Lorentzen and
Carmen Riddle from the
Fred Meyer in Longview
are looking rather festive this holiday season
— and both love their
UFCW Local 555 medical benefits.
Molly Ayres, UFCW Local 555 Member
Bradley Hope works at the Burlingame Fred
Meyer Fuel Center. The company screwed up and
suspended him. His Union Rep got it reversed and
got him 3 days of back pay for the mistake. From
Bradley: "I am pleased to have such great support
from my Union Rep. She acted quickly and professionally to resolve the issue at hand."
“I just attended the new member meeting, it was very informative and well worth the $50 credit. Good luck to the
Negotiations Team and thank you for fighting for more
hours!”
Kimberly Thomas, UFCW Local 555 Member
“I appreciate our Union for always doing their best in contract
negotiations for our members.”
Cynthia Kline, UFCW Local 555 Member
Meet another great Kaiser member that was
born at a Kaiser facility, has a child who was born
at a Kaiser facility, and is very proud to be a Kaiser
employee, because they know firsthand the quality care they get at Kaiser. Laura Mercado-Alvarez has been an Imaging Assistant at Mt. Talbert Kaiser for almost 3 years. When asked to
share her story, Laura said that being union and
working for Kaiser are the best things that have
happened to her. She says the last job she had,
she felt more miserable the longer she was there,
and at Kaiser, the longer she is there, the happier
she is. Thanks, Laura, for sharing your story and
being a proud Union member.
“What I like about being Union is that my Union
makes sure that I get what is in my contract. It is rare
that I need to call them, but when I do, they are there
for me. They will also help me fight for a fair contract.”
Ross Villegas,UFCW Local 555 Member
PAGE 6 |
January 1, 2016 | NW Labor Press / UFCW LOCAL 555 LEADER
UFCW makes a difference in their communities
Member Tony Evans Jr. volunteers at The Northwest Hub bicycle co-op
My name is Tony Evans Jr. I
work at the Salem Fred Meyers in
the Home Department as a section lead for storage and automotive. I have quite a few interests,
to say the least. They include
artistic pyrography and wood
working, crochet, painting, guitar
and drumming, to name a few.
I also volunteer weekly at a
non-profit outreach ministry and
organization I am quite proud to
be associated with known as the
Northwest Hub, or “The Hub” as
we affectionately call it, and bicycle co-op.
The Northwest Hub is a nonprofit organization. With the
humble beginnings of a community outreach ministry in the
basement of Salem’s Evergreen
Presbyterian Church, and vigilant
nurturing from its found-ers, the
Northwest Hub has grown into a
success story broadcasting the
generous and giving spirit that
still exists in the hearts of Americans today.
The main goal of the Northwest Hub is to provide a resource
for all who are in need (our slogan is “Bicycles for everyone”) to
obtain transportation and the
means and a place to keep it running safely.
As a volunteer center, the
Northwest Hub provides people
with work that is always available
and in need of completion in exchange for acquiring work hours
redeemable for a professionally
reclaimed and rebuilt bicycle.
Volunteer work can also go toward additional work wanted on
an earned bike, or toward a co-op
membership. People who volunteer are also given the opportunity to take advantage of a series
of courses to learn professional
bicycle repair from the professional bicycle mechanics that are
the leading force and backbone of
The Hub. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who not
only wants to learn how to keep
their new bike operating at best
performance but also for anyone
who wants to learn a new and potentially life altering trade.
Working a great deal with people who are living at shelters and
recently released back into society from corrections, reliable
transportation can make all the
difference in bettering your life
and is just one of the examples of
how The Hub fulfills a strong
need in our community.
The Hub is also a co-op for
those who choose to join and the
membership fee goes fully towards operations. With a co-op
membership, one is not only provided with a professional place
Portland mayoral
candidates to debate at
NOLC meeting Jan. 25
Labor history group
issues call for papers
Portland mayoral candidates Ted
Wheeler and Jules Bailey will participate in a debate at the Jan. 25 delegates’ meeting of the Northwest
Oregon Labor Council. The meeting
starts at 7 p.m. at the IBEW Local
48 union hall at 15937 NE Airport
Way, Portland. Also at the meeting,
newly-elected officers of the labor
council will be sworn in to new
four-year terms.
The mayoral candidates will be
given five minutes for opening remarks, one minute to respond to
questions asked by the moderator,
30 seconds for rebuttal, and three
minutes for closing remarks.
Paul Stuckenschneider, a retired
federal mediator, will moderate.
A request for questions from
union members was emailed and
faxed to all NOLC affiliates. The
deadline to submit questions is Jan.
18. A NOLC subcommittee will
meet Jan. 19 to select the questions
to be asked at the debate.
The Pacific Northwest Labor History Association will host its annual conference in Portland May
20-22. PNLHA is a non-profit association of trade unionists, students, academics, and others dedicated to preserving the history of
workers in British Columbia,
Oregon and Washington.
PNLHA issued a call for papers, presentations, performances,
and workshops for the conference,
which has been themed: “Labor,
Justice and the Environment: Historical Insights, Alliances and
Challenges.” It is seeking proposals that address the relationship
between workers, their unions and
community partners, and environmental justice issues. Other topics
of interest include: evolving forms
of worker representation and organizing; organizing immigrant
workers; women workers in the
Pacific Northwest, and more.
The deadline for proposals is
Jan. 25. For more information,
contact Marcus Widenor at mrwide@ uoregon.edu.
and the necessary tools to perform the work on their own or
their family’s bicycles, but access
to friendly and courteous professional bicycle mechanics and
their advice. As a member of the
co-op, when work is necessary on
a bike, simply come into The Hub
and check out a tool board, obtain
a work space and have at it. It’s
that easy.
The aforementioned are just
some of the services offered at
The Hub. In addition, various
community outreach, bonding,
and strengthening programs are
attended and supported by The
Hub as well as strongly teaching,
promoting and advocating bicycle
safety and riding education for all
ages and levels of cyclists. To me,
this makes The Hub not only a
necessary, but a very welcomed
addition to our community.
The Northwest Hub is located
at 1230 Broadway St., NE,
Salem, Oregon. It is open
Wednesday through Saturday, 10
a.m. to 6 p.m., and can also be
found on Facebook at The Northwest Hub.
NW Labor Press / UFCW LOCAL 555 LEADER |
January 1, 2016 | PAGE 7
For 75 years!
Making spirits bright(er) in Salem
Norman Sylvester and Friends entertained several hundred youngsters, parents, and
grandparents Dec. 5 at a holiday party hosted by the Marion-Polk-Yamhill Counties Labor
Chapter. The event — funded by local unions and unionized businesses in the community — celebrated its 75th year. UFCW Local 555 has played a major role in the event. For
the last 20 years Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Anderson (pictured wearing Santa hat) has
served as “Elfie the MC.” The party is held at the historic Elsinore Theatre in downtown
Salem. This year, children sang holiday songs, watched a movie, and
met Mr and Mrs. Claus. Afterward,
everyone received a goody bag
filled with union-made products
purchased at unionized Fred
Meyer.
IN MEMORIAM
Ronald E. Fortune
April 21, 1936 - Nov. 25, 2015
Ron Fortune, a retired
executive secretary-treasurer of the Northwest
Oregon Labor Council
(NOLC), passed away
Nov. 25 due to complications from Alzheimer’s
disease. He was 79.
Fortune, who lived in
Gresham, led NOLC from 1985
until 1998, when he retired. He
was a 59-year member of the
United Food and Commercial
Workers (UFCW) union, joining
Portland Food and Drug Clerks
Local 1092 in 1956. He worked
as a business rep for that local
starting in 1969. Local 1092 is
now part of UFCW Local 555.
RONALD EDWARD FORTUNE
was born April 21, 1936 in
Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of
seven children — five brothers
and a sister. His father was a
“union man,” working in the
coal mines, as a street sweeper,
truck driver and carpenter.
The Fortune family moved to
Newberg, Oregon, in 1947.
As a student at Newberg High
School, Fortune took a part-time
job at a nut packing plant, where
he became a member of the
Teamsters Union. After graduating, he worked at a paper plant in
Newberg and was a member of
the Pulp Workers.
In 1956, Fortune took a
temporary job as a clerk in
a Safeway store in Hillsboro. There, he joined Local 1092. That job eventually led into a career in the
union. He was hired as a
business rep in 1969, and
was elected to the top post
of NOLC in 1985, succeeding
Local 1092 colleague Lon Imel.
Fortune came into office
when the labor council—then
known as the Multnomah
County Labor Council—was
about to merge with councils
from Columbia and Clackamas
counties to create the Northwest
Oregon Labor Council.
During his 13 years at the
helm of NOLC, Fortune helped
launch a Labor History Committee, a Retirees Council, a Labor
in the Schools program, a Saturn/Labor’s Community Service
Agency partnership, and the Labor Bowl Challenge for Muscular Dystrophy. He was a founding member of the Business
Union and Legislative Leaders
(BULL) Session golf tourna-
ment, which has raised more
than $5.5 million for local children’s charities.
He helped persuade congressional officeholders to hire labor
liaisons to keep in touch with the
council and organized labor. He
regularly scheduled labor breakfasts with elected officials and
union officers so that they could
talk about issues and concerns.
He was appointed by Gov.
John Kitzhaber to serve on the
Oregon Economic Development
Commission. Portland Mayor
Bud Clark tapped him for the
Portland Leadership Roundtable.
And he was a member of Metro’s
Metropolitan Exposition-Recreation Commission. He also
served on the Executive Board of
United Way of the ColumbiaWillamette, and was chair of Labor’s Community Service
Agency.
In retirement, Fortune was active in the St. Henry Catholic
Church of Gresham. He volunteered regularly at a local soup
kitchen and at SnowCap.
Fortune is survived by his
wife of 58 years, Kathleen
(Fugere); five daughters, two
sons; 21 grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.