Weekly Update: Manufacturing Matters

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When contract negotiations get tough...fire everyone? That's what one Superintendent in Rhode Island thinks. Despite improving test scores, a continuing willingness to make changes to help students learn, and an ongoing commitment to the community, the principle decided that, when contract negotiations got stuck, the entire teaching staff should be fired.

Teachers at Central Falls are asking everyone, from across the country, to sign a petition to call on the Superintendent to go back to the table and work with the teachers.

Take Action.

Oregon AFL-CIO Endorsements Set Path for Election Work

By now it's old news that the Oregon AFL-CIO made its endorsements last week, but a few highlights will fill in the details you might have missed.

In the season's most high-profile race, the Political Action Committee (PAC) endorsed John Kitzhaber for Governor. A handful of incumbent legislators were endorsed, including nominations from the floor to endorse Representative Jenson. Lynn Howe, who is challenging Medford incumbent Sal Esquival, also received an endorsement. On the Federal front only two Congressmen had their questionnaires turned in on time and were endorsed - Representatives DeFazio and Wu. Other Congressmen will be considered for general election endorsements over the summer.

Local races are considered by the Central Labor Councils (CLCs). Races where the CLCs ask for the Oregon AFL-CIO to get involved will also get some of our volunteers (your) time, phone calls and door knocks.

Ready to get involved?

In Other News...

Report shows closing California Auto Plant not Good for State, Workers, Toyota

Toyota announced, last year, that it would begin shutting its production facility in Fremont, CA. That's rough, but what does that mean for us, here in Oregon? Well, after Toyota announced its plans a Commission was put together to review Toyota's decision and the arguments they made in support of that decision. The Commission found that closing the facility was not only bad for workers and for the State, but also for Toyota.

Like many American factories, Toyota's Fremont plant draws on a highly skilled, efficient workforce. In fact, the report pointed out that cars made at the plant took fewer hours to make than average, and that the number of hours it took had been steadily declining. Toyotas made in California, one of Toyota's biggest markets, require less transportation costs than those made in other locations (most production is in Japan). And given California's willingness to try to keep the jobs at the auto-plant in state, and the state's history of giving generous financial support to the plant in the form of training dollars, etc., agreements to help create a thriving center for green transportation could be worked out.

So what can we learn in Oregon? The report helps quantify some of the things we've always known: skilled, experienced workers are an asset - not just in quality of product, but in the time to make the product as well; and building close to the point of purchase is smart. But it also should be a reminder that as plants continue to close in Oregon and across the country it sometimes takes a creative view to see how the industry can be revamped for the future (in the Toyota report, by creating an R&D area and industry center). Oregon needs manufacturing. Just because some of our traditional industries are moving away doesn't mean we should give up. Whether it's green technologies, a new version of a traditional industry, or something else all together, Oregon must continue to reuse our old plants, and retain the skilled workers whose experience is invaluable.