FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 (PDF
version)
No Room for
Budgetary Pessimism
The budget forecast comes out
today and the naysayers are having a field day. We think the pessimists should
reconsider. Whatever the numbers are, the fact is that our economy in
Washington State is stronger than any other state in the nation.
We are strong in
transportation, in construction and in aerospace. What ever downturn we see is
sure to be short lived. Pessimism will get us nowhere … we must continue to
build on the rights of workers and busy ourselves with the creation of good
family wage jobs for our state.
As we look to the future with
confidence we would do well to remember Franklin D. Roosevelt’s words: "Not
only our future economic soundness but the very soundness of our democratic
institutions depends on the determination of our government to give employment
to idle men."
Drug Lobbyists
Numb Legislators' Minds
Consumers, providers and health
care advocates are pleading with the Legislature to pass the Prescription
Privacy bill (SB 6241 & HB 2664) but, as the chorus gets louder and
louder, the pharmaceutical lobbyists are tightening their grip on the arms of
the legislators.
Democrats normally in tune with
consumer advocates and constituents are, for some reason, refusing to step up
to the plate and protect the privacy of the doctor/patient relationship.
WSLC lobbyist Robby Stern said,
"We know who is supporting this bill and who is opposing the bill. We are
asking the elected officials who oppose the bill to put aside the reasons they
have been fed by those who profit from this invasive practice. We urge them to
recognize that the patients, the citizens of this state, want them to exercise
control over this pharmaceutical marketing ploy that invades our privacy,
forces up the cost of prescription drugs and endangers consumers."
If the legislature fails to act
the biggest looser is the credibility of the legislature itself; but the
people of this state also lose because they will continue to be exploited by
the marketing practices of the pharmaceutical industry.
We Need
Industry Standards for HVAC Techs
HVAC/R technicians work with
dangerous substances like natural gas and refrigerants every day From 1999
through 2003, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that 65,900
structural fires and 370 structural fire deaths were directly related to gas
heaters, chimneys, central air, and air conditioners. Without appropriate
certification, the public simply cannot have any confidence that the person
performing their service is qualified to industry standards.
The HVAC bill (HB 1876 and SB
5831) ensures that consumers receive the highest quality service from
professionals trained to do the job in the safest manner possible. It is time
for Washington State to join 36 other states by enacting a uniform HVAC/R
certification.
Ground
Floor Representation
Labor activists are ready to
send the Forest Practices Board to the woodshed over the fact that the Board,
which has been in existence since 1974, has never included a member of labor.
Every other constituency in the industry is represented but the workers’
voice is silent.
The Board sets standards for
forest practices including timber harvest, logging road construction and
chemical applications to the forests. The 12 member board includes an
independent logging contractor and five members of the general public. HB 2893
will provide a workers’ voice and give the Board some perspective from the
ground up.
A forest worker’s job is
fraught with danger; the workers on the ground need representation on this
Board to ensure both safety and working conditions are always considered as
practices are established.
Jobs for
Community and Technical Colleges
As many as 350 full-time
academic positions would be added at community and technical colleges over the
next five years if SHB 2528 is funded. These positions would be subject to
collective bargaining so that part-time instructors would have a good chance
of filling the new positions. The bill was referred to Appropriations this
week.
Part-time instructors make up
about 70% of the teaching force in our two-year higher ed institutions. The
legislation also calls for job security for part-time faculty, who often teach
quarter-to-quarter and campus-to-campus never knowing whether or not they will
be assigned a class next quarter or be available for student advising.
This bill was introduced by AFT
Washington as part of a nationwide campaign sponsored by the American
Federation of Teachers, to remedy the academic staffing crisis in our public
colleges and bring a better balance between full-time instructors and
part-time instructors.
Accountability
Belongs to Elected Officials
The Insurance Rate
Accountability bill (FB 5261), which we had been told would pass two days ago,
continues to languish in the House. It appears to be hung up as a result of a
Democratic amendment that would, in effect, limit the power of the Insurance
Commissioner to protect the health care of consumers of the state.
The amendment would place in
the hands of a non-elected administrative law judge the ability to make a
final decision on the rate, rather than leaving the final decision in the
hands of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Any OIC decision my be
appealed to Superior Court.
The Insurance Commissioner is
elected by the people, is accountable to the people and is expected to serve
as a watchdog of the insurance industry. We hope this amendment will be
dropped so that the Insurance Rate Accountability bill will be passed by the
Legislature and move on to the Governor’s desk.
The Future
of WA Depends on Clean Energy and Green Jobs
Last year, lawmakers passed a
bill setting goals for reducing emissions over the next four decades and
increasing clean-energy jobs to 25,000 by 2020. This year, HB 2815, the Clean
Energy and Green Jobs bill, builds off that underlying law and sets the
guidelines for how to reach the state’s goals.
The measure, which was
requested by Gov. Gregoire, funds labor market research, industry skills
panels, and creates the Green Collar Jobs Training Account to administer
grants to training providers, including apprenticeship programs. It is the
first-ever statewide measure in the U.S. to tie green-collar jobs to
measurement and reporting of major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and
also to the design of a regional carbon market.
The House Bill has passed the
Ecology and Parks Committee and the Appropriations Committee. A House floor
vote is expected sometime before Tuesday. There have been several versions of
the bill already and we are expecting a new version before the floor vote.
The key elements of the bill
are all still in place, but special interests are lobbying hard to weaken the
commitment to achieving the pollution reductions, and to carve out special
deals for some industries. The immediate challenge is to hold off weakening
amendments and bolster legislators’ support for a strong bill.
Strong action on climate change
is what is going to drive green job growth. The Legislature should fully fund
the Climate Action and Green Jobs bill. It’s only a matter of time before
carbon emission reductions become Federal policy. This is Washington’s
chance to get in on the ground floor so we can develop clean, green jobs and
continue Washington’s leading-edge economic advantage.
Better Day
Care through Organizing
Child care centers are
organizing to improve the quality of care for Washington's children. Like
family child care providers two years ago, child care center teachers and
directors are working to pass HB 2449 and its companion SB 6522. The bill
would create a statewide organization to negotiate with the state around
higher reimbursement rates, professional development, and employee benefits.
The outcome would be to increase teacher retention and training and to improve
parents' access to high-quality child care.
Multinational corporate chains
like Kindercare, LaPetite Academy, and the YMCA are mounting opposition and
are trying to stop small independent centers from having a voice. The bill has
moved through all necessary committees and now is ready for a floor vote.
Child care workers and
directors need a united voice to advocate for higher standards, better
training for teachers, and greater access to quality care for working
families. Family child care providers were able to make important gains for
the kids in their care by forming their union, and center teachers want to
bring those same improvements to all kids in child care.
WC Benefits
on Appeal Ready for Action
We look forward to the passage
of the Benefits on Appeal bill HB 3139 or its companion SB 6750. They both are
ready for floor action. The bill has been perfected, needs no further
amendments and is ready to go. Hope for the best.