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July/August IBEW Journal

As over 200,000 visitors toured the AFL-CIO Union Industries Show in Portland, Oregon, in May, area IBEW locals stepped up to entertain and educate them.

This year’s show was hosted by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, the first host-state governor to join the show’s ribbon-cutting ceremonies in its 60-year history.

Pictured during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, from left are: IBEW
Secretary-Treasurer Jon Walters; President, Oregon AFL-CIO
Kim Nesbitt; Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski; President, AFL-CIO
Union Label and Service Trades Department Charlie Mercer; and
Eleventh District Vice President Bill Eads.

Kulongoski, a former steelworker, truck driver and labor lawyer, took a VIP tour of the show’s 150 exhibits minutes before the official opening. He donned safety belt and hard hat to walk a beam at the Iron Workers exhibit, got behind the wheel of a UAW-made Freightliner truck, straddled a Harley Davidson motorcycle—and put his name in for the raffle.

Oregon IBEW locals unions and apprenticeship programs staffed several exhibits.

International Secretary-Treasurer Jon Walters and Eleventh District Vice President Bill Eads worked in the IBEW booth, a 130-foot long display that featured products and services from all branches of the brotherhood. They were joined by Will Paul, director of support services, International Representatives Juanita Luiz and Keith Edwards; and David Salazar, an International Office employee.

The booth also included individual displays hosted by Dennis Caster, business manager of Salem, Local 280 and Ron Jones, business manager of Medford, Local 659 representing Crater Lake Electrical and another by members of Portland Local 48 who work at classical radio station KBPS. Others in the booth were, Bill Miller, business manager and Travis Eri, business agent of Local 125, Portland General Electric; Training Directors Ken Fry of Local 48, Dan Campbell of Local 280 and Clarine Lazana, Local 659 represented IBEW-NECA Portland Electrical Training Center. Bill Stone, Local 125 outside training director, represented IBEW-NECA NJATC Portland Apprenticeship Program. Members of North Canton, Ohio, Local 1985 sent 16 Hoover vacuum and steam cleaners to display.

Support Services Director Paul said: "Oregon IBEW members and leaders worked hard to carry forward a tradition of proudly exhibiting the skill, worth and value of our members to the overall functioning of the surrounding communities."

The show was heavily featured in local media coverage in the days leading up to the opening and throughout the show’s duration. Popular radio station KEX broadcasted from the show floor for two days and local television news reporters visited often for live interviews. News coverage was augmented with modest advertising time on local radio and television and strategically placed transit ads on Portland’s popular Tri-Met light rail system.

Show-goers took home almost a million dollars worth of consumer goods, groceries and prizes.

Mary Evgen, a member of Local 48, staffed the KBPS booth. Evgen, who works as the station’s volunteer coordinator, was thrilled by the thousands of visitors to the station. She said, "This was a last-minute, spur-of-the-moment activity, but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get our name out there." She adds that an AFL-CIO-sponsored event is not a traditional venue for a 24-hour FM classical radio station, but visitors were interested in the music and in learning that people in jobs like hers were dedicated union members.

Next year, the show moves to Cleveland’s IX Center.