Terry Richardson's blog

In June 2005 Portland City Council agreed to endorse the Framework for Labor Management Committees in City Bureaus prepared by Bureau Innovation Project Team #6 to guide the establishment of Labor Management Committees within each City bureau Resolution # 36434

The project called upon city to form a joint work group of labor and management representatives to formulate a citywide scope of work for Labor Management Committees within each City bureau. The intent of the Labor Management Committees is to improve the delivery of services and responses to our citizens. Employees of all levels can contribute to the solutions with out retaliation. Workers feel valued for their skills and ideas. Management can learn to be a partner with the unions. The rate payer is ultimately served efficiently.

On January 25th, the City of Portland honored its employees who are leaders in safety at work Council Chambers in City Hall.  City Hall was packed to capacity on Wednesday for the annual safety recognition awards ceremony. The mood was cheerful as commissioners presented dozens of employees with awards for their commitment to safety in the work place. Commendations went to committees and individuals that demonstrate they make a difference in daily adherence to safety protocols.

Sam Adams is very supportive of a safe work environment. He said: “I am pleased at the number of people who received recognition. Workers have a right to be safe and healthy at work. My hat is off to all of the workers, management and the committees who do so the work and do it safely.”

List of awarded employees:

Renee Williams; John McGregor; Paul Schuberg; Dan VanMeter; Dallas Fowler; Mike Hauser; Brett Hulstrom; Charles Lytle; Jennifer Shackelford; Kimberley Parsons; Adrienne Edwards; Jeff Eldredge; Janelle Piercy; Kylia Hammon; Jerry Baarspul; Mark Boyko; Chuck Buyukas; Tom Chambers; Eric Fullan; Frank Galida; Jeff Guard; Eric Hofeld; Jamal AbuSneineh; Kate Leatherbarrow; Lonnie Turner; Terry Wenz; Bruce Bulick; Craig McMillen; Robert Alter; Dave Reynolds; Jamie Teatsworth; Rick Ehlert; Tim Grandle; Andrew Degner; Steve Schenk; Kathy Alsworth; Stan Belszinski; Rick Cardoza; Bill Dyer; Jason Freadman; Eric Fullan; Dave Gilbey; Larry Griffiths; Jeff Guard; James Hulse; Dave Johnson; Kelly Mulholland; Nicki Villebrun-Nelson; Nancy Nold; Greg Olson; Mike Popp; Robin Smith; Darrel Willis; Susan Wood; Kevin Suell; Mark Edwards; Ival Castle and Shon Ponder; Stan Pace; Tom Gogas; Gordon Penner and James Duckett; Susan Wood; Mike Stuhr; Kelly Mulholland; David Shaff; Jeph Greenwood; Todd Humphrey; Willie Doran; Kevin Suell; Tricia Knoll; Dave Kendall; Jonathan Georgeades; Greg Gallagher; Steve Arthur; Officer Gary Manougian; Officer Rick Deland; Officer Kevin Frazier; Offier Dale Janzen; Criminalist Joel Mann; Detective Pandra Parks; Laura Herring; Elise Worland; Mike Palmer; Kevin Mattias; Nancy Roth; Nanette Nelson-Furman; Lori Higgins; Jenni Birt; Sheryl Juber; Stacey Lauer; Kevin Stoecker; Jim Sjulin; Mike Reverman; Greg Hawley; Paul LaCroix [La-Croy]; Don McTaggart; Pam Douglas; Bart Christiansen; Tom Henn; Joe Mendez; Barbara Aguon [Uhg-en]; John Nohr; Jim Forquer; Bob Walker; Bob Walker; Travis Chipman; John Derr; Marty Getch; Jeff VonAllmen; Steve Danna; Kevin Shanders; Ray Majhor; Michelle Coefield; Janet Woodside-Gomez; Shawn Roberti; Jamie Banks; Dan Buckner; Jesse Parry; Carol Timper; Doug Stickler; Dana Reafsnyder; Paul Wallman; Jason Fitzgerald and Lonnie Turner; Mark Friedman; Joanne Hampton; Shelley Knesevich; and Pattie Peterson.

Thank you, Madelyn Elder for the invitation to speak today. 
I would like to introduce my Labor Liaison, Terry Richardson.

Communications Workers of America, I am here to support your actions
today.  I am committed to attracting and keeping family wage jobs in
Portland. Qwest and CWA in the past have worked together toward
that goal. Corporations, like Qwest that do business in our community have an obligation to treat workers in our community fairly.  Qwest has been a good citizen in our community. CWA and I are pleased with Qwest’s continued presence in Portland.  We encourage Qwest to continue to be provider of family wages and benefits.

CWA members in Portland are dedicated to providing quality customer service and helping customers fill their business and residential needs. CWA members are well-trained and know Qwest services better than any one else. However, Qwest is Outsourcing your good paying jobs to contractors and overseas locations.  Outsourcing reduces the quality of service and raises customer dissatisfaction.  Outsourcing weakens the union and that is not right.

Qwest wants to you to agree to work many more hours of unscheduled overtime.  CWA went on strike in 1998 to limit excessive overtime. Some of our workers were required to work several months with 10 to 12 hour days and few or no days off.  At the same time Qwest was
laying off employees.  We want reasonable limits to overtime.

CWA has worked with Qwest to help manage health care costs for more than two decades and this has resulted in substantial savings. The workers at Qwest accepted a two-year wage freeze and substantially higher co-pays for health services in the last contract.  Now Qwest wants to transfer even more costs the worker and the retired members.

CWA is committed to Qwest, to the community, and to the customer.  CWA is committed to reaching a fair agreement with Qwest. We will succeed.

Thank you