Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In prior correspondences and
meetings, we have discussed the need of a lobbyist and political
contributions to persons and parties that may not have “unions” as a part of their platform. Some
of these platforms only have support for public transportation in part,
but do we need to sacrifice resources on high stakes gambling?
Since one of the big issues in
this month’s charter was a proposal adapting a change in the election
bylaws called 50+1 amendment. One of the fear mongering
had to do with the cost associated with a runoff (not a separate
elections, that was thrown around as a scare tactic) ranging upwards of
$25,000 - $30,000. In the hand out that was passed around
to the membership stated, “Adding a second election will add an
estimated $25,000 - $30,000 to our annual budget just for the added
election.” “These funds will have to be subtracted from other lines in our budget in order to balance the budget.” A couple of things wrong in this statement:
1.
The correct term that should have been used, is “run-off” not another “election.” After the first pass and a candidate do not receive the required 50+1 majority of the majority, it then goes to a run-off. A run-off only entails extraction of the names not in the top 2 vote getters and then a re-mailing of ballots.
2.
The use of the word “annual” in the sentence meaning, “occurring once every year.” In
the context that it was misused meant that we would have to budget (in
addition to funds allocated for an election) $25,000 - $30,000 totaling
up to $90,000 (=$30,000 X 3 years). If done properly to
get to the $30,000 mark it would be $10,000 a year for the next 3 Years
and $833.30 per month in a rough estimate by the next election cycle (if
that, please refer to #1). This statement using the term “annually” is simply not true and used to scare members for voting for the amendment.
In the current Labor Press our paid representative printed a response to our questioning the need for a lobbyist. He had stated, “This month I would like to focus on political issues we face across Oregon and Washington.” “As many of you may know, ATU Local 757 has a full time lobbyist.” “This is a list of House and Senate bills that we are watching (see the attachment for full break-downs for Oregon. Washington is just too long):” “these bills all pertain to transportation and labor unions.” “We will keep you informed as things develop, and as they narrow down.” “We will put together a list of the ones we support and oppose and post it on the ATU 757 website.” “This is our future and our membership needs to be aware of the issues that we face.”
In the Oregon section a couple of things stood out:
1.
2544HB: Requires
issue subject to collective bargaining during term of collective
bargaining agreement that is not resolved through negotiation or
mediation to be resolved through binding arbitration.
2.
2783HB: Provides
that employee of public employer is liable to employer for wages paid
to employee during period of administrative leave if employee was placed
on leave as result of allegation that employee engaged in criminal
conduct and if employee is thereafter convicted of crime by reason of
conduct.
For those looking to the return of the “Right to strike” or changing to a “baseball style,” it’s simply not there for voters. Plus,
there has been nothing about changing the laws to make it a felony to
attack bus operators (either in transit, school bus or paratransit). In Oregon, these are the things that affect us every day.
The point is do we need the expense of a lobbyist (when we cannot afford fair elections)? Do we need to budget XXXXX annually, not including expenses? Spending
XXXXXX yearly to have someone snuggling with elected officials, who are
seeking a handout from unions to fund their campaigns with nothing
given back to the union other than empty words of union support? Even
though there are 4 Bills (246, 270, 2236 and 2287) currently supporting
legislation to support public transportation; but do we need a
dedicated person to tell us this? With that being said
“what is the alternative,” we should be in support of all public
transportation and work hand in hand with the companies that we are
contracted with; (such as in this article -
http://www.cdta.org/news/
Henry Beasley
Your brother on the front lines.
Union strong
2005: Requires all employers to implement paid sick time for
employees.
2464: Authorizes
issuance of lottery bonds for transportation projects funded from Multimodal
Transportation Fund in 2015-2017 biennium
2740: Changes name of
Multimodal Transportation Fund to Connect Oregon Fund
130: Repeals state
preemption of charter and statutory authority of local governments to set
minimum wage requirements
2478: Makes statutory
changes to achieve gender neutral language with respect to legally recognized
marriages
2748: Establishes
Infrastructure Innovation Oregon as public advisory agency responsible for
developing policy and programs in area of performance-based public
infrastructure projects and providing consultation and services to units of
government with respect to public infrastructure projects.
137: Changes
definition of public works for purpose of applying prevailing rate of wage to
include project that uses funds of private entity and $750,000 or more of funds
of public agency for constructing, reconstructing, painting or performing major
renovation on road, highway, building, structure or improvement of any type
2007: Makes
imposition of disciplinary action against employee that inquires about or
discloses wage information unlawful employment practice
2530: Requires safety
belts on school buses and school activity vehicles bought new after certain
date
2757: Requires law
enforcement agency to establish policy for using cameras worn upon police
officer's body to record officer's interactions with members of public
142: Subjects
vehicles owned or operated by transportation districts to laws regulating motor
carriers
2008: Increases
Oregon minimum wage rate in graduated steps through 2017
2540: Modifies definition
of "public works." Classifies exemption from ad valorem property
taxation as funds of public agency for purpose of requiring payment of
prevailing rate of wage.
2764: Modifies
circumstances under which attorney fees may be awarded and amount of attorney
fees awarded in workers' compensation claims
159: Revises
procedures for preparation of Governor's budget
2009: Increases
Oregon minimum wage rate in graduated steps to $15 per hour by 2018
2542: Includes
accrued paid vacation and personal business leave in definition of
"compensation" for purposes of wage claims
2783: Provides that employee of public
employer is liable to employer for wages paid to employee during period of
administrative leave if employee was placed on leave as result of allegation
that employee engaged in criminal conduct and if employee is thereafter
convicted of crime by reason of conduct
270: Reallocates
moneys for transportation projects listed in Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act
of 2009
2010: Authorizes
employee of certain employers to request flexible, predictable or stable work
schedule
2544: Requires issue subject to collective
bargaining during term of collective bargaining agreement that is not resolved
through negotiation or mediation to be resolved through binding arbitration
2791: Includes false
statements made to legislative committee by certain persons in crime of unsworn
falsification
290: Directs Oregon
Department of Administrative Services to establish program that certifies that
prospective bidder or proposer understands pay equity provisions in laws of
this state
2032: Prohibits
employer or insurer from requiring injured worker to obtain nonemergency
medical services from specific provider
2550: Increases fuel
tax and motor carrier taxes
2828: Extends, for
two years, sunset of provisions requiring Oregon Health Authority to study and
make recommendations to Legislative Assembly on best option for financing
health care in this state
327: Increases Oregon
minimum wage rate in graduated steps through 2017
2043: Requires
employer to verify legal status of employee to be employed in United States
through federal E-Verify program prior to deducting expenses related to
worker's employment from Oregon taxable income
2553: Creates Task
Force on Extending the Westside Express Service Commuter Line to Salem
2858: Includes
transit pass costs as approved transportation costs for purpose of State School
Fund distributions
332: Repeals state
preemption of charter and statutory authority of local governments to set minimum
wage requirements
2212: Authorizes
imposition of civil penalty against employer that fails to pay wages owing to
employee on regular payday
2571: Requires law
enforcement agency to establish policies and procedures for retaining
recordings from cameras worn upon police officer's person to record officer's
interactions with members of public
2894: Authorizes
district to approve or veto land division within or adjacent to boundaries of
district based on whether land division interferes with operations of district
380: Makes certain
actions based on complaints filed with Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and
Industries discretionary on part of commissioner
2215: Modifies
definition of "public employee" for purposes of collective
bargaining. Specifies that only
appropriate bargaining unit for supervisory employees of public employer is
unit that consists only of supervisory employees and excludes managerial or
confidential employees
2600: Requires
continuation of group health insurance coverage for employee on family leave on
same terms as when employee is not on leave
2914: Permits employee of contracting agency that conducts
cost analysis or determines feasibility of procurement, or exclusive
representative of employee's bargaining unit, to seek judicial review of cost
analysis or determination. Specifies
conditions under which review may occur. Requires contracting agency to
estimate prospective contractor's profit in cost analysis. Prohibits
contracting agency from considering proceeds of sale of, or costs of replacing,
long-term assets in cost analysis. Becomes operative January 1, 2016. Declares
emergency, effective on passage.
396: Requires
providers of ignition interlock devices to notify court that required device to
be installed of any negative reports downloaded from ignition interlock
device. Permits court to order
installation of ignition interlock device equipped with camera or similar
technology if court does not terminate diversion agreement following negative
report. Reorganizes laws related to ignition interlock devices
2223: Establishes
task force to study worker misclassification and to make recommendations for
legislation related to worker misclassification
2606: Includes
siblings among family members for whom eligible employee may take family leave
2917: Directs
Department of Consumer and Business Services to study impacts of paycheck
discounting and report to Legislative Assembly on or before September 15, 2015
414: Permits employee
of contracting agency that conducts cost analysis or determines feasibility of
procurement, or exclusive representative of employee's bargaining unit, to seek
judicial review of cost analysis or determination
2236: Directs moneys
to city transit agencies from state agency assessments used to provide public
transportation services. Applies to
wages paid to state agency employees during calendar quarters beginning on or
after effective date of Act. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment
sine die
2607: Reduces minimum
average hours worked required for eligibility for family leave from 25 to 24
2921: Authorizes
Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries to expend certain moneys in Wage
Security Fund to administer and enforce provisions of wage and hour and minimum
wage law.
437: Allows governing
body of local government to withdraw all or part of territory under its
jurisdiction from boundaries of Tri-Met.
Prohibits increase in payroll tax solely to compensate for lost revenue
due to loss of territory. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine
die
2255: Modifies law
requiring state agencies to attain 11 to 1 ratio of non-supervisory employees
to supervisory employees
2612: Requires mass
transit districts to resolve through binding arbitration certain disputes about
fault
2922: Establishes
task force to study employment practices in Oregon and to make recommendations
for legislation regarding employment practices in this state
455: Deregulates
oversight of for-hire carriers of persons
2274: Changes name of
Multimodal Transportation Fund to Connect Oregon Fund
2621: Authorizes City
of Portland to operate photo radar on urban high crash corridors
2923: Establishes
task force to study employee compensation in Oregon and to make recommendations
for legislation regarding employee compensation in this state
468: Authorizes
Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries to issue warrants for collection
of certain debts owed to bureau
2275: Changes name of
Multimodal Transportation Fund to Connect Oregon Fund
2639: Funds free transit
passes for secondary school students residing in service area of Lane Transit
District
2956: Repeals state
preemption of charter and statutory authority of local governments to set
minimum wage requirements
492: Authorizes use
of accrued sick leave or personal business leave by certain employees who are
victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking
2287: Authorizes
issuance of lottery bonds for transportation projects funded from Multimodal
Transportation Fund
2646: Makes failure
of employer to grant employee unpaid parental leave to attend certain
school-related activities unlawful employment practice
5040: Appropriates
moneys from General Fund to Department of Transportation for biennial expenses
552: Establishes
certain workplace protections for domestic workers
2386: Authorizes
Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries to issue temporary cease and
desist order under certain circumstances
2654: Requires
certain public employers that are subject to civil service system or public
collective bargaining law or that employ law enforcement officers to implement
employment examination for applicants that demonstrates actual proficiency in
required areas
70: Clarifies meaning
of "district" in ORS 255.125 to 255.205
5508: Limits biennial
expenditures from fees, moneys or other revenues, including Miscellaneous
Receipts and certain federal funds, but excluding lottery funds and other
federal funds, collected or received by Employment Department
2387: Authorizes
Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries to administratively compel
provision of bond by certain employers
2685: Prohibits
discrimination in employment on basis of familial status of employee
75: Sets limits on
amounts that may be contributed to political candidates and political
committees
5509: Creates
subtraction from federal taxable income for up to $300 in cash dividends paid
by employer to employee for participation in workplace wellness program
2390: Creates
subtraction from federal taxable income for up to $300 in cash dividends paid
by employer to employee for participation in workplace wellness program
2695: Requires
Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries to disclose data and information
commissioner uses to determine prevailing rate of wage
104: Requires state
agencies to use federal E-Verify employment verification system to verify
employment eligibility of job applicants
5517: Appropriates
moneys from General Fund to Bureau of Labor and Industries for biennial
expenses
2427: Expands
definition of "emergency vehicle" in Oregon Vehicle Code to include
vehicles operated by certain government agencies providing emergency services
2703: Requires law
enforcement officers who are on duty and on patrol to operate video cameras
mounted upon officer's person to record officer's interactions with members of
public
107: Allows
conviction for certain traffic violations to be set aside
2438: Transfers
Office of Administrative Hearings from Employment Department to Oregon
Department of Administrative Services
2737: Modifies limit
on issuance of infrastructure lottery bonds
118: Requires law
enforcement agency to establish policies and procedures for retaining
recordings from cameras worn upon police officer's person to record officer's
interactions with members of public
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