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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. WSLC Reports Today  links to all stories of interest to organized labor; some positive, some negative. The intention is to inform.  The creation of a link does not constitute an endorsement of that story's content.
 

Reports for March 10-14, 2003

Previous weeks' news: March 3-7 -- Feb. 24-28 -- Feb. 18-21

FRIDAY, March 14 -- WSLC Legislative Update: "Job-killing" Bulls---
...plus -- Phone bank volunteers needed to fight Locke's all-cuts budget
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Bill proposes auditing business tax breaks
...plus -- Aluminum smelters can compete if power is cheaper, study says
— In today's Olympian -- Business tax breaks scrutinized in House legislation
...plus -- CEO: The job that keeps paying... and paying... and paying... (column)
— In today's King County Journal -- Wrong time to add costs for home-care workers (editorial) Feel free to tell those compassionate-conservativeฎ Eastside editors what you think of this piece.
— In today's The Local Planet -- Lowest-paid Sacred Heart workers seek union with UFCW 1001
...plus -- While pleading poverty, Sacred Heart Medical Center's top dogs get top dollar
— In today's Seattle Times -- Senate backs charter schools, an idea rejected by voters
...plus -- Change overdue for those with developmental disabilities -- Dickie column: I believe the Fircrest School closure can be accomplished without compromising care for this population.
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Idaho Senate OKs anti-union "paycheck protection" bill -- Gov. Kempthorne's last-minute lobbying credited for squeaking bill through Senate on close vote.
At AFLCIO.org -- DOL's "voluntary guidelines" for nursing home  safety are weak
— In today's Washington Times -- AFSCME chief McEntee warns pro-war Democrats
— In today's Washington Post -- Union-owned insurer Ullico's troubles mount -- Chief executive resigns: "I find it impossible to continue to represent the company to outside parties because... there are surreptitious activities taking place that prevent me from properly carrying out my duties as CFO."
...plus -- Meanwhile, back in the job market -- Dionne column: You would think that the real world might impinge on politics and that Washington would step in to ease the burdens on those the economy is hurting the most. Alas, you would be wrong.
— In today's L.A. Times -- Probe delays count on Gallo workers' vote to decertify UFW
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Both sides confident as Senate nears vote on Alaska drilling
...plus -- Cracking down on rogue employers -- Editorial: Bush's belated determination to enforce workplace safety rules against flagrant violators may be the best one can hope from his administration, but the new enforcement policy falls short of what is truly needed.

THURSDAY, March 13 -- WSLC joins coalition calling for performance audits of tax breaks
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Tax exemptions are poorly timed -- Editorial: The $2.5 billion deficit hasn't stopped busy beavers in Olympia from proposing more dams along the state's dwindling budget streams. At least 36 tax exemptions and reductions have been introduced on the Senate side alone. The state already has more than 400 exemptions on the books, some dating to the 1930s.
...plus -- Senate passes minimum wage freeze, workers' comp benefit cuts on 25-24 votes
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Senate OK's minimum wage plan (freeze)
UPDATE -- HB 1777, implementing the Home Care Union Contract passed the House Appropriations Committee 19-6 Wednesday with overwhelming bi-partisan support -- including a "yes" vote from Rep. Shay Schual-Berke (D-Normandy Park). Now it moves to a full House vote, perhaps early next week.
...plus -- U.S. Sen. Murray seeks first responder funding in 2004 budget
— In today's News Tribune -- Locke: Feds must deliver security funds
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Unemployment insurance bill in the spotlight (editorial) What bill?
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Home care workers deserve respect -- Reed-Rolf op-ed: It's time for legislators to honor the contract and improve wages and benefits for home care workers.
...plus -- Union (King County Corrections Guild) initiative backs smaller County Council
...plus -- Boeing in talks with carriers about developing 717 stretch
— In today's Everett Herald -- Boeing restarts work on 777-200LR
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- Boeing stands by delivery forecast -- if the war is brief
— In today's Seattle Times -- Uninsured patients putting strain on ERs
— In today's King County Journal -- Highline school district threatens drastic cuts, including 200 jobs
— In today's Olympian -- Schools chief Bergeson floats $1 billion property tax hike
...plus -- Pension bill deserves support -- Editorial: Surviving family members of state employees killed on the job shouldn't be subjected to the indignity of begging for full pension payments. That's precisely what's happening to the family of Roger Erdman, who was shot and killed last June.
At AFLCIO.org -- Mass layoff tracking restored after public outcry
— In The (UK) Guardian -- Cheney still paid by Halliburton as firm gets Iraq oil field contract
...plus -- The war dividend -- Editorial: That Cheney left the top job at a multinational for a lessor role in a larger enterprise, America, is not the problem. The issue is whether the sensitive policy of war and peace has been bent to suit the interests of U.S. business, especially those with close ties to the Bush administration.
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Documents detail big payments by drug companies to sway sales
— In today's Washington Post -- States' pension assets plummet; liabilities now exceed assets
...plus -- Half a loaf is still too much -- Editorial: In Bush's first year in office, congressional moderates went along with a gargantuan tax cut mostly in response to an anticipated surplus. Now the surplus is gone and Mr. Bush is back -- urging them to pass another huge cut. In the face of such irresponsibility to future generations, the moderates need to control their compromise gene.
— At MSNBC.org -- United Airlines to start voiding union contracts on Monday

WEDNESDAY, March 12 -- Tell Senators to reject SB 5971, the Fircrest School closure bill
"Cover the Uninsured Week" news: — In today's Olympian -- Cure for uninsured sought
— In today's News Tribune -- Lip service isn't going to solve state health care crisis (Burbank column)
— In today's Seattle P-I -- More cuts will push fragile health system over the edge (Thibaudeau op-ed)
...plus -- National solution best for health care -- Insurance executive op-ed: "Americans tend to favor competitive, market-driven approaches and distrust big-government solutions." Reality check: Social Security and Medicare are two of the most popular government programs in United States history.
Also in today's news:
— In today's Everett Herald -- More scrutiny needed in proposed 767 tanker lease, Rumsfeld says
...plus -- Argument over 767 tanker heats up -- Corliss column: Under the proposal, Boeing would form a "special purpose entity" that would buy the aircraft from Boeing and lease them to the Air Force. But special purpose entities are the same thing that got Enron into trouble.
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Airlines tell Congress war could collapse industry
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing keeps fingers crossed for American Airlines
...plus -- Senate OKs performance audits for transportation programs
— In today's Columbian -- Like big business, home caregivers might move "offshore"
...and yesterday -- There's too much paperwork, parole officers tell legislature
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Study offers hope for Kaiser's Mead smelter
— Recently in the Idaho Statesman -- House picks pointless, petty fight with unions (editorial) 
— In today's L.A. Times -- As pension woes mount, Bush administration drafting rescue plan
— In today's Washington Post -- The truth: Tax cuts and deficits don't mix -- Column: The idea that lowering taxes necessarily leads to stronger economic growth is pure economic baloney. It is a political mantra that substitutes for critical thinking and truth telling.
— In today's News Tribune -- Media giving Bush a bye on the economy -- Broder column: In reporters' first opportunity to quiz the president in four months, not one question was asked about the shaky economy or the out-of-control federal budget. The very next day came news of the largest monthly jump in unemployment since the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11 and an official estimate that Bush's budget proposals would add $2.7 trillion to the national debt in the next 10 years. An economically cushioned set of reporters seemingly couldn't care less about this looming disaster.

TUESDAY, March 11 -- Home care workers threaten to leave state if pay not "competitive"
...plus -- State Supreme Court rejects EFF appeal of ruling favoring WEA
— In today's Seattle Times -- "Cover the Uninsured Week" seeks to spotlight uninsured -- Governor Locke says he now favors scaling back the sliding-fee Basic Health Plan's coverage levels to free up money to insure more people and looking for enough new taxes to avoid cuts to its enrollment.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Two of Boeing's four alternatives for future involve leaving Renton
— In today's News Tribune -- Plan to cut 206 parole officers hits opposition (WFSE)
...plus -- Analyst: Boeing caused bust; '90s race for market share created market glut
...plus -- A bad time for costly gamble with charter schools (ope-ed by Sens. McAuliffe, Rasmussen)
— In today's Olympian -- Cuts are a safety issue, corrections officers say
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Appeal of federal court's FFTF closure ruling is still up in the air
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Idaho Senate panel backs anti-union Paycheck Protection bill
— In today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- UFW's Huerta opposes growers' farmworker bargaining bill
— In today's L.A. Times -- Gallo workers seek to cut ties to UFW -- Decertification vote Thursday; UFW officials charge that Gallo representatives illegally pressured workers to sign the petition
— In today's S.F. Examiner -- Non-AFL-CIO union seeks to raid United's IAM mechanics
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Supreme Court refuse to limit employers' liability for asbestos exposure
...plus --  Broadway musicians' strike ends after all-night negotiating session
...plus -- OSHA to address persistent violators -- Follow-up inspections and other changes spurred by N.Y. Times series about McWane, Inc. that has one of the worst work safety records in the U.S.
— Today from Reuters -- SAG, AFTRA leaders talk shop over merger plans
— In today's Boston Herald -- White House takes aim at sick leave "abuse," seeks FMLA revisions
— In today's L.A. Times -- GE's $5.25-billion pension loss "footnote" renews disclosure debate
— In today's Washington Post -- Firms (including Halliburton) selected to bid on Iraq reconstruction

MONDAY, March 10 -- Locke, Sims, Nickels at Cover the Uninsured town hall meeting today
— In today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Man who lost state drug coverage near death after seizure -- This cautionary tale reminds us that some vulnerable citizens pay for state budget cuts with their lives.
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Basic Health Care -- Who gets cut?
— In Sunday's Olympian -- Plight of the uninsured highlighted (editorial)
...and today -- Alternatives to Locke's budget plan are elusive (Demand them anyway.)
...plus -- Legislators tinker with retire-rehire plan; agreement exists to fix, not end popular program
— In Sunday's Seattle Times -- 250 rally against closure of Fircrest School in Shoreline
...plus -- Boeing buzzes about "source" of work -- Internal paper: "The most important issue of all is whether or not a company can continue to operate if it relies primarily on outsourcing the majority of the work that it once did in-house."
— In Sunday's Everett Herald -- Lynnwood city workers consider organizing union with AFSCME
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Ex-Intalco worker suggests employee buyout of "worthless" plant
At AFLCIO.org -- Nation's unemployment pain worsens; cutoff looms for jobless workers
— In today's Washington Post -- Smallpox inoculation campaign taxing scarce health resources
...plus -- Digging the deficit hole -- Editorial: Congress this week begins outlining a course for federal spending and tax cuts that would push the country further into a deficit hole. So it seems like an opportune moment to pause for a reminder of how we got into this mess, how bad it is and how bad it could be if President Bush's tax wishes come to pass.
— Today from AP -- No talks scheduled as musicians strike shuts down Broadway
...plus -- Teamsters want contribution to congressman back -- Union gave $8,500 to Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) who accidentally sent fund-raising letter to IBT President Hoffa that refers to "union kingpins (and their water-carriers in Congress)" and says union dues pay for "violent 'organizing' drives, a limousine lifestyle for union bigwigs." Plus, "Union thugs terrorize workers and communities with violent strikes -- where they get away with beatings, arson -- even murder."

Previous weeks' news: March 3-7 -- Feb. 24-28 -- Feb. 18-21

FRIDAY, MARCH 14
Phone bank volunteers needed to fight Locke's all-cuts budget

The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO is participating in a coalition of labor, health care, education, senior, consumer protection and church groups to educate the public about the local impacts of Governor Locke's proposed all-cuts budget and to generate grassroots support for taking a more balanced approach to solving our state's $2.4 billion shortfall -- one that includes both service cuts and new revenue.

The WSLC has already distributed camera-ready fliers encouraging affiliated unions to copy, post and distribute them to rank-and-file members. In addition, the WSLC are activating our Labor Neighbor network of union volunteers that was so successful last election in distributing information from members to members. We have established a phone bank at the WSLC's Seattle office to contact union households and encourage them to contact their state legislators in opposition to an all-cuts budget.

These phone banks begin next week and volunteers are urgently needed! Phone banks will run every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. and every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please help us get the word out that phone bank volunteers are needed and consider spending a few hours helping us out. Mobilizing grassroots pressure is the most effective way we can urge state legislators to take a more balanced approach with the state budget.

Please RSVP if you can participate by contacting WSLC Political Director Diane McDaniel at (206) 281-8901 (leave a voice mail if she is not available), and let us know which day(s) you are available to help. Thank you.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13
WSLC joins coalition calling for tax break performance audits

The state's largest labor organization Thursday will join Responsible Wealth and Washington Tax Fairness Coalition in calling for regular performance audits of the more than 400 business tax exemptions in our state, costing the state more than $13 billion in deferred revenue. HB 1869, prime sponsored by Rep. Jim McIntire (D-Seattle), would create a citizen's review commission that studies the effectiveness of tax breaks and recommends to the legislature which should be extended and which should be eliminated.

A press conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today in Hearing Room E of the John L. O'Brien Building at the Capitol Campus in Olympia. All are welcome to attend. Contact Lois Canright at (206) 910-8296 for more information.

"As our state struggles with a huge revenue shortfall, now more than ever we need to begin scrutinizing the return on taxpayers' investments," said Rick Bender, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. "Efficiency shouldn't be required just of government programs, it should also be demanded of special interest tax breaks. Business interests often get these by promising tax incentives will create or maintain good jobs in Washington. But there's no way to hold them accountable for those promises. HB 1869 solves that problem."

"Ironically, the advocates of these tax breaks also argue government should be run more like a business," said Jeff Johnson, WSLC Research Director who will appear at Thursday's press conference in support of HB 1869. "No business owner on this planet would invest precious revenue without measuring the return on the investment. The state shouldn't do that either."

The Washington State Labor Council is the largest labor organization in the state, representing more than 430,000 rank-and-file members of AFL-CIO-affiliated unions. For more information, contact WSLC spokesperson David Groves at dgroves@wslc.org or (206) 281-8901.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13
Senate passes minimum wage freeze, workers' comp cuts

The State Senate on 25-24 votes Wednesday passed bills to freeze the state minimum wage and to sharply reduce workers' compensation benefits, especially those for injured workers in construction, agriculture and those new to the workforce.

SB 5697, sponsored by Sen. Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla), would freeze the state minimum wage unless the state unemployment rate is less than the federal rate. If this bill had governed our lowest wage rate since 1992, it would now stand at $4.42 an hour, having risen 17 cents over an 11-year span. In 1998, by a 2-to-1 margin, Washington voters approved an initiative to "take the politics out of the minimum wage" by automatically adjusting it for inflation each year. On Jan. 1 of this year it increased 11 cents to $7.01 an hour.

Three Democrats voted with the Republican majority Wednesday, while three Republicans opposed the measure along with minority Democrats. Here is the roll call (Democrats are listed in bold):

VOTING YEA: Sens. Benton, Brandland, Carlson, Deccio, Finkbeiner, Hale, Hargrove, Hewitt, Honeyford, Horn, Johnson, McCaslin, Morton, Mulliken, Oke, Parlette, Rasmussen, Rossi, Schmidt, Sheahan, Sheldon, T., Stevens, Swecker, West, Zarelli 

VOTING NAY: Sens. Brown, Doumit, Eide, Esser, Fairley, Franklin, Fraser, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Keiser, Kline, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe, Poulsen, Prentice, Reardon, Regala, Roach, Sheldon, B., Shin, Spanel, Thibaudeau, Winsley

SB 5378, sponsored by Sen. Jim Honeyford (R-Sunnyside), would require four-quarter averaging for calculation of time-loss benefits. The measure is supported by business lobbyists trying to cut benefits in order to reduce projected premium increases for employers. It was a strict party-line vote Wednesday, except Sens. Tim Sheldon ("D"-Potlatch) and Shirley Winsley (R-Fircrest) who broke with their caucuses. Here is the roll-call (Dems in bold):  

VOTING YEA: Sens. Benton, Brandland, Carlson, Deccio, Esser, Finkbeiner, Hale, Hewitt, Honeyford, Horn, Johnson, McCaslin, Morton, Mulliken, Oke, Parlette, Roach, Rossi, Schmidt, Sheahan, Sheldon, T., Stevens, Swecker, West, Zarelli 

VOTING NAY: Sens. Brown, Doumit, Eide, Fairley, Franklin, Fraser, Hargrove, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Keiser, Kline, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe, Poulsen, Prentice, Rasmussen, Reardon, Regala, Sheldon, B., Shin, Spanel, Thibaudeau, Winsley

The WSLC will have more on these issues in Friday's Legislative Update. (Get on the list to receive it via e-mail, if you don't already.)

THURSDAY, MARCH 13
Sen. Murray seeks first responder funding in 2004 budget

Calling proposed cuts to homeland security and other important national priorities "irresponsible," U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) has announced that she intends to offer an amendment to the 2004 fiscal year budget that increases funding to first responder programs. The majority Republicans unveiled their detailed budget for the first time Wednesday at the Senate Budget Committee, of which Murray is a member.

"September 11th, showed us, in the most horrific way, that we are vulnerable here at home," Murray said in her opening statement before the committee Wednesday. "Our intelligence officials have told us that another attack here at home is not a question of 'if' but of 'when.' 

"We know our first-responders — our firefighters, EMTs and police — will be on the frontlines if, heaven-forbid, there is another attack. I recently got a letter from Kelly Fox, president of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, which represents 6,500 firefighters. He told me that they don’t have training, equipment, or staffing to respond to various attacks." (See Fox's letter to Murray.)

"Last year, Congress passed funding for homeland security.  The president rejected it.  The president then actually blamed Congress for not funding homeland security.  The bottom line is we must fund the security needs in our communities - from our fire departments and police departments to state public health labs. 

"With states facing budget deficits, first responders need our help to protect our citizens.  We can do better than this budget, and I intend to offer an amendment to adequately fund Homeland Security."

Sen. Murray also said Wednesday that she intends to offer a budget amendment in the committee that fully funds No Child Left Behind. Learn more at murray.senate.gov.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12
Tell Senators to reject SB 5971, the Fircrest School closure bill

The following legislative update and call-to-action comes courtesy of the Washington Federation of State Employees, AFSCME Council 28 (also check out today's in-depth Seattle P-I story: Fircrest residents caught in political debate):

The Senate Ways and Means Committee at the last minute Monday night pulled up the Fircrest School closure bill, SB 5971, and passed it out of committee. The vote wasn't unanimous. All Republicans voted for it, and only about two Democrats voted for it. Most Democrats voted NO. We won't know the official vote until the signed committee report is available.

SB 5971 now goes to the Rules Committee which must decide when or if it
should be scheduled for a vote of the full Senate. So, we have a call to action:

If one of the following senators on the Rules Committee is from your district, call the Legislature's toll-free hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and urge your Senator not to let SB 5971 come up for a floor vote. The senators on the Rules Committee are:

• Sen. Shirley Winsley of the 28th District
• Sen. Don Benton of the 17th District
• Sen. Lisa Brown of the 3rd District
• Sen. Tracey Eide of the 30th District
• Sen. Bill Finkbeiner of the 45th District
• Sen. Rosa Franklin of the 29th District
• Sen. Patricia Hale of the 8th District
• Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen of the 10th District
• Sen. Mike Hewitt of the 16th District
• Sen. Jim Honeyford of the 15th District
• Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles of the 36th District
• Sen. Linda Evans Parlette of the 12th District
• Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen of the 2nd District
• Sen. Dave Schmidt of the 44th District
• Sen. Larry Sheahan of the 9th District
• Sen. Harriet Spanel of the 40th District
• Sen. James West of the 6th District
• Sen. Joseph Zarelli of the 18th District
• The chair is Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, who you can also leave a message for

If none of those senators is from your district, please call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your senator to oppose SB 5971 if it gets to the floor.

For more information and future updates on this bill, check out www.wfse.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 11
Care workers threaten to leave state if pay not "competitive"
Washington state ranks 43rd in home health care worker pay

Service Employers International Union Local 775 today issued the following press release:

OLYMPIA — Echoing frequently-heard claims by big business lobbyists in Olympia that their companies simply can't afford to do business here any more, home care workers threatened today to relocate to a state with a "more competitive environment" if the home care union contract isn't honored by the legislature. Home care workers provide care for tens of thousands of elderly and disabled residents -- including bathing, dressing, transferring, bowel and bladder care, and other tasks they can't do on their own.

"With the cost of living going up and up, I just don't see how we can keep doing this kind of work here," said home care worker Karen White of Shelton. "If the legislature doesn't honor our union contract, we're probably going to have to relocate to a more competitive state where we'd be treated with more respect for the work we do."

 

Currently, several big business groups and their lobbyists in Olympia are arguing for creating or extending special tax exemptions and loopholes.  According to one frequently-cited statistic, these loopholes cost taxpayers $3.3 Billion each biennium, often with questionable value in terms of economic development. The R&D tax credit, for example, creates only 1 job for every $750,000 in lost revenue -- money that could otherwise go to providing care for seniors, preserving health care services for the working poor, or reducing class size.

 

"We're taking our cue from the corporate sector," said one home care worker who spoke on the condition of anonymity, "if big businesses can hold the state hostage to get their tax breaks, maybe we should do the same to get our contract funded and ensure quality care for the elderly and disabled."

 

A study by the Economic Policy Institute found that Washington ranks 43rd in the nation in median real wages for home care workers. An informal survey of caregivers found a significant amount of interest in California, where union contracts have raised wages and improved benefits for tens of thousands of home care workers.   Others have suggested relocating to an offshore environment with lower costs of living.

 

"If we move to San Francisco, our wages would go up from $7.68/hr to $10.50/hr. We'd finally have health insurance. We'd be treated with some dignity and respect," said Marianne Christiansen, a Lakewood caregiver.

The home care union contract would raise wages for 26,000 home care workers from $7.68/hr  to $9.75 by July 2004, provide L&I coverage for all home care workers and provide health insurance coverage to uninsured caregivers who work at least half-time.

Caregivers warned that the consequences of failing to honor the home care contract could be severe for the state's taxpayers. "If we relocate to another state, what happens to the tens of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities we care for now? The state will have to pay millions more to put them in expensive long-term care institutions," said White.

But home care workers said that if the state honors the home care union contract, it would be a strong incentive to stay in the state. "We haven't made our final decision yet," said Christiansen. "There's still time for the state to show that it's serious about being competitive and serious about investing in quality long-term care for the elderly and disabled."

 

This press release is "tongue-in-cheek."

TUESDAY, MARCH 11
Supreme Court rejects EFF appeal of ruling favoring WEA

The following press release issued today by the Washington Education Association:

The Washington State Supreme Court handed the right-wing Evergreen Freedom Foundation a major defeat last week when it rejected EFF's appeal of previous court decisions favoring the Washington Education Association.

The decision upholds Thurston County Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee's 1999 ruling that teachers and other school employees have a right to be involved in political issues that affect public education. In 2002, the Washington State Court of Appeals upheld McPhee's ruling. Both Judge McPhee and the Court of Appeals recognized that the Washington Education Association's 76,000 members are entitled to exercise their First Amendment rights and to act collectively on public issues.

WEA has raised its political voice to elevate academic standards and lower class sizes. It has advocated for better pay for school employees and fought for safe and orderly schools. The Evergreen Freedom Foundation, a conservative, anti-public education group funded by out-of-state contributors, launched the lawsuit against WEA. EFF sought to stifle educators' rights by claiming that WEA's primary purpose was political, which would have subjected WEA to complicated campaign-finance restrictions. WEA members spent well over $1 million defending their rights against EFF. Under McPhee's original decision, EFF is required to partially reimburse WEA for court costs and attorneys' fees.  

"We believe it is time for the EFF to accept the court's decision and recognize our rights as educators," WEA President Charles Hasse said. "EFF President Bob Williams should stop his misguided ideological attacks on our state's teachers and school employees."

For the past eight years, the EFF has used litigation as a tactic to silence the voice of educators and to push the agenda of EFF contributors. Many of those contributors are wealthy out-of-state foundations that support limiting employees' free speech rights, taxpayer-funded school vouchers and the privatization of public education.

MONDAY, MARCH 10
Locke, Sims, Nickels at "Cover the Uninsured" meeting today

Gov. Gary Locke will be among the elected officials joining health care workers to discuss the problems of the uninsured and the costs to society at a "Cover the Uninsured" Town Hall Meeting today (Monday) from 5 to 7 p.m. in Room 109 of the Harborview Medical Center's Research and Training Building, 325 9th Ave. in Seattle. The event kicks off a week of Cover the Uninsured activities that the public is encouraged to attend.

Joining Locke at the Town Hall Meeting will be elected officials at every level of government, including King County Executive Ron Sims and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who will examine the problems of an America that is increasingly without health insurance, and possible solutions. In addition, nurses, doctors, hospital executives, consumer advocates and, of course, the public will discuss the problem from each of their perspectives.

At a news conference prior to the event Al Link, Secretary-Treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, will be among the diverse collection of community leaders who will sign a proclamation committing their organizations to participate in efforts to find a solution to this emerging crisis.

Today's event is free, and free parking is also available in the lot behind Harborview: Take 1-5 to the James Street exit. Drive up the hill on James to 9th Avenue. Turn right on 9th Avenue and travel two blocks to Alder Street. Turn right on Alder and drive a short block to 8th Avenue. Turn right and you will see the visitor entrance to View Park Garage on your left. Please let the attendant know that you will be attending the Town Hall Meeting and they will make sure that you will not be charged for parking.

Other Cover the Uninsured events this week include:

TUESDAY, MARCH 11 -- Interfaith Breakfast from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Olympia's Best Western Inn, 900 Capitol Way S. The breakfast is an opportunity for the interfaith community to highlight its role in providing services for those without health insurance. Hosted by the Washington Association of Churches. it will include representatives from many faiths, health care opinion leaders and elected officials.

Campus Event at the University of Washington from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Hogness Auditorium at the UW Medical School, 1959 NE Pacific St. KUOW host Steve Scher will moderate the forum that includes a panel discussion that goes beyond the plight of the uninsured to include the struggles of health care providers who are concerned about the current health care system.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 -- Enrollment Event at 10:30 a.m. at Swedish Medical Center, 747 Broadway in Seattle. Emergency room personnel and coalition representatives will announce the results of a national study of the effects of the uninsured on emergency rooms. The event will highlight what happens to people without insurance when they end up in the ER, and the consequences on them and the health care system. ER directors, local public health officials and community clinics will all be part of this message. Resources for those who are looking for health insurance will also be available.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13 -- Business-Labor CityClub forum from noon to 1:30 p.m. at downtown Seattle's Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1113 Sixth Ave. (6th and Seneca). Entitled “Employer-Paid Health Care: Triage, Diagnosis, Prognosis,” Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler will join representatives from business and labor to discuss the current and future condition of employer-paid health insurance. WSLC President Rick Bender will be among panelists including DSHS Secretary Dennis Braddock, Regence BlueShield President Mary O. McWilliams, Dorothy Graham of Puget Sound Energy and Association of Washington Business. The discussion will be moderated by James Whitfield, Director of the Washington Health Foundation.

The CityClub event is co-presented by the Washington State Labor Council, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Health Policy Analysis Program - University of Washington, Washington Health Foundation, Washington Policy Center and WashTech/CWA Local 37083, AFL-CIO. Admission is $39 per person and $34 for members of WSLC-affiliated unions. Pay in advance by calling CityClub at (206) 682-7395.

Please make plans to attend one or more of these important events. For more information, check out CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org.