NEXT UPDATE -- Tuesday, Sept. 7 by 9 a.m. (Pacific)

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.

Reports for Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2004

Previous weeks' news: Aug. 16-20 -- Aug. 9-13 -- Aug. 2-6

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 1 -- The latest Labor Neighbor schedule (More cities added for historic walks on Thursday... and beyond!)

Also today -- WSLC delegates vote to support dairy workers at Threemile Canyon Farms
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Labor Council says it supports Threemile dairy workers in Boardman
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Howard Dean lends hand to Group Health caregivers -- "Because there's a terrible nursing shortage in this country, you want to be doing more for nurses, not less," Dean says.
— In today's Olympian -- Pay rising today for many lawmakers, but not for state employees
...plus on Monday -- EFF petitions PERC to allow non-union state employees to vote on contracts
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Food service imminent on Southworth ferry; workers' comp issue resolved
— In today's News Tribune -- Court ban on private companies in prisons puts inmates out of work (AP)
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Toppenish teachers to vote on contract
Election news: — In today's Seattle P-I -- P-I endorses Bob Hasegawa in 11th LD (editorial)
— In today's News Tribune -- It's official, state GOP has given up on Adam Smith's seat (editorial)
— In today's Seattle Times -- Offended by ads, Reichert walks out of 8th CD candidate forum
— In today's Washington Post -- Federal employees warned: No electioneering
...plus -- Bush's jobs albatross -- Samuelson column: With Republicans gathered in New York, the lackluster job market must dishearten President Bush.
— In today's N.Y. Times -- RNC delegates mock Kerry's war wounds, angering veterans
— More RNC coverage in today's Onion -- Small group of dedicated rich people change the world
Other national news: — In today's Washington Post -- Defense Dept. actions in union talks are criticized -- Talks between unions and Bush administration on new civilian personnel rules may break down.
...plus -- Urban markets challenge the Wal-Mart way -- Pearlstein column: Here's the dirty little secret about Wal-Mart: Just when everyone has decided it is an unstoppable monster about to take over the world, the reality is that its much-vaunted business model has pretty much played itself out.
...plus -- US Airways, Machinists hit impasse; carrier says union plan won't stave off bankruptcy
— In today's N.Y. Times -- US Airways sets talks with pilots on further cuts to pension plan
— In today's Seattle Times -- United flight attendants want executives ousted; pension, other cuts cited
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Stalled program for sick nuclear workers creates election-year GOP rift

TUESDAY, August 31 -- AFGE informational picket today at Seattle VA hospital
— In today's News Tribune -- Union members will go door to door on Thursday -- Learn more.
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Snokist workers reject contract -- Management rights language that could "allow the company to reclassify jobs and cut people's wages" cited by WCIW representative.
— In today's Seattle Times -- Seattle teachers to vote on 5-year contract
Election news: — In today's Seattle P-I -- NAACP exec Oscar Eason apologizes to Gregoire camp
...plus -- Nethercutt ads smell of Karl Rove -- Editorial: It's a clear enough pattern: Attack your opponent's strength with nuance, innuendo and inaccuracies, and keep it up until you get called on it. It's time to call Nethercutt on his attack on Sen. Murray over Coast Guard funding and port security.
National news: — In today's N.Y. Times -- Overtime rules dispute is a numbers game -- Touted as an effort to clarify dated regulations on which workers get time-and-a-half pay, the Bush administration's new rules are so complex that it is hard to determine how many workers will gain or lose eligibility.
— Today from Reuters -- EU gets go-ahead from WTO for stiff trade sanctions against U.S.
— Today from MSNBC -- CEOs of companies that outsourced most got biggest pay
...plus -- Albertsons profit hit by California labor dispute as grocer struggles to lure shoppers back
— In today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Number of temporary, contract workers in U.S. rapidly growing
— In today's L.A. Times -- Bay-area hospital workers walk off job to protest staffing cuts (AP)

MONDAY, August 30 -- Help knock on a million doors this Thursday, Sept. 2
— In Saturday's Seattle P-I -- Group Health strike ends; no talks in sight
...also see coverage of last week's Group Health rally in Tacoma
— In yesterday's Everett Herald -- Why Group Health workers stood up for their benefits (op-ed by nurse)
...and today -- Rising cost of health care must be shared by all -- Op-ed by Group Health CEO ignoring new contracts at rivals Swedish and Eastern that maintain and improve no-premium health benefits.
Also today -- Centralia College offers training for family-wage entry-level power plant jobs
— In Friday's News Tribune --  Most Pierce County grocery workers settle -- Workers at major chains accept deal identical to new Puget Sound contract, but some independent stores' workers reject it.
— In Friday's Olympian -- Washington Center stagehands vote to unionize with IATSE 15
— In Friday's Walla Walla U-B -- State, local taxes have been reduced -- Editorial: Ironically, Initiative King Tim Eyman doesn't want to concede that fact. He wants to distort reality for political gain.
— In today's Seattle Times -- Income stagnant and poverty up in Washington state (AP)
— In today's Seattle Times -- Airbus prepares to take on Boeing 7E7
Election News: — In Sunday's Everett Herald -- Herald endorses Sells, McCoy in 38th (editorial)
— In The Stranger -- Dino Rossi takes soda PAC donations, supports repeal of soda syrup tax
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Not all sold on raising sales tax to help schools with I-884
— In Sunday's News Tribune -- Tens of thousands attend Kerry love fest at Tacoma Dome
— In today's Seattle Times -- Protest massive, peaceful as hundreds of thousands denounce Bush at RNC
At AFLCIO.org -- Census data: U.S. poverty, lack of health insurance increase dramatically
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- Report faults OSHA's oversight of fines, follow-up inspections

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
More cities added for Thursday's special Labor Neighbor walks

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
WSLC delegates vote to support Threemile dairy workers

The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO has formally joined the 18-month struggle by farm workers to improve their working conditions at Threemile Canyon Farms (TCF) in Boardman, Ore., the largest dairy in the Northwest.  Since February 2003, TCF workers have repeatedly chosen the United Farm Workers (UFW) as their union, but their efforts have been met by coercion and intimidation from TCF management, which has refused to negotiate or even recognize the union.

At last week's 2004 WSLC Convention, delegates representing more than 550 affiliated unions from across the State of Washington voted unanimously to support the TCF workers. The WSLC will inform union members throughout the state -- and businesses that work with Threemile Canyon Farms -- of the situation there and work to increase pressure on TCF management to do the right thing and negotiate with UFW to improve working conditions.

In addition, the WSLC will discourage affiliated unions from utilizing the services of Portland-based Northwest Strategies and its President, Len Bergstein, which has represents TCF and the UFW reports has engaged in an aggressive anti-union campaign.

"This struggle for safe jobs and some basic respect at work has gone on far too long," said Rick Bender, President of the Washington State Labor Council.  "We plan to get the word out to our members and tell the story of these brave Threemile dairy workers.  They have stood up to an aggressive anti-union campaign from their employer and demanded fair treatment for the arduous, dangerous work they do."

Workplace safety is one of the biggest issues for the TCF farm workers.  In June 2003, Oregon Occupational Health and Safety Administration cited TCF dairies for 12 violations, 11 of which were classified as serious.

“I’m very pleased that the Washington State Labor Council is supporting our struggle, not only because they now know about what’s going on, but that now the WSLC members can help us put more pressure on the Farm," said Humberto Guardado, a 22-year-old dairy worker who has worked at Threemile for nearly three years. "This support is going to have a big impact, because the Farm doesn’t want any of the problems that are going on to get out to the public. The Farm needs to realize that we’re not alone in this struggle and that we’re going to continue putting pressure on them until we win a contract.”

For more information about the Threemile Canyon campaign and the conditions these dairy workers toil under, check out Salon.com's Aug. 27 story: Got guilt? Dairy workers grub for minimum wage in sickening manure pits -- so American consumers can have cheap milk and cheese.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31
AFGE informational picket today at Seattle VA Hospital

MONDAY, AUGUST 30
Help knock on a million doors Thursday, Sept. 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 30
Centralia College offers training for entry-level power plant jobs