WSLC Reports Today -- July 29-August 1, 2002

WSLC Reports Today logo NEXT UPDATE -- Wednesday, Aug. 7 by 9 a.m. Pacific -- Why so long?

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. Disclaimer: WSLC Reports Today links to all stories of interest to organized labor; some positive and some negative. The intention is to inform. The creation of a link does not constitute an endorsement of that story's content.

Reports for July 29-August 1, 2002

Previous weeks' news: July 22-26 -- July 15-19 -- July 8-12

Bender: Unions Helping Families Fight Drug Abuse -- WSLC President Rick Bender's monthly column distributed to weekly newspapers across the state, and to labor editors.

THURSDAY, August 1 -- R-51: It's not just about jobs, it's about your family's safety
...plus -- Everett town hall forum August 9 on Medicare, prescription drug costs
...plus -- Border Patrol agent: Union rights are vital to Homeland Security
— In today's News-Tribune -- IAM's Blondin urges Boeing to keep aerospace jobs in U.S.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Machinists give Boeing a recipe for rehiring
— In today's Everett Herald -- IAM District 751 courts public favor
— In today's Seattle Times -- Seattle Mayor Nickels adds support to R-51 transportation plan
...plus -- Labor Ready wouldn't hire women as strikebreakers, suit alleges
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Snokist workers consider options after wages slashed
— In today's Olympian -- Judge: Teachers can talk politics at school, PDC must pay WEA legal fees
— In today's Eastside Journal -- Legislature needs to fix teacher crisis (editorial)
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- A war for the wages: Workers suing more to get overtime pay
— In today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Alcoa to permanently close idle Troutdale smelter
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- U.S. Senate appropriators add $2 million for ergonomics
At AFLCIO.org -- 300 workers tell Fidelity: "Stop the secrecy"
— Today at CNN.com -- Listening to labor -- Lou Dobbs says AFL-CIO's Sweeney has reform right.
— Today from AP -- Fast Track vote in Senate could come as early as today
— In today's Washington Post -- Fast Track rewards special corporate interests -- Provisions inserted for StarKist, FedEx and others in order to "buy" votes.
— In today's WSJ -- Deadbeat CEOs plague companies; huge sums lent may never be paid back
— Today from Reuters -- Unions oppose Bush on Homeland labor rights -- 9-11 firefighter: "One of the implications I have heard is that somehow union affiliation interferes with an employee's ability to do their job. That really brings into question the character of union employees everywhere, and quite frankly, that is an insult to union employees everywhere."
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Drug coverage failure -- Editorial: The truth is that this was a bipartisan failure. From the White House to Capitol Hill, the leadership of the richest nation on earth could not summon the imagination or compassion to help some of its neediest citizens.
...plus -- Question on Halliburton deal under Cheney -- The vice president sold nearly $40 million in Halliburton stock about the time he left the company at prices above $50 a share. Because of an ill-conceived merger he championed as CEO, the company's stock closed Wednesday at $13.20.
— And this from AP -- Jailhouse search reveals Traficant's mop-top a toupee! (Who'd a thunk it?)

WEDNESDAY, July 31 -- Rally in support of LGTB workers Friday night in Tacoma
— In today's Eastside Journal -- State ranks 8th most business-friendly -- How's that for competitive?
— In today's Seattle Times -- AFL-CIO chief Sweeney rails at "corporate piracy"
...plus -- Fast Track bill a public policy disaster -- Op-ed: The people of this country cannot afford fast track. The blatantly undemocratic process that allowed it to pass in the House should be reason enough for Sens. Cantwell and Murray to oppose it. Let's hope they have the courage to do so.
— In the Reaping-What-They-Sowed Section of today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing, other corporations issue dire job-cut warnings over WTO ruling against tax break
...plus -- 300 Seattle city workers at risk of losing jobs in latest budget cuts
— In today's News-Tribune -- Stock slide alters workers' retirement plans
...plus -- Smith makes right call on Fast Track -- Another liberal-media editorial.
...plus -- Pie in the sky tax-cut initiatives put state on meager rations -- Burbank column.
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Sno-Kist workers lose (again); pay reductions in store -- After eliminating workers' medical benefits, wages will now be cut from $8.45 to $10.85 per hour to just $7.50.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Panel presents FFTF shutdown proposal
— In today's Everett Herald -- State faces rising teacher shortage, says new report
At AFLCIO.org -- AFL-CIO President Sweeney announces action plan for corporate reform
— A related story in today's Seattle P-I -- No indictments yet in Enron case; maybe never
— In today's Washington Post -- Senate Democrats seek votes for drug benefit
...plus -- Drugs and your wallet -- Editorial reveals the latest twisted pharmaceutical industry argument: The drug companies claim that rising drug costs are actually a good sign, since wider use of drugs means less use of other medical services such as hospitals. (I'm not making this up.)

TUESDAY, July 30 -- Unions file ULPs against Longview Aluminum over illegal lockout
— In today's News-Tribune -- Labor howls over Rep. Adam Smith's Fast Track vote
...plus -- World envies bureaucracy Bush sneers at -- Friedman column: Federal bureaucrats are to capitalism what the New York police and fire departments were to 9/11 -- the unsung guardians of America's civic religion, the religion that says if you work hard and play by the rules, you'll get rewarded, not ripped off. That's why Bush's constant denigrating of "the bureaucracy" is so offensive.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Slain Redmond nurse mourned as friend, leader (SEIU 1199NW)
...plus -- State may settle suit with community college instructors over retirement benefits
...plus this shocker -- While Qwest execs cooked books, they made $500 million on options
— In today's Everett Herald -- "New" Boeing has a lot to learn (Letter to the Editor)
— In today's Olympian -- Eyman nears deal with state -- $8,500 wristslap and he can't be treasurer.
— In today's Eastside Journal -- King council tells public safety, justice agencies to join in cuts
— In today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Teamsters end Smuckers strike at Woodburn plant
— In today's Seattle Times -- Democrats needn't be shy about tackling greed -- Dionne column: Democrats have a plausible argument to bring to the voters: that capitalism will go off the rails unless there are clear rules, fairly enforced, and decent protections for outsiders against insiders. But some Democrats are afraid their party is about to descend into — shudder — "class warfare."
Today at AFLCIO.org -- Sweeney's speech at today's Wall Street rally for corporate reform
— In today's N.Y. Times -- AFL-CIO to press for changes in corporate governance
— In today's Washington Post -- Congress moves to target corporate tax evasion
...plus -- Senate to delay voting on Homeland Security Department
— In today's L.A. Times -- Drug benefit stuck in Senate -- A do-or-die compromise that would target benefits to the poor and those with high drug costs has won support from key Democratic lawmakers. The proposal represents a retreat from Democrats' traditional insistence on making Medicare benefits universally available--a significant concession aimed at attracting GOP support.

MONDAY, July 29 -- Fast Track passes House with assist from Smith, Larsen
...plus at AFLCIO.org -- Bush arm-twisting squeezes out narrow Fast Track win in House
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Rally pushes for amnesty for Mexican immigrants -- If you weren't one of the 2,000 at Sunday's UFW rally in Mattawa, you get another chance on Sunday August 11.
...plus -- Pasco firefighters struggle with staffing shortage
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Campaign finance gadfly bites unions but, in the process, sets precedent that could take a $4.8 million bite out from the State Republicans for their monumental PDC lapse.
— In today's News-Tribune -- Watching out for the state's Hispanic workers
...and yesterday -- Nurses at the breaking point -- Editorial: It's safe to assume that few patients want to be looked after by nurses who've spent the last three or four hours on their feet without a break.
— In yesterday's Seattle Times -- When giant Wal-Mart knocks, there's a town battle in store
— In yesterday's Aberdeen Daily World -- Union (IAM W-2) will make it through slump
At AFLCIO.org -- Sweeney blasts Bush for his attack on civil service rules
— Today from AP -- West Coast dock workers' talks postponed
— In today's Wall Street Journal -- Air Force may allow Boeing to build version of F-22 jet
— In today's L.A. Times -- Paid family leave bill ignites emotions in California
...plus -- CEO assets now a debit for Cheney -- When the vice president cashed in stock and options worth more than $30 million as a parting gift from Halliburton Co. on his way to D.C., it was, in his own words, "a great success story." Two years later, it appears only Cheney is still showing a profit.
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Searching for a drug compromise -- Editorial: It is critical that the Senate push through a meaningful drug benefit this week before the it begins its August recess.
— Today from Reuters -- Lieberman: Bush's homeland security veto threat insulting to union workers
— In Sunday's Washington Post -- Co-pay or you-pay -- The latest employers trend in rein in health care costs is offering "health-spending accounts" to workers which allocate an annual "allowance" -- for example, $2,500 for a family -- to spend on medical expenses.

Previous weeks' news: July 22-26 -- July 15-19 -- July 8-12

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1
R-51: It's not just about jobs, it's about your family's safety

When the Washington State Labor Council lobbied this year for the state legislature to make an investment in our state's transportation system, we stood beside the state's business leaders making the case that the future of existing family-wage jobs in this state, and those we hope to create, depends on our state making this investment.

But there are many other issues -- besides keeping your job and maintaining your rush-hour sanity -- for working people to consider as they decide which way to vote on Referendum 51.

The WSLC is producing a series of camera-ready fliers designed for union organizations to distribute to their rank-and-file members, and the first one "At what price.... SAFETY?" is now available. Download this 231 KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file, print, post and distribute it to your union's members. (Three more fliers focusing on more R-51 issues will be available soon.)

Each of the fliers is designed to be distributed with specific project lists for various regions of the state. These project lists are available, again in PDF format, at the Yes on R-51 website.

Delegates to the WSLC political convention June 1 voted unanimously to endorse R-51, which would increase the gas tax by 9 cents over the next two years plus impose some additional vehicle sales taxes and truck weight fees. For more information, visit www.yesonr51.com or contact the WSLC's David Groves at (206) 281-8901.

Speaking of R-51 and safety, the following letter to the editor by Kelly Fox, President of the Washington State Council of Firefighters, appeared in Wednesday's Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Dear Editor:
As a firefighter, I know safer, smoother-running roads can aid emergency crews when they need to get to the scene of an accident. Without Referendum 51, response times will be slower and we all know what that can mean.

R-51 is an important first step Washington voters can take to fix unsafe roads and bridges across the entire state and help relieve traffic congestion. R-51 also holds the government accountable to taxpayers.

Last week, an annual mobility report ranking road congestion found the Seattle-Everett area the fifth-worst in the nation, followed by Vancouver-Portland at 11th, Tacoma at 35th and Spokane at 66th. R-51 will help get us moving but, from my perspective, the best benefit it delivers concerns bridges and roads. They need repairs and earthquake retrofitting badly. The state Department of Transportation has identified 2,037 "high-accident" locations. There are also 950 bridges that could face significant damage in the next earthquake.

R-51 can't solve all our transportation problems. No single measure can do that. R-51, however, focuses on relieving that state's most urgent needs, such as relieving traffic choke points and fixing dangerous roads and bridges. The fact that R-51 requires mandatory quarterly audits for a full accounting of the revenues, progress on improvements and expected completion dates ensures that the new revenues will be spent properly and produce real results.

Kelly L. Fox
President, Washington State Council of Firefighters
Olympia

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1
Everett town hall forum August 9 on Medicare, drug costs

Frustrated by inaction from our state and federal government on the prescription drug crisis? Here's your chance to hear people's personal stories on the issue, proposed solutions, and the response of the lawmakers who will decide what, if anything, is done about it.

The Prescription for Action Coalition, led by Washington Citizen Action, is sponsoring a federal and state level town hall meeting on Medicare and the high cost of prescription drugs on Friday, Aug. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., in Room 400. U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and several state legislators will be on hand to listen and respond to constituent concerns.

The meeting -- moderated by State Sen. (and registered nurse) Jeri Costa -- will feature stories of area residents struggling with skyrocketing prescription prices because Medicare lacks coverage. The dialogue will then focus on solutions to this crisis from the Prescription for Action Coalition, followed by responses from each of the elected officials.

Joining Rep. Larsen and Sen. Costa at the event (more may be confirmed later) will be State Sen. Georgia Gardner and State Reps. Jean Berkey, Hans Dunshee, Kelli Linville, Kirk Pearson and Aaron Reardon.

The events co-sponsors are the Washington State Labor Council, Snohomish County Labor Council, AARP, Washington State Pharmacy Association, American Heart Association, Service Employees International Union, Washington Academy of Family Physicians, Senior Citizen Lobby, Just Healthcare Coalition, Group Health Senior Caucus, NoHLA, Northwest Pharmacy Services, Washington State Nurses Association, Gray Panthers, Arc of Washington, Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans, Washington State Medical Association, Washington Federation of State Employees and Washington Citizen Action.

For more information, contact Citizen Action's Bill Monto at (206) 389-0050 x101 or Cait Alexander at (206) 389-0050 x111.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1
Border Patrol agent: Union rights vital to Homeland Security

“I have dedicated my life to defending the national security of this country and I do not understand how my role as union leader is incompatible with my oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” said Mark Hall, President of the American Federation of Government Employees’ (AFGE) Local 2499 in Detroit, Michigan.

See CALL TO ACTION below to stop Congress from removing basic employee rights and protections for the federal workers in the new Homeland Security Department.

Hall spoke Wednesday at a news conference held by the Senate Democratic Steering Committee. He is one of two Border Patrol agents, who blew the whistle following September 11, emphasizing that our nation’s northern border with Canada was not adequately staffed and a danger to national security.

For their efforts, the Justice Department tried to immediately fire the two agents, and failing that, settled on a 90-day suspension, one-year demotion, and reassignment until the media got wind of the story. With pressure from the media; Congress; and the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which investigates whistleblower cases, the Justice Department finally relented, dropping all proposed disciplinary actions.

The OSC, in releasing its investigative report on the two agents, stated, “Especially in these times of heightened concern about national security, it is crucial to protect federal employees like Mr. Hall and Mr. Lindemann when they shine public light on security issues. Their efforts represented an act of complete loyalty to our nation and the public they serve.”

“I have dedicated my life to protecting this nation and take a back seat to no one on this point,” Hall said. “I am also a proud union member. I believe both roles make me a better citizen, a better employee, and a better American. The President is insisting on taking away the civil service system that protects government employees from politics, patronage and cronyism. Yet my story and the stories of many others are evidence that these protections are vital for national security.

“I have been shot at twice, hit, kicked, spit-on, and bitten in the course of carrying out my duties.
I have spent months away from my family on detail—as much as four months in a year away from home,” Hall said. “I have received dozens of commendations for outstanding service to the Border Patrol. I joined the union 17 years ago, and there has never been one instance when my union membership caused me to compromise the security of this nation. In fact, our union has helped me and my fellow officers make this nation a better and safer place.”

CALL TO ACTION: Click here to send a customizable e-mail to Sens. Murray and Cantwell telling them Border Patrol and other federal employees who constantly risk their lives to protect our country, deserve our undying gratitude, not a drastic erosion of their workplace rights.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
Rally in support of LGBT workers Friday night in Tacoma

Union and community activists are encouraged to participate in a rally Friday night, Aug. 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Tacoma's IBEW 76 Hall, 3049 S. 36th in support of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Brothers and Sisters who are under attack (again).

In April, the Tacoma City Council voted 8-1 to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" among the protected classes for purposes of determining discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation. Immediately, right-wing activists began collecting signatures using misinformation and hate-speech in an attempt to force reconsideration of the issue.

The day of the rally marks their deadline to submit signatures; they came up short with their initial submission of signatures (see "Ordinance repeal petition falling short" from the July 14 edition of the News-Tribune.)

Friday night's rally -- either celebrating a victory in keeping it off the ballot or gearing up for a ballot measure campaign -- will feature Patty Rose, the new executive officer of the Pierce County Central Labor Council; Louis Harris, co-chair of the Pierce County Jobs with Justice; the president and campaign manager from Tacoma United for Fairness; and a sister-to-sister city labor chorus.

For more information on the rally, contact Jan Denali of Out Front Labor Coalition/Pride at Work, AFL-CIO at 206-293-0333.

Directions to IBEW 76 Hall: (I-5 southbound) Take the S. 38th Street exit, turn right (west) off the exit ramp, continue a few blocks (about two stoplights or so) on S. 38th, turn right (north) on Pine Street, continue a few blocks on Pine, turn left (west) on S. 36th, and it will be on your right (north side) of the street.

TUESDAY, JULY 30
Unions file ULPs against Longview Aluminum for illegal lockout

The following press release from the United Steelworkers of America was issued Monday:

The United Steelworkers of America and the Longview Federated Aluminum Council, a coalition of the unions that, along with the USWA, represent the 700 hourly workers that were unexpectedly locked out by Longview Aluminum on July 8 have charged the company with numerous unfair labor practices to reverse the company's illegal action of discontinuing employees' income security benefits, sickness and accident benefits, and employees' and retirees' health care benefits.

On July 9, the USWA and the LFAC offered to return to work "unconditionally." The company neglected to respond to the union's offer. The company informed the Bonneville Power Administration that the company is the victim of an uncontrollable force -- the union -- and that they must be relieved of their financial obligation to take or pay for their BPA power per the "force majeure" clause in their BPA power contract. The company is obligated under their Power Sales Agreement with BPA to take or pay for 100 megawatts of BPA power effective April 1, 2002, with the obligation increasing to 280 megawatts effective July 1, 2002, through September 30, 2006.

Wes Wheeler, LFAC President, said: "We have not threatened to strike or even mentioned the word 'strike' at any time during these negotiations. This plant has had a 61-year history of both parties taking all necessary steps to avoid strikes or lockout until Michael Lynch and his accomplices came to Longview. This company has illegally locked us out, and illegally terminated our benefits in their ongoing attempt to espace their contractual obligations to employees, the union, and the region."

Wheeler continued: "Lynch has left a trail of violated agreements and bankrupt companies in his path to this illegal lockout. Lynch stated in early bargaining that he would immediately re-start the three potlines at Longview, which would have returned about 500 people to work, upon achieving a new labor agreement, but when asked for assurances more enforceable than Lynch's word, the company refused to make such a guarantee. Their real intentions are a mystery. With the Steelworkers' continued assistance, we will restore employee benefits and bring Mr. Lynch and his rogue companies to justice."

Gaylan Prescott, USWA Staff Representative, speaking on behalf of LFAC and the USWA, said: "Longview Aluminum's actions are unconscionable; they are breaking the law to espace their obligations to the workers, the community, and to the Northwest's ratepayers."

For more information, contact Laylan Prescott at (360) 513-5052.

MONDAY, JULY 29
Fast Track passes House with assist from Smith, Larsen

Fast Track passed the House at 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning by a 215-212 vote, completing a furious 72-hour scramble to ram the bill through before representatives left for their August recess -- one that ultimately gave Representatives only a few hours to read the 304-page text of the "compromise" between previously approved House and Senate versions of the bill.

Three Democrats from Washington state -- Reps. Adam Smith (D-9th), Rick Larsen (D-2nd) and Norm Dicks (D-6th) -- were among the 24 Democrats who broke with their party leadership and voted for the measure; Smith and Larsen were among only four Dems who switched from "no" votes in December 2001 to "yes" votes Saturday.

Washington Reps. Jay Inslee (D-1st), Brian Baird (D-3rd) and Jim McDermott (D-7th) all deserve credit (and thanks) for voting "No" despite an intense full-court press by corporate lobbyists and the White House to pass the measure. The measure may now face action this week in the Senate, where it is expected to pass, unless Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle decides to wait until after the recess.

In a related story, following the House's all-nighter, most of our state's Democratic delegation flew to New York City where the Democratic Leadership Council -- the "centrist" pro-business faction of which Rep. Adam Smith is a leader -- opened its convention by warning fellow Democrats not to be too hard on Corporate America for recent transgressions that have wreaked havoc upon the stock market. (See coverage in the Washington Post and the Seattle P-I.)

The DLC is afraid that the populist economic rhetoric among many Democrats of recent weeks will allow Republicans to blast Democrats for moving left of center, and resurrecting the antiquated notion of a TWO-PARTY SYSTEM.

At the DLC event Sunday, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) argued that Al Gore's "people versus the powerful" rhetoric two years ago departed from the former vice president's own record in office and made it difficult for the Democratic ticket to attract independent, middle-class voters "who don't see America as us versus them." Gore is not attending the DLC event this week.

Lieberman deserves props this weekend for blasting President Bush's veto threat of the homeland security bill as an insult to union workers (that bill also passed the House Friday by a 295-132 vote with Reps. Smith, Dicks and Baird voting with Republicans on the measure, which restricting the union rights of new department's federal workers.)

But he and other DLC centrists should remember that their willingness to promote corporate causes of the 1990s -- like allowing auditors to consult, to name just one -- and their eagerness to embrace unpopular corporate causes like NAFTA and Fast Track is what has led many Americans to blame both parties for the corporate scandals and economic woes now plaguing the country. (See today's N.Y. Times story, "Corporate abuses cause bipartisan indignation.")

The reason Democrats don't have the high ground right now is because they conceded it with the shift to center that the DLC celebrates -- a shift it now argues is the solution to helping the party regain control of Congress.

Check out The Nation's commentary on the DLC gathering which concludes "the DLC is simply out of step with the needs of the country and the opinion of a growing majority of Americans."

If you have news items regarding unions or workplace issues in Washington state that you would like to see posted here, please submit them via e-mail to David Groves or via fax to 206-285-5805.