NEXT UPDATE -- Tuesday, May 31 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, May 27 -- 2005 WSLC Legislative Voting Records now available in a 3-page printable (PDF) format or in HTML. More details on the bills included and coverage of the session will be available in the 2005 WSLC Legislative Report & Voting Record to be published in June.
Local news -- EFF again spamming state employees with bogus information
— In today's Olympian -- Department of Ecology workers vote to retain union (WFSE) -- The votes were the last of the decertification elections the federation faces in general government.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- DOL officials ready to process sick Hanford workers' claims
— In today's Seattle Times -- New non-union ramp worker's mistake delays Alaska Air flight
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Alaska Airlines, flight attendants reach tentative pact
...plus -- New mission: Get back to work -- Workplace discrimination is a problem for citizen soldiers.
— In today's Seattle Times -- State's mental-health chief resigns -- Karl Brimner had been in charge of the troubled Western State Hospital, Eastern State Hospital and a community mental-health network.
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Protesters call on Jim West to resign
Desperate Dino update: — In today's Seattle Times -- Shame on GOP for trial sham -- Westneat column: Republicans have shown evidence that this election was badly marred by mistakes. But they should retract their bogus fraud allegation, immediately and publicly... This is no longer about spinning at news conferences. The GOP went into court and made a serious, damaging charge. They can't back it up, yet they intend to let it fester, leaving the impression the vote really was stolen.
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Judge skeptical of claims that Rossi got more votes
Boeing news: — In today's Wichita Eagle -- Onex to work around IAM -- Onex will buy Boeing Wichita's commercial aircraft operations with or without ratified contracts in place with Boeing's unions.
...plus -- Boeing workers' defiance now tempered by anxiety ...plus -- Onex talks put union on defensive
National news: — In today's Washington Post -- AFL-CIO president poised for 5th term -- John Sweeney, the embattled AFL-CIO chief, yesterday was virtually assured of election after a key labor leader (UAW's Ron Gettelfinger) threw his support to Sweeney and undermined a long-festering challenge by labor dissidents. SEIU is now more likely to follow through on threats to bolt from the AFL-CIO.

THURSDAY, May 26 -- Support the bipartisan transportation investment in our future
— In today's King County Journal -- Stop the nattering about the gas tax -- Editorial: Right-wing talk-show hosts aren't doing us any favors by promoting an initiative to overturn the gas-tax hike. People would lose far more in road projects than they would gain by keeping a few extra pennies in their pockets.
Desperate Dino update: — In today's Seattle Times -- GOP: The numbers speak for themselves -- Today's courtroom lesson in partisan statistical analysis: Where there's smoke... there are mirrors.
— In today's News Tribune -- Attorney General lauds BIAW for helping GOP with suit -- Democrats ask why Rob McKenna is aiding and abetting the plaintiffs while defending the Secretary of State's office.
Other local news: — In today's Seattle P-I -- Lion Air gives Boeing a boost; orders up to 60 737s
— In today's News Tribune -- 747, 767 might keep on flying; airline interest could stave off phase-outs
— In yesterday's Daily World -- State grants will help Grays Harbor Transit avoid route, driver cuts
— In today's Oregonian -- Vancouver's C-Tran cuts await more details -- Still grappling with I-695 and a planned 46% cut in service this fall, it stopped hiring. Now, retirements have drained the driver pool.
...plus -- Labor board drops ServiceMaster case -- Citing hesitant witnesses, NLRB dismisses its own complaint against the janitorial firm for threatening to fire workers supporting a union organizing drive.
— In today's Salem S-J -- Lack of health coverage prompts Oregon initiative to force legislative action
Wild, Wild West update: — In today's Spokesman-Review -- More groups urge West to resign
...plus -- Allegations detailed in court document -- When he was a sheriff's deputy, the man who is now Spokane's mayor sodomized a sixth-grade boy, according to allegations in court documents.
National news: — In today's NY Daily News -- AFL-CIO prez suffers labor pains -- In a letter to Sweeney last week, nearly 100 unionized workers at the D.C. headquarters claimed the federation has given them "the kind of treatment we have come to expect from corporate America, not the house of labor."
— In the USA Today -- FMLA at center of hot debate -- The DOL is expected to come out shortly with proposals for revising parts of the law. Big business groups want to redefine "serious illness."
— In today's SF Chronicle -- Partisan clash has stalled progress on Social Security, says key Republican
...plus -- 10,000 protest governor -- Public workers stage massive rallies criticizing Schwarzenegger's right-wing agenda. The governor has derided public workers and their unions as "special interests" whose grip on Democratic party politics is the source of many of California's ills.
— In today's LA Times -- Judge OKs suit over grocer pact -- Judge rules that the mutual-aid pact between grocery chains in Southern California's lockout/strike can be challenged on federal antitrust grounds.
...plus -- Citing pension losses, pilots ask Congress to extend retirement age beyond 65

WEDNESDAY, May 25 -- 2005 Directory now available online -- The WSLC 2005 Directory of AFL-CIO Labor Organizations in Washington State has just been published. You can download a PDF file (1.4 MB) of the 54-page Directory. Printed copies are being mailed to affiliates this week.
— In today's Wichita Eagle -- Wichita Machinists reject contract; plant's sale to Onex now in jeopardy
...plus -- Unhappy members have harsh words for Onex -- and union -- Tensions were heightened because hundreds of workers were not allowed to vote because they didn't get a job offer from Onex.
...plus -- Workers prefer uncertainty to concessions -- Editorial: With this vote, members made plain that they place a high value on their skills, experience and ability to build aircraft -- as they should.
— Today from Reuters -- U.S. presses EU for Boeing-Airbus deal -- Official: "If we conclude a negotiated solution to end subsidies is not possible in the near term, we will return promptly to the WTO."
— In today's Seattle Times -- More hints Boeing is looking at outsiders in CEO search
Local news: — In today's Bremerton Sun -- PS Naval Shipyard workers rally against new personnel rules -- Bremerton Metal Trades Department President Ron Ault tells hundreds of shipyard workers that the Department of Defense "wants to strip every tiny bit of dignity from the workers."
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Kennewick Food Pavilion to close; another Wal-Mart casualty, says CEO
...plus -- U.S. House passes bill restoring Hanford cleanup funds
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Environmental, taxpayer groups speak out against Black Rock reservoir
...plus -- $1.5 million slated for studying Black Rock options -- The WSLC supports this project.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- After 17-month hiatus, food service returns to Bainbridge ferry tomorrow -- New vendor says it has hired 57 of the 103 laid-off IBU galley workers furloughed when the galleys closed.
— In yesterday's Daily News -- Longview budget problems worsen -- Firefighters' contract is partly blamed.
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Spokane City Council to call on West to resign next Tuesday
...plus -- West scandal is too devastating for city -- Op-ed by Spokane business leader Robert Brewster: With Mayor West out of the equation, our City Council can get back to their urgent city business and our city's employees can get back to the essential details of civic function.
National news: — In today's Detroit News -- Hoffa praises Bush on Social Security -- "I think President Bush should be given credit for the fact that he has initiated a debate regarding what we should do," says Teamsters president, but adding that he opposes Bush's plan to partially privatize the system. Hoffa says he doesn't agree with other unions that have put up roadblocks to any reform.
— In the Seattle Weekly -- The rights of (corporate) man -- Berger column: Individuals have fewer rights than corporations. We are protected by the Bill of Rights, but an American corporation gets that and more... And to top it off, corporations avoid the responsibilities of citizenship: It is their right to behave as selfishly as possible. They can betray the public that ostensibly sanctions their existence.
— In today's NY Times -- CEOs, MIA -- Friedman column: We have a mounting education deficit, energy deficit, budget deficit, health care deficit and ambition deficit. America's business leaders have an interest in seeing the nation remain globally competitive -- but they seem to be missing in action.
— In today's LA Times -- Strike vote set for video game actors -- They are seeking residual payments from game publishers similar to what they receive from movies, commercials and TV shows.
— In today's Wash. Post -- Arnold meets his match -- Meyerson column: The Great Republican Overreach has hit a wall. The GOP has mistaken its narrow control of all branches of government for a popular mandate to roll back the New Deal and roll out a new era of social conservatism. And in California, the GOP has mistaken Arnold's ascension for a popular mandate to hack away at the public sector.

TUESDAY, May 24 -- "Deep disappointment" in Alaska Airlines ramp-worker layoffs -- Congressional delegation urges CEO Ayers to reconsider decision to outsource baggage handling.
Dino's do-over news: — In today's Seattle P-I -- GOP dealt blow in trial -- GOP's Dale Foreman: "This is a case of election fraud."  Judge: "The court does not believe there is a fraud causation element to this case."  Rossi's flack: "We opened with a bang with Dale's opening statement." ('Nuff said.)
— In today's Seattle Times -- No sign of proof amid the pomp -- Westneat column: For the Republican Party to come into court and declare fraud without any direct evidence is bold, to say the least.
— In today's News Tribune -- GOP must back up claim of election fraud -- While incompetent ballot-handling could easily change the outcome of an election as close as this, it can’t “steal” the election. For election fraud, you need more: criminal intent, connivance and actual vote-tampering.
Local news: — In today's Olympian -- Union or not, state workers face new personnel regulations soon -- The goal of the new rules, a result of the 2002 Personnel Reform Act, is to bring state employment closer to private industry standards and eliminate some the rigid civil service procedures.
— In today's Everett Herald -- Opponents of Brightwater sewage plant cite faults, earthquake potential
— In yesterday's Columbian -- Letter Carriers' drive nets 134,000 pounds of food in Clark County
— In Sunday's Bellingham Herald -- Letter Carriers' drive nets 75,000 pounds of food in Whatcom County
— Today from AP -- Spokane business leaders ask Jim West to quit, but he says no
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Senate e-mail flap with Roach a "big deal" for West
Boeing news: — In today's Seattle Times -- Formal launch of 777 freighter program due today
— Today from AP -- Boeing Wichita plant workers get pink slips via courier
— In yesterday's Wichita Eagle -- Union seniority clause may help some Machinists targeted for layoff
National news: — In today's LA Times -- Teamsters picket L.A. Coke plants -- Workers in Seattle are considering a walkout when their contract expires next month, says one union official.
— At AFLCIO.org -- New bill would aid millions who can't get by on federal minimum wage
— In today's Washington Post -- Business groups tire of GOP focus on social issues -- From Wall Street to Main Street, the small-government, pro-business mainstay of the Republican Party appears to be growing disaffected with a party it sees as focused on social issues at its expense.
— In today's NY Times -- The new profile of the long-term unemployed -- Not since WWII has long-term joblessness -- those out of work for six months or more -- been so high for so long after a recession. 
...plus -- Sol Stetin, textile workers leader who unionized J.P. Stevens, dies at 95
— Today at MSNBC.com -- Northwest Airlines to cut half of its mechanics' jobs, says AMFA

MONDAY, May 23 -- Why Dino's do-over lawsuit is doomed: A look at today's trial
— In Sunday's Seattle Times -- Toss out felon vote, Gregoire still wins -- Using the "proportional deduction" method proposed by the Republicans, a Times' analysis, presuming both parties' illegal felon-vote lists are entirely accurate, showed Gregoire winning by 112 votes. Says backpedaling GOP Boss Chris Vance: "The felons are just one aspect of the case."
— In Saturday's News Tribune -- Judge gives United Airlines more time to avoid strike
...plus last Friday -- What's Alaska's next move? -- The airline is still in negotiations with three of its unions, representing some 6,400 workers, and wants big pay and benefit reductions.
— In the Columbia Basin Herald -- Grant County workers to get 3 percent pay increase
— In Saturday's Everett Herald -- U.S. House measure would block Air Force from buying Airbus tankers
— In the PS Business Journal -- Kansas machinists told Onex job offers are in the mail
— In today's Oregonian -- Oregon state employees march to demand fair pay increases
...plus -- Deja vu: CAFTA would be NAFTA all over again (op-ed by NW Oregon Labor Council's Judy O'Connor)
Health-care news: — In Sunday's Columbian -- Vancouver feels heat over worker benefits -- City spends almost three times as much on medical benefits per employee hour as do private companies across the nation. The city pays 100% of health premiums for more than 1,000 employees and their families.
— At BusinessWeek online -- Health costs: Good news at last -- Slower price hikes and higher copays have helped companies. Now they're testing new ways to find more savings.
— In today's LA Times -- Employers turning to health insurance plans where workers pay more -- Plans with huge deductibles that don't cover many procedures -- like allergy shots, chest X-rays and the cost of a new baby -- are spreading. Employers are calling them "consumer-directed health plans."
— In the PS Business Journal -- A new blueprint for fixing the health-care mess -- Op-ed: The process of change must be taken from the hands of those who have controlled the health-care agenda to date... A natural alliance could exist now of employers, employees and the general public.
National news: — In today's NY Times -- Wages lag inflation, again -- Editorial: For non-managers in both white- and blue-collar jobs, hourly wage gains have failed to beat inflation in every month for the past year. When that happens, the only way to get ahead is to work more.
...plus -- America wants security -- Krugman: The national election was about who would best defend us from gay married terrorists. At the state level, where elections were fought on bread-and-butter issues, voters sent a message that they wanted a stronger, not weaker, social safety net.
— At BusinessWeek online -- What a Social Security deal could look like -- Republicans, Democrats and President Bush are inching toward compromise. It would secure the system's financial solvency by cutting benefits and raising payroll taxes on high-income workers, include some form of personal accounts (just not the White House version), and add new savings incentives outside the system.
— In today's Washington Post -- Navy to assess feasibility of outsourcing some jobs
— From BostonWorks.com -- Bush's next workplace regulatory battle: Family leave -- The DOL plans to "revise" regulations interpreting the FMLA; employers want stricter interpretation of "serious illness."

But the Election That Won't End is not just costing Republican and Democratic donors money, it's costing taxpayers.  Because Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election, Rossi named him as a defendant, and so far Reed has spent $250,000 in public money for outside legal help. Those costs don't include other taxpayer costs that have been racked up -- and will continue to be -- for court time and other expenses.