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The Washington State
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pretty-much-weekly report on the 2006 session
UPDATES:
Feb. 2 -- Senate committee approves Fair Share Health Care bill -- Thank the legislators who have voted for this bill in committee, and urge the rest to support it.
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2006 (PDF version)
'A new dawn' for civil rightsUnless you get your news via floating bottle, you've probably heard by now that the Anderson-Murray Nondiscrimination Bill granting civil rights to gays and lesbians has passed both legislative houses. Gov. Christine Gregoire plans to sign HB 2661 into law Tuesday morning, making Washington the 14th state to prohibit such discrimination.
"For some of us, and I think for the whole state, it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day," said Rep. Ed Murray (D-Seattle) after Friday's historic 25-23 passage of the bill. Murray has sponsored the legislation since 1995, when he was appointed to fill a House seat the same year that the measure's previous sponsor, Rep. Cal Anderson, died of complications from AIDS.
The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO is very pleased with Friday's passage, having supported this legislation for many years. One day, it will be a source of historical curiosity -- and shame -- that it was once perfectly legal to fire or refuse to hire someone in Washington state simply because of his or her sexual orientation.
And speaking of shame, initiative profiteer Tim Eyman today filed a referendum to repeal the nondiscrimination bill. Although most of his products have been of the tax-cutting variety, Eyman -- who makes six figures schlepping initiatives -- knows a business opportunity when he sees one.
Deep-pocketed Christian conservative groups have vowed to back a Washington ballot measure to repeal HB 2661, part of a national strategy to get "their" voters to the polls this fall by fanning the flames of anti-gay bigotry. Like one of the merchants in John 2:13-25 who Jesus found exploiting his temple, Eyman is the first to set up his Permanent Offense signature-gathering table.
Let's hope that Washington's Christian faithful focus on the Bible's many lessons of tolerance when they come across Merchant Eyman's table, and opt not to sign his petition. Or they might mimic Jesus's rare display of anger and righteous indignation, and just flip it over.
Fair Share bill passes House panel; Senate next?
WSLC Legislative Conference
is THURSDAY, FEB. 16All union leaders and rank-and-file members are invited to attend the 2006 WSLC Legislative Conference Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel from 8:30 a.m. through lunch, with registration at 7:30 a.m. As always, the night before, Wednesday, Feb. 15, we'll host a Legislative Reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the hotel. The registration fee, including materials, lunch and one admission to the reception, is $30. Download a registration form or call 206-281-8901. Please register ASAP so we can make plans to accommodate every one.
The Fair Share Health Care bill, HB 2517 sponsored by Rep. Eileen Cody (D-Seattle), has passed out of the House Commerce and Labor Committee on a party-line 5-4 vote. The Senate companion, SB 6356 sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle), is subject to executive action in her committee at any time. The deadline for non-budget bills to pass from policy committee is this Friday.
The partisan lines appear to have been drawn on the issue of whether large companies have a responsibility to provide a minimal level of health care for their employees, or whether they should be allowed to continue shifting those costs onto taxpayers. We, at WSLC Legislative Update aren't political consultants (or we'd get paid a lot more), but given that 84 percent of Washington voters -- nearly six of seven -- support the Fair Share bill's concept, this would seem like a pretty good campaign issue. Especially given that health-care insecurity is right at the top of the list of voters' concerns. Whether or not voters shop at big-box retailers, they probably aren't crazy about the idea that Washington taxpayers' price tag is $9 million-a-year for Wal-Mart workers' health care, and that corporate subsidy appears to be growing exponentially.
The labor, business, health care, community and religious organizations that comprise the Fair Share Health Care Coalition (see the entire list at www.FairShareHealthCare.net) strongly urge floor votes in both the House and Senate on these bills before the Valentine's Day deadline, Feb. 14.
The Coalition also urges a vote on HB 2572, the Small Employer Health Insurance Partnership Program, offering premium assistance to small businesses’ employees who are under 200% of the federal poverty level. The bill was approved Friday by the House Health Care Committee.
Hearing Wednesday for workplace freedom bills
Although this week's legislative action will be dominated by committee votes on previously heard bills before Friday's above-mentioned deadline, there are still a few important hearings happening this week. Two very important ones (as described in last week's Update) to help restore basic workplace freedoms are among them.
Union members and other supporters of the freedom to organize unions are urged to attend the House Commerce and Labor Committee hearing this Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 8 a.m. The panel will consider HJM 4036, urging Congress to approve the Employee Free Choice Act and to oppose the National Security Personnel System, and it will hear HB 3068, the Freedom from Intimidation Act. The WSLC strongly supports both.
HJM 4036 would put our state on record as supporting federal labor law reform to restore the freedom to form unions. The Employee Free Choice Act, which is being sponsored by every Democratic U.S. Representative and Senator from our state, would require employers to recognize union card-check elections, would provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes, and establish stronger penalties for violation of the workers' rights to form unions. It would also condemn the Bush administration's latest attempt to bust federal employee unions at the Department of Defense.
HB 3068 would prevent employers from forcing workers to attend mandatory meetings on topics unrelated to their job performance -- like politics, religion and union organizing -- under threat of discipline or discharge.
These measures are important bread-and-butter issues for union members and, although these hearings are happening relatively late on the legislative calendar, the Washington State Labor Council strongly urges the House Commerce and Labor Committee to advance both measures and give legislators an opportunity to go on record in support of them.
Protect, preserve FMLA in this Washington
This afternoon (Monday, Jan. 30) the House version of the bill protecting and preserving the Family Medical Leave Act was scheduled for executive action in House Commerce & Labor Committee. HB 2392 would codify the existing federal FMLA in our state, protecting it from the anti-worker tampering of Bush administration. Corporate lobbying groups in Washington, D.C. -- though temporarily distracted by scandal-driven efforts to "reform" their practices -- are pushing the White House to redefine "serious illness" under FMLA, claiming people are routinely ditching work Friday afternoons (without pay!) with various non-serious ailments.
As a memorable Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorial, "Cry us a river" opined last year: "Preserving or expanding the (FMLA's) rights is critical when lagging pay, long hours and job insecurity have all put pressures on numerous families. If there are abuses, management has options, including better management. It’s hard to weep for firms that can’t figure out a way other than reducing everyone’s rights to deal with workers who regularly take sick leave at inconvenient times, such as Friday afternoons. Spare us the fretting about global competition. As a Harvard expert (says), other nations regularly do better on such related issues as maternity leave and sick days, usually with pay."
We hope that by the time you read this, HB 2392 will have already been approved by the committee. We also hope the Senate Health Care Committee acts on its companion bill, SB 6185, sponsored by the committee's chair, Sen. Karen Keiser (whose name rings a bell).
Please share stories of payday loan abuse
The WSLC is putting out an 11th hour call to all unions for stories related to payday loan abuse. Hearings are scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday on a number of bills intended to curb this abuse. If you, one of your members, or someone you know has a story to tell about this new industry, which targets low-income workers in desperate financial circumstances with high-interest loans, please e-mail us at wslc@wslc.org describing your experience. Make sure you include contact information for follow-up.
Some hearings this week
TUESDAY -- House Financial Institutions (8 a.m.): A number of bills regarding payday loan abuse. House Health Care (1:30 or 8 p.m.): HB 3079, Health Care Disclosure Act, requiring state agencies to report on the employment status of Medicaid and BHP recipients.
WEDNESDAY -- House Commerce and Labor (8 a.m.): HJM 4036 urging Congress to approve the EFCA and oppose the NSPS, and HB 3068 (see Workplace Freedom story above), plus HB 3178 on collective bargaining for ferry employees. Senate Financial Institutions (3:30 p.m.): A number of bills regarding payday loan abuse.
PREVIOUS EDITIONS of the 2006 WSLC Legislative Update:
Jan. 24 -- Restore freedom at work! (supporting ECFA; UI benefits; child-care bill; FMLA)
Jan. 20 -- Fair Share deserves a fair vote (Wal-Mart and taxpayer-funded health plans)
Jan. 13 -- Doctor's order: Keep two-quarter (UI benefits; election bills; non-discrimination)
Jan. 6 -- 2006 Working Families Agenda (a summary of WSLC legislative priorities)
Copyright © 2006 Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO