WEDNESDAY, June 9 -- Labor disappointed with breakdown in workers' comp talks
— In today's Detroit News -- Union organizing could get harder -- The Republican-majority National Labor Relations Board says it will decide whether to curtail unions' ability to organize workers through a simplified process known as card-check agreements. The case probably won't be decided until some time in 2005, and the outcome of this November's presidential election will likely decide the issue.
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Government must fix asparagus problem it helped create -- Editorial blames federal subsidies of Peruvian asparagus, but also takes swipe at state minimum wage law.
— In today's Everett Herald -- McCain moves against Boeing tankers -- IAM 751 President Mark Blondin says he tried unsuccessfully to get a meeting recently with Sen. McCain to discuss the tanker deal.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Air New Zealand sees big role for 7E7; CEO agrees plane is a "game changer"
...plus -- AirTran buys some extra range with 737, but the switch could hurt 717 program
— In today's Peninsula Daily News -- Union (IBT 589) wants shelters built for Clallam courthouse smokers
Election news: 
— In today's Seattle Times -- Charter schools are put on hold -- The charter-school law, which was to go into effect tomorrow, will be put on hold until the state determines whether there are enough valid signatures to place Ref. 55 on the ballot. If there are, it will stay on hold until the November election.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Charter schools are worth a test -- Editorial: Referendum fits a growing pattern of excessive reliance on what should be a last resort against government inaction or favoritism.
— In today's Olympian -- Income tax splits Sims, Gregoire -- Sims advocates graduated income tax, which Gregoire calls "laughable" in current political climate. She wants to close tax loopholes.
Other national news: 
— In today's News Tribune -- Health care inflation eases as workers pick up more of the tab (AP)
— In yesterday's Detroit News -- Kroger, UFCW reach deal on contract for 8,500 Detroit grocery workers
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Turbulence shakes Boston as Democratic convention nears -- Six weeks out, hundreds of union members picket site of convention to protest impasse in police contract talks.
— In today's Washington Post -- House GOP seeks to allow churches to participate in partisan politics
...plus -- In memoriam: Ronald Reagan: Class warrior, union buster -- Meyerson column: When he broke the air traffic controllers' strike, it was an unambiguous signal that employers need feel little or no obligation to their workers, and employers got that message loud and clear -- illegally firing workers who sought to unionize, replacing permanent employees who could collect benefits with temps who could not, shipping factories and jobs abroad. Reagan may have preached traditional values, but loyalty was not one of them.

TUESDAY, June 8 -- More governors rescind free-trade procurement letter; will Locke?
— Last week in the Seattle Times -- Central American trade pact, a perpetual race to the bottom -- Op-ed: Gov. Locke, without any public consultation, pledged to the U.S. trade representative that our state government procurement policies would conform to CAFTA even before the rules where released.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Grocery union offers changes to health plan -- UFCW offer would save stores $120 million over three years, but grocers say it's not enough. Contract extended to June 25.
— In today's News Tribune -- Grocery workers to pay more for health care in union offer
— In today's Seattle Times -- Grocery talks extended again -- "I would rather have my members working in the stores than walking the picket line," says UFCW Local 1105 President Sharon McCann. "(But) there is going to come a point where (extending talks) is going to be an act of futility."
— In today's Oregonian -- Wal-Mart looks in the mirror -- Editorial: Despite great success, the American retail giant can't stay on top by shortchanging workers and fighting off lawsuits.
Also today -- Hear striking Utah miners' story of struggle against incestuous polygamist clan
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Still food-less on the ferries -- The ferry system says its approach is an attempt to "bring fresh ideas and thinking to the ferry system." Those fresh ideas include privatizing it, junking the food-service contract and busting the union to improve the system's cut of concessions money.
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Ferry food service delayed; union (IBU) and contractor at impasse
...plus -- State to allow union protest of private ferry service
— In today's King County Journal -- Outsourcing white-collar jobs spurs growth in unions (AP) -- Stephen Gentry, a computer programmer from Auburn, was laid off and forced to train his replacement, a high-tech worker in India. So Gentry joined WashTech/CWA.
— In today's P.S. Business Journal -- New contract talks scheduled for Boeing, SPEEA in Wichita
...plus a "We Suck" Update™ -- Low taxes attract firm to Vancouver from Portland -- "We are seeing more and more companies relocate or expand in Southwest Washington because of the tremendous savings the state's tax structure can provide to a corporation," says local economic development guy.
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Calling Olympia: Why no rush to help Spokane? -- Caldwell column: Instead of saying "next year," legislature should give tax incentives for Royal Caribbean call center the same level of urgency they showed for Boeing. (Also see last week's story on the 1,400-job call center.)
— In today's Seattle Times -- The war on drugs vs. asparagus -- Editorial: State and federal officials should see if anything can be done to help this century-old industry, which seems to be a casualty of the United States' war on drugs, and to keep the rest of the state's food processing industry vital.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Reprivatizing airport security sounds risky (editorial)
Election News: 
— In today's Olympian -- Charter schools foes say Ref. 55 has signatures to put issue on fall ballot
— In today's Everett Herald -- Mike Sells' hard work earned him respect (letter to the editor)
— In yesterday's Columbian -- WEA likes silence -- Editorial: Silence may be what union leaders want from those who disagree with the union majority, but paying nearly $700 a year (in dues) should buy public school teachers what I-134 meant to provide: an automatic opt-out (from political advocacy).
At AFLCIO.org -- Walking door-to-door for good jobs, health care -- In what will be the largest and earliest mobilization of working Americans in multiple states in history, thousands of union members will walk to tens of thousands of doors in 16 states -- including ours! -- in June to talk to fellow union members about the election issues of good jobs and affordable, quality health care.
At Teamster.org -- Court fails working families; sets path for border open to unsafe trucks
— In today's L.A. Times --  Supreme Court gives Mexican trucks a green light to roll into U.S.
— Today at Murray.Senate.gov -- Sen. Murray urges Bush to ensure public safety on Mexican trucks
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Court rules in favor of early retirees denied pensions for taking new jobs
— In today's Everett Herald -- "Buy American" sentiment fading, especially among younger buyers (AP)
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Job picture better, but not great -- Editorial: The latest Labor Department jobs report shows the president's recovery plan is on track -- unless you're one of those looking for work.

MONDAY, June 7 -- Bender urges against AWB hijacking of federal UI money
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- Talks end in workers' compensation talks -- Talks between labor and employer groups to reform the state's workers' compensation system have broken down; employers withdraw. "We had an agreement going into the talks that everything would be on the table, but then some (employer) groups wanted to start taking things off the table," Rick Bender said. Specifically, employer groups wanted to exclude WISHA inspections and injury-prevention efforts from the talks.
— In today's Seattle Times -- Labor turns against leading House Democrat Helen Sommers
— In today's Everett Herald -- Idled hands help in Wenatchee -- Instead of making aluminum, about 300 Alcoa employees from the idled Wenatchee Works smelter have put in more than 100,000 hours of community service work. More than 150 nonprofit agencies, schools and governments have benefited.
— In Sunday's Tri-City Herald -- Injured farm workers voice complaints to L&I officials
— Sunday from Reuters -- Boeing sees 7E7 orders hitting 200 in 2004
— In today's News Tribune -- Union (IBT 117) wrong to delay prison smoking ban (editorial)
— In Sunday's Olympian -- Library system would be hit hard by I-864 (editorial)
— In Sunday's Daily News -- How much of a tax cut is too much? (I-864 editorial)
— In Sunday's Bremerton Sun -- Olympia's bad boys (Tim Eyman and Tim Sheldon) mix it up for 2004
...plus -- Reinventing retirement: Boomers face a lifetime of working
— Today from MSNBC -- Supreme Court allows Mexican trucks in U.S.
— In today's Oregonian -- U.S. auto industry steers jobs overseas as prices stall
— In today's N.Y. Times -- GM to spend over $3 billion to expand in China
— Saturday from AP -- Outsourcing tricky with taxpayer money -- Anti-outsourcing efforts at "economic patriotism" have run headlong into another time-honored American tradition -- taxpayers demanding government give them the most bang for their buck.
— In today's S.F. Chronicle -- Calif. workers' comp overhaul cuts rates cut by only 7%, not 21% sought

Previous weeks' news: June 2-4 -- May 24-27 --  May 17-21

THURSDAY,  JUNE 10
Be a part of labor's historic June door-to-door mobilization
Take the message of good jobs, affordable health care to fellow union members

In what the AFL-CIO is calling the "largest and earliest mobilization of working Americans in multiple states in history," union member-to-member neighborhood walks begin this weekend in Washington state.  Union volunteers will go door-to-door talking with fellow union voters about America’s priorities, Bush’s failed record, and the plans of John Kerry, the AFL-CIO-endorsed candidate for president, to create good jobs and make health care affordable for all.

If you haven't already, please fill out an online volunteer form to work a 4-hour shift.

These Labor Neighbor walks will be held for three weekends this month -- June 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27 -- in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston counties.  The shifts, which begin with 30-minute training sessions, will be held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from noon to 4 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.  In King County, there will also be weekday shifts on an RSVP basis. 

Volunteers will be assigned to one of the following staging areas (click addresses for maps):

KING COUNTY

COORDINATOR: Raechelle Turner, (206) 441-2647 or (206) 718-2022

STAGING AREAS: 
— Teamsters Hall/ Campaign HQ, 552 Denny Way in Seattle
— Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 32, 595 Monster Road SW, #213 in Renton

PIERCE COUNTY

COORDINATORS: Randy Loomans, (206) 669-4023; Dan Sexton, (888) 943-2420 (pager)

STAGING AREA:
— IBEW Local 76, 3049 S. 36th St., #101 in Tacoma.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY

COORDINATOR: Christopher Glenn, (425) 775-0264

STAGING AREAS:
— Everett Labor Temple, 2812 Lombard St., Room 207 (June 12-13 only)
— IBEW Local 191, 2701 Hoyt Ave. in Everett (June 19-20 and 26-27)

THURSTON COUNTY

COORDINATOR: Jeff Johnson, (360) 259-7327

STAGING AREA:
— WSLC Olympia office, 906 S. Columbia St. Suite 330

The WSLC has challenged every union organization in Washington state to turn out 3% of their members for Labor Neighbor activities in 2004. Your efforts in June can help your Union meet that 3% Challenge.  For more information about June activities, email volunteer@wslc.org or call State Field Director Raechelle Turner at (206) 441-2647 or (206) 718-2022.

George Bush has the money and the negative ads. But John Kerry has the people and the power of a positive message for creating jobs, making health care affordable, protecting overtime pay and more. Help take back America!  Volunteer NOW!

Also, check out the AFL-CIO's special Flash movie about the importance of volunteering in June. Just click on www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/politics/volunteer_flash.cfm.

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE 9
Labor disappointed with breakdown in workers' comp talks
Some business interests wanted to exclude injury-reduction from negotiations

Organized labor is disappointed with the business community’s decision to withdraw from the Governor’s mediated negotiations to improve our state’s workers compensation system.

“The group rules for these talks were that everything would be on the table," said Rick Bender, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.  "In our opinion, reducing workplace injuries through improved safety and health policies is an integral part of the cost of workers’ compensation.  But some elements of the business community objected to including our state’s safety and health policies.  That makes me question whether those particular business associations really wanted any progress to be achieved in these talks.

Labor was willing -- and remains willing -- to discuss ways to improve the efficiency and fairness of the workers’ compensation system as it affects injured workers and employers.  But the system is not in crisis.

Over the last 10 years, employers in the state have seen an average premium cost increase of just four percent a year. (Eight years of no increases and two years of sharp increases.)  In addition, employers received $400 million in premium dividends in 1999-2000 when the stock market produced extraordinary income.  The stock market bubble and the recession of the last three years have created a temporary cost spike that organized labor is confident will be reduced to manageable levels this year. 

Washington’s system is unique because workers contribute 25 percent of the cost with medical premiums out of their own paychecks.  No other system in the country includes such a premium from workers.

Our state system is rated in national workers' compensation studies as a low-cost state.  For example, the Oregon Rate Study, which is released every two years, has consistently ranked Washington as a low-cost state.  In 2002, the Washington state system was ranked in the lowest quartile of all states in terms of workers’ compensation costs.

“We will continue to advocate for improvements to our state’s workers compensation system,” Bender said.  “We will do so at every level, and stand ready to negotiate in good faith with the employer community.”

TUESDAY,  JUNE 8
More governors rescind trade procurement letter; will Locke?

Since our May 26 posting -- Tell Locke: Don't "trade" away our state's purchasing rights! -- two more Governors have rescinded their letters signing away their state's procurement policies to the federal government and its destructive trade policies. Unfortunately, Gov. Gary Locke of Washington is not one of them... yet.

Seven governors, now including Oregon's, have rescinded commitments made in a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) last September to make their states comply with the rules of new “free” trade agreements that limit government purchasing laws favoring local business, discouraging outsourcing, buying recycled products, or other local priorities. The states that have rescinded are Wisconsin, Maine, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa and Oregon.

In the days preceding the USTR's May 28 signing of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, dozens of you contacted Gov. Locke's office to urge him to rescind the letter. Locke's office responded without indicating support or opposition to rescinding the letter, but saying they didn't feel constrained by the timing of CAFTA's signing.

TAKE ACTION: Contact Locke and ask him to rescind his letter to the USTR on state procurement policies. Call (360) 902-4111 or use his email form: www.governor.wa.gov/contact/govemail.htm

SAMPLE MESSAGE

Dear Governor Locke:

I am deeply concerned about the your letter to the US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, in which you committed Washington State to comply with whatever rules will be negotiated in current and future trade agreements, including the ones recently signed with Australia and Central America. . These rules could bar, for example, giving preferences to local businesses or restricting outsourcing. However, nothing has been signed to law yet, I urge you to rescind your letter, as seven other Governors have in recent weeks. Please keep me informed of your actions on this issue. Thank you for your attention. 

Sincerely, ...

THANK YOU to the following state legislators who have already taken action to express opposition to signing away Washington's purchasing rights: State Reps. Velma Veloria, Maralyn Chase, Brian Blake, Don Cox, Jim Clements, Eileen Cody, Mary Lou Dickerson, John McCoy, Tim Ormsby, Simpson, Bob Sump,  Shay Schual-Berke and Lynn Schindler. State Sens. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Paull Shin, Dale Brandland, Rosa Franklin, Karen Keiser, Pam Roach and Pat Thibaudeau.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION (from Public Citizen):  The Bush administration convinced state governors to sign a letter "voluntarily" committing their states to comply with draconian constraints on domestic procurement (purchasing) policy included in all new trade pacts under negotiation. Governors were asked to commit states to comply with whatever procurement rules result from negotiations, effectively to deposit an open signature card for future pacts with unknown requirements. Among the pacts that were listed to be covered were CAFTA, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and a slew of bilateral agreements.

If a state agrees to comply with the procurement provisions of these agreements, the following policies are prohibited, meaning existing policies that do not conform must be changed, and states are prohibited from establishing such policies in the future:

• "No off-shoring" and other local development policies aimed at keeping state dollars paying in-state wages and giving preference to locally-produced goods and services;

• "Green" procurement policies such as those requiring recycled content, fuel efficiency, energy efficiency or renewable energy;

• Prevailing wage, living wage and project-labor agreements as well as pro-union or pro-public bidding assistance;

• Policies that prohibit purchases of goods made in sweatshops or goods made with slave labor; and

• Preferences used to demand corporate responsibility in the face of human rights abuses -- such as those used to help bring an end to apartheid in South Africa and now in place regarding Burma.

Other nations that are party to these agreements are empowered to challenge a nonconforming state policy (no matter when it was established) as a violation of the agreement in a binding dispute resolution system established in the text.  State government officials have no standing before these tribunals and thus must rely on the federal government to defend a challenged policy.  The tribunals are staffed by trade officials who are empowered to judge if state policy has resulted in a violation.  Policies judged to violate the rules must be changed, or trade sanctions can be imposed.  As well, the federal government is obliged to use all constitutionally-available powers -- for instance preemptive legislation, lawsuits and cutting off funding -- to force state compliance with tribunal rulings.

To make matters worse, the process that USTR is using to seek "consent" from states is highly questionable legally.  Setting government procurement policy and deciding whether to cede to policy constraints imposed by a trade agreement is within the realm of state legislatures, not the executive branch.  A note from the Governor to the USTR on policy matters with such deep and broad implications should not be allowed to override the constitutional authority of state and local elected officials.  Yet if a state is listed when an agreement is approved by Congress, that state becomes bound even if the initial sign-on process was not legal!

More and more people are becoming aware of the implications these pacts, and constituents in many states are demanding that their governors communicate to the USTR that their state will not be bound by the rules.  State legislators are demanding notification and consultation regarding trade rules with such significant implications for their policy-making authority.  The USTR has heard these initial rumblings.  Yet, instead of rectifying the shortcomings of the process used to consult with states, it has pushed back by continuing its recruitment effort and circulating yet more misinformation about what these rules actually mean for state sovereignty.

TUESDAY,  JUNE 8
Meet, support striking miners in struggle against Utah clan

All union and community activists are invited to meet and support miners on strike against the Co-Op Mine in Huntington, Utah.  The miners will be in Portland on Wednesday for a 2 p.m. meeting at the IWW Hall, 616 E. Burnside; and in Seattle on Thursday at 10 a.m. in Room 208 of the Labor Temple, 2800 1st Ave.

These underground coal miners, mostly immigrant workers, were being paid between $5.15 and $7 an hour with no benefits (while other miners working in the same canyon earn $18) when on Sept. 22, 2003, every one of the 75 Co-Op miners were fired for protesting the suspension of a co-worker and unsafe conditions on the job. At the time, the miners -- upset about low wages and dangerous working conditions which had led to countless injuries and three deaths since 1996 -- were having meetings with the United Mine Workers of America to get themselves organized into a real union, unlike a company “union” the bosses had set up to prevent the workers from being organized.

The Co-Op mine is owned by the powerful Kingston clan, a wealthy group of incestual polygamists, that owns about 160 businesses throughout Utah -- including pawn shops, payday loan outfits, food markets and a garbage company -- worth an estimated $150 million. The Kingston clan (also known as “The Order”) has created The Latter-Day Church of Christ, which mimics in name the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which disavows any connection to the clan.

In 1979, the National Labor Relations Board recognized the “International Association of United Workers Union” as the sole bargaining agent for the Co-Op mine workers. Since then, this so-called union has been owned, operated and controlled by the Kingston family. The union holds no meetings and its officers are not elected; they are appointed by and are members of the Kingston clan. 

Despite a mountain of evidence indicating that the Co-Op miners want representation with the UMWA and that the company union is a farce, the Regional NLRB office declined to rule on the case, keeping the workers in limbo for months until the National Board makes a decision.

The Co-Op miners have gotten support from people across Utah and around the country. Utah Jobs with Justice has organized several fundraisers and rallies for the miners. A delegation of labor, community and religious leaders has met with Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff to encourage him to investigate the Kingston clan’s pattern of violating health and safety laws. Shurtleff is now running a financial probe of the clan and hopes to bring an organized-crime-style prosecution against the Kingstons.

Come get a firsthand account from two of the Utah miners, Alyson Kennedy and Juan Salazar, at the Portland and Seattle meetings. For more information about their area appearances, please contact Wolf Loera of ILWU Local 19 at (206) 321-2841.

Contributions to the striking miners can be sent to: UMWA District 22, 525 E. 100 South, Price, Utah 84501. Checks should be earmarked “Co-Op Miners Family Fund.”

For more background information, check out Coal Miners' Blues, published in March by the Salt Lake Weekly.

MONDAY,  JUNE 7
Bender urges against AWB hijacking of federal UI money

The following letter was sent last week to Governor Gary Locke by Rick Bender, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.  For more information, check out our June 3 posting: AWB seeks federal money to avoid self-imposed UI tax hike.

The Honorable Gary Locke
Governor, State of Washington
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Dear Governor Locke:

It has come to my attention that the Association of Washington Business is encouraging Congress to send the unemployment tax money (Reed Act) back to the states to avoid a 2005 rate increase.

With regard to this, Labor has some very strong concerns over statements made by the business community regarding how expensive the Washington State system is purported to be. Here are the real facts:

1. The tax increase from 2003 to 2004 was given to Washington businesses by themselves. If they had accepted a different legislative proposal, there would have been no tax increase during this recession year. Instead, they have gambled on a very volatile, untried tax system and may be having second thoughts about it.

2. The majority of employers in Washington State pay about $150 in UI taxes per employee per year, not $524 or $600. The AWB has been overstating the average taxes by three- to fourfold.

3. Decent UI benefits not only help the worker, but the community as well insofar as every dollar in UI benefits creates $2.15 worth of consumer spending, according to the Department of Labor. It is our opinion that the State of Washington should be arguing for extended benefits for the long-term unemployed, if we really are looking after the best interests of all parties. Instead, the Association of Washington Business is trying to find a way for the feds to buy down the higher than necessary taxes and counteract the volatile tax structure.

The Washington State Labor Council does not object to Reed Act distributions to the states, but how that money is used should be determined by labor, business and the Employment Security Department, not the Association of Washington Business.

I look forward to hearing from you on this issue that is so very important to the labor community.

Sincerely,

Rick S. Bender
President