UPDATED DAILY -- M-F by 9 a.m. Pacific

Links to commercial press stories are functional at the date of posting.  In some cases, links "expire" when the source would like to begin charging you for old news.  (* Indicates news outlets that require free registration to view stories)   DISCLAIMER: WSLC Reports Today  links to all stories of interest to organized labor;  some are "positive" and some "negative."  The intention is to inform.  The creation of a link on this page does not constitute an endorsement of the ideas or content of that story.

Reports for Jan. 28-Feb. 1, 2002

News from previous weeks:  Jan. 22-25 -- Jan. 14-18 -- Jan. 7-11

FRIDAY, February 1 -- Legislative Update:  NO "SAFE HARBOR" FOR ERGO
...plus -- Turnout too low to certify Delta-AFA election; union says Delta broke law
...plus -- Women in Trades Show is February 12 in Tacoma
— In today's Spokesman-Review * -- Old tax breaks never die -- Buying bees? A gun safe? Human body parts? There's a sales tax break for each. Work as a meatpacker? A pea processor? A boxing promoter? The state lawbooks include business tax exemptions, some dating to the 1930s, for all those. Since 1854, Washington territorial and state lawmakers have enshrined more than 430 tax breaks in state law, covering everything from cargo ships to consulates to bull semen.
— In today's Eastside Journal -- Bush to cut Boeing retraining money
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Enact prescription drug reform -- Op-ed by Reps. Cody and Sommers.
...plus -- Eyman paid himself $165,000 -- He made more than any elected official in 2001, including Governor Locke, for promoting initiatives that either fail constitutional tests or are so poorly written they require more (money-making) "Son of" initiatives to fix.  And he says government is inefficient.  As columnist Joel Connelly explains today, Kingpin Tim Eyman is accountable to no one.
— In today's Olympian --House passes regional transportation financing bill
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Phillips labor talks continue (with PACE)
...plus -- Public worker bargaining is also a key issue in Olympia -- An anti-collective bargaining op-ed demonizing unions by conservative think tanker.
— In yesterday's Oregonian -- Public sympathy behind striking nurses, poll shows
— In today's L.A. Times -- Despite recession, perks for top executives grow
— In today's N.Y. Times* -- Harvard chief backs raises for low-wage staff (students forced issue)
...plus -- AFL-CIO brings international witnesses to tell of harsher side of growth
...plus -- Bush had no problem releasing Clinton documents, but keeps Enron info secret
— Today from MSNBC -- Enron's Lay gave Bush names for regulatory panel, two were appointed

THURSDAY, January 31
— In today's News-Tribune -- Voters will back gas-tax hike, if... -- Business groups' poll says support is there, but hinges on linking new taxes to specific transportation projects; spending the taxes efficiently; and funding not just roads, but also improved bus, rail and ferry services.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- House Democrats accept that voters will decide on gas-tax boost
...plus -- Mulally's "decisive" actions vital to Boeing commercial division -- Contract talks discussed.
— In today's Olympian -- Efficiencies bill may cut rural road costs, signed by Locke
...plus -- Small-business owners feel burdened by regulations (such as not-yet-implemented ergo)
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- House panel OKs 50-percent rule for school levies
— In yesterday's (Centralia) Chronicle -- Apprenticeship fair draws a crowd in Chehalis
— In today's Seattle Times -- Children of farmworkers deserve a fair shot at college (Sanchez op-ed)
— In today's News-Tribune -- All workers deserve access to portable pensions (Burbank column)
— In today's Roll Call -- Teamsters woo top Republicans -- The burgeoning friendship is giving the labor union some influential allies to assist it in attaining its No. 1 priority: bringing an end to the federal supervision it has chafed under for the past 13 years.
— In today's N.Y. Times * -- Vote at Delta a key test for unions -- Results expected tomorrow.
...plus -- Bush budget to seek job-training cut -- This from the man who, two nights ago, told the nation: "When America works, America prospers; so my economic security plan can be summed up in one word: jobs. ... (and) Good jobs begin with good schools."
— Today from MSNBC -- Enron memo lobbied Cheney to oppose price caps -- VP and P comply.
— In today's Washington Post -- House Republican predicts GOP gains in fall election
...plus -- Civil servants listen for another Bush applause line -- AFGE blasts Bush on privatization.
...plus -- Bush's focus -- and the country's -- Broder column: "(Poll show) voters rate the domestic economy their top worry over terrorism by a 2-to-1 margin. And within the economy, they found, the biggest concern by far is the rising cost of medical care. Bush made no explicit reference to that problem... When the budget comes out next week, there will be hundreds of freezes or cuts in programs important to domestic constituencies. When I asked Budget Director Mitch Daniels how much political flak he expects, his answer was: 'It depends if we can sell guns vs. butter.' "

WEDNESDAY, January 30 -- Prescription drug bill attacked with full-page ad blitz
— In today's Seattle Times -- Eyman launches new initiative
...plus -- Japanese firms sign on to Boeing Sonic Cruiser project
— In today's Eastside Journal -- Weyerhaeuser CEO blasts Boeing over layoffs
— In today's Everett Herald -- SPEEA spurns Boeing contract offer in Texas
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Governor Locke, along Route 18, pushes gas tax
— In today's News-Tribune -- Bill for 2nd Narrows bridge looks likely to clear House
— In yesterday's Olympian -- Nurses seek right to refuse overtime
— In today's Oregonian -- Extra strike pay to scab OHSU nurses illegal, board says
— In today's Washington Post -- Defense balks at Bush's contracting out goals -- "Essential" services should not be privatized, Pentagon memo says, citing national security concerns.

TUESDAY, January 29 -- State employees' premiums rise 159% in governor's plan
At SPEEA.org -- Irving SPEEA unanimously rejects Boeing contract offer
Just in from The Seattle Times -- Eyman launches new "Son of I-747" initiative
— In today's Olympian -- Highway "efficiencies" bill OK'd by House
— In today's SCJ -- Boeing plays a part in area's traffic problem, solution
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Local lawmakers fight closure of Mission Creek Youth Camp -- Sen. Tim "Look-Ma-I'm-a-Democrat" Sheldon argues against privatization of fire suppression work.
— In today's UW Daily -- Administration refuses to take position on I-200 exemption bill
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- A Pacific Northwest spin-off for Amtrak?
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Privatizing profits, socializing costs -- Must-read Sean Gonsalves column (link goes to Cape Cod Times because the P-I's site doesn't post his Tuesday columns.)
...plus -- In defense of Initiative 776 -- Must-read Tim Eyman op-ed, if you like listening to a man nobody elected declare himself the voice of the taxpayers of Washington.
— In today's Washington Post -- Ignorant Lay: Ex-Enron CEO out of the loop, wife says (Also see yesterday's Reuters story -- Good Lay: Ex-Enron CEO is honest man, wife says and today's P-I story -- Poor Lay: Ex-Enron CEO is broke, wife says)
...plus -- Soft money: Had enough? -- Dionne column: It shouldn't have taken Enron to move campaign reform up the list of congressional priorities... But Enron does create delicate problems for both political parties.  If there was ever a time to be on record against money politics, this is it.
— In today's N.Y. Times * -- The Great Divide -- Krugman column: "I predict that in the years ahead Enron, not Sept. 11, will come to be seen as the greater turning point in U.S. society."

MONDAY, January 28
At AFLCIO.org -- Unfinished business, including worker relief, faces Congress as it returns
— In today's Seattle P-I -- After layoffs, retraining critical for economic recovery -- See also, State's retraining program rocked by recession (below).
— In today's News-Tribune -- Working women still earning less than men
...and Sunday -- Chopp's Narrows Bridge bill the only show in town (editorial)
— In Sunday's Columbian -- Locke says he opposes repeal of manufacturing sales tax exemption
— In today's Yakima Herald -- Lawmakers, governor shouldn't give in to Tim Eyman (editorial)
— In today's Roll Call -- Tax debate roils Democrats -- GOP spin describing suspension of future tax cuts as "tax increases" has Democrats worried about budget message for election.
— In today's N.Y. Times * -- What's a recovery without jobs? -- Herbert column: The politicians give lip service to working Americans who have to struggle mightily to make ends meet.  But the crucially important issue of employment rarely gets the kind of sustained attention it warrants.
...and Sunday -- Immigrant laborers feel stranded on Pacific NW as day jobs dry up
— In today's L.A. Times -- SAG election is drama straight out of Hollywood
— Today from Reuters -- Good Lay: Ex-Enron CEO is honest man, wife says

News from previous weeks:  Jan. 22-25 -- Jan. 14-18 -- Jan. 7-11

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Turnout too low to certify Delta-AFA organizing vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Delta Air Lines management’s exploitation of the 9-11 tragedy as part of an illegal campaign to interfere with the flight attendants’ vote was decisive in discouraging enough flight attendants from voting in the largest ever union election in the airline industry.  With fewer than 50 percent of the eligible flight attendants returning their ballots, the National Mediation Board could not certify the Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, as the flight attendants' representative after the mail-in ballots were counted today.

Even though AFA received 98 percent of the valid ballots cast, AFA will not be certified as the bargaining representative for the Delta flight attendants under NMB rules.  Of the 19,033 eligible voters, a total of 5,609 ballots were returned.  5,520 votes were cast for AFA and 89 votes were cast for “other.”

“In America, democratic elections are supposed to express the voice of the people,” said AFA International President Patricia Friend.  “In this election, the flight attendants’ voices were silenced by fear and intimidation.  Now the American government must act to punish Delta for violating the rights of its workers and silencing their voices.”

According to hundreds of flight attendant reports, Delta didn’t just discuss the effects of 9-11 on the airline, management used 9-11 to make flight attendants fear for their jobs if they voted for the union.   It is illegal to threaten workers with a loss of their job to intimidate them into not supporting a campaign to join a union.

Delta management engaged in various tactics to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, going so far as to tell the over 3,000 laid off flight attendants that they were not eligible to vote, to keep them from returning their ballots.  In fact, all laid off flight attendants were eligible to vote.

 “Videos of our CEO played continuously in our crew rooms,” said Seattle-based flight attendant Mike Trau. “He kept repeating the threats 9-11 have placed on our airline and talking about our family atmosphere, then he’d instruct us to rip up our ballots.”  Not returning your ballot in an NMB election is a “no” vote.

On Sept. 12, Delta began conducting weekly conference calls that were censored so that pro-union flight attendants were not permitted to ask questions.  Other departments at Delta do not have these conference calls, only flight attendants.

Delta communications with flight attendants during the election period inextricably linked Delta’s survival to defeating the union effort. These communications included:

-- Letters and videos from senior management to the homes of flight attendants implicitly threatening flight attendants with job loss if they unionized;

-- Supervisors illegally questioning AFA supporters asking, “How can you support a union at a time like this?”

-- Management constantly referring to the job losses in the industry in the wake of 9-11 and falsely promoting Delta’s lay-off plans as better than those at unionized carriers.

-- One-on-one meetings where supervisors would take aside flight attendants they identified as AFA supporters and grill them on their support for the union, in many cases saying that support was anti-Delta.

“There is a reason that interference with a worker’s right to freely choose to join a union is illegal – it works,” said Friend. “Delta’s entire campaign focused on creating fear and uncertainty in flight attendants’ minds.” 

“While we were grieving for the loss of our co-workers on those planes on 9-11, Delta management used our fears and anxiety against us,” said Los Angeles-based flight attendant Lorraine York.  “Delta illegally interfered with our rights as American workers before the terrorist attacks.  But that paled in comparison to management’s exploitation of our national tragedy,” said Atlanta-based flight attendant John Jablonski. 

A majority of Delta’s 19,000 flight attendants had signed representation cards by August 2001, when AFA filed a petition for an election with the NMB.   On September 6, 2001, AFA also filed hundreds of flight attendant affidavits with the NMB charging illegal interference – including intimidation, threats and surveillance -- by Delta management. 

In October 2001, the NMB found that the flight attendant claims presented a prima facie case of illegal conduct against Delta (to view the NMB’s decision, visit www.afanet.org ).  But rather than take action to charge Delta with illegal conduct and provide the flight attendants with an atmosphere free from intimidation when voting, the NMB held off further investigation and hearings on the charges until after the election.   

The NMB set the flight attendant election ballots to be mailed to flight attendants’ homes on Dec. 7, 2001.  Ballots for elections conducted under the auspices of the NMB are usually mailed from the NMB’s headquarters in Washington, DC.  But because of anthrax contamination fears, the NMB altered its process and had all ballots mailed and returned to Chicago, and extended the usual 30-day balloting process by 30 additional days.  Ballots were shipped in bulk to the NMB’s Washington, DC, office and counted today.   

The NMB will immediately begin a full-scale investigation into the charges of illegal conduct by Delta management.  If the NMB finds sufficient evidence that illegal interference occurred, it can set a new election, possibly changing the balloting procedures to make the balloting process less likely to be influenced by Delta’s illegal conduct. 

With close to 20,000 flight attendants involved, the Delta vote was the largest private-sector union election in more than 30 years. Delta is the only major U.S. air carrier whose flight attendants do not have union representation. 

Almost 50,000 flight attendants at 26 carriers have joined together to form AFA, the largest flight attendant union in the world.  Visit us @ www.afanet.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Women in Trades Show is Feb. 12 in Tacoma

DIRECTIONS -- From the north: Take I-5 South to exit 129. Turn left onto Tacoma Mall Blvd. Turn left on 84th Street. Turn right onto Hosmer.  From the south: Take I-5 North to exit 128. Turn right onto Hosmer.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30
Apprenticeship fair draws a crowd in Chehalis

The following story by (Centralia) Chronicle reporter Amy Emerson appeared in Wednesday's edition and is posted here because the story will soon expire and disappear from the newspaper's website.

Even snow couldn't stop hundreds of job-seekers from traveling to Chehalis Tuesday to attend the local area's second annual apprenticeship fair.

The event was sponsored by the Thurston-Lewis County Labor Council, Laborers Local 252, Northwest Laborers-Employers Training Trust, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, WorkSource Lewis County and Centralia College.

Trade representatives were on hand in Yard Birds Mall to answer questions about the various trades, including operating engineers, cement masons, electricians, cabinet makers, carpenters, boilermakers and millmen.

Apprenticeship programs typically involve four years of training, during which the apprentice is paid hourly wages, and is provided benefits such as health care and retirement.

Once training is complete and the apprentice is given journeyman status, the person has skills recognized across the country, skills that can draw a wage of $30 an hour or more.

"An apprenticeship is a fabulous program for anyone wanting to develop their career, man or woman," said Tami St. Paul, representative of the Western Washington Operating Engineers.

St. Paul added that her organization attends more than 50 trade shows a year, and said the Chehalis fair has "really stuck out in my mind as one of the best fairs in the state."

"We got some really great applicants at this fair last year, and I believe we put a number of them to work," she said.

St. Paul said local attendees are "generally interested in apprenticeship programs and ask thoughtful questions.

"One of the usual questions is 'How much does an apprenticeship cost?' They are surprised to learn that instead of paying to learn, they get paid to learn," said St. Paul.

St. Paul added that people seeking information about apprenticeships are also surprised to learn that only 4 percent of college graduates make more money than skilled tradespeople.

"I make $27.31 an hour, and I plan to retire when I'm 52. I don't know of too many college grads who can say that," she said with a chuckle.

"I have been at fairs where the educators who bring their students to learn about apprenticeships end up becoming interested in the programs themselves," said St. Paul.

In addition to filling out applications and collecting informational packets about the various trades, attendees were able to listen to presentations about apprenticeship programs.

St. Paul and Tawny Sayers of Northwest Laborers led a presentation about women and apprenticeship.

The two estimated that 60 to 80 people attended their presentation.

"I was impressed with the number of women who were here today, and that's so great because the trades are a great way for women to take care of their families,"said Sayers.

Sayers said that before entering an apprenticeship, she was a single mother on public assistance.

"And now, I am self-sufficient with a career that I love," she said.

Sayers and St. Paul said the trades have seen a surge of women in the past 10 years. They attribute that to men becoming more open to women in traditionally male jobs.

"As more women get into the trades, prove that they can accomplish physically demanding work, and earn respect from their male coworkers, the door into those jobs becomes more and more open to more women," said Sayers.

St. Paul noted that the trades are attractive to women for numerous reasons, one being that women earn the same amount of money for the same work as men.

"Unfortunately, that isn't they way things work in many other industries. Many times women make 70 cents for every dollar that men earn, and for the same work," she said.

"But another reason women are getting into the trades is because it gives them a chance to take better care of their families, and also, when mom gets up and goes to work each morning, particularly to a job that is usually held by men, that sends a great message to your kids that they can do whatever they want to do if they work towards it," she added.

Sheryl Johnson, Shelton, came to the fair with her husband, Brad.

"We are in retail and feel pretty stuck in our jobs right now," she said. "We came to this fair to find options for him, but I'm leaving with a whole new outlook on my own career. It's been pretty inspiring."

---

Amy Emerson covers energy, business and economic issues for The Chronicle. She may be reached by e-mail at aemerson@chronline.com, or by telephoning 807-8231.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30
Prescription drug bill attacked with full-page ad blitz

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29
State employees' premiums rise 159% in governor's plan

MONDAY, JANUARY 28
State's retraining program rocked by recession

If you have news items regarding unions or workplace issues in Washington state that you would like to see posted here, please submit them via e-mail to David Groves or via fax to 206-285-5805.

Copyright © 2002  Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO