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, April 15 -- State workers weigh Union Security vs. Right-to-Shirk (Bender column)
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Snokist strike ends -- About 270 cannery workers (WCIW 3023) on strike for nearly 7 months will return to work this morning in a first step toward ending the bitter labor dispute.
...plus -- DSHS says feds asked agency to withdraw charges against Mattawa day-care providers
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Bechtel to cut 700 more jobs -- That brings the total number of jobs cut at the Hanford vitrification plant in recent weeks to nearly 1,000 workers. Latest layoffs include 350 union construction workers. The additional 350 are not construction workers.
— In today's UW Daily -- UW faculty teams up in lawsuit for unpaid raises
— In today's News Tribune -- Martinac Shipbuilding appeals inability to bid on ferry contract
— In yesterday's Columbian -- Letter Carriers' food drive to be special delivery -- The 12th annual National Association of Letter Carriers food drive on May 14 is happening just in time for local food banks.

Legislative news:  Support the transportation package in Olympia on Tuesday
Today's edition of the pretty-much-weekly WSLC Legislative Update will be published Monday. Today at 5 p.m. is the deadline for non-budget bills to pass the opposite house.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Bill would set study of minimum wage, the highest in the U.S. -- Washington's minimum wage is now $2.20 an hour better than the federal minimum wage -- so good that lawmakers are beginning to listen to business leaders who say it's too high. (Note: Contrary to what this story says, the WSLC is not "opposed" to SB 5551, we have "concerns" about it. The point may be moot because if the bill doesn't pass by 5 p.m. this afternoon, it's dead for the session.)
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Let a majority rule -- Editorial: Today may well be the last chance this year for lawmakers to take the first step toward fairer school levy elections.
— Today from AP -- Bill reworking election process back to House -- Senate votes to make it easier for counties to switch to all-mail elections, but removed House provision making the switch mandatory.
— In The Stranger -- Republican Fink: Blame this Eastside GOP "moderate" if gay rights bills dies -- Many believe the GOP's procedural move to avoid a vote was designed to protect Minority Leader Bill Finkbeiner from having to take a no-win vote.  If the "social moderate" voted his conscience, he would have alienated his anti-gay caucus and quite possibly lost his leadership post.  If he voted against the bill, however, he ran the risk of alienating his moderate-to-liberal district (and subverting his all-important New Republican image, which has some fans clamoring for him to run for higher office).

National news: — In today's Washington Post -- Bankruptcy bill passes, Bush expected to sign -- Bill makes no exceptions for those driven into debt by job loss, sickness, divorce or military duty, but preserves loopholes that enable wealthy individuals who file for bankruptcy to shield unlimited amounts of money in complex trusts and in multimillion-dollar homes. HOW YOUR U.S.  REPRESENTATIVES VOTED:  YES -- Reps. Larsen (who also voted this week to repeal the estate tax), Baird, Hastings, Reichert and McMorris. NO -- Reps. Dicks, Inslee, McDermott and Smith.
— In today's NY Times -- The medical money pit -- Krugman column: Why do advanced countries manage to spend so much less on health care than we do, while getting better results? The reasons include high doctor salaries, a system that drives a poor bargain with the pharmaceutical industry, but above all, paperwork, which accounts for 31 cents of every dollar spent on health care.
...plus -- Long live the estate tax -- Editorial: For the fourth time in four years, the House has passed a bill to permanently repeal the federal estate tax. The Senate should put a stop to this silliness. The only thing driving the push for repealing the estate tax is ideology. It sure isn't sound tax policy.
...plus -- GM, Ford stuck in neutral as buyers look beyond Detroit -- Industry analysts say the U.S. automakers have gone off course for a basic reason: not enough people like their cars.
— In today's LA Times --  UAW is unwilling to reopen GM contract over health care

THURSDAY, April 14 -- Reject flawed CAFTA, union leaders tell Congress
— National CAFTA Call-In Day update -- Your faithful webmaster's congressman, Rep. Jay Inslee, is still "undecided" on CAFTA while he reviews the measure. Let us know what your U.S. Representative's position was when you called yesterday -- or call today at 202-225-3121. (Sorry, it's your dime now).
— In today's Washington Post -- Sugar sours CAFTA hearing -- Proponents face a tough fight. Criticism coming not only from Democrats, who have grown increasingly hostile toward free trade in recent years, but from Republicans, especially those worried about CAFTA's impact on U.S. sugar producers, a politically potent industry that has long enjoyed protection from foreign competition.
— In today's Seattle Times -- Should Congress ratify the CAFTA?  "No" op-ed -- "Yes" op-ed
Olympia news: — In today's Olympian -- House OKs half of Senate's election package -- House passes ESSB 5034 56-40 to restore the decade-old "affiliation rule" that was set aside last year.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- "We've had an awful session..." -- Tempers flare with broken deals and delay tactics. Bad feelings from aborted stem-cell and gay rights bills spill over into other issues. Transportation package in trouble; Dem Sens. Hargrove and Sheldon say they're opposed.
...plus -- Gregoire calls state's rising health care costs a "crisis" -- Governor appoints business exec to deal with it, but assures, "Controlling health care costs does not mean cutting people's health care."
Local news: — In the News Tribune -- Motions fly on illegal votes -- Knowing how your neighborhood voted doesn’t mean you know how each of your neighbors voted. That’s the crux of an argument made by Democrats in Dino "I-Can-Take-Or-Leave-Politics" Rossi's desperate lawsuit for a do-over.
...plus -- Workers needed all the livelong day -- Voelpel column: Tacoma Rail needs to supersize its work force of switch operators -- and fast. Here's how to apply.
— In today's Everett Herald -- Cost of cost-cutting consultant at Stevens Hospital tops $3 million
National news: — In today's Washington Post -- Wal-Mart leaves bitter chill -- The retailing behemoth, whose $10 billion annual profits are based on low prices, low expenses and its relentless pace of store openings, announced it will shut the doors of a Quebec store on May 6 after workers voted to make this the first unionized Wal-Mart in North America. "It's like we are digging our own grave," said one store employee, a single mother with no other job to go to, as she helped pack up the store.
— In today's NY Times -- True to ritual, House votes for full repeal of estate tax -- Rep. Rick Larsen votes "yes;" he's the only member of our state delegation to break with their party in the 272-162 vote.
— In today's LA Times -- Political payrolls include families -- Dozens of members of Congress have paid relatives for campaign work, records show. The practice, though legal, is coming under scrutiny.
— In today's Washington Post -- The loneliest Republican -- Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), the only Republican in Congress to call for Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) to resign as House majority leader, walked in late to a committee meeting yesterday and got the cold shoulder from a longtime colleague, Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.). When Burton barely acknowledged Shays, Shays put a hand on Burton's and inquired, "Dan, is everything okay?"

WEDNESDAY, April 13 -- TODAY is National Call-In Day to oppose CAFTA -- CAFTA hearings begin today with testimony from the AFL-CIO's Linda Chavez-Thompson, among others.
Call Congress toll-free at 1-888-355-3588 and encourage your representatives to vote against CAFTA.
For more information, visit the AFL-CIO's CAFTA-FTAA page or go to www.StopCAFTA.org.
State news: — In today's Seattle P-I -- State's jobless rate falls to 4-year low -- The state's adjusted rate now matches the nation's unemployment rate for the first time since March 1998. Historically, the state's rate hovers about 1% above the national level because of a high number of seasonal workers.
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- State names new chief labor negotiator -- Steve McLain spent 14 years at L&I and served as deputy director of the Labor Relations Office in the last round of bargaining.
— In today's Seattle Times -- Report cites CPS errors, caseworker load in deaths -- Rookie caseworker carrying four times as many cases as the industry standard conducted lackadaisical investigations.
— In today's NY Times -- A dogfight between jetliners -- A funny thing happened while the U.S. was crying foul over Europe's subsidies to Airbus: Boeing suddenly started booking orders for planes.
— Today from AP -- France considers government aid for Airbus to develop 787 rival
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Bechtel to announce more layoffs Thursday -- The company has already laid off 276 construction workers in recent weeks, from a total work force of about 3,500.
National news: — Today from AP -- Bush urged to focus on Social Security solvency -- Concerned the debate has become mired in the conflict over private investment accounts, Senate Republicans want Bush to switch his focus to the retirement program's looming insolvency and how to fix it.
— In today's Washington Post -- UFCW charges Wal-Mart with Unfair Labor Practices -- Union seeks papers on purported anti-union payments by a former executive fired for allegedly fake expenses.
...plus -- "Get Wal-Mart" bill is just for show -- Pearlstein column: I doubt politicians would be so eager to join efforts to punish the country's largest employer if the NLRB hadn't effectively abolished the right of Americans to join labor unions. Wal-Mart is hardly the only company to thumb its nose at the Wagner Act, but it is one of the biggest and most brazen in its anti-union techniques. If faced with a credible threat that employees might unionize, Wal-Mart would have no choice but to offer better wages and health benefits. And unions could spend their time organizing workers and negotiating contracts rather than having to resort to political retribution in the form of punitive employment laws.
— In today's LA Times -- Safeway CEO earned $19.5 million in '04 -- Compensation for Steven Burd was up 39% in a year when the grocery company tried to rebound from a labor dispute in California. "This is outrageous," says a UFCW official in L.A., "They are just taking our money and giving it to him."
— In today's News Tribune -- Poll shows support for immigration reform -- Kondracke column: Despite agitation for a restrictionist immigration policy, a new poll shows surprising support for proposals to allow foreigners and illegal immigrants to obtain work permits and earn their way to citizenship.
— In today's NY Times -- Republicans may hasten showdown on judicial filibusters
— Today from Knight Ridder -- Drug prices climb sharply -- Prescription drug prices climbed at least twice as much as inflation for the fifth consecutive year, an AARP study shows.
— A related story in today's Onion -- Cost of living now outweighs benefits

TUESDAY, April 12 -- Call your legislators: Urge support for transportation package
— Today from AP -- House Transportation Committee slims down gas-tax plan
— In today's Seattle P-I -- House panel proposes gas-tax increases -- Package is for "bipartisan roads, and we're going to need bipartisan votes," said transportation committee chair Rep. Ed Murray.
...plus -- Now, close the deal -- Editorial: Politics dictates that the transportation package must have  bipartisan support. Saving lives, moving people and delivering goods should be bipartisan issues.
— Today from AP -- Beware of "Tab Creep" -- Short on ideas, initiative profiteer Tim Eyman may seek to relive glory days with another $30 car-tab measure. In the process, he coins himself a new nickname.
Other Olympia news: — In today's Seattle P-I -- Plan for health cuts stir alarm -- Budget cuts could jeopardize the welfare of poor, elderly and disabled people who straddle a precarious line between getting treatment or going without, between living independently or moving into nursing homes.
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- TV ads to target Tim Sheldon, others over gay-rights vote
State news: — In today's Olympian -- Survey: 63% of state's employers offer full-timers health care -- Of those, 53% pay the entire cost; 46% offer paid sick leave and 73% give paid vacation.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- DOE to slash Hanford, group claims -- Over the next 5 years, the DOE wants to halve the annual cleanup budget from about $2 billion a year to $1 billion, says coalition.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Northwest poised to order 787s, sources say -- Airline may be looking to order up to 18 of the Boeing jets. One complication could be talks between Northwest and its unions.
— Today from AP -- Bleeding airlines can't gain altitude -- The industry has no easy way to turn around its fortunes, analysts say. Factors such as soaring fuel prices are beyond its control. And a legacy of inefficient operations will take a few more years -- and contract negotiations -- to fix.
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Alaska governor: ANWR drilling means jobs for Washington state
...plus -- Whatcom Democrats, Rep. Larsen host Social Security forum Saturday
— In today's Everett Herald -- Wal-Mart largely opposed at Stanwood rezoning hearing
At AFLCIO.org -- Shareholders fight to curb runaway CEO pay -- In 2004, the average CEO of a major company received $9.84 million in total compensation, a 12% increase over 2003, while the average worker’s paycheck grew only 3.6%. See the new the AFL-CIO Executive PayWatch report.
— In today's LA Times -- AFL-CIO targets "excessive CEO pay"
— A related editorial in today's Wash. Post -- The rich get richer -- With Medicaid and food stamps on the chopping block, Congress is about to pass a $290 billion tax break for the richest sliver of Americans.
— A related story in today's NY Times -- Falling fortunes of wage earners -- Wages for the average American worker fell last year, after adjusting for inflation, the first such drop in nearly a decade. Is it a temporary dip or does it portend a deeper shift that may cause Americans' pay to lag for years?
— A related story today from Reuters -- Trade deficit widens more than expected to another all-time record 
— A related story in today Washington Post -- Maryland legislature overrides governor on free trade -- Maryland joins a growing movement among politicians at the state level to reject provisions of free-trade agreements that apply to state governments.

MONDAY, April 11 -- Condotta: There's a "ton" of snowboard-type UI abuse  (CORRECTION)
— In today's Olympian -- State employee pay raises sweep House, governor, Senate budgets -- "I don't know if it's a done deal, but it's looking very positive," said WSLC President Rick Bender.
...plus -- Budget talks get started this week -- Most say the talks will be easier and quicker than usual.
— In Sunday's Bellingham Herald -- Jobless benefit changes opposed by some business interests
— In today's Yakima H-R -- "Floating coalition" still a dream -- Rep. Bruce Chandler (R-Granger) is especially steamed about Boeing's support for EHB 2255 changing unemployment benefits.
— Sunday from AP -- Gas tax plan likely to stall without both parties' help
— In Sunday's Olympian -- Gas tax plan has merit -- Editorial: Given the rapid rise of gasoline prices, voters might be sensitive to any proposal to add to the cost of a gallon of gas. But legislators are paid to lead... It's time to look to the long-range transportation needs of this state.
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- Discord among lawmakers over state foot ferries
— In today's Peninsula Daily News -- Sen. Hargrove defends his vote against gay rights bill -- "If people are unhappy with that, then their solution is at ballot box.''
Local news: — In today's Everett Herald -- Brightwater safety plan gets OK -- Changes approved in 2nd environmental review; construction on the 114-acre site is on schedule to start by the end of the year.
...plus --  Canceled deals mar Boeing's order total ...plus -- U.S. hesitates on jet subsidies 
— In today's Seattle Times -- With 10-jet Korean Airlines deal, 787 hits 200-order milestone
— In Saturday's Seattle P-I -- Latina child care workers in Mattawa sue DSHS; searches challenged
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Day-care providers gather to celebrate a victory, plan another
— In Sunday's King County Journal -- "Yes" vote on levy will keep Valley Medical strong (editorial)
National news: — In today's LA Times -- Trade groups join Bush on Social Security -- While business groups convey support to the White House -- and funnel money to the Social Security campaign -- individual companies that make up the trade groups are declining to take a public position. A survey of the 20 largest U.S. companies found only two willing to publicly support Bush's proposal.
— In today's Washington Post -- In Britain, Thatcher's privatization of pension system has fallen flat
— In today's NY Times -- Ailing health care -- Krugman column: America does face a real crisis -- but it's in health care, not Social Security. Well-informed business executives agree. A recent survey of chief financial officers at major corporations found that 65 percent regard immediate action on health care costs as "very important." Only 31 percent said the same about Social Security reform.
— In today's LA Times -- Wages are lagging behind prices -- Inflation has outpaced the rise in salaries for the first time in 14 years. And workers are paying a bigger share of the cost of their health care.
...plus -- United faces possible strikes -- Two unions -- representing 6,800 mechanics (AMFA) and 19,500 other ground workers (IAM) -- are threatening to strike if the airline persuades a bankruptcy judge to annul their contracts and impose another round of wage and benefit cuts.

Previous weeks' news: April 4-8 -- March 28-April 1 -- March 21-25

FRIDAY, APRIL 15
Support the transportation package in Olympia on Tuesday

THURSDAY, APRIL 14
Reject flawed CAFTA, union leaders tell Congress

TUESDAY, APRIL 12
Call your legislators: Urge support for transportation package

MONDAY, APRIL 11
Rep. Condotta: There's a "ton" of snowboarder-type UI abuse

CORRECTION -- In Friday's edition of the WSLC Legislative Update, Rep. Cary Condotta (R-East Wenatchee) is misquoted as having referred to people exploiting the Unemployment Insurance system to take winter months off as "snowmobilers."  And a previous reference at this website to Condotta's House floor speech on EHB 2255 makes it appear as though he were referring to all "seasonal" workers who collect unemployment benefits as such.