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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 April 21-25, 2003

Previous weeks' news: April 14-18 --  April 7-11 -- March 31-April 4

FRIDAY, April 25 -- WSLC Legislative Update: Fast and furious budget action
Other legislative news:
— In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing's wish list gets strong legislative push
...plus -- Movement seen on budget pact -- House leaders indicated they were ready to bend on some of their key budget priorities — including their call for tax increases and cost-of-living raises for teachers and other public employees.
...plus -- Health-plan cuts will likely sting the working poor -- Basic Health Plan participants work at major corporations such as Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Nordstrom and Costco that offer coverage, but they cannot pay their share of the premiums or do not work enough hours to qualify. In all, more than 23,000 companies in Washington have at least one worker or a dependent enrolled in Basic Health.
— In today's News Tribune -- Agreement possible today on transportation budget
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Locke's veto to ensure in-state tuition for migrant workers' kids
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Locke's got it right on in-state tuition bill (editorial)
— In today's Olympian -- House again passes prescription drug reform
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Businesses agree on unemployment benefit cuts (nice of 'em)
— In today's Everett Herald -- Special session isn't needed -- Editorial: If House doesn't buckle on the budget, "it could be read... as shameless opportunism because of West's impending absence."
Other labor news:
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Valley nurses, technicians organize, but not Deaconess nurses
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Poulsbo Wal-Mart opponents shop for more options -- Come to Kitsap for a "March Against Wal-Mart" starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Poulsbo Village shopping center.
— In today's News Tribune -- Worker Memorial Day event Monday in Tacoma -- Learn about others.
— In today's Yakima H-R -- More layoffs in works for Hi-Country Foods (IBT 524)
— In today's King County Journal -- Kent lays of 30 city workers
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Nethercutt remains undecided on U.S. Senate race
— In today's Seattle P-I -- GOP worried about who will fill Pullen's council seat
— In today's Salem S-J -- Oregon PERS bill passes first test, heads to House for likely passage
— In the Wichita Business Journal -- IAM plans Wichita, national effort to keep aerospace jobs
At AFLCIO.org -- Bush ultraconservative court-packing drive picks up steam
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Bush takes tax-cut(-for-the-rich) battle on the road
...plus in a related story -- IRS to ask working poor for exhaustive proof of tax-credit eligibility
...plus -- GOP hypocrisy (Dan Savage op-ed on Sen. Rick Santorum's remarks about homosexuals.)
— In BusinessWeek online -- What was (American Airline CEO) Don Carty thinking?
...plus -- Reading a CEO's paycheck -- Since analysts level little if any criticism at bosses who reap rich rewards regardless of performance, investors should look for themselves.
— In today's Washington Post -- American Airlines chief executive ousted
...plus -- 20 years of school bashing -- Op-ed: Blaming public schools for social ills has a long and dishonorable history... Overall, the infamous 1983 report, "A Nation at Risk," was a grand April Fools' joke. No Child Left Behind shows we haven't learned a thing in 20 years.

THURSDAY, April 24 -- Think Before You Ink: Initiative 807 is a recipe for fiscal disaster
News from Olympia:
— In today's Olympian -- New House budget has half the tax hikes, plus State workers stake claim
— In today's Seattle Times -- House Democratic leaders say they'll back 5-cent gas-tax increase
— In today's News Tribune -- Prescription drug bill takes small step forward in the House
...plus -- State transportation package hits same old roadblock: Cars vs. buses (editorial)
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Changing times may hit unemployment benefits
...plus -- Senate Majority Leader Jim West has cancer
...plus -- Measure tax deals -- Editorial: (The state legislature) should make performance audits a condition for tax breaks for business. Those who support performance audits for state spending should also support accountability in tax policy.
— In today's Seattle Times -- A veto to help Washington's children -- Editorial: Wednesday, Locke told The Seattle Times he would veto a Senate-added section in a House bill that gutted its original intent: to permit state colleges to charge undocumented students in-state tuition.
...plus -- House Speaker Frank Chopp asserts leadership -- Chopp's heavy-handed leadership has been obvious on one of this year's most divisive issues: pay raises to 26,000 home health-care workers... When the pay-raise issue came up in a House Appropriations Committee hearing, Chopp made a rare appearance, sitting front and center, wearing a purple tie — the SEIU's trademark color.
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Gov. Locke signs Kitsap Transit's passenger-only ferry bill
Other labor news:
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Intalco to lay off 125, plant closure likely if BPA hikes rate
...plus -- BPA faces congressional inquiry over proposed rate increase
— In today's Olympian -- Hundreds mourn fallen workers at ceremony -- Learn more.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Blunt questions raised over 7E7's viability
— In today's Everett Herald -- Murray's efforts offer unemployment relief where it's needed (editorial)
— In today's Seattle Times -- Equipment proposal sparks rift between Seattle, suburban fire fighters
— In today's Salem (Oregon) S-J -- PERS bill may save billions, plus Farm workers may get breaks
— In today's Washington Post -- Ullico forces chairman Georgine out amid stock-trading dispute
...plus -- American Airlines on brink of banruptcy as CEO meets with three union leaders
...plus -- Transportation Department to let truckers drive longer, rest more
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Accord on asbestos claims said near
...plus -- Gephardt proposal would repeal Bush tax cut, offer near-universal health insurance
...plus -- For the first time, proposals attach price to universal health care

WEDNESDAY, April 23
At AFLCIO.org -- Locked-out Peterbilt workers take message to Paccar shareholders
— In today's Seattle Times -- High-tech business tax breaks spark political fight
— In today's Seattle P-I -- People before tax breaks for business -- Sen. Brown op-ed: By providing even more tax breaks for business, Republicans go beyond an all-cuts budget. They must cut deeper than is necessary just so they can grant and extend tax breaks. This may be good for some select businesses, but it will surely move Washington backward.
...plus -- Paccar stock in overdrive; locked-out Peterbilt workers protest at meeting
...plus -- State faces lots of competition to build new 7E7
— In today's Everett Herald -- 7E7 or not, we need to get more competitive (editorial)
— In today's King County Journal -- Tri-county group organizes to keep Boeing jobs in area
...plus -- 5 days left to pass road plan; transportation could be off table in extended session
— In today's News Tribune --Help for laid-off Boeing workers; thank you, Sen. Murray (editorial)
...plus -- In Olympia, who's looking out for the common good? (Burbank column)
— In yesterday's Columbian -- Complaint alleges city retaliated over union (AFSCME) issue
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Empire nurses, technicians to vote on union (SEIU 1199NW)
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Migrant tuition bill OK'd; Locke's partial veto would restore bill's intent
At AFLCIO.org -- Union activists join in national campaign against tax cuts for the wealthy
— In today's L.A. Times -- Unions to campaign against tax cuts
...plus -- Appeals court rules for Bush on requiring contractors to post union membership notices
— In today's Washington Post -- Bush tax plan more political than economic -- Pearlstein column: The justification for this tax cut is now so elusive it could be categorized as a faith-based initiative.
— In today's N.Y. Times -- A matter of trust -- Editorial: Even if the unions decide to abide by their original concessions, American Airlines has already paid in terms of workers' trust — exactly the kind of trust that the airlines will need as they try to revive their faltering industry.

TUESDAY, April 22 -- Worker Memorial Day observances planned across state
— In today's Seattle Times -- Compensation at last, for some radiation-exposed Hanford workers
...plus -- 7E7 facing powerful resistance, report says -- Board members Harry Stonecipher and John McDonnell argue that the 7E7 is too costly and Boeing should focus on maximizing profit from its existing jetliner models and continue expanding its defense, aerospace and finance businesses.
— In today's King County Journal -- Air Force eyes more uses for 767, including surveillance
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing plan to lease planes to Air Force has Enron-style twist
...plus -- A nickel to go -- Editorial: There is nothing the Legislature can do to create jobs more than boosting transportation revenue and spending. But the House penny-per-year plan is too little too late.
— In yesterday's P.S. Business Journal -- Teamsters OK strike if Associated Growers talks stall
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Wal-Mart's coming to Poulsbo... and a fight's brewing
— In today's Everett Herald -- Market forces closure at Crown Pacific mill in Marysville
— In today's News Tribune -- Nurses in greatest demand, says new report
— In today's UW Daily -- State House sends amended immigrant tuition bill to governor
— In today's L.A. Times -- Taking the initiative too far? -- Tim Eyman goes national in this front-page story hailing him as "the Moses of the tax-burdened masses."
— In today's N.Y. Times -- For 2004, Bush's aides plan last-minute sprint for re-election
...plus -- Try telling the politicians in Maine that tax cuts are a great blessing (op-ed)
...plus -- Jobs, jobs, jobs -- Krugman column: The average U.S. worker earns only about $40,000 per year; why does Bush, even by his own estimates, need to offer $500,000 in tax cuts for each job created?  Wouldn't it be far cheaper just to have the government hire people?  Franklin Roosevelt put the unemployed to work doing all kinds of useful things; why not do something similar now?
— In today's Washington Post -- American Airlines chief backpedals as 2nd union demands revote
...plus -- CEOs you don't want in the cockpit -- Meyerson column: The real problem is that American Airlines CEO Don Carty isn't all that exceptional among his fellow corporate statesmen... When these guys think of shared sacrifice, the saps get the sacrifice and they get the shares.

MONDAY, April 21 -- Get the word out to union members: Think Before You Ink I-841
...plus a reminder -- Rally TOMORROW in Bellevue, tell PACCAR to end Peterbilt lockout
— In today's Olympian -- Budget gulf is significant -- Editorial: It's incumbent upon lawmakers to properly fund the institutions of government, take care of the vulnerable and lend a helping hand to those on the margins of society. If that means a modest tax increase, so be it.
...plus Saturday -- House Democrats could dump sales tax increase
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Senate winning, House losing at budget game (AP)
...plus -- A dozen female nurses allege sexual harassment at Western State Hospital
— In today's News Tribune -- Why did Western State fail to protect its female employees? (editorial)
...plus today -- Economic development strategists have plan for wooing Boeing 7E7
...plus -- Who has the best road map? House (Rep. Simpson op-ed), Senate (Sen. Swecker op-ed)
— In Sunday's Yakima Herald -- Democrats' tax ideas are taxing, indeed (editorial)
— In Sunday's King County Journal -- House proposes bad budget for troubled times (editorial)
...plus -- Corporate executives urge action to boost economic climate
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Job training programs more important than ever (Sen. Carlson op-ed)
— In today's Seattle Times -- Washington state has edge over California in teacher migration
— In today's Washington Post -- Error fuels federal outsourcing concerns -- Bush says forcing federal employees to compete with the private sector always saves money. But a decision to outsource 650 Defense Department positions could cost taxpayers $30 million, an inspector general has found.
— In today's USAToday -- Health care costs, more than taxes, drain small business
— In today's N.Y. Times -- U.S. limiting costs of drugs for Medicare
— In today's L.A. Times -- Advocates for farm workers seek ban on hand weeding

Previous weeks' news: April 14-18 --  April 7-11 -- March 31-April 4

THURSDAY,  APRIL 24
Think Before You Ink: I-807 is a recipe for fiscal disaster

Love him or hate him, Tim Eyman has rolled out the 2003 product from his initiative business: Initiative 807.

I-807 is a recipe for fiscal disaster.

I-807 would impose a new super-majority requirement for legislative approval of tax increases or repeal of business tax breaks, unless they are approved by voters. Most agree a two-thirds majority would be almost unattainable. Given voters’ history of demanding improved services, teacher pay raises, smaller class sizes, etc. while also cutting taxes that pay for them, I-807 is a recipe for fiscal disaster. And it comes at a time our state is struggling to maintain basic services.

I-807 would also reimpose state spending limits. In theory, a spending cap sounds like a good way to restrain government growth. In practice, with the ebb and flow of the state’s economic fortunes, the spending-cap handcuffs were such a dramatic failure that they were gradually amended, and ultimately thrown out entirely, by legislators of both parties.

I-807 will make a bad situation in Washington even worse.

It’s no accident I-807 is being sought amidst a $2.6 billion revenue shortfall.  If a spending cap is imposed now, it will prevent the state from restoring cuts at schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities. With health care and other costs rising at a pace above inflation, I-807 will guarantee more cuts, more wage freezes for teachers and other public employees, and more layoffs.

But then again, I-807 may do none of those things.

Three of Eyman’s last four initiatives were rejected as unconstitutional.  Like those, I-807 appears to cover more than one topic: tax increase super-majority AND the spending cap AND revising Emergency Reserve Fund provisions.

Either way, Tim Eyman gets paid. And so do their paid signature gatherers for I-807 already on the streets.

A message from the working women and men of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

On April 28, 2003, the labor movement will once again observe Workers Memorial Day to remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety-and-health protections. For decades, unions have led the struggle for improved working conditions and have won laws and protections that have made workplaces safer for all workers. Still, each year millions of workers are injured, diseased or killed by job hazards.

In Washington state, the Department of Labor and Industries has released a list of 99 workers who died on the job in this state last year. (Download the list in Microsoft Excel or text-only formats.)

Following is a list of Worker Memorial Day commemorations planned statewide:

OLYMPIA—The state Department of Labor and Industries will conduct a memorial ceremony WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of its Tumwater headquarters, 7273 Linderson Way.  WSLC President Rick Bender, along with representatives of the Association of Washington Business and the Washington Self Insurers Association, will join L&I Director Paul Trause at the podium. Learn more.

SPOKANE—The Spokane Labor Council will host its annual commemoration at noon SATURDAY, APRIL 26 at Mission Park (Mission & Perry). WSLC Secretary-Treasurer Al Link is among the scheduled speakers. A bloodmobile will be at the park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those who wish to donate blood.

BELLINGHAM—The Northwest Washington Central Labor Council will host its Worker Memorial Service on MONDAY, APRIL 28 at noon at the Worker Memorial Monument on the lawn at the Bellingham Library, across the street from City Hall.  For more information, contact Charlie Warren at 1-800-835-4658.

TACOMA—The Pierce County Central Labor Council and the Pierce County Building and Construction Trades are co-sponsoring an event MONDAY, APRIL 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Thea Foss Park on Dock Street in Tacoma. Speakers will include Mayor Bill Baarsma, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith and state Rep. Steve Conway. There will be live music and free food and beverages. The names of fallen workers will be read during the memorial. For more information, contact the Pierce CLC at (253) 473-3810.

EVERETT—The Snohomish County Labor Council's Worker Memorial Day commemoration will be MONDAY, APRIL 28 at the site of the Snohomish County Worker Memorial on the Wetmore side of the County campus in front of the old Mission Building. It will be from 5:30 to 6 p.m., with those who wish to walk to the Memorial site from the Everett Labor Temple leaving at 5:10 p.m. For more information, check out www.snolabor.org.