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 May 12-16, 2003

Previous weeks' news: May 5-9 -- April 28-May 2 -- April 21-25

Boeing releases 7E7 site selection criteria
— At Boeing.com -- Boeing briefs state officials of 7E7 criteria (news release)
— From the Seattle P-I -- Boeing site selection "talking points"

FRIDAY, May 16 -- Chavez-Thompson to discuss Immigrant Worker Freedom Ride
...plus -- Take Action: Support farmworker legalization (& help stop human smuggling tragedies)
— In today's Seattle Times -- Negotiators reach pact on revenue side of state budget -- House drops most of proposed new taxes; Senate drops demand for $115 million in business tax exemptions.
...plus -- Instructors' talks with Seattle CC today center on pay (WFT 1789)
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Eyman passing hat again for himself -- He claims I-807 donations are down so he's soliciting personal "gifts" that he doesn't have to report as income, thus avoiding taxes.
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Bill lifting cap on local voter-approved levies draws interest, Eyman's ire
— In today's Olympian -- U.S. Senate-approved tax bill has $500 million for Washington, Oregon
— In today's Everett Herald -- Struggling Americans need jobless benefits extension (editorial)
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Navy: PSNS, Bangor IMF merger adds flex, 1,700 workers to shipyard
— In yesterday's Oregonian -- Ambulance workers (ATU 757) narrowly approve AMR pact
— In today's Salem S-J -- From bad to worse in Oregon: Revenue forecast slides $700 million more
At AFLCIO.org -- America's choices: Good-paying jobs or tax cuts for millionaires?
— In today's Washington Post -- Senate approves tax-cut package hailed as big Bush victory
...plus -- Ichiro can't do it alone -- Dionne column: An Ichiro-related boost in tourism is about the only bright spot in Washington state's gloomy economy. But little help is coming from the Washington, D.C.  If Bush's goal is to force all state and local governments to cut into the bone, its program is brilliant. But it is hard to see how a dividend tax cut will give Ichiro's adopted region the help it needs.
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Tired Senators achieve goal, to pass a tax bill, any tax bill
— In Time magazine -- How to build a better Democrat -- Fire the consultants, find some core values and speak from the heart, and then maybe one of the candidates will have a chance against Bush.

WEDNESDAY, May 14 -- Bender: Court ruling aims to "silence voice of working families"
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Court limits campaign donations, would end exemption for union locals
...plus -- Honor your Union Sisters! Nominate them for 2003 Elsie Schraeder award
— In today's Olympian -- Long-time WPEA chief Eugene St. John resigns amid dispute over duties
...plus -- State employee sick-leave bill should be passed (editorial)
— In today's Seattle Times -- As he ponders Senate race, Nethercutt hard to define -- ...but let's give it a shot anyway: He's a NAFTA-backlash-ridin', term-limit-renegin', millionaire-tax-break-supportin', deficit-spendin', corporate-beholden lawyer with a shameless 4% AFL-CIO voting record. How's that?
...plus -- Gates Sr. quizzes Boeing's Mulally, who then agrees legislators must work "revenue side"
— In today's News Tribune -- Still no compromise despite two meetings on state budget
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Intalco lays off 50; smelter may close in fall
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Liberty Lake firm lays off 350 as Microsoft sends jobs to India
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Historic Camlin Hotel for sale; employees worry (and rally today!)
...plus Point... -- Bush tax-cut plan will costs state too much (Deana Knutsen op-ed)
...Counter-Intuitive -- It's just what taxpayers (dividend-dependent seniors?!) need (Rep. Dunn op-ed)
— In today's Everett Herald -- Kinks being worked out of Boeing 767 tanker plan
...plus -- Noted tax foe, John Koster, boosts union-supported jail-expansion plan
— In yesterday's Longview Daily News -- Weyco mill boss John Walkush to retire 
— In today's Salem S-J -- Oregon state workers jump ship amid pension shifts
At StopBudgetDisaster.com -- Today is National Call-In Day to stop millionaire tax breaks
— In today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette -- AFL-CIO's Sweeney predicts tax-cut passage, no new jobs
— In today's Washington Post -- What jobs? What growth? -- Editorial: In the first five years, Bush's tax cuts will create between 230,000 and 900,000 jobs. (We lost 500,000 jobs in the past three months alone.) In the second five years, the study predicts no new job creation or actual job losses.
...plus -- Budget shortfall (and tax cut) could prompt cutbacks in airport screeners -- Feel safer?
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Bush support strong despite tax-cut doubts -- The number of Americans who say they had confidence in Bush's ability to manage the economy dropped 7 points, to 47%, in the month he has been pushing his tax cut plan. The poll also found that many say, instead of cutting taxes, the nation should use the money to cut the deficit or finance a national health care system.
— In today's USA Today -- Companies cutting back on retirement benefits 

TUESDAY, May 13 -- "Good Jobs, Not Condos" rally Wednesday at Seattle's Camlin Hotel
— In today's Everett Herald -- Boeing: Tax increases may be necessary -- "You can work the cost side. You can work the efficiency side. But you also need to work the revenue side of the equation."
...plus this eerily familiar story -- Corporate lobbying group says state not competitive enough
— In today's Seattle Times -- Gambling lobby sweetens pot in pitch to lawmakers
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Home-care aides rally in Olympia
— In today's Olympian -- Session crawls out of gate; home-care workers greet legislators
...plus -- Activists for mentally disabled urge lawmakers to sell, close Fircrest School
...plus -- Shelton plywood mill stays open after wage cuts (IAM W536)
— In yesterday's Columbian -- Democrats wait to see if tax panel will survive
— In yesterday's Aberdeen Daily World -- Local letter carriers collect 20,000 pounds of food
— In today's N.Y. Times -- New CBO study finds 60 million uninsured during a year
...plus -- Lobbying furious over bill offering comp time "option"; both sides predict victory
— In today's Washington Post -- Bush blunts question of "tax fairness" -- President's traveling "spin job" is working. Last week, a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll found that 52 percent of Americans now think the tax cuts are "a good idea," an increase of 10 percentage points in two weeks.
...plus -- The say-anything school -- Dionne column: Bush's 2000 campaign was based in large part on the idea that Bush was honest while Clinton and Gore were liars. Which makes it surprising that the media do not pay more attention to the ways in which Bush and his White House say whatever is necessary, even if they have to admit later that what they said the first time wasn't exactly true.
— In today's S.F. Chronicle -- Double standard at Sprint as firm retains Ernst & Young as auditor
— Today from AP -- Teamsters aim to organize boxers -- Says Hoffa: "Boxers need health insurance. Boxers need pensions. Boxers need to get a fair share of the proceeds of their labor."
...plus -- CWA joins protest of "The Real Beverly Hillbillies" reality TV show

MONDAY, May 12 -- WSLC Legislative Update:  A time for unapologetic Democrats
— In Saturday's Olympian -- House gives up on pay raises for state employees, teachers
— In today's Everett Herald -- Rising business costs need to be addressed (editorial)
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Lawmakers need to tackle repealing ergonomics rules (editorial)
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Hands off higher education, lawmakers have learned
...and Sunday -- Chopp is progressive leader for diverse House (Op-ed by Reps. Kessler and Veloria)
— In today's Seattle Times -- Keeping the 7E7, if we cared enough (editorial)
...plus -- Wages slide as workers glad to have paychecks -- any paycheck
— In today's L.A. Times -- Boeing 767-tanker lease price pared 6%
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Plant workers say Bush speech will cost them -- President Bush plans to speak at an Omaha plastics factory today to sell his message that his tax cut plan, but workers are unhappy because the company says more than 300 hourly workers might lose all or part of a day's pay unless they work next Saturday to offset the time lost when the plant closes for the speech.
...plus -- More "Can I help you?" jobs migrate from U.S. to India
— In today's Washington Post -- Call to inaction -- Column: Last week the Business Roundtable, an organization of CEOs of 150 leading American corporations, issued a clarion call for early childhood education for 3- and 4-year-olds, so that every child will enter kindergarten ready to learn. How enlightened. But they offer no plan to guarantee quality pre-school. That's because, when they are not touting their social responsibility, the chief executives are busy lobbying for the full Bush tax cut.
— In Business Week -- Tense moments in a labor power struggle -- The final hours of negotiations for the Ullico shakeup involved fierce political maneuvering, with AFL-CIO officials showing up with their own security guards as the company's annual meeting got under way at a Washington (D.C.) hotel.

Previous weeks' news: May 5-9 -- April 28-May 2 -- April 21-25

FRIDAY, MAY 16
Boeing releases 7E7 site selection criteria

The Boeing Co. released today the criteria it will use to evaluate final assembly sites for its 7E7 jetliner. In addition, the company indicated: "Only U.S.-based locations will be considered for the final assembly location. Our initial research into the potential of using an international location showed us that the costs outweighed the benefits." (See Boeing's site selection "talking points" for more information.)

Here is Boeing's summary of the site selection criteria (a PDF version is available at Boeing's website):

Transportation

- Suitable runway provisions
- Proximity to a port capable of around-the-clock operations
- Continuous availability of heavy traffic ways between plant site and port
- Proximity to railways and interstate highways

Facilities

- Available land, buildings and related infrastructure to accommodate 7E7 final assembly and the collocation of suppliers

Total cost of doing business

- Cost of land and buildings
- Construction cost
- Site preparation cost
- Support services (fire, police, emergency and medical services)
- Taxes, utilities, insurance and other recurring and non-recurring costs

Workforce

- Training infrastructure and partnering opportunities with local agencies or government
- Absenteeism and turnover rates for other local companies
- Available labor pool
- Quality of local public schools

Environmental considerations

- Local flying weather
- Possible extreme temperature impact to manufacturing
- Susceptibility to natural disasters (earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes and flooding)

Community support

- Local community and governmental support for manufacturing businesses
- Support of local, county and state governments for Boeing and its suppliers
- Environmental regulations and permitting process
- Likelihood of long-term community support
- Ability to expand or modify facilities and infrastructure
- Quality of life that supports employee recruitment

Additional infrastructure issues

• Including relative cargo and freight costs

• Availability of utilities including water, sewer, power, waste and telecommunications

• Transportation enhancements that support schedule and requirements

FRIDAY, MAY 16
Chavez-Thompson to discuss Immigrant Worker Freedom Ride

You are invited to welcome AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson to Seattle next week as she discusses efforts with community, immigrant, labor and faith organizations to organize for immigrant justice. She will speak at kickoff celebration for the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21 at the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Ave., and again at a 6 p.m. community meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 22 at Seattle's South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Ave. South.

At both events, Chavez-Thompson will discuss the Immigrant Worker Freedom Ride this September, where buses will leave nine cities -- including Seattle and Portland -- and make frequent stops throughout the nation on their way to Washington, D.C. to press the need for immigration reform. Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the Civil Rights Movement, thousands of immigrant workers and their advocates will board these buses, spearheading the struggle for a path to citizenship, family reunification and rights on the job regardless of citizenship status.

Wednesday night's Labor Temple meeting is being sponsored by the King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and refreshments will be provided.

Thursday's community meeting is being sponsored by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and the AFL-CIO. The LCLAA is unionists, organizers, working-class people and their allies committed to economic, immigrant/racial and social justice through civic participation, education and action. For more information about LCLAA or Thursday's community meeting, contact lclaa@earthlink.net or call (206) 762-3926.

In the meantime, TAKE ACTION right now to send a message to Congress supporting immigrant justice to help avoid tragedies like this week's deadly human smuggling attempt in South Texas that killed at least 18 people. Follow this link to send a message to your U.S. Senators and Representative in support of bills allowing undocumented farm workers to earn legalization.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14
Bender: Ruling aims to "silence voice of working families"

The following statement from Rick Bender, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, was issued Tuesday afternoon in response to the Court of Appeals ruling in the case of Edelman v. State of Washington:

Today’s ruling is a stunning bit of history revisionism.  It takes a vaguely written initiative approved 10 years ago and radically reinterprets the rules in a manner specifically intended to silence the voice of working families.

From the start, this case was a politically motivated attack on labor unions. Yet any objective analysis of political expenditures shows that corporate interests dramatically outspend labor in this state, and in this country.  The most recent analysis of Federal Elections Commission data shows organized labor was outspent by corporations 12-to-1.

Regardless of whether this decision stands, its effect will be to inspire even stronger, more effective political activism from organized labor.  We will redouble our efforts through internal communications, independent expenditures and issue-based advertising to get our message out and support candidates who support working people.

If you have questions about how the ruling will effect your union's political action program, make plans to attend the June 18 training session in Seattle presented by WSLC Political Director Diane McDaniel and labor attorney Jim Oswald.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14
Honor your Union Sisters!  Nominate them for an Elsie award

Since 1996, the Washington State Labor Council Women’s Committee has awarded the Elsie Schraeder Award for Outstanding Achievement in Labor every year at the WSLC's annual convention. The committee will present the award again this year at the Aug. 21-23 convention in Wenatchee, but NOW is the time to nominate those who have demonstrated strong activism for the advancement of women in union leadership roles and/or on behalf of women within the labor movement.

Nominees for this award must meet at least three of the following criteria:

• Served a minimum of two years in a leadership/activism role with their local union;

• Performed an outstanding service, which commands recognition, within the labor community;

• Served in a leadership role on the passage of legislation benefiting organized labor and/or the community;

• Took a leadership role in advanced critical issues such as worker safety, minimum wage, comparable worth, human services/needs, environmental health, prevailing wage ;

• Participated in educational projects either through their local union or through some other labor organization ; or 

• Served as a leader in organizing either through their local union or through some other labor organization.

WSLC-affiliated union organizations may submit nominations for this award (download the form in MS Word format), but the deadline is May 30.  If you have questions or require further information about either the scholarships or the awards, please contact Kairie Pierce, Women’s Committee Staff Liaison, at (360) 943-0608.

TUESDAY, MAY 13
"Good Jobs, Not Condos" rally Wednesday at Seattle's Camlin

The following announcement comes from Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 8 in Seattle:

HERE Local 8 has been made aware that the historical Camlin Hotel and Cloud Room may be sold to one of the world's biggest timeshare companies Trendwest Resorts, a subsidary of the mega-company Cendant.  If this sale goes through more than 70 people including several union members who have worked there for more than 25 years will be out of work. 

We are holding an emergency rally to support "Good Jobs, Not Condos" on Wednesday, May 14 at 2:30 p.m. outside the Camlin Hotel, 1619 9th Ave. 

The Union employees of the hotel are ready to Rock and Roll and need a good show of community support at this rally. If you can't make it to the rally, please show your support of the workers by sending a message to Trendwest.

SEND A MESSAGE TO TRENDWEST RESORTS' corporate offices in Redmond. In your own words tell them that this community needs to treasure its history (the Camlin is registered as a historical building) and the workers inside who are history themselves. The Cloud Room continues to be a favorite gathering place for adults of all ages, culture and background.  WE DON'T NEED MORE CONDOS IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.  WE NEED GOOD JOBS THAT TREASURE OUR HISTORY AND ITS WORKERS. 

The Trendwest PR person can be contacted at (425) 498-2687 or soniat@trendwestresorts.com.

For more information contact, 

For more information, contact Elizabeth Freeman, President/Chief of Staff of HERE Union Local No. 8, at (206) 728-2326.