FOLLOW UP Labor's Love Lost? Labor Day used to be a breeze for Sen. Ron Wyden. Representing the urban 3rd Congressional District, the Portland Democrat had a solid pro-labor voting record and could count on kicking off his biennial reelection bids with a pot of union money. In his first term as a senator, however, Wyden is now under attack from labor, including one local union threatening to sit out the November election. Wyden's sin is his co-sponsorship of a guestworker bill that would allow agricultural employers to contract foreign workers from Mexico ("Help Wanted," WW, July 1, 1998). Last week representatives from Oregon's most powerful unions, including the Service Employees International Union, the Oregon Public Employees Union and the Teamsters, met with Wyden and demanded he pull his sponsorship of the bill and begin actively working for its defeat. Also at the meeting were representatives from Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (Oregon's farmworkers union), the United Farmworkers union and Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Local 8. Leal Sundet, of the Longshoremen's union, says by sponsoring the guestworker bill with Sen. Gordon Smith, Wyden betrayed labor for the second time. "First he supported NAFTA, which moves jobs offshore," he says. "Now he's moving the workers themselves. He's finishing the job he started." For his part, Wyden is standing firm. He says the bill offers protections workers don't currently have, including a prevailing wage provision and housing and transportation benefits. Publicly, he's downplaying the rift with local labor leaders, calling it "a difference among friends." Privately, however, Wyden is reportedly fuming. Reports from the meeting are that he was defensive and irritable about the weekly protests that have been held outside his Portland office. His troubles may not end there. The Longshoremen (who represent Hawaiian pineapple and sugar-cane workers) say they are cutting off campaign contributions. Union officials say they've given about $2,000 to Wyden in his reelection bid but won't shell out another penny until he shapes up. Wyden's Republican rival, state Sen. John Lim, favors the idea of expanding the use of guestworkers but opposes the Wyden/Smith proposal, saying it lacks adequate worker protections. No one is suggesting that Lim will get union backing in his long-shot challenge to Wyden, but Sundet says, "I think labor's relationship with Wyden will be forever changed because of his support of this bill." --Patty Wentz Buzz Last week Gov. John Kitzhaber made headlines when he announced his opposition to Ballot Measure 64, a proposed ban on clearcuts that he said was too extreme and divisive. We asked the governor his stance on the other November measures. It turns out that Kitzhaber, who vetoed a record number of bills last session, is giving the thumbs down to all but two of the 11 ballot measures. With the possible exception of his opposition to measures 58 (which would give adoptees equal access to their birth certificates) and 66 (which would steer lottery money to parks), there are no real surprises. Here's how Kitzhaber will vote in November. MEASURE 57: Stops 1997 legislation that would recriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. No MEASURE 58: Gives adopted people age 21 and over who were born in Oregon access to their original birth certificates without consent from either birth parent. No (Kitzhaber aide Bob Applegate says he's not sure why his boss opposes the measure but he may fear it will make women less willing to give up their children for adoption.) MEASURE 59: Prohibits the state from helping groups collect political donations through union paycheck deductions. No MEASURE 60: Requires that all statewide elections are conducted by mail balloting only. Yes MEASURE 61: Sets minimum sentences for certain crimes and increases sentences for repeat offenders. No MEASURE 62: Strengthens contribution-disclosure regulations for ballot measures and protects public employee unions from using paycheck deductions as a legal means of fund-raising. No MEASURE 63: Requires two-thirds of voters to vote yes on future measures that would mandate a two-thirds voter turnout to pass tax and bond measures. Yes MEASURE 64: Stops clear-cutting and restricts the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides in logging. No MEASURE 65: Allows citizens to challenge rules created by state agencies by petitioning legislators. No MEASURE 66: Sets aside 15 percent of all lottery revenues for parks and wildlife habitat protection. No (The governor says ongoing expenses, such as parks maintenance, should come from the general fund, not the lottery.) MEASURE 67: Allows people with certain illnesses to cultivate and possess small amounts of marijuana if their doctors recommend it. No Corrections Contrary to what we reported ("Big Dog," Aug. 26, 1998), the new park block on Southwest Park Avenue between Yamhill and Taylor streets will not be named after Tom Moyer, the developer who donated $5 million to acquire the block from the Goodman family. "I did not buy this block and donate it to the City of Portland to have it named after me or anyone in my family," says Moyer. Contrary to what we reported ("Big Dog," Aug. 26, 1998), the new park block on Southwest Park Avenue between Yamhill and Taylor streets will not be named after Tom Moyer, the developer who donated $5 million to acquire the block from the Goodman family. "I did not buy this block and donate it to the City of Portland to have it named after me or anyone in my family," says Moyer. Also, in last week's stories about town cars ("Tipping the Balance," WW, Sept. 2, 1998), WW mistakenly credited the wrong photographer for the photos on page 17. The photos were taken by Michael Parrish. WW regrets the errors.   originally published September 9, 1998