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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 August 12-16, 2002

Previous weeks' news: Aug. 7-9 -- July 29-Aug. 1 -- July 22-26

FRIDAY, August 16 -- R-51: We can't afford to ignore transportation any longer
...plus -- IBEW 46 plans protest of Port of Seattle attacks next Thursday
At SPEEA.org -- Boeing threat to lay off members "a hollow scare tactic"
— In today's Seattle P-I -- IAM seeks federal mediator in first day of talks with Boeing
...plus -- Eyman goes it alone this time, files same initiative he dropped after he got busted
— In today's News-Tribune -- Machinists strike would hurt Boeing -- and everybody else
...plus -- Time takes a toll on Referendum 51 mega projects
— In today's Walla Walla U-B -- Sen. Murray: Federal money for highway may be lost without R-51
— In today's Olympian -- State Democrats told to forfeit $1.4 million (PDC awaits GOP's $6.6 million)
— In today's Eastside Journal -- Dunn: Light-rail system "makes no sense"
— In the UW Daily -- Classified-employee union (SEIU 925) protests proposed attendance policy
— In today's Seattle Times -- Continuing a commitment to keep our state competitive (Mulally op-ed)
— In yesterday's Wenatchee World -- Eastmont teachers may walk out on Sept. 1
— In today's S.F. Chronicle -- United's unions agree to concession talks to avert bankruptcy
— In today's L.A. Times -- US Airways seeks to cut IAM mechanics' wages
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Bush appeals for his domestic security plan over Democrats'
— In today's Washington Post -- Health care woes boost generic medicine bill
— In today's Wall Street Journal -- Executives play with Legos

THURSDAY, August 15 -- See you Sunday at Labor-Neighbor kickoff in Spokane
At ILWU.org -- Hearings to expose retailers behind Bush campaign against dock workers
At WFSE.org -- "Hearts and prayers" go out to family of DOT member killed on Hwy. 18
— In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing to halt production if Machinists go on strike
...plus -- Master of his union's fate: IAM chief Blondin faces tough balancing act
...plus -- Issaquah teachers to walk, if necessary
— In today's News-Tribune -- Thousands at Boeing face layoff if Machinists strike
...plus -- Boeing worker who contests IAM 751 election seeks to halt union negotiations
— In today's Seattle P-I -- United Airlines says it needs worker concessions or bankruptcy likely
— In the Seattle Weekly -- All politics is local: Labor "machine" getting revved up for fall elections
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- WSU violated labor rules, state board decides
— In yesterday's Vancouver Columbian -- Referendum 51 approval is key to resumed building
— Today from MSNBC.com -- Fireman's Fund to stop insuring NYC firefighter union
— In today's Washington Post -- China's workers -- Editorial: China's entry into the WTO has been lopsided so far. It has finally agreed in principle to follow international rules governing trade. But internally, it continues to deny its workers the most basic rights of association, petition and expression -- including rights that China long ago promised to respect.

WEDNESDAY, August 14
— In today's South County Journal -- Boeing's balancing act -- Accompanied by a group of stories about IAM membership, strike history and members' pay, as well as Boeing "consolidation."
— In today's Seattle Times -- Local Boeing jobs in peril if American drops orders for 67 jets
...plus -- One tough assignment: Boeing's labor man (Calhoun) hopes for union peace
...plus -- Three strikes that would stagger Seattle (editorial re: IAM, ILWU and baseball)
...plus -- Clarifying initiatives, one clause at a time (editorial re: WEA-SEIU suit on Eyman initiative)
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Protest at Providence over layoffs (SEIU 1199NW)
...plus -- State neglect makes home caregiver issue an even greater mess to fix (editorial)
— In today's News-Tribune -- One-day strike planned at Spokane Group Health -- Those attending WSLC Convention can join pickets during rally Tuesday, Aug. 20. (See agenda.)
— In Monday's Walla Walla U-B -- State workers complain about insurance cost (BAD editorial)
— In today's UW Daily -- Classified-employee union (SEIU 925) protests proposed attendance policy
— In today's Olympian -- Eyman's latest fund drive under fire from the PDC
...plus -- Contractor sues L&I over electrical licensing rule
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Kaiser Aluminum reports another hefty loss
— In today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Port workers, shipping lines return to talks
Today at AFLCIO.org -- Bush's economic forum "pep rally" offers little
— In today's Washington Post -- The confidence game -- Editorial: Among the adoring Cabinet officers and supportive business executives invited to the president's economic forum in Waco there was a range of opinion: Some people thought Mr. Bush is doing a magnificent job, while others insisted that he is doing an extremely magnificent job.

TUESDAY, August 13 -- The fundamentals are not sound -- Must-read op-ed by John Sweeney.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Rallies urge Bush to butt out of longshore talks
— In today's News-Tribune -- Labor activists, politicians say "no" to Bush intervention in dock talks
— In today's Seattle Times -- Rallies mark eve of restart of dock talks; Bush urged not to intervene
...plus -- Some 1,600 Central Washington grocery employees (UFCW 1439) prepare to strike
...plus -- Pay teachers a fair salary or watch them leave -- Op-ed by 16 school superintendents.
— In today's South County Journal -- DOT highway maintenance worker struck, killed by motorist
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Group Health nurses, therapists (SEIU 1199NW) to strike -- Those attending WSLC Convention can join pickets during rally Tuesday, Aug. 20. (See agenda.)
— In today's Everett Herald -- Home care workers voting on whether to join union 
— In today's Walla Walla Union-Bulletin -- Home health workers to vote on union
— In today's Olympian -- SEIU, WEA sue to change language of Eyman's latest initiative
....plus -- Eyman pays $50,000 to settle suit over "stupidest thing I've ever done" -- Another lie. See also Peter Callaghan's TNT column: Eyman broke the law — and continues to stretch the truth
— In today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Panel votes to reduce state pensions; public employees vow to sue
— In today's Oregonian -- Oregon growers have difficulty finding farm laborers

— In today's PSBJ -- Business groups fight minimum wage/tax breaks combo -- Business says tax cuts not worth the price of increasing federal $5.15 minimum wage for the first time IN SIX YEARS.
— In today's Washington Post -- Bush's plan for Social Security loses favor among GOP candidates
— In today's L.A. Times -- Port workers protest possible U.S. intervention
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Technology on the docks: Fear despite promises
...plus -- US Airways bankruptcy jolts confidence in large airlines
— Today from Reuters -- American Airlines to cut 7,000 jobs by March 2003

MONDAY, August 12 -- DON'T FORGET: Rally in support of ILWU is TODAY in Seattle
....plus -- WSLC to Bush: Stay out of the longshore negotiations
At AFLCIO.org -- Troops as strikebreakers? Bush considers option in West Coast dock talks
— In Sunday's Seattle Times -- Longshore union says Bush administration's treatment unfair

Also today -- Readers respond to state senators' attack on ergonomics rule
— In today's Seattle Times -- Home caregivers take vote on union affiliation (with SEIU 6)
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Home health care workers vote on union
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Workers call for reform of immigration laws at rally
— In today's News-Tribune -- New SPEEA president faces global issue
— In Sunday's South County Journal -- Referendum 51 critical to our state, community
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Proceed with caution on trade agreements (editorial)
— In today's Oregonian -- PERS faces life-death issue after underestimating life expectancy
...plus -- Sizemore faces life after ballot measures -- Says: "When I think of the mischief that the public employee unions could have perpetrated against taxpayers if they didn't have to fight me, it makes me realize we've been doing good even when we lost."
— In today's Washington Post -- FDIC subpoena approved in case against Hurwitz (of Kaiser infamy)
...plus -- Federal agencies look into privatizing thousands of jobs
— In today's Roll Call -- New prescription drug debate looms as parties plan to drop bills in October
— In Sunday's L.A. Times -- Farm workers call on Gov. Davis to sign binding arbitration bill
— Today from MSNBC.com -- Deadbeat CEOs: Will they ever pay up?

Previous weeks' news: Aug. 7-9 -- July 29-Aug. 1 -- July 22-26

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16
R-51: We can't afford to ignore transportation any longer

The first Labor-Neighbor event of the 2002 campaign season this Sunday, Aug. 18 in Spokane's 6th Legislative District and the Washington State Labor Council is asking all union organizations to have representatives join in the fun in the sun. (See a description of Labor-Neighbor.)

All delegates attending the Washington State Labor Council’s convention in Spokane Aug. 19-22 should makes plans to come early on Sunday and experience firsthand how powerful -- and fun -- it is to walk neighborhoods to bring labor’s message home to fellow union members. But you don't have to be a convention delegate to participate; all union members interested in helping elect pro-worker candidates are invited.

Meet at the IUOE 370 Hall at 510 S. Elm (off I-90, exit at Maple Street, Exit 280) Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. — Training begins at 12:30 p.m.
Parking is limited and carpooling is encouraged, but you will need your vehicles to get to the precincts to which you and your partner(s) are dispatched.

Volunteers will distribute literature comparing 6th District candidates like incumbent State Rep. John Ahern, who voted against collective bargaining rights for public employees, co-sponsored a tip credit bill for minimum wage earners and advocates laying off 18,000 more state employees to balance the budget. His labor-endorsed challenger, Sheila Collins, supports your union’s position on all of those issues.  

Likewise, labor-endorsed Senate challenger Laurie Dolan will be compared to Sen. Jim West, who also voted against collective bargaining rights, opposes worker ergonomic safety rules and has a dismal 10% lifetime labor voting record.

On Aug. 2, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer published an opinion column about the state ergonomics rule written by state Sens. Val Stevens and Mike Hewitt. These legislators began their diatribe with: "It's official. Washington state does not want you to work here. Please go away."

This past weekend, several P-I readers responded in strong support of the workplace safety standard (many with a similar "please-go-away" sentiment, but directed at the senators). We thought we'd share with you some of these excellent letters -- including one by Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-11th):

State senators trying to scare injured workers

In their Aug. 2 piece, state Sens. Val Stevens and Mike Hewitt set out to make a case against ergonomic protection regulations by attempting to scare people into thinking it will cost them their job. To me, their objections seem to be just another knee-jerk reaction against anything that might cost their political backers a few bucks. Whenever laws are proposed to protect workers or the environment, or taxes are proposed that might help poor or even middle-class people, the same tired argument is trotted out. "Look out! The evil bureaucrats want to take your job away!" is their rallying cry. There are already places where the standard of protection for workers is quite low. No one is putting the burden on employers to make sure their employees are safe and treated fairly.

Big government doesn't stifle industries by attempting to stop them from poisoning the environment. These places have, overall, very low taxes. One might think these would be the shining example of the kind of policies that the Republicans want to implement. Instead, we usually refer to these places as Third World countries. If you look at the countries in the world with the highest level of worker, environmental and social protection you will find that they are also the most prosperous and have the highest standard of living.

Even within this country, where such things vary from state to state, you will find that the most prosperous states (e.g. California) have the most stringent environmental, workplace safety and minimum wage laws and the least prosperous states (e.g. Mississippi) have the lowest standards. This seems to argue for the notion that such protections improve the standard of living in the jurisdiction involved. If Stevens and Hewitt find the regulatory environment in this state too stifling, I invite them to move to Alabama. If that proves to be too onerous, perhaps they could move to Mexico or Haiti. I'll stay here in the First World.

Eric Berg
Seattle

Ergonomic discussion dominated by politics

I bought the Aug. 2 paper in the hospital where I was recovering from neck surgery for a degenerative disc disease caused by poor ergonomics in the workplace. I now have three donor discs and a titanium plate in my neck. Twenty-five years of work at a computer was the major contributing factor to my problem.

The only purpose of Val Stevens' and Mike Hewitt's piece seemed to be to satisfy the corporations that sponsor either wholly or in part their political campaigns. Many of the most reputable studies were conducted in countries that are more concerned about the workers' safety and not corporate profit, but even our own U.S. and state agencies have found poor ergonomics to be dangerous.

Discussions about ergonomics have been dominated more by politics while scientific discussion is ignored. Perhaps the worst problem with poor ergonomics is that the harm to the body is often not even noticed until severe and permanent damage is done. The healthier a person is, the longer it takes the body to notice the pain associated with the injury. The more dedicated workers will go without breaks and work overtime until the pain becomes too much to ignore. Most feel that there will be an epidemic of ergonomic-related problems in a few years that will disable not only older workers but also children who spend all their free time at computers.

If Stevens and Hewitt were truly concerned about us, they would be calling for the U.S. government to implement and therefore standardize the rules in every state rather than just encourage our own workers to leave this state. Then again, the fewer workers here the less traffic we will have so maybe there is a tradeoff that will help solve another problem for the senators.

Dan Koebel
Seattle

State rule responsible and well thought-out

State Sens. Val Stevens and Mike Hewitt didn't tell the whole story about ergonomics in their Aug. 2 column, "Ergonomics rule: More harm than good."

Washington's rule is responsible and well thought-out. We recognize that the rule, adopted in 2000, will require education first. That's why the governor delayed its enforcement for the state's largest employers until July 1, 2004. Enforcement of the rule for small businesses won't begin until 2007.

The governor also assembled a blue-ribbon panel on ergonomics to make sure that the rule was ready to be implemented. The panel, which included ergonomics and workplace safety experts from across the country, concluded that the policy is "fair and consistent," and that the rules and requirements are "understandable," according to its report.

Ergonomics is good for businesses and workers. Eliminating some of the 50,000 preventable ergonomics-related injuries per year -- which we should consider if we are going to manage the workers' compensation program as a business -- will help keep workers' compensation premiums down for employers and employees.

It's true: Times are tough for businesses across the country and in Washington. But economics -- not ergonomics -- is responsible for this situation.

While we certainly have a responsibility to make Washington more attractive to competition and job creation, we also simply cannot afford to lose opportunities to make the workplace safer, reduce injuries and hold down health-care expenses.

Washington's carefully crafted ergonomics rule will afford us these opportunities.

State Sen. Margarita Prentice
11th District
Chairwoman, Senate Labor, Commerce
& Financial Institutions Committee

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.

Copyright © 2002  Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO