The Attack On Unions In Oregon

Eight petitions were filed at the Elections Division on Tuesday by Bill Sizemore's political friends. Official draft ballot will be released on March 18, 2009 and public comments are due on April 1, 2009 on these petitions. Sizemore's name doesn’t appear on any of the petitions, but they clearly represent his views and the thinking on Oregon's ultra-right. At this point, putting Sizemore's name on anything probably guarantees a loss for the right. The American Tax Research Foundation, based in Nevada, appears to be behind some of these efforts. ATRF has a sleazy history. One of the petitioners is Jim Greenfield, former Republican candidate for Congress in Oregon’s 1st District, a radio talk show host and owner of the now-defunct Fun & Games Singles Clubs LLC. Need much more be said?

The timing of these efforts is dictated by the political and ballot calendars, but they also come as concessions-driven public employee contract negotiations are underway. No surprise--three of these measures attack public employees in the main in their content but also serve as a threat while contract negotiations are underway. The others all threaten to downsize government at the expense of people and services or to hogtie the state.

IP34 reruns Measure 64, which was defeated in 2008. If passed it will prevent state workers from giving to unions or charities through paycheck deductions. It also provides stiff penalties for violations. It contains a limited exemption for lobbying, but recipient charities cannot use any money collected through payroll deduction for political purposes.

IP35 attempts to negate the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) by requiring only secret ballot elections and applies to both public and private-sector unions. Most of the measure's language is specific to public workers. It also contains an odd provision that says that no public employer may make payroll deductions unless a union election was held within 4 years and does not allow for union representation of non-members. It exempts non-members from paying fairshare fees.

IP38 also reruns Measure 64 and broadens 64 to include union dues no matter what the intended use of the dues monies is.

IP40 also seeks to negate EFCA.