WSLC Reports Today -- March 14-18, 2005

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

Links to press stories are functional at the date of posting. In some cases, free registration is required at newspapers' sites. Links sometimes "expire" when the source would like to begin charging 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.

FRIDAY, March 18 -- The price of legislative inaction (WSLC Legislative Update)
Also today -- Severe UI benefit cuts harmed state economy, should be revisited
— In today's Seattle Times -- Rosier budget forecast may ease need for cuts -- State forecasters project a surging economy will bring in $739 million more in tax collections than expected.
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Plans to cross-check voters criticized -- Bill does not provide Hispanics due process to fix errors. "We could be stuck with a big long list of people unable to vote," says UFW.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Activists critical of state voting bill -- The bill is scheduled for a hearing in Olympia today before the House State Government Operations and Accountability Committee.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- ANWR oil may create area jobs -- In a 1996 study, one economist estimated about 8,200 jobs in the Puget Sound region would be created if the refuge opened to oil production.
— In the PS Business Journal -- Brown & Cole (Thrifty Foods, Food Pavilion) to issue more layoff notices
— Related story at AFLCIO.org -- Arkansas joins list of states where Wal-Mart #1 in health-care subsidies
— Today at CNN.com -- Wal-Mart settles illegal worker suit -- No criminal sanctions (natch), but retailer will pay $11 million in case tied to cleaning contractors' hirings.
— Today at AFLCIO.org -- New report: Social Security privatization would hurt older workers
— In today's NY Times -- In blow to Bush, Senators reject cuts to Medicaid -- The U.S. House and Senate pass budgets that differ sharply over cuts to Medicaid. The votes, 218 to 214 in the House and 51 to 49 in the Senate, set the two chambers on a collision course.

THURSDAY, March 17 -- Smart choice for quality services: Approve the state contracts
— In today's Seattle P-I -- 1,000 midlevel managers face Gregoire's cuts -- Move to save money and focus on frontline caseworkers praised by both parties and the Washington Federation of State Employees.
...plus -- Higher revenue may be in the forecast -- Leading budget writers are anticipating a $200 million to $300 million increase in the forecast, which will be released today.
...plus -- I-601 redux due -- Editorial: The growth factor in the state spending limits passed by a narrow majority of voters in 1992 has always been flawed. Requiring a supermajority was also a fundamental mistake in that it transferred power from the majority to a minority of legislators.
— In today's Olympian -- Smoking bill dies at deadline -- Retro reform and other bills also miss the cutoff.
— Today from AP -- Senate rejects simple majority for school levies
— In today's Olympian -- Gregoire names five to agency leadership posts
Lost-cause update: — In today's Seattle Times -- GOP's felon list may be way off -- Rossi camp acknowledges that hundreds may have never lost the right to vote. Meanwhile, the new Elway Poll says voters overwhelmingly oppose a revote, with about two-thirds saying it's time to move on and accept the results. It's also time for Rossi to come out from behind his lawyers and spokespeople and tell us again why exactly he is putting the state through this costly and destructive exercise.
— In today's Olympian -- GOP looks to Rossi as U.S. Senate material -- On the other hand, Boss Vance says he'd make a good candidate himself, should Rossi decide not to run (or continue losing face).
Local news: — In today's Seattle Times -- Baggage handlers get reprieve from Alaska Airlines -- IAM takes little solace as March 28 deadline pushed back for 500 members threatened with layoff.
— In today's Everett Herald -- Interim CEO tells Boeing workers to expect no changes
— In today's Seattle P-I -- A chance for Boeing to heal its merger wounds (Virgin column)
— In today's Seattle Times -- McCain goes after another Boeing contract: $21 billion FCS military program
— In today's Everett Herald -- Providence Everett will grow; city council OKs $400 million expansion
At AFLCIO.org -- New Defense Department workforce rules "threaten national security" -- Reminder: Rally this Saturday in Seattle to protect federal workers' rights.
— In today's NY Times -- Enron: Patron saint of Bush's fake news -- Rich column: Bush, eager to sell the country on "personal" Social Security accounts, cannot be all that pleased to see the reemergence of Enron's Ken Lay. He's the poster boy for how big guys can rip off suckers in the stock market.
...plus -- Homeland Insecurity -- Friedman: National security is about so much more than just military deployments. It is also about our tax, energy and competitiveness policies. The Bush team has been steadily eroding America's leverage over our biggest long-term competitor: China.

WEDNESDAY, March 16 -- Rally Saturday in Seattle to protect federal workers' rights
— In today's Olympian -- Senate OKs family leave bill -- In 27-20 vote, GOP's Benton, Oke and Schmidt join all Democrats in voting "yes." Mason Co. Commissioner Sheldon again sides with the minority.
...plus -- House OKs mandatory mail ballots, moving primary to August
...plus -- Study health care effects -- Editorial: Business interests are complaining about health care, saying -- among other things -- that state employees' health benefits are too generous. But talk is cheap... There's no political will in Olympia to tackle the complexities of the health care issue.
— Today from AP -- State Senate OKs simple majority to raise taxes
— In today's Seattle P-I -- House passes regional transportation plan; Senate unveils its own -- Sen. Ken Jacobsen (D-Seattle) amends bill to take a major shot at Seattle's monorail project.
— In today's News Tribune -- Secondhand smoke: Will the state blow it again? (editorial)
Local news: — In today's Tri-City Herald -- Hanford initiative bound for State Supreme Court
— In today's Seattle Times -- Job market grows, from bottom up -- Many of the new jobs (in retail, health care and hospitality) lack the sizzle or the high wages that characterized the late 1990s expansion.
— In today's Everett Herald -- Mulally perfectly fits Boeing's CEO criteria (Corliss column)
— In today's News Tribune -- Albertsons plans to cuts costs by another $250 million, offers no details
National news: — Today from AP -- First Social Security vote highlights partisan split
— Today from Reuters -- Bush says he won't unveil his Social Security plan yet -- President says, "the bill I send up (now) will be -- phhtt! The first bill to go down."
— In today's NY Times -- For Social Security, two crucial weeks are near -- Both sides are planning extensive grassroots lobbying campaigns during the congressional recess that starts this weekend.
— Today from MSNBC -- U.S. trade deficit hits an all-time high in 2004: $666 billion
— In today's Washington Post -- 2001 tax cuts were justified, Greenspan maintains -- "We were all wrong" about surpluses, Fed Boss concedes to Senate. Not all of us, responds Sen. Hillary Clinton.
— Today from AP -- IAM members at Lockheed in Georgia approve contract

TUESDAY, March 15 -- State Senate urges rejection of Social Security privatization
— In today's Washington Post -- Skepticism of Bush's Social Security plan is growing, polls show
...plus -- Corporate forum withdraws support for Bush plan -- Another major Wall Street player has dropped out of a business coalition that supports President Bush's privatization of Social Security.
— Today from Bloomberg -- AFL-CIO to protest Schwab, Wachovia stance on Social Security -- National Day of Action on Thursday, March 31 includes four protests around Washington state. Learn more.
Olympia news: — In today's Seattle Times -- Bill would change rules on tax votes -- Democrats have a bill in the wings that would overturn part of I-601 and effectively make it possible for their majorities in the state House and Senate to raise taxes without Republicans going along.
...plus on Sunday -- State budget writers tangle with the cost of just standing still
...and -- Democrats have pledged raises for state employees; GOP is uncertain
— In the Columbian -- Gregoire hints this week's revenue forecast may be light on green
— In the PS Business Journal -- One voter's "loophole" is another's "incentive" -- Regarding the SEIU's "Whack a Loophole" Internet game; players whack business tax exemptions to balance the budget.
— In yesterday's Olympian -- Bill would put worker data under wraps -- Some prison inmates are using the Public Disclosure Act as a tool of harassment against state employees, sponsors say.
— In yesterday's News Tribune -- Pass higher standards for signature gatherers (editorial)
Local news: — In the Seattle Times -- Ferry food might finally return; tentative agreement reached
— In today's Seattle P-I -- State ferries: Making labor progress -- Editorial: There is heartening progress on two important labor fronts under the new watch of Washington State Ferries chief Mike Anderson.
— In the Everett Herald -- Boeing's excellent workforce deserves better from its leaders (Zoeckler column)
— In the Aberdeen Daily World -- ILWU local president reappointed to governor's board on industrial safety
National news: — Today at BusinessWeek online -- Now workers can flex some muscle -- Commentary: As labor markets tighten, employees are gaining bargaining power.
— In today's NY Times -- GOP rebellion threatens to derail efforts to adopt a budget -- "Pay as you go" rules sought again to offset tax cuts; Republican election promises to rein in spending are at stake.
...plus -- The $600 billion man -- Krugman: At a time that Democrats can say, without exaggeration, their opponents are making a dishonest case for Social Security policies that will increase the risks facing families, Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) has given Bush cover by endorsing its fake numbers.
— In today's LA Times -- Court: Wal-Mart violated law by disciplining employee wearing union T-shirt

Previous weeks' news: March 7-11 -- Feb. 21-23 -- Feb. 14-18

FRIDAY, MARCH 18
Severe UI benefit cuts harmed economy, should be revisited

The following Letter to the Editor appears in today's Everett Herald in response to the newspaper's March 13 editorial opposing any changes in the state's unemployment insurance system:

Your Sunday editorial, "Unemployment reform shouldn't be undone," was more a recitation of corporate lobbying rhetoric than a thoughtful consideration of both sides of the unemployment insurance issue.
Sweeping UI changes were approved without a public hearing in 2003 -- literally in the middle of the night -- as part of the Boeing 7E7 incentive package. Only now is the severity of the benefit cuts and resulting economic damage becoming known.
And yet, The Herald suggests the motivation for revisiting the issue is merely that "labor got a raw deal." Reducing this complex issue to the simplistic business vs. labor dynamic serves no one, certainly not your readers.
UI is more than just a "business cost." It was designed to provide temporary wage replacement for involuntarily unemployed workers, and also to cushion the economic impact on businesses during periods of recession.
In Snohomish County, in the first phase of benefit cuts, about $5.5 million in UI benefits were lost in 2004. That translates to a $12 million economic hit to your county, using the U.S. Department of Labor's estimate of UI benefits' purchasing power.
That $5.5 million could have prevented some people from losing their cars and homes, and it would have saved other jobs in your county.
The Herald suggests these "modest reforms" have something to do with our fledgling economic recovery. That's impossible. Employers' UI premiums have actually increased because of the changes. Those hikes, which could have been avoided, were required to implement the new UI tax structure. So far, it's been all pain and no gain.
There are thoughtful proposals in Olympia to mitigate UI benefit cuts, while preserving the business-backed tax structure and still saving them hundreds of millions of dollars. Instead of cynically portraying this effort as a gift to unions, your readers deserve a little more substantive analysis.

David Groves
Washington State Labor Council
AFL-CIO

THURSDAY, MARCH 17
Smart choice for quality services: Approve the state contracts

Gov. Christine Gregoire plans to unveil her budget proposal early next week, the opening salvo in what is sure to be a painful budget process. Although state revenue forecasters are expected to announce some positive news today, there will still be a $2 billion shortfall if the state maintains its current level of services.

Help Spread the Word

The Coalition of State Unions has produced a flier describing the importance of funding the 2005 contracts. Please download this flier (a black-and-white version is also available), copy, post and distribute it to your union's members, your friends and family.

Driven by the skyrocketing cost of health care, the state has grappled with significant revenue shortfalls in recent years, but has managed to balance the budget without raising taxes -- and in fact, has been able to extend special-interest corporate tax breaks during that time. How? Media accounts of those budgets have focused on "gimmicks," temporary solutions dealing with tobacco settlement money, spending reserves and shifting funds.

But the truth is, a particular group of our friends, neighbors and families have suffered disproportionately to balance these budgets. They are the men and women employed by the State of Washington. People working hard every day to provide quality public services.

They teach our children, treat our injuries, protect our homes and property, build and repair our roads, maintain our parks, protect our environment, care for our elderly and disabled, and provide countless other vital services. And for four years, our state's employees have gone without cost-of-living pay raises and have had to absorb much higher medical costs to help balance the state budget. They and their families have made significant sacrifices to shoulder this burden.

They have demonstrated their commitment to all of us. Now it’s time for us to show our respect and gratitude to these valuable workers -- and our commitment to quality public services.

This year, the State Legislature will vote for the first time on approval of master contracts with
its employees. Negotiated last year with the governor’s office and college/university presidents, these are comprehensive agreements on employee working conditions, pay and health benefits.

Despite this year's budget challenge, Gov. Gregoire and legislative leaders have expressed a commitment to funding these contracts -- most recently at the Washington State Labor Council's Legislative Conference (video footage of that Feb. 25 event is available at www.wfse.org). In doing so, these leaders demonstrate not just their commitment to quality public services and their respect for state employees, but also their understanding that no employer that wants to stay in business can expect its employees to suffer financially year after year.

In many cases, wages and benefits for our state’s employees have now fallen behind the private sector and other public agencies, making it harder to attract and retain the best employees. The 2005 state contracts will help build a workforce that will provide the education, health care, public safety, and other services Washington deserves. The legislature will also vote on approving funding for a new contract for individual provider home-care workers.

Budget times are still tough, but these contracts are fair and responsible. If we want quality public services in this state, we need to invest in the people who provide them. We need to step up and do the right thing.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16
Rally Saturday in Seattle to protect federal workers' rights

The following announcement is from Washington State Jobs with Justice:

PROTECT THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE
Stop Bush’s Busting of Federal Workers’ Unions
FUND HUMAN NEEDS, NOT WAR

Saturday, March 19, 11:30 a.m.
SEIU Local 6, 150 Denny Way
(between 1st Avenue N and 2nd Avenue N)

We'll march to Seattle Center to join the massive peace rally at Noon. Join Washington State Jobs with Justice and the King County Labor Council in a labor contingent for workers’ rights. Bring Union banners, jackets, signs and hats.

Background

The Bush Administration is using the war in Iraq as an excuse to step up the war against workers here at home. The most recent example of this is an effort to strip almost 750,000 civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DoD) of their Union protections and their civil service protections. They've already done it to 180,000 workers at Homeland Security. If they get away with this at DoD, they'll go after the rest of federal workers -- and then use it as a model for taking away Union rights from all of us. It's a strong reminder that an injury to one is an injury to all -- if this can happen to the DoD workers, it can happen to all of us - and probably will.

The Administration has proposed new rules for civilian DoD workers, called the Natioanal Security Personnel System (NSPS). These proposed rules would have a devastating impact on civilian DoD employees. They would:

reduce pay for federal workers overall;

end civil service protections;

end meaningful collective bargaining rights.

end seniority rights for layoffs;

allow management to decide who gets raises;

permit involuntary transfer of workers essentially anywhere in the world; and,

cancel major portions of existing collective bargaining agreements.

That's why 35 Unions have formed the United DoD Workers Coalition. That Coalition includes AFGE, AFSCME, AFT, CWA, IBEW, IFPTE, Laborers, Machinists, MEBA, MM&P, Metal Trades Council, Operating Engineers, Painters, Plumbers, SEIU and Teamsters.

And, of course, at the same time that the war is being used as an excuse for Union-busting, it's hurting working families in a lot of other ways. Immigrant communities are facing increased attacks as the war is used to divide working people against each other. Legislation like the USA PATRIOT Act takes away our basic right to organize and dissent. Military recruiting is targeting poor kids, particularly in communities of color, to make military service a substitute for family wage jobs. Working people in the National Guard are mobilized and sent off to Iraq, losing family income and benefits -- and when they return, they face slashed veterans' benefits and cuts in health care.

The same corporations that destroy our Unions and our standard of living - companies like Haliburton and Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) - are now profiteering from the war, and helping to destroy Union rights in Iraq. As many as 100,000 Iraqis have died in this war, with the toll rising rapidly every day. And 1500 US working men and women have already given their lives. while their families face massive budget cuts and loss of services at home.

Details of the action

We'll gather as a labor contingent for a very brief rally at the Teamster Hall, then march as a labor contingent to join a large peace rally at Seattle Center. The peace rally is focused on the issue that, "War Costs. . .Who Pays?" and a demand to "Bring Our Troops Home Now." There will be a rally at Seattle Center with speakers and entertainment, followed by a march to the new Federal Building and back to Seattle Center. The action is supported by a broad range of labor, faith and community organizations including Washington State Jobs with Justice, Church Council of Greater Seattle, King County Labor Council, Washington Association of Churches, Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War (SNOW) and Fellowship of Reconciliation. Our labor contingent for workers' rights will make the important connection between the war in Iraq and the war at home - the war on workers being waged by corporate America and the Bush Administration.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15
State Senate urges rejection of Social Security privatization

The Washington State Senate approved a resolution Monday urging Congress and President Bush to reject current efforts to privatize the Social Security system and "instead engage in an open dialogue with the American public to arrive at a sensible solution... making Social Security an insurance fail-safe for the aged and disabled and a complement to every individual's ability to invest in the private market on their own."

The 25-23 vote on SJM 8014, sponsored by Sen. Pat Thibaudeau (D-Seattle), fell along strict party lines with all Democrats voting for the resolution and all Republicans -- including Sen. Tim Sheldon ("D"-Potlatch) -- voting against it. Sen. Val Stevens (R-Arlington) was excused from the vote. Sen. Don Benton (R-Vancouver) introduced an amendment urging the exact opposite, support for Bush's privatization plan, which was rejected 23-25 along the same party lines.

The Washington Post reports today that, despite President Bush two-week series of staged town-hall meetings in support of Social Security privatization, skepticism of his plan is growing. Only 35% of Americans now say they approve of his handling of the issue and 58% say the more they hear about Bush's plan the less they like it.

"By supporting Social Security privatization, Republicans state legislators are showing they are clearly out of step with Washington voters and mainstream America," said Rick Bender, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

A similar resolution, HJM 4015 sponsored by Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-Covington), is before the State House of Representatives and could be voted upon at any time.

REMINDER: A National Day of Action for Retirement Security is planned for Thursday, March 31. That day, working families and groups concerned about retirement security will gather to demand that the Wall Street brokerage firm Charles Schwab withdraw its support for President George W. Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security. In Washington state, protests will be held at noon March 31 outside Charles Schwab offices in Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and Spokane to tell the company: "Don't pick our pockets to line yours!" Learn more.

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.