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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.

Reports for May 17-21, 2004

Previous weeks' news: May 10-13 -- May 3-8 -- April 26-30

FRIDAY, May 21 -- DON'T FORGET... Affordable Health Care for All rally/march Saturday

Grocery talks to continue into June -- Reports indicate negotiators agreed Thursday to continue working on a new contract for 16,000 Puget Sound-area grocery workers, scheduling five more bargaining sessions in June. The contract expired May 2, but the grocery chains and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union agreed to extend the contract on a meeting-to-meeting basis. The last bargaining session had been scheduled for today. If the company or the union want to break off talks, and call a strike or a lockout, they must give 72 hours notice.
— At ProtectHealthBenefits.org -- 30,000 protest at Safeway shareholder meeting in San Francisco 
— In today’s Seattle Times -- Safeway chairman survives pension funds’ move to oust him (AP)
Boeing news: 
— In today’s Everett Herald -- House vote revives 767 tanker deal -- House bill gives Air Force until March to negotiate new deal with Boeing, but the Senate is unlikely to agree, observers say.
— In today’s Seattle Times -- Stonecipher says Sen. McCain vital to tanker deal’s fate 
…plus -- Building the 7E7 requires less money, fewer employees -- Internal company document projects a total of 1,000 employees working on the program in Everett after the initial development phase is over. That compares to more than 5,000 working on the 777.
— In today’s Seattle P-I -- Boeing Machinists in St. Louis get first look at offer -- Three-year deal includes 3% general wage increase, $3,000 signing bonus, $2,000 second year's lump-sum wage payment and another 3% wage increase in the third year.
— In today’s Wichita (Kan.) Eagle -- Possible buyers to tour Boeing plant; "several" said to be interested
Other local news: 
— In today’s King County Journal -- Regional transportation ballot measure dead as business pulls support 
— In today’s Seattle Times -- Everett CC unrest leads to call for college president’s resignation
— In today’s Everett Herald -- Help is on the way for small firms, chambers are told -- Business think tank promises locals to continue fight to lower minimum wage and unemployment benefits.
— In today’s Seattle P-I -- Seattle Times says JOA puts its future at risk
— In today’s Bellingham Herald -- Canadian Customs work slowdown may affect border crossings
Election news: 
— In today’s Seattle Times -- Talk show host Dave Ross reveals he’s a candidate for Congress
— In today’s Washington Post -- In April, Kerry’s fundraising nearly doubled Bush
Other national news: 
— In today’s Washington Post -- 100,000 SBC workers (CWA) begin planned 4-day strike
...plus -- Federal workers may gain right to appeal job outsourcing
— In today’s N.Y. Times -- Mutiny by 4 Republicans over Bush tax cuts forces delay on budget vote
— In today’s Bellingham Herald -- Qwest cutting workforce; CWA says IT workers being outsourced (AP)

THURSDAY, May 20 -- Support family-friendly work policies by sharing your stories
— In today's Seattle Times -- Better times, with fewer jobs ahead, says Boeing's Mulally -- The man who coined the phrase "we suck" says employment will fall further, even as production rebounds. Boeing employment is now 53,600, down 58% from its peak of 127,000 in 1998. Chart pegs "future state" employment at 45,000. Increases in employment are "not what we do now," says Mulally.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing "sick and tired" of government subsidies to Airbus
— In today's Everett Herald -- "The tanker is not dead," says CEO Stonecipher
Election news: 
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Initiative process rife with abuse -- Op-ed by AFSCME's Dugovich: The process has become corrupted -- by for-profit initiative sponsors, by special interest financing and by paid signature gatherers who earn up to $3 for each signature and address sold. This corruption is robbing the system of its integrity and robbing the public of a legitimate populist outlet for political frustration.
...plus -- Eastside's 8th District attracts some big names -- By all indications, KIRO radio personality Dave Ross also will announce that he is running as a Democrat within a week.
— In the Stranger -- Murray's worries: Republicans tout poll numbers in U.S. Senate race
— In today's News Tribune -- Isn't it mysterious how candidates do better in polls they pay for?
Other local news: 
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Where will growers get workers? -- Growers say they're concerned, but UFW sees no shortage. The question is, are growers concerned enough to pay better wages?
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Tyson, Teamsters attorneys square off -- Company claims workers were pressured by union to re-certify union, wants NLRB to order a new decertification vote.
— In today's Seattle Times -- Return of food service to ferries awaits union approval of contract offer
— In today's Everett Herald -- Angry Everett CC faculty rise up, call for college president to resign
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Transit tax victory a pleasant surprise -- Editorial: The Spokane Alliance, a broad-based collection of religious and labor groups, was instrumental in persuading a hesitant STA board to go back to the voters... and then the Alliance worked hard to get out the vote.
...plus -- Kaiser Aluminum gets OK from bankruptcy court to sell Mead plant
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Microsoft trims benefits to cut costs -- WashTech's Courtney: "This is just the tip of the iceberg of what Microsoft employees are going to face... If they had union representation, management would have to negotiate before it could implement these unilateral changes."
— In today's Oregonian -- Teamsters push fight with Parr Lumber into high profile in Portland
Other national news: 
At AFLCIO.org -- Bush overtime regulations threaten nurses, police
— In today's S.F. Chronicle -- Safeway CEO Burd faces disaffection in ranks (That's one way of putting it.)
— In today's L.A. Times -- Backlash confronts CalPERS -- Business interests say the pension fund's fight for good governance hides a pro-union agenda. Battle takes center stage at today's Safeway meeting.
...plus -- Study details public cost of low wages -- Taxpayers subsidize California's working poor with public health services, tax credits, child-care programs and other assistance at a cost of $10 billion a year, letting firms keep pay down. Such "hidden costs" of low-wage work are likely to increase unless the government intervenes to raise wages and benefits at the lowest end of the economy. "What those employers are doing is shifting labor costs onto the public," says author of UC-Berkeley study.
— In today's S.F. Chronicle -- CWA rejects SBC offer; 4-day nationwide strike could disrupt phone service
...plus -- Higher drug co-payments considered a health hazard -- As employers keep shifting health costs, employees respond by cutting back on meds, especially people with chronic conditions.— In today's N.Y. Times -- White House's Medicare videos ruled illegal -- Let's review: Bush's flunkies lie about the plan's cost and broke the law lobbying for it with "covert propaganda." It ends up passing the House on a 216-215 vote. And now, Medicare is going to go broke 7 years sooner than expected.
...plus -- House expands child tax credit -- Wartime sacrifice continues as House targets new tax credit for families that make between $110,000 and $309,000 a year, deemed by GOP as "middle income."
— In today's Washington Post -- GOP Speaker criticizes Sen. McCain for questioning tax-cut "sacrifice"

WEDNESDAY, May 19 -- What union members should know about... Dino Rossi
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Suggestions for solving food ferry fight -- Dzama column: As is normally the case with unions, this one (IBU) seems more interested in maintaining its own power rather than making sure its members have jobs. (This columnist last week supported Bush's OT pay takeaway.)
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Voters OK sales tax increase for STA, staving off transit cuts
— In today's News Tribune -- Tacoma City Council approves pay raises for 500 (IFPTE 17 & IBEW 483)
...plus -- Four cases show downsized dreams -- Profiles of four families that share the discouragement of the "jobless recovery." They have lost good jobs and are scuffling until something else opens up.
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Port votes to condemn Georgia-Pacific lagoon -- City to G-P: "From day one, we have said we would do nothing to endanger any of those (300) jobs. We are not threatening any jobs there and we would appreciate it if you did not threaten us with the loss of those jobs."
— In today's UW Daily -- Student Senate supports graduate student union with reservations
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Premera chief tries to allay fears about switch to for-profit status
Boeing news: 
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Boeing makes final offer to St. Louis Machinists; vote this weekend (AP)
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing tanker deal takes another hit; report says Air Force "mishandled" deal
— Today at BusinessWeek Online -- A silver lining for Boeing -- The loss of the Air Force tanker deal could help its blended-wing tanker get off the ground. Not only would the plane be more efficient and flexible than the old-line 767, its development could have a galvanizing effect on Boeing.
— In today's News Tribune -- Boeing weighs another jumbo decision on "747A"
...plus -- Regular customer orders six of Boeing's slow-selling 717s
Other election news: 
— In today's News Tribune -- Gregoire unveils jobs plan as Rossi announces endorsements
...plus -- Charter school law diverts money, ignores will of people (Burbank column) -- Learn more.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Two want credit for tax-break bill -- Rep. George Nethercutt was quick to claim credit for a bill that could allow state residents to deduct sales taxes, but he voted against it.
...plus -- Kennewick Man replaces Rep. Delvin -- GOP seeking new ideas for its fossilized ideology.
— In today's Seattle Times -- The sanitized convention -- Editorial: The state Republican Party will not allow Reed Davis to speak at its convention because he refuses to promise to be nice. How absurd.
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Political odd couple (Kerry and Dean) forge friendship
Other national news: 
— In yesterday's Washington Post -- Bush backdrop turns sour -- A year ago, Bush stood beneath a red, white and blue "Jobs and Growth" banner at Timken Co., a ball-bearing plant in Canton, Ohio, and told assembled workers, the "greatest strength of the American economy is found right here, right in this room, found in the pride and skill of the American work force." Last week, the folks right there in that room got fired. Timken Co. is shutting down three factories in Canton and eliminating 1,300 jobs.
...plus today -- Leave no rich child behind -- Editorial: The House may pass new tax breaks for families earning up to $309,000, while doing next to nothing for those at the low end of the income scale.
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Rank-and-file workers not involved in recovery; pay still at 2001 levels
...plus -- Home ownership rates dropping among working poor (AP) -- Stagnant wages cited.
— In today's Olympian -- House approves alterations to OSHA (AP) -- "Employer-friendly" changes: More time for companies to challenge citations and allowing more of them to recoup lawyers' fees.
— In today's S.F. Chronicle -- SBC strike threat bolstered; CWA to terminate contract for 100,000 today
...plus -- Clinton introduces bill to regulate export of data overseas, allow consumers to "opt out"
— Today at newsmax.com -- Starbucks workers in NYC move to unionize -- Says on employee: “Behind the green aprons and smiles are individuals living in serious poverty. Baristas are the cornerstone of a Starbucks coffee shop, we just deserve better. Starbucks cashes in on a community friendly image but it certainly doesn’t extend to their workers or coffee farmers. That’s why we went Union.”

TUESDAY, May 18 -- Collect signatures for Ref. 55 to reject charter schools (again)
...plus -- TESC's Summer School for Union Women is June 23-27 in Olympia
— In today's News Tribune -- Offshoring of U.S. jobs accelerating, researchers say -- "Good," Bush says.
— In today's King County Journal -- Brazilian airline's Boeing 737-800 order may be worth $2.7 billion
— In today's Seattle Times -- Trial starts in workers' claim of Boeing bias against Asian-Americans, others
— In today's News Tribune --  Deal reached on Boeing lawsuit over sex discrimination
— In today's Seattle P-I -- State insurance deputy opposes Premera request to shed non-profit status
— In today's Seattle Times -- Premera's for-profit conversion unnecessary and unwise (op-ed)
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Coca-Cola workers dump Teamsters; 19 workers at Yakima plant decertify
— In today's Seattle Times -- Poll casts shadow on regional transportation plan; fall vote unlikely
— In today's Olympian -- Citizens group urges fewer teacher cuts in Olympia
— In today's Everett Herald -- Marysville district's price tag for teacher strike now at $900,000
In election news: 
— In today's Olympian -- House GOP backs sales tax deduction -- Candidate Nethercutt congratulates himself, "Doc" and Dunn, but not Rep. Brian Baird who has fought for the tax break for years.
— In yesterday's Columbian -- State Senate challenger Seabrook taps firefighter ties -- Sen. Zarelli: "As Republicans you can never compete against the union money." Reality check: Corporate interests traditionally outspend unions 12-to-1 on politics. So far in 2004, business has outspent labor 24-to-1.
— In today's Seattle Times -- GOP won't allow Davis to talk at convention -- Republican Senate candidate Reed Davis, opposing chosen candidate Nethercutt, muzzled for refusing to sign pledge not to "bash" fellow party members. Violators are fined $5,000. Apparently, dissent and debate are for Democrats.
— In today's Salem S-R -- Kerry swings into Oregon for first visit to battleground state
Other national news: 
— In today's Washington Post -- Why companies pay less -- Op-ed: Raising the question of corporate taxes is not populist or anti-business or redistributionist. No one wants to put American business at a competitive disadvantage. But the goal of any tax system should be to distribute the burden fairly.
...plus -- Homeland Security moves to consolidate unions in Customs, Border Protection Bureau
— In today's S.F. Chronicle -- CWA turns up heat, files 24-hour notice of 100,000-worker SBC strike
— In today's N.Y. Times -- The wastrel son -- Krugman: It seems increasingly likely that the nation will end up disowning Bush and his debts. That will mean settling for an outcome in Iraq that, however we spin it, will look a lot like defeat -- and the nation's prestige will be damaged by that outcome.

MONDAY, May 17 -- Affordable Health Care for All events this Saturday in Seattle 
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Health care tension on the job -- Editorial: The most sensible alternative to the crumbling, expensive, inefficient and unfair employer-based approach is a national, universal health care system that more appropriately distributes both the coverage and the cost.
— In the BusinessWeek -- Health care for all? Not in America -- Everybody says universal coverage is a good idea, but few can agree on how to get it. And the uninsured aren't a politically active bloc.
Other local news: 
— In today's News Tribune -- Overtime pay changes confuse bosses, workers (AP) -- New federal rules will not automatically take effect in 18 states, including Washington, provoking widespread confusion among state officials, employers and workers, and sparking political battles over how to respond.
...plus -- Boeing's "Made in the USA" label doesn't fly anymore -- Op-ed: Boeing's 7E7 will probably have up to 70% foreign-made content. Airbus says its A380 will have 50% U.S. content. I guess this will make Airbus the No. 1 commercial aircraft manufacturer in America.
— In Friday's Seattle P-I -- In unusual move, Teamsters send WestFarm-Darigold two offers
...plus -- In grocery talks, not all grocers see eye to eye -- Decrying "race to the bottom," Brown & Cole CEO says, "We just don't have the stomach to be at war with our own employees."
...plus -- Boeing reaches financial settlement in class-action sex-discrimination suit
— In today's Seattle P-I -- State transportation worker killed in forklift accident near Wenatchee (AP)
— In Sunday's Yakima H-R -- State employees negotiating contract for the first time
...plus -- State employee collective bargaining nuts and bolts
— In today's Seattle Times -- State's asparagus industry cut adrift in the Andes (Riley column)
— In Friday's Bremerton Sun -- Labor (WSLC) votes to support pit-to-pier mining project
...plus on Sunday -- Hood Canal's plight raises the bar for pit-to-pier (editorial)
— In Sunday's Columbian -- Wisdom of new gravel pits questioned at county hearing
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- Lawmakers must resist urge to roll back business tax breaks (editorial)
I-864-related news: 
— In today's News Tribune -- Local government budget squeeze forces choices between bad and worse
— In today's Everett Herald -- Everett budget crunch may force cuts at library -- After $3.5 million in city budget cuts, another $3.7 million in cuts is expected for 2005. If Eyman's Initiative 864, which would require a 25% property tax cut, passes the city would have to cut an additional $7-8 million.
— In Sunday's Daily News -- Longview wincing over lack of funds -- Reserves are projected to dip so low in 2005 and 2006 the city may have to borrow money to pay its staff; "If (I-864) passes, all bets are off."
Other election news: 
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Minimum wage as an election year issue -- Fully 94% of Americans favor an increase in the minimum wage, with 77% calling action by Congress either a priority or important.
— In Sunday's Bremerton Sun -- Slow liftoff for Murray-Nethercutt showdown (AP)
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Kerry praises Gephardt in bid to win over Teamsters
— In today's Washington Post -- Teamsters' Hoffa urges Kerry to put Gephardt on ticket
Other national news: 
— In Sunday's Seattle Times -- Meet the working poor: What the U.S. jobless statistics won't tell you
— In today's L.A. Times -- Tennessee targets outsourcing -- New law, the first of its kind, provides an  incentive for not outsourcing data-entry and call-center work by giving preference in bids for state services to contractors employing workers only in the United States.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Immigrants drive wages lower in U.S., study says
— In today's Washington Post -- Bonuses the norm for federal employees, study says -- Almost 2/3rds of 1.6 million full-time federal employees received merit bonuses or special time-off awards in FY 2002.
— At AlterNet -- V-P sings Wal-Mart's praises -- Cheney: "The story of Wal-Mart exemplifies some of the very best qualities in our country: hard work, the spirit of enterprise, fair dealing and integrity."

Previous weeks' news: May 10-13 -- May 3-8 -- April 26-30

THURSDAY,  MAY 20
Support family-friendly work policies by sharing your stories

Balancing work and family becomes all the more stressful when a new baby arrives or someone gets sick. In 2004, we're seeing growing awareness that supporting families is also good for business, and some progress in family-friendly policies. And you can help support such policies by sharing your stories -- positive and negative -- about balancing the needs of work and family during a medical crisis or birth/adoption of a child (see Call to Action below).

Sometime this summer, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) will introduce the Healthy Families Act, which proposes minimum paid sick leave of 7 days a year. Employees could use the leave to care for their own illness, an ill family member or routine medical care.

Washington’s Family Care Act, passed overwhelmingly in 2002 (but with the notable opposition of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi), already allows workers with a paid leave benefit (vacation, sick leave, etc.) to use their leave to care for an ill child, parent, parent-in-law, spouse or grandparent. The federal legislation, if passed, would expand Washington’s Family Care Act to cover thousands of workers who have no paid leave. Currently low-wage workers and part-time workers are least likely to have any paid leave benefit.

In addition to being good for workers, paid leave is good for business.  With paid leave, turnover and absenteeism go down as does the risk of spreading disease in the workplace. A recent Cornell University found that “presenteeism,” the term used for individuals coming to work when they or their family member is ill, costs business $180 billion annually in lost productivity.

Beginning July 1, California workers will be able to take advantage of that state’s new paid leave insurance program. Funded by a payroll tax that began last January, the California program, which covers all employees, provides partial wage replacement for up to six weeks when an individual or a family member is ill or when the family has a new baby. This groundbreaking legislation is in addition to California’s Temporary Disability Insurance Program.

Here in Washington, the Family Leave Coalition expects the Legislature to address family leave in the upcoming session

Last year, state Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-Seattle) and Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) introduced bills to establish a family and medical leave insurance program for Washington workers.  Their proposal would provide up to five weeks off for a new baby, a seriously ill family member, or the worker's own medical condition.  Workers would receive a benefit of $250 per week from a trust fund financed through a payroll tax of two cents per hour or about $3 per month. 

CALL TO ACTION: As a member of the Family Leave Coalition, the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, is working on this important issue. If you have a story to share about using the Family Care Act or trying to balance work and family during a medical crisis or a new baby, please contact Marilyn Watkins of the Family Leave Coalition at marilyn@eoionline.

TUESDAY,  MAY 18
Collect signatures for Ref. 55 to reject charter schools (again)

Delegates from the affiliated unions of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, have voted overwhelmingly to support signature-gathering efforts for Referendum 55, which will allow voters to repeal controversial legislation diverting millions of public school dollars to unaccountable charter schools. The WSLC is calling on affiliated unions and rank-and-file members to assist in signature-gathering efforts for the measure.

Despite the fact that voters have repeatedly rejected them, a charter schools bill was passed in the last minutes of the 2004 legislative session. Ref. 55 will allow the same bill to come to a vote of the people, where we can vote "No" on charter schools -- again. Petitions are available at many union halls and offices across the state. Petitions may also be ordered online at www.ProtectOurPublicSchools.org or by calling (206) 696-2602. The campaign must turn in the petitions to the Secretary of State by Wednesday, June 9.

Here's why charter schools are the wrong direction for Washington's public schools:

Charter Schools would cost too much and be too distracting.  Instead of spending money on expensive experiments like charter schools, we should be investing in proven solutions we know will improve the quality of all public schools: reducing class sizes and ensuring there is a well-qualified teacher in every classroom.

The State Legislature has a constitutional obligation to provide ample funding for public schools. This charter school law weakens our existing schools by draining away more than $100 million in the coming years.

Charter schools take money from existing schools. Before state government starts pouring millions of public tax dollars into charter schools, it needs to fulfill its commitment to existing public schools and fully fund voter-approved initiatives to reduce class sizes and provide annual cost-of-living increases for teachers.

Charter schools were rejected by Washington's voters already, twice!

Learn more at www.ProtectOurPublicSchools.org.  

TUESDAY,  MAY 18
TESC Summer School for Union Women June 23-27 in Olympia

Union women are now being recruited for "Union Women Changing the Future: Fighting for Workers' Rights," The Evergreen State College Labor Center's 15th annual Summer School for Union Women. The residential program will be at the Longhouse Education and Cultural Center on TESC's Olympia campus beginning Wednesday evening, June 23 and ending Sunday, June 27 at noon. Space is limited to 60 participants and the registration deadline is June 16, so sign up today!  (See details below.)

The program provides a space for critical analysis of workplace rights violation, labor movement strategies to defend workers and the impact international trade agreements have upon women. The focus is building local and global organizing from the grassroots. Featured workshops include:

• An interactive survey with discussions of Popular Economics relevant to the realities of women workers.  Participants will then break into groups organized by trades to work on an economic survey and will report back.

• Workplace Violations and Organizing for Power teach-in, featuring an interactive panel discussion with activists from labor and community groups to understand learn how workers' rights are being violated and how actions are being organized to stop them.  The women will learn, as well, how globalization and international trade agreements affect workers' rights and what can be done about it.  Outsourcing will be among our areas of focus.

• Standing Up and Speaking Out to gain confidence to communicate effectively from the shop floor to the union hall.  This is combined with the Creative Organizing workshop to combat apathy and bring energy back to the locals.

• Our Organizing Rights in the Workplace workshop with lawyers who will present how to do grievance procedures, Weingarten rights, and how to defend contract language.

• Internal Organizing and the Labor Movement Strategies to reclaim back workers rights with the film "Occupation" about the Harvard living-wage sit-in campaign.

Sunday's activities will include a brunch where family members are welcome to participate.

The registration fee is $450 including on-campus housing, $360 including on-campus housing but with child-care reduction, and $390 for commuter registration. This covers room-and-board, materials and a specially designed school banner.

The Women's Committee of the Washington State Labor Council has already awarded its scholarship for the program to Christina Jensen of Office and Professional Employees Local 8 in Seattle.

For more information or a registration form, contact Women's School Coordinator Lucilene Lira at (360) 867-6055 or visit TESC's website: www.evergreen.edu/laborcenter.

MONDAY,  MAY 17
Affordable Health Care for All events this Saturday in Seattle 

Join other Washington working families, senior groups, community and faith groups as they stand up for access to affordable, quality health care for Washington.

Affordable Health Care for All events will be held this Saturday, May 22 in Seattle.  The action starts with a rally featuring Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Seattle) at 12:30 p.m. at the Federal Building, 915 2nd Ave.  Participants will then march to Westlake Park, 401 Pine St., for a rally featuring Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Illinois) and community health fair.

Health care that once seemed reliable is quickly being priced out of reach for millions of hardworking, taxpaying Americans. Saturday's events are intended to send a message that it’s time to hold down costs and expand access to care to everyone.

• Approximately 800,000 persons in Washington state lack health insurance (that’s about 1 out of every 7 residents without coverage). Of those uninsured, 75% have at least one employed worker in their household.

• Wal-Mart and Safeway lead the pack in Washington state with the most employees enrolled in Medicaid; taxpayer dollars should not be subsidizing healthcare for large corporations’ workers.

• HMOs, insurance companies and drug manufacturers are making billions in profits, while skyrocketing prescription drug costs and insurance rates have made healthcare unaffordable for individuals.

For more information about the day’s events or to RSVP for tabling at the health fair, please contact Maya at the Washington State Jobs with Justice office at (206) 441-4969.

If you are interested in learning more about universal health care, please consider attending a Healthcare Conference on May 22 starting at 9 a.m. For more information, contact the Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans at (206) 448-9646.