Snohomish County Labor Council, AFL/CIO

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF May 24, 2000

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Pres. Darr. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as typed and handed out with the correction noting that IA 86 members Steve Pendergrass and T.A. Red Biggins, Ironworkers 86 had been previously sworn in as delegates.

CREDENTIALS

            IAM 751A for Tony D. Perry

            IBEW 191 for Layton “Chip” Donaldson

            IAFF 3524 for Larry Hadland and Zach Reagle (not present)

M/S/C to seat the new delegates who were present: Tony D. Perry, IAM 751A and Layton “Chip” Donaldson

GUESTS

     Kelly Barlean, Candidate for 10th Legislative District, Pos. 2. He currently represents the District in House Position 2 and is seeking reelection. His background includes attending the Air Force Academy, being in the US Army Airborne, and attending law school. He has been on the Langley City Council. He won his last election by 300 votes. He stated he was sympathetic toward labor, and cited his positions in the Republican caucus when things were tough in the last session because of the split House. He felt he was one of labor’s best friends in the caucus. As an example, he noted going to the Republican leadership to let them know that the UI bill was a must thing. He helped put heat on Rep. Clements to get the bill out for a vote. He wrote a letter of support for Medalia workers when they were seeking organization. He supported labor’s position on the individual health care bill. He was supportive of Kaiser workers and signed the petition that asked Speaker Ballard to let the bill out on unemployment for locked-out steelworkers. He came to ask for support in re-election bid, and believes it is advantageous to have sympathetic Republicans within that caucus. He pointed out that there is no guarantee Democrats will gain control of the House. In fact, House Republicans expect a 52 seat majority after the next election. He does not want to see leadership bottling up bills, and would work to allow labor issues to see the light of day. He supports State Employee collective bargaining as a fundamental right. On prevailing wage, he didn’t know the counter arguments, and needed data on the issue.

Seth Dawson, Contract lobbyist for Human Service agencies. Updated the Council on the mental health parity issue in health insurance. Basically, it calls for any health insurance policy to cover mental health issues with limits on mental health no greater than limits on other areas.

 COMMUNICATIONS

            From Washington State Labor Council  5/12/00 Alan O. Link, Sec. Treas. The WSLC is helping the State Community & Technical College Board set up a focus group with labor leaders. The meeting will be June 6, 12 noon to 2 PM at South Seattle Community College; 5/12/00 Rick S. Bender Pres. memo on 2nd Annual Brennan Memorial Award

            From AFL/CIO 5/5/00 John J. Sweeney, President, on support for Kaiser Aluminum workers; 5/15/00 Gerald Shea, Asst. to President & David Smith, Director of Public Policy memo on Bush Plan to Privatize Social Security

            From Local Unions & Councils 4/25/00 Steve Koch, President, Northwest Washington Building & Construction Trades Council on Dollars Against Diabetes golf tournament on June 9th in Burlington; 5/1/00 Bob Hasegawa, Sec. Treas. Teamsters 174 requesting withdrawal of strike sanction against the Boeing Co.; 5/2/00 Bob Hasegawa, Sec. Treas., Teamsters 174 requesting withdrawal of strike sanction against Waste Management Inc.; 5/10/00 Joe McGee, Western Area Vice President of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers re: Convention support; 5/11/00 George E. Gilliland, Pres., New Mexico Federation of Labor on the recent burn in the Los Alamos area and the need for help;5/22/00 Suzanne Mode, Union Rep., OPEIU 8 request for strike sanction against Providence Everett Medical Center

            From Agencies and Groups 4/26/00, Bob Drewel, County Exec, Frank Figg, Chair of Economic Development Council & Boeing Local Government Affairs Mrg., Mike Deller, President of Everett Mutual Bank on meeting with R & M Resource Development on EDC work plan; 5/12/00 Snohomish County Chapter of the Safe Schools Coalition on May 31st meeting, 3 PM to 5 PM at the Everett Public Library

            From individuals  5/17/00, e mail from Kevin Laverty, member of Mukilteo School Board thanking Council for its support.

EXEC BD REPORT

          Sec. Treas. Sells reported that the Board met on May 17th and discussed a per capita increase. As a result they are recommending an amendment to the Constitution to increase the per capita by 15¢ a month. That recommendation comes to the body with a motion and second. It will be voted on at the June meeting. The Board also recommended granting strike sanction against Coca Cola in Marysville to Teamsters 38. The request was withdrawn due to settlement of the contract. The Board also discussed its contribution to the State Labor Council COPE program for the primary.

            The Sec. Treas. also gave out a written report of activities since the last meeting including work on support for Providence workers, Wal-Mart education activities, workers memorial, website updates, United Way, organizers forum, CWU, EHA. He mentioned the issuance of apprenticeship set asides by CWU on a building they would be putting up on the Edmonds CC campus.

COMMITTEES

Community Services  Ken Titus, NALC 791 reported that the Letter Carrier food drive had garnered 177,078 lbs of food. It set a record, and thanked all those that helped out with the project.

Education  Darrell Chapmen, IBEW 191 reported on the Labor Radio Journal program. They did one on Providence employees recently. The next program is slated to cover issues that workers face when trying to organize a union. It will show how poor the laws are in this country protecting workers rights to form unions. Jim Smith, LIUNA 292, noted that Radio Labor Journal is a production of Snohomish County Labor Council. It is one of 6 programs in the country. It can be heard at 4:30 PM on 2nd Tuesday of the month on 90.7 KSER. Internet streaming is available at www.kser.org

Workers Memorial  Chuck Jewell, IBT 38 made forms available for memorial bricks to help fund the Workers Memorial monument.

Women’s Committee Jackie Boschok, IAM 751 spoke on the WSLC Elsie Schrader award and the need to get nominations in. There will be a Women’s Committee Annual Auction in Tacoma during the State Labor Council. Donations are needed.

Wal Mart   Sec. Treas. Sells reported on recent meetings with some business interests in downtown Marysville regarding the advent of Wal Mart coming to the area.

Organizers Forum  Sec. Treas. Sells reported on the May 24^th meeting which covered discussion on upcoming campaigns, information on the technology corridor, research needs, and campaign strategies.

REPORTS FROM COMMUNITY/LABOR COMMITTEE REPS

Workforce Development Council  Don Shove, IAM 751A reported on the Work for America institute on Workforce Development Act. It gave valuable insight into what labor should look for in local implementation of the Workforce Development Act. He stated that here in Snohomish County the Workforce Development Council will be voting on articles of incorporation. Labor’s concerns have been included in the articles.

WISHA Monitoring-No further report

COPE

Pres. Darr noted that Mike Kreidler, endorsed candidate for State Insurance Commissioner will be holding a fundraiser before the next Labor Council meeting on July 26th.

Vice Pres. Chapman reported on the Labor 2000 program, which is concentrating, on getting members registered to vote. He encouraged Locals to participate.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS-none

REPORTS OF UNIONS

            Organizing reports Dave Volkmann, IAM 130, noted the turning around of a de-certification in Anchorage. He talked about face to face meetings with workers on home calls during elections. They are currently opening negotiations with Associated Sand & Gravel. Ben Cokelet, UFCW 1001, introduced Erin Wells, a UFCW member on the Providence negotiating team. They felt they had a very successful one- day strike. There was a 90% turn out and they had a lot of support. He stated it had been a long struggle. They go back to negotiations tomorrow. If it is not settled, they expect to be out for a two strike soon.   

            Contract negotiations & maintenance  Pat Connelly, ATU 1576, reported briefly on Community Transit negotiations. They are currently in arbitration on subcontracting of CT work. The main concern is wage parity between the private contractor and public entity. Negotiations with Coach USA on the Sound Transit contracts will be coming up, also.

He stated that the legislature approved the ability for local voters to increase sales tax for transit. Since I-695 wiped had wiped out a 1/3 of the transit budget, we will be hearing more about a vote in this County. Bill Trautman, IBT 38, reported that the Teamsters had come to a settlement at Coca-Cola. They came within two hours of hitting the bricks. Ted Hudlow, UBC 562, stated that their contract with the Associated General Contractors is up June 1^st.

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            Other local activity reports  Allan Darr, IUOE 302, reported apprenticeship set -asides on the Multi-Modal facility in Everett. Since a million dollars of Sound Transit money is in the building, apprenticeship utilization standards of 15% should apply. The City of Everett had only put in 6%. As a result, after meeting with the mayor, the city had to put together bid language in the form of an addendum. Bob Monize, Laborers 292, explained that the language applies to apprenticeship programs certified by Washington State. Ed Triezenberg, UBC562, noted that the mandatory pre-bid conference on the Everett multi-modal building is coming up soon. It is $46 million project. Paul Pritchard, EEA/UTE 772, retiring effective July 1, introduced Kim Mead the new president.  She has previously been the Vice President of the local and active for 15 years. P. Prichard discussed the issues of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation suing in court to try and prove that the WEA is a political committee. They wanted to do this to make WEA sign up members into the union on a yearly basis. The State Supreme Court ruled against the EFF, and charged them with paying court costs. Don Shove, IAM 751A, reported that his local would have another October bash to help Steelworkers currently locked out at Kaiser. The daughter of member Robert Bradley of Granite Falls has won a prestigious college scholarship from the IAM.

NEW BUSINESS

M/S/C to grant strike sanction to OPEIU 8 and UFCW 1001 against Providence Health Care in Everett.

M/S/C that the Snohomish County Labor Council donate $100 Northwest Building and Construction Trades Council for DAD’s program

GOOD OF THE COUNCIL

Poppy Hanson, AFSCME 948, spoke on an invitation on behalf of Snohomish County Democrats to the annual summer social at Helen Jackson’s home on July 20th. Chuck Jewell, IBT 38, spoke on behalf of support NW Washington Trades golf tournament with will raise funds against Dollars Against Diabetes. Ted Hudlow, UBC 562, thanked the Community Services committee members that helped work the registration tables at the Carpenters 562 100th Anniversary event on May 6th. Jeff Seibert, IBEW 191, reinforced the importance of local politics.

Winner of the community services drawing was Jerry Adamson, AFSCME 109E 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Mike Sells, Sec. Treas.

Attendance: 

AFSCME 109:

AFSCME 109E: Jerry Adamson

AFSCME 109S:

AFSCME 113:

AFSCME 881:

AFSCME 948: Annabelle Collings, Poppy Hanson

AFSCME 1020:

AFSCME 1355:

AFSCME 1811:

AFSCME 1811C:

AFSCME 1811CA: Debi Cole, Debbie Smith

AFSCME 1811JPD:

AFSCME 1811PA: Dave Kurtz

AFSCME 1811S:

AFSCME 2753:

AFSCME 2964:

AFT 772: Paul Pritchard, Mike Sells

AFT 1873:

AFT 4254: John Littel

APWU 484:

ATU 883:

ATU 1576: Pat Connelly

AWPPW 183:

AWPPW 644:

CWA 7800:

CWA 37082:

GCIU 767M:

IAFF 46:

IAFF 1984:

IAFF 2694:

IAFF 3219:

IAFF 3482:

IAFF 3524

IAM 130: Dave Volkmann

IAM 751A: Andrew Haugen, Bob Neumann, Tony Perry, Don Shove

IAM 751C:

IAM 751E: Gary Hartrick

IAM 751F: Jackie Boschok

IATSE 15:  John Lamnon

IBEW 77: Chuck Russell

IBEW 89:

IBEW 191: Layton Donaldson, Buzz Kessler, Jeff Seibert

IBT 38: Bill Trautman

IBT 174:

IBU/ ILWU 22: Stuart Downer

IFPTE 17:

ILWU 32:

IUOE 286:

IUOE 302: Allan Darr

IW 86:

IW 506:

LADS 1144:

LIUNA 292: Hazel Goehring, Bob Monize, Jim Smith

MM&P:

NALC 791: Robert James, Ken Titus

OPEIU 8:

OPEIU 277:

SEIU 120:

SEIU 1199NW:

SMIU 66:

UA 265:

UBC 562: Fred Buhl, Ted Hudlow, Ed Triezenberg

UBC 2659:

UFCW 44:

UFCW 141, USNU:

UFCW 1001:

UFCW 1105:

GUESTS

Kelly Barlean, State Representative, 10^th District, R

Ben Cokelet, United Food & Commercial Workers 1001

Seth Dawson, Compass Health

Chris Glenn, Int Fed of Prof & Tech Engineers 2001/SPEEA

Kim Mead, Pres. Elect, Everett Education Ass./UTE

T. Lindsay Mead, Everett Education Ass./UTE

Paul Quaintance, United Food & Commercial Workers 1105

Sue Trautman, Int. Brotherhood of Teamsters 38

Erin Wells, United Food & Commercial Workers 1001