wfn.org | Task force listens, learns about workers' issues in Oregon

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

May 8, 2002     News media contact: Joretta Purdue7(202) 546-87227Washington
10-71B{212}

By Linda Sullivan*

PORTLAND, Ore. (UMNS) - On the last day of the United Methodist Concern for
Workers Task Force meeting, the headlines of The Oregonian read "520 Meier &
Frank jobs lost," and "U.S. reports jobless rate climbs to 6%." 

Meier & Frank is one of the state's oldest and most respected retailers. The
layoffs and the move of corporate offices out of state added to the already
heavy burden of unemployment in Oregon. The state's April jobless rate of
7.9 percent is one of the highest in the nation.

Headlines like these and the situations that they describe brought the task
force to Oregon May 1-4 to listen and learn.

The task force was formed in 1996 by action of General Conference, the
church's highest legislative body, with the mandate to educate the
denomination about workplace justice in the context of the Christian faith,
and to advocate for workers' rights locally and internationally. It is also
exploring partnerships with labor groups and other faith organizations, and
assisting churchwide agencies in implementing resolutions related to
workers' rights. The group is a joint responsibility of the denomination's
Board of Church and Society and Board of Global Ministries.

Task force members traveled to Woodburn, a farm-centered community about 45
minutes south of Portland, to visit the headquarters of a farm workers'
union, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN). The group spoke with
union officials, farm workers and others. Members also visited a new housing
development, designed for farm workers' families, that offers child care,
youth and adult education, community organizing,
English-as-a-second-language classes and driving classes. The goal is to
enable workers to phase out of rental living and into permanent home
ownership. 

PCUN has been attempting to organize farm workers in the Willamette Valley
and other agricultural areas in Oregon. Agriculture is the state's
second-largest industry. 

In June 2000, the Oregon-Idaho Annual (regional) Conference narrowly voted
to join a boycott of a large growers' cooperative, NORPAC, to try to achieve
living wages and decent conditions for farm workers. A conference committee
had spent three years studying the problems faced by farmers and farm
workers. 

In 2001, the annual conference decided to suspend its participation in the
boycott while working toward permanent solutions, particularly the
establishment of an independent commission to oversee collective bargaining
and other farm labor issues. The conference also participated in discussions
sponsored by an interim task force of the Oregon State Senate.
 
"I think the United Methodist Church's willingness to stay with this issue
and to press for realistic solutions which both labor and farmers can accept
has been one of the factors which may lead to historic action on farm labor
issues in Oregon," said the Rev. Steve Sprecher, assistant to Bishop Edward
Paup and task force member.

Concern for Workers Task Force members met with representatives of the
Oregon-Idaho Conference to continue discussing the role the conference has
played in the NORPAC boycott and other farm workers' issues. 

The Rev. Roger Carlson, pastor at Stayton United Methodist Church and
chairman of the Witness Team, said that his parish is in the center of the
largest farming area in Oregon, the Willamette Valley.

"When I came to Stayton last year, I expected fairly extreme polarization,"
he said. "To my surprise, I found concern for the plight of farm workers." 

Despite the sympathetic attitude, inequities exist between the farm workers
and parishioners that no one wants to address, he said. He believes that
"bringing migrant workers and parishioners together may be one of the only
ways to achieve parity and equity." He also said that the anti-immigrant
mood of the country since Sept. 11 has made bringing people together much
more difficult.

Task Force members also heard from Tim Nesbitt, president of the Oregon
AFL-CIO, and two representatives from Jobs for Justice. 

"Oregon's high unemployment rate stems from the state's dependence on the
timber and high-tech industries, both of which have taken serious downturns;
on the huge increases in energy costs last year, which caused plant closures
in the aluminum, steel, paper production and chemical industries; and on
jobs lost because of the North American Free Trade Agreement," according to
Nesbitt.

Nesbitt claims that half of the jobs in Oregon fail to provide a living
family wage. The Oregon AFL-CIO is supporting efforts to raise the state's
minimum wage from the current $6.50 per hour to $6.90. 

Jobs with Justice is working to increase the minimum wage, organize workers
in various businesses, and promote environmental justice and collective
bargaining for farm workers.

During the meeting, three members of the task force gave extensive reports
on their own work. The Rev. Tove Odland, staff head of the Northern European
Central Conference Board of Global Missions, spoke about the church and
labor issues in her home country, Norway. 

The Rev. Israel Alvaran reported on several issues in the Philippines,
including ongoing problems with the U.S. military presence, an unemployment
rate of 10.3 percent and stalled living wage legislation. 

Nelson Carrasquillo gave a report on the World Conference Against Racism
held last August in South Africa. Other task force members gave shorter
reports on related concerns.

The task force took action on a range of topics, deciding that:

7	A survey will be developed and sent to United Methodist institutions
regarding labor standards.
7	One-page fact sheets will be developed for annual conferences on
living wage, unemployment, right to organize, and health and safety issues.
7	A short pamphlet will be developed for local churches outlining
wages, benefits and employment practices for their own employees.
7	A "Labor Day Message" will go into Christian Social Action magazine
along with sermon illustrations and other suggestions for Labor Day
celebrations.

The Portland meeting of the Task Force was led by Chairwoman Katie Foster,
Ellenwood, Ga. The group's next meeting will be Nov. 7-10 in Detroit.
# # #
*Sullivan is director of communications for the Oregon-Idaho Annual
Conference.

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United Methodist News Service
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