Snohomish County Labor Council, AFL/CIO

Minutes of the Meeting of April 23, 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 typed and handed out.

CREDENTIALS

 

 

M/S/C to seat the new delegates who were present. Jason Blachly, IAFF 1984 and J.J. Campbell, IBT 763 were present and sworn in.

 

 

GUESTS

 

Denise Ohio, Documentary Film Maker gave a brief talk on the history of the Everett Massacre and showed a trailer from her new documentary that she is making about the event. The final cut will be shown at the Everett Historic Theatre on November 5th.

Suzanne Moreau, Washington State Labor Council Liaison for Alcohol and Substance Abuse, gave an update on the Youth Meth Summit scheduled for the Howard Johnsons on May 17th. She brought a video showing some of the young people impacted by methamphetamine abuse. Volunteers for the event were solicited. Methamphetamine abuse has become a major problem in the county. The Snohomish County Labor Council is jointly sponsoring the Youth Meth Summit again this year with the County Sheriff’s office.

.

EXEC BD & STAFF REPORTS

 

            The Executive Board met on Tuesday April 8th and approved joining a Regional Partnership with business for the purpose of working on making sure Boeing planes are built in the area. They will also work jointly on transportation, higher education and workforce training issues, as well as port issues.

            On April 15th, the Board/COPE Screening Committee interviewed the following candidates for office:

Bob Dantini, Snohomish County Treasurer (incumbent)

Doug Campbell, Everett City Council, Pos. 5 (incumbent)

Bob Terwilliger, Snohomish County Auditor (incumbent)

David Simpson, Everett City Council, Pos. 5

Ron Gipson, Everett City Council, Pos. 4 (incumbent)

Pam Daniels, Snohomish County Clerk (incumbent)

            Action for endorsements will be brought to the May 28th meeting.

The Secretary-Treasurer handed out a typed report of meetings attended and issues being worked including:  the Regional Partnership, Dwayne Lane strike, Leaders Conference, Workers Memorial Committee, Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration, County Jail Tax Initiative, Sound Transit support, candidate meetings and a meeting with Master Builders and Carpenters to discuss partnerships. He also showed the Regional Partnership web site which outlines its goals. It is at http://www.regionalpartnership.org

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Community Services: Laura Wentworth, AFSCME 1811CA reported on a craft fair being planned by the committee to take place on June 7th at the IBEW 191 hall, 2701 Hoyt. They are currently working on the details. Laura Wentworth and Allyn Triezenberg will be handling logistics and booth rentals. Bill Borders, United Way Labor Liaison reminded delegates of the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive on May 10th. Volunteers are needed to help unload food. Those wishing to volunteer can contact him at 425-921-3454

  

Workers Memorial: Bob Rommel, SPEEA, reported that the Workers Memorial will be held on April 28th at the Snohomish County Courthouse at 5:30 PM. There will be a walking procession from the Labor Temple leaving at 5:10 PM

 

WSLC WISHA Monitoring Committee:, Tom Plummer, IAM 751F discussed the issue of retro pay backs at the Department of Labor and Industries. With the decline of the stock market, the Labor and Industries fund has lost a substantial amount of money. Couple this with the retro plan that gave money back to industry groups and the fund has had a $1.3 billion loss over the last 3 years. The fund could be broke by November. Small businesses in particular have been hit hard by substantial rate increases. He also discussed court rulings which will negatively impact WISHA’s ability to monitor health and safety on the job.

 

COPE-Secretary-Treasurer Sells referred delegates to his recent response to the County Chair of the Republican Party’s guest editorial in the Herald, and the joint editorial about the Regional Partnership.

           

UNFINISHED BUSINESS-None

 

REPORTS OF UNIONS

 

            Organizing-Darrell Chapman, IBEW 191, reported on a recent organizing conference in Las Vegas that explored generational differences

 

Contract negotiations and maintenance- Marjorie Lewis, OPEIU 8 reported on preparations for bargaining at Providence Hospital. The hospital has been threatening the outsourcing of a number of jobs. UFCW 1001 will also have a contract open.

 

Other Reports:  Bob Monize, LIUNA 292 reported on the local’s celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Laborers International Union. He noted they were the only local in the country to do so.

 

NEW BUSINESS-None

 

GOOD OF THE COUNCIL

 

Marian Krell, Candidate for Everett City Council, thanked Council for the invitation to come before the COPE Screening Committee. She is presently an appointee as of August of last year, and is running for the remainder of a term ending in 2005. She would like the support of the Labor Council. She has no opposition at this point. She is a life long resident of Everett, and raised a family here. She has a 25 year career in sales and marketing, and noted her strong belief in unions. She stated that many simply would not have the jobs they have if it wasn’t for unions. She thinks they have a wonderful staff at the city. The next few years will be challenging for the city with tighter budgets.

 

Ray Stephanson, Candidate for Everett Mayor, thanked the delegates for the opportunity to address them. He served on the Everett City Council for 7 years in 80’s and worked for Mayor Ed Hansen from 1996 to 1998. He retired from Verizon last December 31st, and brings to the office over 30 years of experience of running companies the size of Everett. He has served on many Board and Commissions including co-chairing the United Way campaign in 1996. He noted that he was a lifelong Democrat, and a member of IBEW when he went to work for General Telephone in 1969. He has been committed to labor as a business and elected official, as well as had positive relationships with labor throughout his career. He asked the delegates for their consideration.

 

D.J. Wilson, Candidate for County Council, Position 3, is the AFT 4254 delegate to the Snohomish County Labor Council. He currently teaches at Edmonds Community College. He decided about a week ago to run for the County Council position. He stated that he wants to take it back to Labor majority. The number one issue is jobs, and he stated that the most important thing we can do is build that pier for Boeing down by Mukilteo. He believes that Gary Nelson, the incumbent, hasn’t helped push that forward. He also noted that the county has a terrible budget situation. He cited the contracting out of nurses at the jail just one example of bad budget decisions. Another was for the County Council to hire a consultant for a quarter of million dollars to tell them what they already knew regarding over crowding at the jail. They are simply not watching their nickels and dimes, he felt. He also stated that Gary Nelson has taken more anti-labor votes than any politician in this state, and that he voted against the last County employee contract. Councilman Nelson hasn’t had a race since 1992 when he lost for U.S. Congress to Maria Cantwell, he further noted. He believes Council District 3 is a Democratic district and he has received the support of Reps Cooper and Sullivan for this race.

 

Bob Dantini, Candidate for Snohomish County Treasurer. Stated he is running for re-election, and was pleased to have the staff in his office almost unanimously endorse him. He believes that he has the best staff in world. He stated that his staff had recently raised $4,000 for the VOA foodbank.

 

Frank Anderson, Mayor of Everett, thanked the Labor folks that helped with two bills that were important to city and Boeing. He announced his May 1st kick-off at the Howard Johnsons in Everett.

 

Bob Terwilliger, Snohomish County Auditor, thanked the Council for past support and noted he had already interviewed with the COPE Committee. May 22nd there will be a kick off at IBEW hall, 5:30 to 7 PM. He talked about how unions had taken care of his mother and family, and appreciated their role in providing for workers.

 

Pam Daniels, Snohomish County Clerk, stated that her kickoff would be at the Marina Village Inn on May 7th. She was pleased at Labor’s involvement in the Meth Youth Summit, as she is a co-chair of the event. She discussed how great her staff is, thanked the Council for support in the past.

 

M/S/C to extend meeting 10 minutes

 

Ed Triezenberg, Carpenters 562, announced the retirement of Ron Forrest as Political Director for the Pacific Northwest Council of Carpenters. Ed will be the new political director for the State of Washington. He reported on the Black Rock project to build 3 huge dams for irrigation reservoirs in Eastern Washington that will take 3 years to fill. They will pump water out of Columbia during the heavy flow time of the year. He stated that locally Representative Hans Dunshee, 44th District, was proposing an amendment to the budget to create an oversight committee that could suspend projects. Suspending projects would result in loss of Federal dollars. He asked delegates to contact Rep. Dunshee to exclude the Black Rock project from the amendment.

 

Jim Smith, LIUNA 292, reported that the Radio Labor Journal is going strong. The next program is on Laborers Centennial Celebration.

 

Kelly Blomquist, IBT 763 is requested phone bankers for the County Jail Tax initiative. They will be using robo dialers supplied by the Carpenters union and starting Monday, May 4th, at 5 PM through 8 PM. The initiative has had the County Council’s full support. The proposition represents about 6 per cent of County budget.

 

Kent Hanson, President of AFSMCE 1811S and Chair of Democratic Party. announced that Democrats will have a delegation to welcome back the Lincoln. Labor folks were invited to join the group. The Secretary-Treasurer noted that we had decided to act as one of the event sponsors. Kent announced his south and north county kickoffs are on May 17 and May 22nd for his campaign for County Assessor.

           

Winner of Community Services drawing was Marjorie Lewis, OPEIU 8

 

 

Adjourned at 8:40 PM

 

 

 

Mike Sells, Secretary-Treasurer

 

Correspondence

 

From Washington State Labor Council

3/26/03 Rick S. Bender, President, re nominations for Elsie Schrader Award and 2003 Labor Summer School

3/26/03 Rick S. Bender, President, re Labor Rep. Workshop on Workforce and Economic Development

3/31/3/31/03 Rick S. Bender, President, on Saturday, May 17th Cesar E. Chavez Solidarity

Celebration

 

From AFL/CIO

4/14/03 John J. Sweeney, President, re: Issues mobilization activity and the April 14th-April 25th Congressional recess

4/15/03 John Sweeney, President and Bruce Raynor, President, UNITE on CINTAS organizing activities

 

From Unions and Councils

3/18/03 Kim Cook, President, SEIU 925 on support for the Marysville School levy

3/25/03 Steve Williamson, Executive Secretary, King County Labor Council on granting of request to American Radio Association for support in an anticipated dispute with Matson Navigation Company.

3/25/03 Steve Williamson, Executive Secretary of the King County Labor Council re, April 10th Freedom Ride meeting

4/10/03 Steve Williamson, Executive Secretary of the King County Labor Council re their participation in the Regional Partnership

 

From Organizations

3/24/03 Jeffrey A. Warren, Senior Advisor, National Pharmaceutical Council with article entitled “The Health and Productivity Cost Burden of the Top 10 Physical and Mental Health Conditions Affecting Six Large U. S. Employers in 1999.”

4/1/02 Robert Maesta, El Centro de la Raza, Lupe Gamboa, United Farmworkers, et cal on April 25th Cesar Chavez stamp event in Seattle

4/11/03 Robert A. Georgine, Chairman of ULLICO on recent negative media reports

4/14/03, Ross K. Rieder, President, Pacific Northwest Labor History Association with Pacific Northwest Labor History Association 35th Annual Conference brochure, May 1-4

Undated, invitation for United States Postal Service, second day unveiling of Cesar Chavez stamp at the Future Site of the Cesar Chavez Park, 7th Avenue and Cloverdale in Seattle

Undated, invitation to May 17th, Second Annual Cesar Chavez Solidarity Celebration at the Machinists Hall in Seattle

Undated, Joseph P. Wilson, Board President, Snohomish County Center for Battered Women seeking contribution

Undated, Washington Mental Health Services, 2003 Hero Award Nomination

Undated, Washington State Democrats Annual Business luncheon invitation, May 6, 12 Noon at the Westin in Seattle.

Undated, Edmonds Community College Foundation invitation to auction on May 17th



From Individuals

.

3/28/03 Joni Earl, Executive Director, Sound Transit, with report update

3/31/03 Rick Larsen, United States Representative, District 2, on his vote against HR 1463

4/7/03 Bob Drewel, Snohomish County Executive; Ron Sims, King County Executive; John Ladenburg, Pierce County Executive seeking support for the Regional Partnership

Undated, Frank Anderson for Mayor invitation to Kick Off event on Thursday, May 1st at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel at 7:30 AM

Undated, Cindy Portmann, Candidate for Snohomish County Assessor thank you for allowing her to introduce herself to the COPE Committee

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

AFSCME 109:

AFSCME 109E: Jerry Adamson

AFSCME 109S:

AFSCME 113: Gary Doughty, Libbie Soden, Rob Sprague

AFSCME 881:

AFSCME 948: Poppy Hanson,

AFSCME 1020:

AFSCME 1355:

AFSCME 1811:

AFSCME 1811C:

AFSCME 1811CA: Debi Gahringer, Terry Van Wyck, Laura Wentworth

AFSCME 1811JPD:

AFSCME 1811JS:

AFSCME 1811PA: David Kurtz

AFSCME 1811S: Kent Hanson

AFSCME 2753:

AFSCME 2964:

AFT 772: Mike Sells

AFT 1873:

AFT 4254: D. J. Wilson

APWU 484: Kristie Berry

ATU 883: Yusuf Abdul

ATU 1576:

CWA 7800:

CWA 37082:

GCIU 767M:

HERE 8:

IAFF 46: Robert Downey

IAFF 1984: Jason Blachly, John Puetz

IAFF 2694:

IAM 130:

IAM 751A: Bob Neumann, Tom Plummer, Jason Redrup, Don Shove

IAM 751C:

IAM 751E:

IAM 751F: Jonathan Holden, Judy Neumann, Duanne Roope

IATSE 15: John Lammon

IBEW 77: Margaret Adamson

IBEW 89: Mike Ferrucci

IBEW 191: Darrell Chapman, Jeff Seibert

IBT 38: Chuck Jewell, Leonard Kelley

IBT 763: Kelly Blomquist, J.J. Campbell, Tom Vernon

IBU/ ILWU 22: Stuart Downer

IFPTE 17:

ILWU 32: Ron Medcalf

IUOE 302:

IUPAT DC 5:

IW 86: Greg Lockrie

IW 506:

LIUNA 292: Hazel Goehring, Bob Monize, Dan O’Connor, Jim Smith

NALC 791:

National Writers Union: Lance Sentman

OPEIU 8:, Marjorie Lewis

OPEIU 277:

SEIU 925: Bill Borders, Brian Levesque

SEIU 1199NW:

SMIU 66: Bill Wood

SPEEA: Tim Bond, Chris Glenn, John Lynn, Mark Moshay, Bob Rommel, UA 26:

UFCW 44:

UFCW 141, USNU:

UFCW 1001:

UFCW 1105: Paul Quaintance, Arthur Rice, Lynda Rice

 

Excused Delegates

AFSCME 109E: Robert Mueller

AFSCME 948: Rhonda Riggle

AFT 772: Kim Mead

HERE 8: Martha Hayes

IAM 751C: Rod Sigvartson

IAM 751F: Jackie Boschok

IBEW 77: Peg Chrisman

IBU/ ILWU 22: Douglas Hodgson

NALC 791: Bob James

OPEIU 8: Patrick Axline

SEIU 925: Toni Bohan

SEIU 1199NW: Steve Moll

 

Guests

Frank Anderson, Mayor of Everett

Doug Campbell, Everett City Council

Pam Daniels, Snohomish County Clerk

Bob Dantini, Snohomish County Treasurer

Marion Krell, Everett City Council

Suzanne Moreau, WSLC

Denise Ohio, HTPI

Ray Stephanson, Candidate Mayor of Everett

Darrell Stuart, AFSCME 113

Bob Terwilliger, Snohomish County Auditors

Ed Triezenberg, UBC 562

Deborah Wright, Retired IBEW