Snohomish County Labor Council, AFL/CIO

Minutes of the Meeting of October 29, 2003

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by President Chapman followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as amended.  Under Reports of Unions Jason Blachly, IAFF 1984, reported they are going to mediation, not arbitration.

CREDENTIALS

M/S/C to seat the new delegates who were present. Chris Harper, AFSCME 1811JPD; Steve La Pierre, SEIU 925; Rick Olson and Gary Rhodes, Teamsters 38; Michael Maddux, UFCW 1001 were sworn in.

 

GUESTS

 

            Jeff Johnson, WSLC Research Director spoke regarding the upcoming events for Human Rights Day on December 10th. The focus will be on the problems we have with organizing in this country, and how employers violate the law and get away with it. As an example he used a union election won in October 2002 by a vote of 267 to 5. The election was not certified until May 2003. As of this date, there is still no contract. The campaign’s primary focus will be to move on Labor Law Reform. A march and rally will be held on December 10th in front of the Federal Building in Seattle. He asked if the Council would like a couple busses to transport people from here for the event.

 

EXEC BD & STAFF REPORTS

            Secretary-Treasurer Sells reported on the October 21st Executive Board meeting. The Board discussed promotion of commercial air activity at Paine Field, heard from representatives on the Evergreen College Labor Studies program and took actions on recommendations for candidates.

            M/S to call for the resignation of the Marysville School Board. M/S/C to amend to add the Superitendent The main motion passed as amended.

Secretary-Treasurer Sells also gave out a written report on meetings attended this last month including dealing with the Marysville strike, the BIAW, United Way, CWU, EHA, Martin Luther King commemoration, EDC, elections, and political action.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Community Services:  Laura Wentworth, AFSCME 1811CA stated that two members of the committee had their houses flooded. John Lynn, SPEEA is working with his insurance carrier for replacement. Bill Borders, United Way Labor Liaison had $100,000 worth of damage down to the home that he and his wife, Gloria, own. She noted, however, that he is doing OK.

The committee is working with Everett Women’s Film Festival to help bring a preview of the Denise Toledo Everett Massacre film to the Everett Historic Theater. Tickets are available for $20.00. This is a fundraiser for the film festival and Operation Shortfall and will be held on November 5th.

            Delegates were given Christmas holiday raffle tickets to sell. The drawing will be at the Holiday Party and the money raised will go to Operation Shortfall.

             

COPE

 

Labor/Neighbor - Leonard Kelley, Teamsters 38, noted that Labor/Neighbor is doing OK, but could use a lot more help. A lot has been accomplished with the help of the Firefighters in Everett. Teamsters have also had a good turnout last week.

 

M/S/C  to endorse Cindy Portmann for Snohomish County Assessor

M/S/C to endorse Ted Hikel for Lynnwood City Council, Position 6

M/S/C to endorse Vicky Gates for the Marysville School Board, District 3

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS-None

 

REPORTS OF UNIONS

 

Organizing- Judy Neumann, IAM 751 spoke on the U Haul election and handed out cards for delegates to sign in support of the workers.

Darrell Chapman, IBEW 191 spoke on the organizing conference in Chicago.

           

Contract negotiations and maintenance -   Charles Primm, UFCW 1001 reported on the strike in national grocery chains in Southern California and what is at stake. Many of the large chains would like to go to the Wal Mart model of slashing wages and benefits. His local is sending two staff per week. Paul Quaintaince  UFCW 1105, stated he has been one of the staff and was returning to California tomorrow where  over 100,000 workers are on strike. Arthur Rice, UFCW 1105 stated that his wife, Lynda Rice, is in Southern California to help with the organizing. The grocery chains are going after health and welfare and a two tier wage system.

Michael Maddux, UFCW 1001, stated they represent tech staff at Group Health where management is working on trying to cut medical benefits and freeze wages. The contract expires on Friday.

Pat Connelly, ATU 1576, reported on problems with negotiations at Community Transit .

 

Other Reports- Chuck Jewell, Teamsters 38 reported on the L&I hearing in Mt. Vernon. L&I was taking public comment on the Workers Comp rate. There were only 4 from labor there while 50 of the attendees were from the BIAW and Farm Bureau. There was not one working person at the meeting. It is important to have people available for these hearings, and he encouraged locals to do so.

 

NEW BUSINESS-None

 

GOOD OF THE COUNCIL

 

Lisa Vares, Candidate for Marysville City Council, Position 3, thanked Council for support of her candidacy and noted that she was here to learn about Labor issues.

 

Frank Anderson, Mayor City of Everett, thanked all of the delegates for their tremendous support. He invited them to his election night party at Howard Johnsons on the 7th floor.

 

Mark Olson, Everett City Councilman introduced himself.

 

Doug Campbell, Everett City Council candidate thanked the Council for their support. He noted that he was pleased to have the support of the workers in the city.

 

Jim Smith, Laborers 292 encouraged delegates to listen to KSER Labor Radio Journal. He also stated that if a union had an issue they would like to get out, LJR would do their best to get it on. KSER is on 90.7 FM and you can hear the Radio Labor Journal last Monday every month, 4:30 to 5:30 PM

 

The winner of the community services drawing was: Pat Axline of OPEIU 8

 

Adjourned at 8:15 PM

 

 

Mike Sells, Secretary-Treasurer

 

 

Attendance:

 

AFSCME 109: Pete Dykstra

AFSCME 109E: Robert Mueller

AFSCME 109S:

AFSCME 113: Gary Doughty, Monte Turner

AFSCME 1811:

AFSCME 1811C:

AFSCME 1811CA: Terry Van Wyck, Laura Wentworth

AFSCME 1811JPD: Chris Harper

AFSCME 1811JS:

AFSCME 1811PA: David Kurtz

AFSCME 1811S:

AFSCME 881:

AFSCME 948:

AFSCME 1020:

AFSCME 1355:

AFSCME 2753:

AFSCME 2964:

AFT 772: Kim Mead, Mike Sells

AFT 1873:

AFT 4254: Mary Hale

APWU 484:

ATU 883:

ATU 1576: Pat Connelly, Dick McManus

CWA 7800:

CWA 37082:

GCIU 767M:

HERE 8:

IAFF 46: Tom Deckers, Robert Downey

IAFF 1984: Jason Blachly, John Puetz

IAFF 2694:

IAM 130:

IAM 751A: Bob Neumann, Jason Redrup, Don Shove, Bruce Spalding

IAM 751C:

IAM 751E: Ron Bradley

IAM 751F: Jackie Boschok, Jonathan Holden, Judy Neumann

IATSE 15:

IBEW 77:

IBEW 89: Mike Ferrucci

IBEW 191: Darrell Chapman, Jeff Seibert

IBT 38: Chuck Jewell, Leonard Kelley, Rick Olson, Gary Rhodes

IBT 763:

IBU/ ILWU: Stuart Downer

IFPTE 17:

ILWU 32: Ron Medcalf

IUOE 302:

IUPAT DC 5:

IW 86:

IW 506:

LIUNA 292: Jim Smith

NALC 791: Bob James

National Writers Union:

OPEIU 8: Patrick Axline

OPEIU 277:

SEIU 925: Steven La Pierre, Brian Levesque,

SEIU 1199NW:

SMIU 66:

SPEEA: Tim Bond, Chris Glenn, Bob Rommel

UA 26:

UFCW 44:

UFCW 141, USNU:

UFCW 1001: Michael Maddux, Charles Primm

UFCW 1105: Arthur Rice

 

Excused Delegates

AFSCME 109: Roger Moller

IAM 751C: Gregory Powell

IBEW 77: Peg Chrisman

IBT 38: Janine Dibble, Doug Gunwall

OPEIU 8: Marjorie Lewis 

SEIU 925: Bill Borders, Tania Rosario

SEIU 1199NW: Steve Moll

UFCW 1105: Paul Quaintance, Lynda Rice

 

Guests

Frank Anderson, Mayor City of Everett

Doug Campbell, Everett City Council

Jeff Johnson, WSLC Research and Organizing Director

Bill Mirand, IBEW 46

Gary Price, IBEW 46

Ray Stephanson, Candidate for Mayor of Everett

Ed Triezenberg, Pac. NW. Regional Council of Carpenters

Mark Olson, Everett City Council

Lisa Vares, Marysville City Council