2 big unions back 'yes' side in oil tax referendum, countering 4 unions' push for 'no'

[unhappycamper]

http://www.adn.com/article/20140813/2-big-unions-back-yes-side-oil-tax-referendum-countering-4-unions-push-no

2 big unions back 'yes' side in oil tax referendum, countering 4 unions' push for 'no'
Richard Mauer
August 13, 2014

Two big Alaska unions on Wednesday announced their support for repeal of the oil tax cut in next week's referendum, signaling a split in the Alaska labor movement on the issue after four other major unions joined the coalition opposing repeal in June.

The new announcements, by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547 and the Alaska State Employees Association, came with pledges of $20,000 from each union to the cash-strapped but volunteer-rich Vote Yes campaign. The election is Tuesday, and a big group of Vote Yes! Repeal the Giveaway volunteers were at the IBEW union hall in Midtown Anchorage for the announcements.

In June, four blue-collar unions that formed the backbone of the trans-Alaska pipeline construction workforce and which continue to work in the oil industry said they opposed the referendum. An official of one of those unions, Teamsters Local 959 secretary-treasurer Rick Boyles, is one of the statewide co-chairs of Vote No on One, the leading opponent of the referendum.

Those four unions -- Teamsters, Plumbers & Pipefitters United Association Local 375 in Fairbanks, Operating Engineers Local 302 and Laborers Local 942 -- call themselves the North Slope Pipeline Unions. While they haven’t contributed cash to the Vote No campaign, they’ve sent officials to speak at events and to film commercials and have had members volunteering in the “ground game” get-out-the-vote effort, said Willis Lyford, Vote No on 1 campaign director.

[bravenak]

1. I'm voting YES on 1.

Can't wait to fill in my bubble.