Union members filled the Clark County council public hearing room once again Tuesday to protest two proposed labor union-related resolutions.
The resolutions, proposed by Councilor David Madore during board time nearly a month ago, have already drawn hours of public testimony from supporters and protesters since they were introduced.
The first resolution would make Clark County a right-to-work employer, meaning employees would no longer be compelled to pay union dues as a condition of their employment. The second would open collective bargaining discussions to the public.
Neither resolution — which would only affect Clark County employees — has gone to a hearing or come up again during board time or other public council meetings.
But that hasn’t stopped union members from attending council meetings in full force to protest the resolutions. More than a dozen spoke at Tuesday’s meeting.
Mark Macpherson, political coordinator for the Teamsters Joint Council 37, said he was disappointed that the resolutions were even being considered.
“It is union busting,” Macpherson said. “It is shuffling money into the pockets of the well-to-do and taking the money right out of the back pockets of working members.”
A large crowd, clad in matching orange T-shirts, drove across the river to represent the Laborers Local 483, which represents municipal employees in the Portland area.
Toby Green, a member of that union, said the council was violating democratic process by considering the resolutions.
“To rob working people of a democratic process through a move that is so clearly underhanded is the height of un-American behavior,” Green said.
The council remained silent through more than an hour of public testimony, but when the protests ended, Councilor Tom Mielke was the first to respond.
“It was the union-led push for the charter and they reduced our paycheck by 50 percent,” Mielke said. “I thought I’d mention that.”
The Southwest Washington Central Labor Council backed the home rule charter for Clark County government that voters approved in November, but was not responsible for drafting the resolution.
Councilor Jeanne Stewart said she’s still analyzing the resolutions.
Madore, meanwhile, said he appreciated the broad range of public comments.
“What I’m fishing for in particular is compelling reasons to consider this way or that way,” Madore said.
