FRIDAY, MARCH 31  ■  WSLC seeks applicants for Field Mobilization Director -- The start date for the position is in May.

Garbage Strike news:  ■  Sanitation Workers' Burn-Barrel Bash TONIGHT from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Tukwila Teamsters Hall, 14675 Interurban Ave.  Puget Sound sanitation workers are fighting to keep family-wage jobs and affordable health care, and are prepared to strike, if necessary.  Show your support for them by attending this event. Bring your family for games, BBQ, music and dancing. Also, bring your organization's banners and wear your colors. Learn more.
■  In today’s King Co. Journal -- Garbage strike looming as tensions escalate -- With a midnight deadline looming, negotiations between union truck drivers and the region's two major garbage haulers are growing more tense. Teamsters 174: "Our members are hopped up and very angry."

Local news:  ■  USW urges support for Mexican labor leader Napoleon Gomez (Word document) -- The United Steelworkers urge all unions to attend a rally from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 6 outside the Mexican consulate, 2132 Third Ave. in Seattle, and to pass resolutions expressing outrage over Mexico's illegal removal of Gomez for criticizing the government.
■  Today from AP -- Seattle Times, P-I agree to binding arbitration in JOA dispute
■  Today from AP -- Agreement with union (IATSE) returns film production to Spokane
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Judge appears to side with Costco on beer, wine distribution
■  In yesterday’s Longview Daily News -- Gregoire signs tax-cut bill for timber industry
■  In today’s News Tribune -- Oops, shouldn't have fired that guy (editorial) -- The Washington Federation of State Employees is in a pickle over the firing of at least six state workers.

Immigration Reform news:
■  In today’s Washington Post -- Immigration divides allies -- New research that pits native-born workers against low-skilled immigrants in a struggle for jobs and wages has fueled a rift between some of Washington's most liberal lawmakers and their allies in organized labor, who fear that Democrats are pushing an immigration policy that forsakes the party's working-class mainstay.
■  Today from AP -- GOP right wing rips into Bush "amnesty" plan -- House conservatives criticize Bush, accuse the Senate of fouling the air, say prisoners rather than illegal farm workers should pick America's crops and denounce the use of Mexican flags by protesters.
■  In today’s NY Times -- Bush reassures Mexican leader of his support for immigrants -- He tells President Fox that he supports proposals to legalize undocumented workers, as long as they are not given any advantages over immigrants who entered the United States legally.
■  In Sen. Murray's website -- Floor remarks by Sen. Patty Murray -- "(This is) about the type of country we want to be, what we stand for, and what type of future we all want to build."
■  In today's SF Chronicle -- Senate begins passionate debate; Specter tries to round up GOP votes
■  In today’s Washington Post -- Most see visa program as severely flawed -- Amidst the debate over immigration and the future of illegal workers, another less-publicized fight is being waged over those who toil in air-conditioned offices, earn up to six-figure salaries and spend their days programming and punching code. They are foreign workers who arrive on H-1B visas.

Boeing news:
■  In today’s Everett Herald -- 787 sets sales mark -- Qantas finalizes an 45-jet order, pushing the order total to 343 and making the 787, by far, the hottest-selling new airplane in Boeing history.
■  Today from Bloomberg -- Emirates' delay of plane order a costly blow for Airbus
■  Everybody's Doin' It news in today’s Washington Post -- Favors found in Air Force contracts -- Former Air Force/Boeing fixer Darleen Druyun also helped Lockheed and another defense contractor.

Political news:  
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- State's primary election moves up a month -- Some think it should have been moved even earlier. With the new date, ours will be later than 33 other states' primaries.
■  In yesterday's Columbian -- Let 'em vote (editorial) -- We have considerable respect for Reed and McKenna but their appeal of the ruling on felon voting is misguided and should be rejected.
■  Today from AP -- 1965 Voting Rights Act provisions to expire -- Sections of the law are set to expire, generating rumors that black Americans will lose the right to vote en masse next year.

Other national news:  
■  Today from AP -- Delphi asks court to void union deals -- It's part of a controversial restructuring that calls for up to 8,500 workers to be laid off and the sale/closure of 21 of its 29 U.S. plants.
■  Today at AFL-CIO Now -- New Delphi bankruptcy: Bad faith, bad for all workers -- Delphi’s announcement that it will ask a bankruptcy court to throw out its union contracts has killed any momentum in negotiations over a new deal and could lead to a long strike.
■  In today’s Washington Post -- FAA files complaint after union talks (PASS) break down

THURSDAY, MARCH 30  ■  Buyer Be Fair: Product certification film tonight on KCTS -- KCTS Channel 9 in Seattle (check your cable listings) airs this important documentary at 9 p.m.
■  In the Seattle P-I -- Saving the world, one shopping cart at a time -- The growing product-labeling movement helps shoppers identify goods they can buy without cramping their conscience.

Local news:
■  In today’s Olympian -- WFSE drops demands for firings -- The union asks the state to stop firing people for refusing to pay dues, and wants those who have been terminated to be reinstated. But the move may be only temporary. WFSE says it needs to correct technical mistakes in a mailing it sent to members last May to put its union-security clause back on firm legal ground.
■  In today’s Spokesman-Review -- Union halts firing requests -- WFSE on missing auditor's statement in mailing: "In this case, we made a technical mistake and we will own up to it."
■  In today’s King Co. Journal -- No agreement yet as garbage haulers' contract talks continue -- If the talks continue to be constructive, says IBT 174, "we would consider going to work on Saturday."
■  In the Seattle Times -- Garbage strike may be averted -- Sides agree to two more weeks of talks.
■  In today’s Everett Herald -- Stevens Hospital staff (SEIU) pleads against job cuts -- An unexpected decline in patients may force the Edmonds hospital to cut approximately 100 workers.
■  In today’s News Tribune -- Boeing stock flies to record high -- It closed yesterday at $79.18.
■  In today’s Everett Herald -- GE leasing firm's 30-to-60 jet 737 order is Boeing's biggest of year
■  In today’s Everett Herald -- Hu to SayWA at Boeing -- China's president will visit the Everett plant.

Political news:  
■  In Real Change -- Flex line: Cross-nomination could put labor issues on the ballot -- "Fusion voting" initiative would allow a Working Families Party -- or any other third party -- to nominate a mainstream Democrat or Republican so voters could choose, and help build, alternative parties without feeling they are "wasting" their vote on a candidate who doesn't have a chance to win.
■  At the Tri-City Herald blog -- Labor council releases 2006 legislative scorecards -- It will come as no surprise to anyone that the Mid-Columbia delegation was something less than a labor stalwart.
■  In today’s King Co. Journal -- Golden withdraws from 48th Senate race, setting up Tom vs. Esser 
■  In today’s Seattle Times -- State to appeal felon-voter ruling -- Felons for Rossi™ cancel party.

Immigration Reform news:  
■  In today's NY Times -- Hastert hints at compromise on immigration -- Speaker says he and others  recognize the need for a guest-worker program, opening the door to a possible compromise.
■  In today’s Yakima H-R -- Student immigration protesters will be punished -- Several hundred walked out of school Monday morning for a march opposing congressional proposals on immigration.
■  In today’s Yakima H-R -- Immigration rallies planned in Yakima this weekend
■  In today’s Washington Post -- Speak up, Mr. Bush (editorial) -- Bush has been unwilling, so far, to match his words about immigration and border security with deeds to make certain it gets done. For immigration reform to have a chance, the president must take a stand.
■  Why he won't speak up, in today’s NY Times -- GOP risking Hispanic votes on immigration -- The internal battle is threatening to undercut a decade-long effort by Bush to court Hispanic voters.

Other national news:  
■  In today’s NY Times -- Wal-Mart seeks generals in PR war -- Wanted: two senior people to defend the retailer. One will do "opposition research," presumably into Wal-Mart Watch and Wake Up Wal-Mart. The other requires the ability to "mobilize resources" during a "crisis situation."
■  In today’s NY Times -- The new face of an oil giant -- We link to this ill-timed puff profile of ExxonMobil's new CEO for no reason other than his picture's superhero pose made us vomit.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29  ■  WSLC's 2006 Legislative Voting Record is now available

Garbage Strike news:  
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Teamsters optimistic garbage strike can be averted -- IBT 174: Although drivers have authorized a strike, continuing progress in negotiations could keep them on the job.
■  In today’s Seattle Times -- Replacements to haul garbage if haulers strike -- Even with the scabs, residential service in King and Snohomish counties would be disrupted for weeks.
■  In today’s News Tribune -- Garbage strike possible this weekend if contract talks fail

Other local news:
■  In today’s Spokesman-Review -- Movie shoot may stay put; negotiations resume -- IATSE official: There's a "strong possibility" the "Home of the Brave" production will come back to Spokane.
■  In today’s News Tribune -- Lakehaven utility district engineers (IUOE 286) agree to contract
■  In today’s Seattle Times -- Airplane kingpins tell Airbus: Overhaul A350 -- Airbus is advised to  completely rethink the jet it has proposed to compete against Boeing's strong-selling new 787.
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- A new viaduct, a tunnel or nada? -- Seattle City Council members Tuesday edged toward a public vote on replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct... or just tearing it down.
■  In today’s Spokesman-Review -- Nonunion Spokane Valley city workers get 4% COLA (brief)
■  In today’s Spokesman-Review -- Citizens' group opposing Pullman Wal-Mart will go to court
■  In today’s Kitsap Sun -- Kitsap deputies' guild accuses labor broker of mismanaging health plan
■  In today’s Bellingham Herald -- Company abandons Sumas power plant project -- Blame Canada.

Immigration Reform news:
■  In today’s Washington Post -- Senate to weigh guest-worker proposal today -- It will take up a broad revision of the nation's immigration laws amid signs that conservatives are ready to compromise.
■  At AFLCIO.org -- Sweeney statement on immigration bill before Senate
■  In the USA Today -- AFL-CIO chief criticizes guest-worker plans -- Sweeney praised provisions of the immigration legislation approved in Senate committee but parted company with longtime Senate Democratic allies, saying: "Guest worker programs are a bad idea and harm all workers."
■  In today's NY Times -- Republican split on immigration reflects nation's struggle
■  In today’s NY Times -- It isn't amnesty (editorial) -- Attackers of a smart, tough Senate immigration bill have smeared it with a mealy-mouthed word in hopes of rendering it politically toxic.
■  In today's NY Times -- Feds say safety stings targeting immigrants will be halted
■  In The Onion -- Illegal Mexican wrestlers taking smackdowns American wrestlers don't want

Health Care news:  
■  At AFL-CIO Now -- Health care tops list of Americans' concerns -- Finding and affording health care cited by 68%, followed by Social Security at 51%. Fear of terrorist attacks comes in 5th.
■  In today’s LA Times -- Most ER patients are insured, study says -- Challenging a common notion that uninsured patients are clogging hospital ERs, study finds they account for 15% of visits.
■  At AFL-CIO Now -- Bush will hit seniors with "prescription drug tax" if they fail to meet deadline
■  In today’s Seattle Times -- The collapse of primary care (op-ed) -- The number of medical students entering family medicine residencies has declined 52% in 7 years. They are shunning careers as family physicians because reimbursement rates for primary care have declined, student-loan debts have skyrocketed, and caring for an aging population has become more challenging.

Other national news:  ■  Bush's NLRB makes new attack on voluntary union recognition
■  In today’s SF Chronicle -- Labor organizing strategy has hotel workers avoiding secret ballot -- "The NLRB (election route) is a death trap'' for labor, says the AFL-CIO's Andy Levin.  But the hotel companies oppose card check elections. They say they are "not against unionization," but want employees to hear "both sides." (Please re-read that last sentence slowly. SayWA?)
■  At MarketWatch.com -- Mutual fund firms have stoked runaway CEO pay, AFSCME report says
■  Our gift to Exxon in today’s NY Times -- GAO report pegs loss of oil royalties at $20 billion, or more
■  In today’s NY Times -- GM lays off hundreds of white-collar employees
■  In today’s King Co. Journal -- "Jobs Bank" sends GM further into the tank (editorial) -- The UAW isn't the only one to point a finger at. The car companies didn't produce what buyers wanted, they didn't control expenses and they didn't hold the line during negotiations with the UAW.
■  In today’s LA Times -- Web software firm enters new outsourcing frontier -- Silicon Space, which once sent work to Asia, now uses a Mexican company and hires commuters from Tijuana.

TUESDAY, MARCH 28  ■  Labor history conference in June to focus on ports, borders

Garbage Strike news:  
■  In today's Seattle Times -- Trash haulers threaten to strike if deal isn't reached by Friday
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Garbage truck drivers threaten to strike -- Drivers for the region's two largest garbage collection companies have voted to strike if negotiations for a new contract don't succeed by midnight Friday. "I'd say the odds of a strike are 50-50," says IBT 174 spokesman.
■  In today's King County Journal -- Union threatens garbage strike -- Waste Management is already lining up managers, salaried employees and scab workers to drive the trucks if there's a strike.

Other local news:
■  Today from AP -- Union dispute ends movie-making effort in Spokane -- A $12 million production moves to Vancouver, B.C. following a strike by IATSE 488. "They signed with the Screen Actors Guild and the Director's Guild of America, but they didn't want to sign with IATSE," says union.
■  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Strike sends movie crew packing -- Spokane can say goodbye to Samuel L. Jackson, 50 Cent and more than 100 jobs from the filming of "Home of the Brave."
■  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Steady Hanford budget proposed -- It would remain steady from the current fiscal year through the next five years under the DOE's latest budget proposal.
■  In today's Everett Herald -- Boeing 777 to stretch to 787 size -- Meanwhile, Boeing has essentially sold all of the 787s it can build through 2011, says 787 chief Mike Bair. Given that, the company and its suppliers are studying whether they can increase its production rates.
■  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Kennewick School District plans $2 million in job, other cuts
■  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Kitsap County files ULP, upping ante in health-care dispute with deputies
■  In today's Bellingham Herald -- Bellingham may pre-pay some pensions -- Flush with a $2.1 million budget surplus, the city may begin to pre-pay future pension costs for employees.
■  In today's Bellingham Herald -- Clear goals let citizens judge public employees (editorial) -- Residents of Whatcom County's 7 cities appear to be getting a fair deal for the salaries they pay city staff.

Legislative news:
■  In today's Olympian -- Gregoire signs small business health care subsidy, soda tax break bills
■  In the Daily News -- Sen. Zarelli hopes for special session -- He says the judge's ruling that voids  2005 tax increases creates the "right kind of mess" and could force lawmakers back to Olympia.
■  In today's Yakima H-R -- Rep. Skinner faces colon cancer surgery -- Known for her buoyant spirit, Skinner vows to return to the public eye this summer and prepare for the 2007 Legislature.

Political news:  
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Purge of felons from voter rolls is halted after judge's ruling -- A judge declares unconstitutional the state law that requires payment of all fines, fees and court costs for  a felon must meet to win back voting rights. (Felons for Rossi™ celebrate legal victory.)
■  In today's News Tribune -- Retired pilot announces another run at Rep. Tami Green's seat
■  In today's Washington Post -- "527" legislation would affect Democrats more -- They are worried about proposals to impose sharp limits on spending by tax-exempt, non-party political groups.
■  In today's Washington Post -- FEC rules exempt blogs from Internet political limits -- Commission grants exemptions to bloggers and activists using the Web to praise and criticize politicians.

Immigration Reform news:  
■  Today from AP -- Senate committee approves immigration bill -- In a bipartisan vote, the panel passes sweeping legislation clearing the way for 11 million illegal aliens to seek citizenship, a victory for demonstrators who spilled into the streets demanding better treatment for immigrants.
■  In today's LA Times -- Immigration fight heats up; Senate action sharpens battle lines in Congress
■  Today from AP -- Poll shows growing fear among immigrants -- A majority says anti-immigration sentiment is growing in this country and are alarmed by the tone of the debate over reform.
■  In today's Washington Post -- Immigrants' voice reaches Hill; reform spawns grassroots movement 
■  In today's LA Times -- How DJs put 500,000 marchers in motion -- The support of LA's Eddie Sotelo and other area DJs turned a protest that was initially expected to draw fewer than 20,000 into a massive march that was one of the largest demonstrations in the city's history.
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Immigration debate reaches deep into Northwest -- Only two states -- California and Florida -- would be more severely affected than Washington, one study says.
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Decline to sign simplistic measure (editorial) -- Bob Baker, an Alaska Airlines pilot from Mercer Island, has filed an initiative to deny illegal immigrants public benefits.

National news:  
■  Today from AP -- White House chief of staff Card resigns -- Bush announcement comes amid growing calls for a White House shakeup and GOP concern about Bush's tumbling poll ratings.
■  In today's NY Times -- Big Oil's big windfall (editorial) -- An oil industry rolling in record profits does not need more tax breaks, but they just got one worth up to $28 billion over the next five years.
■  In today's Wash. Post -- VA health-care system "a model," secretary says -- AFGE's take: "The administration is choosing to play politics when it comes to the care of the nation’s veterans." 
■  Today from AP -- States' support for higher ed lags -- The rapid decline in real spending by states, per student, on higher education is documented in a report released last week.
■  In today's Wash. Post -- Delphi proposes slashing wages -- The auto parts maker has proposed cutting union hourly wages by more than one-third, to $16.50, by the end of next year.
■  In today's NY Times -- GM program paying idle workers looms as major obstacle to survival 

MONDAY, MARCH 27  ■  Grassroots Recruitment & Mobilization workshop on May 12

Local news:  
■  In today's Olympian -- WFSE launches legal salvos in privatization battle -- The largest state worker union has filed five ULP complaints and five appeals of proposed contracting-out rules, hoping to restrain the state’s ability to go to the private sector for contracted workers.
■  In the Seattle P-I -- Ed Penhale, aide to Govs. Locke and Gregoire, dies at 54 

Immigration Reform news:  
■  In the NY Daily News -- Fairness to workers is key to immigration reform (op-ed by AFL-CIO's Linda Chavez-Thompson) -- We need an immigration policy that provides a real path to citizenship for those workers already here and that helps meet the future needs of workers in a fair way. 
■  In today's News Tribune -- Immigration law changes could stymie Washington state's economy
■  In today's NY Times -- Groundswell of protests back illegal immigrants -- More than a half-million demonstrators marched in Los Angeles on Saturday, as many as 300,000 in Chicago on March 10, and -- in between -- tens of thousands in Denver, Phoenix, Milwaukee and elsewhere.
■  Today from Bloomberg -- Bush says law must bring immigrants out of "the shadows"
■  From AP -- Guest worker programs are a tough sell -- Similar programs in the past have been plagued by abuses and have done little to stem the influx of undocumented workers.
■  In today's Washington Post -- Help wanted as immigration faces overhaul -- Bemoans one landscaping contractor: "I don't think it's a wage situation. It's the type of work and the nature of the work. It's hard, backbreaking work. I think (America is) a more affluent society now." (This guy pays $7.74 an hour, and says the lack of applicants is not a "wage situation.")

Political news:
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Rural Dem Peter Goldmark mounts uphill battle in 5th CD (Connelly column)
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Democrats look to Bellevue to add seats -- With a monopoly on Seattle's 18 legislative seats, they hope to expand their domain across Lake Washington. The Evergreen Point Bridge is a direct route -- and a key issue -- to the suburban district they're targeting.
■  From AP -- Fall crop of initiatives likely to lean conservative -- Dems agree they're outflanked, but say some conservative targets, like gay rights and transportation, will also stir up their voters.
■  At the Eat the State blog -- Shame on the Greens and Aaron Dixon -- The party failed to vet their candidate. Now, a good man is being publicly humiliated, his campaign badly damaged, and the Greens are a laughingstock. Ugly. Really ugly. And completely, absolutely unnecessary.

Bend Over... Twice news: 
■  From AP -- Gas prices jump nearly 15 cents in two weeks
■  In today's NY Times -- Vague law, hard lobbying add up to billions for Big Oil -- Through shrewd lobbying and litigation, oil companies were able to sweeten federal incentives for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil company subsidy pushed as "non-controversial" and having "no cost," will cost taxpayers (actually, our children and grandchildren) $7 billion over the next five years.

Other national news:  
■  In today's LA Times -- Hotel campaign signals labor's ascent in L.A. -- LAX-area businesses must deal with a City Hall that is cultivating closer ties to unions.
■  At the Working Life blog -- How monsters grow -- The media has basically ignored the on-going strike of 3,600 Teamsters at Sikorsky Aircraft in Connecticut and Florida, now in its fifth week.

The following story appears in the latest edition of the Voice@Work newsletter distributed by the AFL-CIO. Join the Voice@Work Network and receive these newsletters.

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2006
Labor history conference in June to focus on ports, borders

Download the agenda/registration form (in Word format). For more information, contact PNWLHA President Ross Rieder at 253-875-9498, or TESC Labor Center Director Peter Kardas 360-867-6526.

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2006
Grassroots Recruitment & Mobilization workshop on May 12