UPDATED DAILY  M-F by 9 a.m. Pacific

Links to commercial press stories are functional at the date of posting. In some cases, links "expire" when the source would like to begin charging you for old news. 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 April 14-18, 2003

Previous weeks' news:  April 7-11 -- March 31-April 4 -- March 24-28

FRIDAY, April 18 -- WSLC Legislative Update: Finally, some balance in the House
...plus a MUST-READ column:  New DOL rules a leftover Gingrich effort to "weaken" labor -- In a 1992 letter, Rep. Newt Gingrich urged the former Bush administration's Labor Secretary "to institute changes in the LM-2 union reporting and disclosure form" -- exactly the form DOL Secretary Chao is now altering -- because new rules would "weaken our opponents and encourage our allies."
— In today's Olympian -- Senate OKs 5-cent gas-tax increase, compromise with House said near
...plus -- House budget clears committee hurdle -- Rep. Kelli Linville (D-Bellingham) votes "no," and Rep. Laura Ruderman (D-Kirkland) is among the other Dems who vow to oppose budget in floor vote.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- House plan starts real budget work (editorial)
...plus -- Debate heats up as tech jobs go overseas -- "These are probably not jobs that people in the U.S. want to do," says the founder of Seattle-based vCustomer Corp., which has hired 2,500 workers to operate three massive call centers in India. By Christmas, he plans to have 5,000 workers there.
— In today's News Tribune -- House plan to raise sales tax could hurt economic recovery (editorial)
...plus -- Guards' union (AFSCME), Pierce County trade fire over new jail
— In yesterday's Yakima H-R -- Business-sought reforms are likely casualties of legislative session
— In today's Seattle Times -- Last day at Boeing for 557 area workers; 1,030 new layoff notices
...plus -- American Airlines withheld info about exec bonuses, outraged unions may nix deal
— In today's King Co. Journal -- Union (IBT 117) balks as Associated Grocers' seeks concessions -- CFO says the company has a contingency plan in place for delivering goods should a strike occur.
— In today's Salem S-J -- Oregon governor eyes PERS reform but unions oppose idea, threaten suit
Today at AFLCIO.org -- Corporations cost taxpayers billions by reincorporating overseas
— In today's Washington Post -- Culture of loopholes bred corporate abuse
...plus -- Defense firms get pension help; taxpayers on hook for underfunded plans -- In a quirk of defense contracting, the Pentagon is obligated to make up most of the pension deficits for companies that make the military's fighter jets, tanks and bombs.

THURSDAY, April 17 -- News from Olympia:
— In today's Olympian -- Democrats unveil budget, plus House faces long battle over tax increases
...plus -- Senate votes to suspend yearly I-732 teacher pay increases
— In today's Seattle Times -- WEA ad campaign riles Democratic allies -- "If they want a Republican in my seat, that's fine," said Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, and husband of a schoolteacher. "(Republicans) want to voucher their asses into the church basement."
...plus -- Talks break down over workers' compensation reform
— today's Seattle P-I -- Bill to block tests for farmworker pesticide exposure is toxic (editorial)
— In today's News Tribune -- Woman (and 5,000 petitioners) protest Fircrest School closure
— In today's Everett Herald -- Raising the sales tax isn't the right solution (editorial)
Other labor news:
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Intalco workers (IAM) protest proposed BPA power-rate hike
— In today's News Tribune -- Murray: Bush's visit to Boeing plant "ironic, amazing"
— In today's King County Journal -- New longer-range Boeing 737-900X model proposed
— In yesterday's Ellensburg Daily Record -- Central Washington University faculty seek union vote
— In today's Oregonian -- Nine assistant city attorneys in Vancouver form union (AFSCME) -- City Attorney Ted Gathe said he thinks unionizing professional workers is inappropriate.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Contract talks stall for Seattle Community College faculty
...plus -- Boeing is a hot topic in state's economic cauldron (Virgin column)
...plus -- Airline execs want to stay in first class -- at taxpayer expense -- Means Column: Airlines have received $18.5 billion (and counting) in taxpayer bailouts. Meanwhile, Delta CEO Leo Mullin got $13 million last year, after making $2.2 million in 2001. Suddenly the poster boy of greedy CEOs, Mullin agreed under pressure to a 25% pay cut next year, so he will be forced to get by on $9 million.
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Flight attendants narrowly approve concessions at American Airlines
...plus -- A soft economy, tax-cut plan loom large in Bush's re-election plan -- The Congressional Budget Office concluded in March that the overall effect on the economy of the president's tax cuts and spending plans would be negligible. But Bush keeps pushing it anyway to appear "engaged."
...plus -- Many corporate pension funds assumed outsize gains -- Nearly half made assumptions about their investment returns for 2002 that would be deemed too aggressive by federal regulators, translating into billions of dollars for corporate America's collective bottom line.
— In today's Washington Post -- Pension deficits could cost firms billions (Boeing is one of them.)
— Today from the BBC -- Wine giant Gallo "squeezed out" farm workers' union
— Today from Newsday -- Actors oppose proposed SAG, AFTRA merger -- Dissidents include Rhoda, guy from Adam 12, Cagney (not Lacey), "Bad Boy" Esai Morales and "actor" Rob Schneider.

WEDNESDAY, April 16 -- New budget ads: "Fate of our communities hangs in the balance"
— In today's Olympian -- House to propose small sales tax increase -- $730 million in new revenue... State employees would have pay frozen this year and get 2% raise next year; 2,300 would lose jobs.
— In today's Seattle Times -- Unemployment tax overhaul in the works -- Would again address equity issue nixed by BIAW's referendum, but would extend benefit freeze. Labor excluded from talks.
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Prayer, politics mix for home health workers
— In yesterday's Columbian -- BPA proposes adjustable rate increase -- Rally today in Portland!
...plus -- Sen. Carlson comes close to reviving simple majority school-levy measure
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Senate's budget plan puts 68,720 kids at risk
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Lawmakers scramble to sway Boeing in 7E7 competition
...plus -- More budget cuts for Seattle; parks, libraries, City Light targeted
...plus -- GOP looks for Pullen successor -- Sen. Johnson a frontrunner; Sen. Roach not interested.
— In today's News Tribune -- Kent Pullen: A private man who excelled in a public role
...plus -- CEO: Weyerhaeuser must reinvent itself to be more efficient, profitable
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Spokane fire fighters want ambulance deal
— In today's Idaho Statesman -- Senate passes 1-cent tax hike; GOP governor says it's not enough
AFL-CIO Call to Action -- Tell President Bush, Congress: JOBS, not tax cuts for the rich!
— In today's N.Y. Times -- The home front war on taxes -- Editorial: It is incredible to see a wartime president demanding a tax cut that would, in an instant, require a record $984 billion increase in the national debt, to $7.384 trillion, with annual deficits of $400 billion and more under a Republican Party that once bragged of budgetary rectitude.
— In today's Washington Post -- Outrageous CEO pay still a sore point
...plus -- American Airlines awaits key vote; bankruptcy hinges on flight attendants
— At LaborNotes.org -- Digging in the dirt: How to research your employer

TUESDAY, April 15 -- CALL TO ACTION: Tell House leaders to fund home-care contract
...plus yesterday -- CALL TO ACTION: It's not too late for real prescription drug reform
— In today's Olympian -- House budget expected to include a tax increase
...plus -- Prescription drug bill may move forward in the Senate
— In today's Seattle Times -- Businesses fears college cuts; higher education already lags
...plus in a RELATED STORY -- Senate OKs (more) tax breaks for businesses (Hel-looooo?!)
— Another RELATED STORY in yesterday's Columbian -- Budget ads target legislators -- More than a dozen business groups ran full-page newspaper ads last week urging citizens to tell their representatives to adopt a budget that doesn't raise taxes. Higher taxes mean fewer jobs, according to the ad, which pictures a man cleaning out his cubicle and staring into the camera, pensively.
— In yesterday's Walla Walla U-B -- Progress made in approving needed gas tax (editorial)
— In today's King County Journal -- Boeing drivers approve new 3-year contract (IBT 174)
...plus -- Reservists lose temp jobs after military stints -- Chief Warrant Officer James Bennett and Sgt. Allen Olson say Volt, one of the largest employers of temporary workers at Microsoft Corp., terminated them -- a practice that may be legal, even if the temp job is ongoing.
— In today's Everett Herald -- Everett port's proposal could help lure Boeing 7E7
— In today's Seattle P-I -- A Boeingless future is a real possibility (editorial)
...plus -- King County Councilman Kent Pullen dies at age 60 -- Pullen was stridently pro-union, one of the few issues that set him apart from other conservatives.
Today at AFLCIO.org -- Equal Pay Day, April 15 is a taxing time
At UFCW.org -- Whole Foods workers launch nationwide ad campaign
— In today's Washington Post -- The price of liberty -- Dionne column: On April 15, anti-government and anti-tax groups annually try to convince us we live under a money-grabbing, rights-destroying regime... They ignore that our personal and collective prosperity depends on strong and effective government. No government, no property. No government, no security from looting, theft or violence. No government, no national defense. No government, no social stability. No government, no food inspections, no environmental protection, no safeguards for workplace rights, no social insurance.
— In today's L.A. Times -- Energy firms insist they broke no rules in California chaos of 2000-01
— In today's N.Y. Times -- With Iraq hostilities winding down, Bush to campaign for tax-cut plan
...plus -- Behind our backs -- Krugman column: As the war began, Congress passed a resolution declaring their support for the troops. Then they voted to slash veterans' benefits. That scene demonstrated the belief of the Republican leadership that if it wraps itself in the flag, and denounces critics as unpatriotic, it can get away with just about anything. The scary thing: They may be right.

MONDAY, April 14 -- Call to Action: It's not too late for real prescription drug reform
— In Saturday's Seattle Times -- Pressure increases for action on prescription drug bill
— In the P.S. Business Journal, a series on Boeing's 7E7 -- Fewer workers, more outsourcing on new jet -- Tough contest ahead over 7E7 -- Bidders for 7E7 work will include Kansas and Texas -- Some states dangle big incentives to lure plants -- Boeing has made its message clear (editorial)
— In today's News Tribune -- Battle for 7E7 can help state stay competitive (editorial)
...plus today -- Broadway Center stagehands want to take a strike vote
— In the Spokane Journal of Business -- Unions here (UA 44, UBC) buy buildings, to move
— In today's Seattle P-I -- What may be pathetic is lawmaker's behavior (Connelly column re: West)
— In Sunday's Olympian -- Laid-back Locke suddenly everywhere; Berendt thinks he'll seek 3rd term
— In today's UW Daily -- Backers push Locke to partially veto immigrant-student tuition bill
— In today's Salem S-J -- Collective bargaining bill dismays Oregon farm workers
At AFLCIO.org -- Workers lose jobs, CEO pay continues to rise
— In today's L.A. Times -- Texas workers (IAM) vote to strike Lockheed plant
...plus -- Plan to combine SAG, AFTRA advances; members will get final say in vote this summer
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Medicare caught up in politics as GOP pursues Bush plan to privatize
— In today's Washington Post -- Farce, tragedy and taxes -- Editorial: This year's budget resolutions turned into something of a soap opera in the final days and hours... The end result, though, is more than inside-the-Beltway psychodrama. It's a story with enormous consequences for the country, about equal parts tragedy and farce.

Previous weeks' news:  April 7-11 -- March 31-April 4 -- March 24-28

In Friday's WSLC Legislative Update, we offered a somewhat pessimistic assessment of the prospects for HB 1214, the prescription drug bill creating a preferred drug list and state purchasing consortium that would save the state and consumers millions. But the bill's backers in Olympia, including prime sponsor Rep. Eileen Cody (D-Seattle), still say the effort has a fighting chance.

"It's never over until it's over around here," Cody said (see story in Saturday's Seattle Times). "Alex Deccio wants to see something done, and so do I. We're both pretty cagey." For his part Sen. Deccio (R-Yakima) said: "I'm not very happy, because I think this is one of the most important bills of the session. It would be a tragedy if it doesn't pass, because we've never gotten this far with a drug bill before."

The problem appears to be Senate Majority Leader Jim West (R-Spokane) and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Dino Rossi (R-Sammamish), both of whom say they prefer a far less ambitious drug bill -- dubbed as a "placebo" by critics -- that offers limited assistance to some seniors with their drug costs.

CALL TO ACTION: We know many of you have contacted your State Senators already on this issue (if you haven't, what are you waiting for? Call 1-800-562-6000, and leave a message for them to support HB 1214 in its original form as it overwhelmingly passed the House).  At this point, we need to contact Sens. West, Rossi and Deccio directly.

Please e-mail Sen. Dino Rossi at rossi_di@leg.wa.gov, Sen. Jim West at west_ji@leg.wa.gov and Sen. Alex Deccio at deccio_al@leg.wa.gov, and ask that they allow a fair democratic (small "d") vote on HB 1214.

The Senate Health Care Committee nonsensically gutted the bill with an amendment that replaced the entire thing with language identical to the "placebo" bill that had already passed the Senate. Now Rossi is saying there's no need to consider HB 1214 in his committee where it languishes. He argues that the Senate already passed it.

But if HB 1214 passes the Senate, even in its amended form, it can be fixed by a conference committee that hashes out the differences between bills amended by either house. So the effort to pass real prescription drug reform this year is still alive, as long as Rossi and West allow votes on HB 1214.