In order to help break the state’s budget impasse, Service Employees International Union Local 775 has offered to return to the bargaining table with the Home Care Quality Authority (HCQA) to renegotiate the contract.  This is the only acceptable alternative because a unilateral imposition of something less by state legislators would be a significant violation of the collective bargaining process.

Meanwhile, the Seattle P-I reported today that Rep. Helen Sommers (D-Seattle), the lead budget negotiator for House Democrats, has attempted to break the budget stalemate by  cutting spending for the home care workers' contract from $49 million over two years to $35 million.  SEIU's response: "If true (this) would represent a massive attack on home care workers."  A union spokesman said that, in any case, such a change would possible only if the contract is renegotiated to adhere to that place-holder figure.

Renegotiation of the contract is supported by Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate, but Republican Senators have made clear their strategy of running out the clock and denying home care workers a fair contract agreement.  And they have an unlikely ally in the ranking minority member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Sen. Darlene Fairley (D-Lake Forest Park).

Sen. Fairley co-signed a May 20 letter from leading GOP budget negotiators Sen. Dino Rossi (R-Sammamish), Sen. Joe Zarelli (R-Vancouver) and Rep. Barry Sehlin (R-Oak Harbor) expressing the opinion that the contract cannot be renegotiated because the contract has not yet been formally rejected by the Senate.  Citing that letter, HCQA Chairman Charles Reed has declined to renegotiate the original contract.

This is an obvious, cynical and shameful strategy by Republicans and Sen. Fairley to prevent home-care workers from attaining a fair collective bargaining agreement given that the Senate-approved budget included no money for the contract and Senate Republicans, including Sen. Rossi, have repeatedly said they refuse to approve the contract.  The only reason they are not on record as rejecting the contract is because Senate Republicans refused to allow a separate vote on the issue, and instead effectively killed the agreement by refusing to fund it in their budget.

Frankly, the WSLC was astonished that Sen. Fairley would sign this letter.  She has subsequently indicated she still agrees with the letter.  Senate Democratic leaders had no idea she was signing such a letter and do not support her actions.

Supporters of the collective bargaining process should be outraged about this strategy to deny home care workers a fair and just contract.  Imagine if a private employer were to refuse to approve or reject a contract, but then simply imposed something less after refusing to allow renegotiation.

CALL TO ACTION:  Please take a moment to send a fax or call the Legislative Hotline RIGHT NOW at 1-800-562-6000 and leave a message for your state legislators.  Urge them to respect collective bargaining, and support sending the Home Care Quality Authority and SEIU back to the bargaining table to renegotiate the home care union contract.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28
Attend Friday's Stand Up for Jobs Rally in Everett

The International Association of Machinists District 751 invites all union members and the general public to a Stand Up for Jobs Rally this Friday, May 30 beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the IAM Hall in Everett, 8729 Airport Road. The rally is intended to demonstrate support from organized labor and from the community for efforts to land assembly work for Boeing's next-generation jetliner, the 7E7, here in Washington.

"The fact is, whether or not you work at Boeing, there are literally millions of reasons (and dollars) why it is important to keep building Boeing planes in Washington state," said IAM 751 President Mark Blondin. He points out that winning the 7E7 work will create thousands of jobs, not just at Boeing, but at its many area suppliers and other community businesses supported by these thousands of working families. In addition, it will expand the state's tax base and get Washington moving toward economic recovery.

Friday's rally is about maintaining, securing and creating jobs in Washington state. Slated to speak are Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel, King County Executive Ron Sims, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (not yet confirmed), State Sen. Aaron Reardon, Washington State Labor Council President Rick Bender, and special guest U.S. Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), a Democratic candidate for president in 2004.

CALL TO ACTION: It is critically important that we attend -- and encourage co-workers, friends and family to attend -- Friday's rally. "Community support" is one of Boeing's site-selection criteria for its decision on where to build the 7E7. We can demonstrate that support Friday. 

Please forward this message to everyone on your e-mail list!  Plus, download and post a rally flier at your workplace. Hot dogs and refreshments will be provided at the rally. So bring your union signs and banners, wear your union colors and let's show Boeing that "We Can Do It!" 

For more information about the "We Can Do It!" campaign, visit www.IAM751.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 27
Misleading voters (about ergonomics) has its price

The following editorial appears in today's Bellingham Herald regarding the Building Industry Association of Washington's petition mercenaries lying about Initiative 841 and our state ergonomics rule, which I-841 would repeal:

Misleading voters has its price

INITIATIVES: Building industry has a responsibility to find out where misinformation about ergonomics rules came from.

A company employing signature gatherers for an initiative to repeal the state's ergonomics rules appears to have quickly responded to stop their workers from making false statements, but more explanation is needed about how the statements originated in the first place.

Signature gatherers for Initiative 841 were telling people in Spokane recently that under the rules adopted by the state Department of Labor & Industries that carpet layers and drywallers wouldn't be able to work more than two hours per day. Laborers could only lift one load weighing more than 75 pounds. Workers can't have their arms above their heads or their elbows above their shoulders for more than two hours per day. Mariners catcher Dan Wilson might not even be able to catch an entire game.

There's only one problem. None of this is true.

After Arno Political Consultants was made aware that the statements were false, the company ordered its subcontractors to stop signature gatherers from making the statements. One of the company's co-owners said he would fire anyone who deliberately made false statements about an initiative, though he added that he had no way to keep tabs on the 150 contract workers working in Washington. Arno was paid $75,000 by the state's building industry to gather names for the initiative.

The Building Industry Association of Washington also agreed that the statements were false and disavowed any knowledge of the "talking points" being used by the signature gatherers, according to The Associated Press.

We don't have any evidence to dispute that. But we're skeptical that the "talking points" came from the signature gatherers themselves. In fact, we've heard people associated with the BIA in Whatcom County making similar statements for some time now. The statements originated somewhere long before the initiative drive began and the BIA has an obligation to track down where the misinformation came from and explain how it got spread through its ranks and ultimately ended up as "talking points" for signature gatherers.

When an organization creates an initiative and contracts with signature gatherers it bears the responsibility of ensuring that the public debate is truthful and grounded in facts. People can differ on whether the facts are good or bad but there should be no straying from the truth.

The statements about the ergonomics law may just be the result of a colossal misunderstanding of the rules that then spread across the state like the rumor game. We have no reason to believe the BIA was involved in intentional deception. But a more complete explanation would go a long way toward restoring credibility to the organization's campaign. It's not believable to claim that the statements came out of thin air.

Failure to frame the debate honestly can only lead to questions about what else is true or false about a campaign. Because the state Supreme Court ruled five years ago that people can't be sanctioned for lying about an initiative, voters are well advised to be skeptical about anything they're told by proponents or opponents. But that shouldn't be an invitation to people in initiative campaigns to play fast and loose with the truth.

There is a price for misleading voters. A campaign without credibility has little chance of succeeding at the ballot box.