WSLC Reports Today -- September 16-20, 2002

WSLC Reports Today logo UPDATED DAILY -- M-F by 9 a.m. Pacific

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 September 16-20, 2002

Previous weeks' news: Sept. 9-13 -- Sept. 3-6 -- Aug. 26-30

FRIDAY, September 20
At AFLCIO.org -- GOP blocks vote on maintaining Homeland Security workers' rights
— In today's L.A. Times -- Lockout of dockworkers called off
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Issaquah teachers reject contract offer, return to picket lines
...plus -- Many Boeing Machinists' bonuses going into the bank
...plus -- Safeco CEO suggests Rx for state: Privatize UW, WSU; cut state workers jobs annually -- Before you laugh this off, consider that this joker got paid $10.8 million in 2001, a year that his company lost more than $1 billion and laid off 1,200 people. Sounds like Bush cabinet material.
— In today's News-Tribune -- Higher education faces fiscal threat in 2003 Legislature (editorial)
— In today's Yakima Herald -- EFF President argues against gas tax -- Bob: "Government is coming to you, the taxpayer, to be its cash cow." (Duh.) Bob is looking for volunteers to build roads, fight fires, provide health care, teach children and defend the nation for free. Email him if you're interested.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Backers renew fight to save FFTF
— In today's N.Y. Times -- A civil war within a trade dispute -- In the behind-the-scenes lobbying battle over corporate tax breaks, Boeing is lining up against General Motors, Microsoft against I.B.M. Business interests are so intensely divided that Congress has become all but paralyzed over the issue. Indeed, many of Washington's high-priced tax lobbyists have clients on both sides of the fight.
...plus -- The vision thing -- Krugman column: This really is like the early 1990's all over again. The economic similarity between our current difficulties and the slump under the first George Bush is stronger than most people realize. But the most striking similarity is political. For all the differences between the moderate father and the deeply conservative son, now as then we have an administration whose key figures are fundamentally uninterested in and uncomfortable with economic policy.

THURSDAY, September 19 -- Workers' comp conference Oct. 17-18; workshop added Oct. 16
Today's longshore news: — In the Seattle P-I -- Shippers see (read: cry) dockworker slowdown
— In the Seattle Times -- Dockworkers blamed for California slowdown; lockouts loom
— In the L.A. Times -- Ports bracing for a shutdown
— In the N.Y. Times -- Ports' labor dispute intensifies in West; lockout is possible
Today at AFLCIO.org -- New stamp honors UFW founder Cesar Chavez
— In today's Seattle Times -- Court rules corporations can be held liable for human-rights abuses
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Plan for a future without Boeing -- Virgin column: Someone in officialdom ought to be thinking very seriously about what a non-Boeing future will look like in this region. The people who work for the company surely are.
— In the new Seattle Weekly -- The long Boe-Bye: The Seattle-Boeing partnership is officially over
— In today's Everett Herald -- Boeing's Cruiser carrot; exec says "competitiveness" will decide it
...plus -- After 2 1/2 years of talks, Lynnwood finally signs contract with firefighters
— In today's Olympian -- Some lawmakers will donate pay raises; cite state workers' wage freeze
...plus -- Court ruling could doom 2nd Wal-Mart in Lacey
— In today's News-Tribune -- State gets a deal on first bonds for Narrows Bridge -- Maybe we could have afforded American steel after all.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Dismantling of FFTF starts today
— In today's Eastside Journal -- Bellevue teachers OK contract; will get 6.2-6.7% raises
— In today's So. County Journal -- Renton teachers reach tentative work agreement
— In the American Prospect -- Where's the movement? Corporate reformers may be missing the boat

WEDNESDAY, September 18 -- How WSLC-endorsed candidates did in the Primary Election
— In today's Olympian -- State deficit could hit $2 billion; Locke warns of more job cuts
— In today's Seattle Times -- ILWU says Seattle stevedoring firm is hurting talks -- Rally today!
...plus -- Seattle housing levy has solid lead, likely to win
— In today's News-Tribune -- A Machinists strike the state didn't need (editorial)
...plus -- New federal baggage screeners on the job at SeaTac Airport
...plus -- Puyallup teachers approve contract
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Tentative teacher pacts in Bellevue, Tacoma
— In today's Everett Herald -- Parents step up teacher strike pressure in Snohomish
— In yesterday's Aberdeen Daily World -- Grays Harbor PUD to raise rates, lay off workers
— In today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Extension sought in Congress for expiring jobless aid
— In today's Washington Post -- US Airways gets last of union agreements
...plus -- Bush's Cabinet full of wealth; one-third of his administration tops $10 million mark
— Today from AP -- Labor feels betrayed by Homeland Security boss Ridge
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Democrats try Homeland Security compromise -- "Moderate" Democrats would allow president to deny collective bargaining rights in the event of a national emergency.

PRIMARY ELECTION Tuesday, September 17 -- VOTE TODAY! See WSLC endorsements.
...then -- Stand up for union janitors, and against Equity Office Properties
...plus -- You are cordially invited to a Dock Opera on Wednesday in Seattle
— In today's Olympian -- Census: State income gap has grown
...plus -- Republicans rebuff PDC's $6.6 million forfeiture order
— In today's News-Tribune -- Wary Machinists back on the job at Boeing
...plus -- Machinists' pact sets stage for SPEEA talks
— In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing draws up development plans that don't include Renton plant
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Big "what if" still hovers at Boeing (Virgin column re: IAM contract)
...plus -- Government reviewing visas for tech workers
...plus -- Don't privatize air traffic control (editorial)
— In today's Yakima H-R -- City workers, Prosser will hold contract talks in October
— In today's Eastside Journal -- Angry parents urge Issaquah board to pay teachers, end strike
...plus -- Bellevue teachers to rally at board meeting tonight
— In today's Everett Herald -- Illegal strikes set bad example for kids -- One in a series of op-eds running statewide that shamelessly seek to capitalize on labor unrest and recruit for a sham teachers' group set up by the anti-union Evergreen Freedom Foundation to "compete" with the WEA.
— At CorpWatch.com -- IRS kicks back big chunk corporate fines to offending companies
— In today's Washington Post -- APWU's latest insurance offering: Medical spending accounts
...plus -- Jack Welch and "class envy" -- Cohen column: We need more "class envy," not less. (It) can act as a brake on the whole Greed Is Good movement. The excesses of capitalism -- a mere economic system, not something handed down at Sinai -- need to be reined in by public opprobrium.
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Cronies in arms -- Dick Cheney vehemently denies that talk of war is designed to divert attention from other matters. In that case he won't object if I point out that the tide of corporate scandal is still rising, and lapping ever closer to his feet.

MONDAY, September 16 -- No IAM strike: 62% reject Boeing contract, but strike sanction fails
...plus -- Labor Neighbor phone bank volunteers needed for primary
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Weak economy was Boeing's big ally
— In Sunday's Seattle Times -- Machinists face three years under a contract most spurned
...plus -- Slow recovery could result in additional layoffs, Mulally warns
...and today -- Both jets and jobs at Boeing (editorial) -- Although "unsettled" by the 61% who voted to strike, the Times editorial board of corporate cheerleaders do their no-strike rah-rah and take a parting shot at IAM 751 leaders: "Zealots" who were "the only group itching for a strike." P-I, anyone?
— In Saturday's South County Journal -- Boeing set to begin labor talks with SPEEA next
— In today's News-Tribune -- Laborers union looking to increase numbers, says President O'Sullivan
— In today's Everett Herald -- Snohomish teachers' strike still unresolved
— In today's Olympian -- Local school districts avoid union strife for now
— In today's L.A. Times -- Storm brews over executive pay
— In today's Washington Post -- Employers reducing retirement health benefits, study says
— In Sunday's N.Y. Times -- Stock options? Try union dues
...plus today -- Paying people to work, but not enough to live -- Herbert column: The plight of the American worker is easily overlooked when the nation is grappling with the threat of international terrorism and the possibility of war with Iraq. But ignoring the economic pressures faced by millions of struggling families carries its own long-term consequences.
...plus -- Immigration reform and national security -- Many Americans are more suspicious now than ever of new immigrants. But the truth is, a more liberal immigration policy, creating legal channels for migrant workers and registering the millions already here, offers the best hope for homing in on the few foreigners who have indeed come to this country to do us harm.

Previous weeks' news: Sept. 9-13 -- Sept. 3-6 -- Aug. 26-30

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Workers' comp conference Oct. 17-18; workshop added Oct. 16

The Washington State Labor Council, the Association of Washington Business and the Department of Labor and Industries once again present the “The Meeting of the Minds” workers’ compensation conference Oct. 17-18 at the Shoreline Conference Center, 18560 1st Ave. NE in Seattle.

As always, the conference will feature a wide variety of workshops and topics geared for all levels of understanding and interest, but this year an introductory session has been added the day before the conference new participants -- and anyone else who is interested -- to learn basic information about workers’ compensation. This “Learn How the System Works” workshop will be Wednesday, October 16 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Ave.

Among the many issues to be covered at this year's "Meeting of the Minds" conference will be an overview of the state’s new rule designed to prevent ergonomic injuries by Michael and Barbara Silverstein of the state Department of Labor and Industries, and an update on the Occupational Health Services Pilot Project. The keynote luncheon speaker will be Glen Woodbury, Director of Emergency Management Services.

The conference should appeal to union representatives, rank-and-file workers, employers and others affected by the workers’ compensation system. Participants will receive many useful materials to share with others.

The conference often sells out, so register TODAY. If you need additional information or have questions, please call the Project Help office at 1-800-255-9752 or contact Kairie Pierce via e-mail at kpierce@wslc.org.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
How WSLC-endorsed candidates did in the Primary Election

The results of Washington's Primary Election are not yet final, pending the counting of thousands of absentee ballots. Counties have until Sept. 27 to count and certify those ballots, and it won't be known for another couple of days how many ballots remain to be counted.

That being said, here's how WSLC-endorsed candidates fared Tuesday in the initial results for congressional, judicial and state legislative races (results as of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday; visit vote.wa.gov for the latest results):

WSLC-endorsed candidates are listed in Bold. An asterisk (*) denotes incumbents.

CONGRESS

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, District 1
Mike The Mover; (D) — 3,374 —4.84%
Mark B. Wilson; (L) — 1,911 —2.74%
* Jay Inslee; (D) — 38,900 —55.85%
Joe Marine; (R) — 25,464 —36.56%

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, District 2
Bruce Guthrie; (L) — 1,884 —2.26%
* Rick Larsen; (D) — 41,187 —49.54%
Warren E. Hanson; (R) — 5,927 —7.12%
Bernard Haggerty; (GR) — 2,137 —2.57%
Herb Meyer; (R) — 14,544 —17.49%
Norma Smith; (R) — 17,455 —20.99%

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, District 3
Joseph Zarelli; (R) — 47,409 —43.11%
* Brian Baird; (D) — 62,543 —56.88%

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, District 4
Gordon Allen Pross; (R) — 4,781 —6.01%
Craig Mason; (D) — 14,012 —17.63%
* Doc Hastings; (R) — 55,152 —69.39%
Thor Amundson; (D) — 5,526 —6.95%

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, District 5
* George Nethercutt (R) — 56,851 —64.51%
Rob Chase; (L) — 5,343 —6.06%
Bart Haggin; (D) — 25,931 —29.42%

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, District 6
* Norm Dicks; (D) — 60,202 —63.34%
Bob Lawrence; (R) — 24,788 —26.08%
John A. Bennett; (L) — 2,869 —3.01%
Douglas Milholland; (D) — 7,180 —7.55%

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, District 7
* Jim McDermott; (D) — 39,835 —78.03%
Brien Bartels; (L) —962—1.88%
Stan Lippmann; (L) — 1,139 —2.23%
Carol Cassady; (R) — 9,113 —17.85%

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, District 8
* Jennifer Dunn; (R) — 33,812 —63.83%
Heidi Behrens-Benedict; (D) — 17,722 —33.45%
Mark A. Taff; (L) — 1,437 —2.71%

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, District 9
* Adam Smith; (D) — 34,519 —58.90%
Sarah Casada; (R) — 22,419 —38.26%
J. Mills; (L) — 1,659 —2.83%

JUDICIAL

SUPREME COURT
The top two vote-getters for each position advance to the General Election on Nov. 5. (Only contested races in which the WSLC made an endorsement are listed.)

Position 3
Jim Johnson — 164,012 — 30.88%
Stan Morse — 58,524 — 11.01%
Michael Spearman — 139,222 — 26.21%
Mary Fairhurst — 169,337 — 31.88%

Position 4
* Charles Johnson — 200,214 — 38.80%
Pamela Loginsky — 193,476 — 37.49%
Doug Schafer — 122,312 — 23.70%

COURT OF APPEALS
If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the Primary, he or she wins election. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters advance to the General Election on Nov. 5. (Only contested races in which the WSLC made an endorsement are listed.)

Division 1, District 1, Position 5
Jeanette Burrage — 42,595 — 42.31%
* H. Joseph Coleman — 58,071 — 57.68%

Division 3, District 1, Position 2
* Kenneth Kato — 25,674 — 48.55%
Brian O'Brian — 27,200 — 51.44%

STATE LEGISLATURE
Only contested races for which the WSLC made an endorsement are listed.
WSLC-endorsed candidates are listed in Bold. An asterisk (*) denotes incumbents.

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 1
State Rep., Position 1
* Al O'Brien; (D)— 6,291 —50.61%
Joshua Freed; (R)— 5,661 —45.54%
Chuck Jackson; (L)—477—3.83%
State Rep., Position 2
Leo Van Hollebeke; (R)— 6,214 —50.19%
* Jeanne A. Edwards; (D)— 6,167 —49.81%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 2
State Rep., Position 2
Stephen Budd; (R)— 3,113 —25.22%
* Tom Campbell; (R)— 9,227 —74.77%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 3
State Rep., Position 1
* Alex Wood; (D)— 6,571 —61.06%
Jeff Knox; (R)— 4,189 —38.93%
State Rep., Position 2
Ryan Leonard; (R)— 3,452 —32.50%
* Jeff Gombosky; (D)— 7,169 —67.49%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 5
State Rep., Position 1
* Cheryl Pflug; (R)— 4,832 —66.96%
Katrina Culp Ladopoulos; (D)— 2,384 —33.03%
State Rep., Position 2
* Glenn Anderson; (R)— 4,231 —60.72%
Loren Skaggs; (D)— 2,737 —39.28%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 6
State Senator
Laurie H. Dolan; (D)— 7,960 —44.16%
* Jim West; (R)— 10,064 —55.83%
State Rep., Position 1
* Brad Benson; (R)— 9,847 —56.66%
Tony Bamonte; (D)— 3,976 —22.88%
Jan Konestes; (D)— 3,554 —20.45%
State Rep., Position 2
* John E. Ahern; (R)— 9,992 —57.50%
Sheila Collins; (D)— 7,384 —42.49%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 7
State Rep., Position 1
* Bob Sump; (R)— 13,767 —69.91%
R. (Ron) McCoy; (D)— 5,923 —30.08%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 10
State Rep., Position 2
Eron M. Berg; (D)— 7,746 —47.48%
Barbara Bailey; (R)— 7,973 —48.87%
Brett Wilhelm; (L)—593—3.63%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 11
State Rep., Position 1
Zack Hudgins; (D)— 1,133 —22.71%
Robin H. Jones; (D)—598—11.98%
Azziem H. Underwood; (D)—113—2.26%
Ruth Gibbs; (R)— 1,641 —32.89%
Natalie D. Reber; (D)—707—14.17%
Roger Valdez; (D)—796—15.95%
State Rep., Position 2
* Velma Veloria; (D)— 3,088 —61.57%
John Potter; (R)— 1,927 —38.42%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 14
State Rep., Position 2
Marco Yolo; (D)— 3,010 —26.04%
* Jim Clements; (R)— 8,548 —73.95%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 16
State Rep., Position 1
Jody Clark; (D)— 4,550 —30.82%
* Dave Mastin; (R)— 10,209 —69.17%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 17
State Rep., Position 2
* Jim Dunn; (R)— 8,546 —52.91%
Deb Wallace; (D)— 7,606 —47.09%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 18
State Rep., Position 1
Bill Crego; (D)— 8,186 —37.41%
* Tom Mielke; (R)— 13,691 —62.58%
State Rep., Position 2
Dave Seabrook; (D)— 6,142 —28.32%
* Ed Orcutt; (R)— 10,747 —49.55%
Michele Cotner; (D)— 4,797 —22.12%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 19
State Rep., Position 1
* Brian Hatfield; (D)— 15,993 —69.54%
Mike Kayser; (R)— 7,004 —30.45%
State Rep., Position 2
* Mark L. Doumit; (D)— 15,439 —67.79%
Paul Waadevig; (R)— 7,333 —32.20%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 21
State Senator
Cheryl Potebnya; (R)— 4,959 —38.31%
* Paull H. Shin; (D)— 7,985 —61.68%
State Rep., Position 1
Jeff Thorp; (R)— 4,931 —38.64%
* Mike Cooper; (D)— 7,830 —61.35%
State Rep., Position 2
* Brian Sullivan; (D)— 7,917 —62.19%
Micheal J. Huisman; (R)— 4,813 —37.80%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 22
State Rep., Position 1
Prophet Atlantis; (R)—488—2.75%
Mark Daniels; (R)— 5,298 —29.87%
* Sandra Romero; (D)— 11,351 —63.99%
James Wiest; (L)—600—3.38%
State Rep., Position 2
John D. Olson; (R)— 3,996 —23.47%
Byron J. Carden; (R)— 1,328 —7.80%
* Sam Hunt; (D)— 11,700 —68.72%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 23
State Rep., Position 1
* Phil Rockefeller; (D)— 12,594 —61.43%
Don Large; (R)— 7,906 —38.56%
State Rep., Position 2
* Beverly Woods; (R)— 10,311 —51.28%
Terrell (Terry) E. Ducheane; (D)— 2,061 —10.25%
Sherry Appleton; (D)— 7,733 —38.46%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 24
State Rep., Position 1
Bill Thomas; (D)— 9,522 —39.02%
* Jim Buck; (R)— 14,879 —60.97%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 25
State Rep., Position 1
Mario Young; (L)—636—4.41%
Audrey Chase; (D)— 5,457 —37.90%
Joyce McDonald; (R)— 8,305 —57.68%
State Rep., Position 2
* Dave Morell; (R)— 6,666 —46.68%
Dawn Morrell; (D)— 7,613 —53.31%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 26
State Rep., Position 1
Kevin Entze; (R)— 3,950 —21.93%
Ed Mitchell; (R)— 3,952 —21.94%
Ted Haley; (IC)—837—4.64%
* Patricia Lantz; (D)— 9,267 —51.46%
State Rep., Position 2
Lois McMahan; (R)— 8,695 —48.34%
* Brock Jackley; (D)— 9,292 —51.66%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 27
State Rep., Position 1
Nancy Pease Hogan; (D)— 1,896 —15.87%
Janis Martin; (D)— 1,637 —13.70%
Dennis Flannigan; (D)— 3,920 —32.82%
Jerry M. Thorpe; (D)— 1,162 —9.73%
Bill LaBorde; (D)— 3,327 —27.86%
State Rep., Position 2
William E. Chovil; (R)— 3,588 —29.29%
* Jeannie Darneille; (D)— 8,661 —70.70%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 28
State Rep., Position 1
Deborah (Debi) Srail; (D)— 6,686 —43.28%
* Gigi Talcott; (R) — 8,760 —56.71%
State Rep., Position 2
Darrell Reeck; (D)— 3,940 —25.50%
* Mike Carrell; (R)— 8,207 —53.13%
Tamra (Tami) Hall; (D)— 3,300 —21.36%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 30
State Senator
* Tracey J. Eide; (D)— 4,678 —56.11%
Tony Moore; (R)— 3,658 —43.88%
State Rep., Position 1
Jim Ferrell; (R)— 3,705 —44.75%
* Mark Miloscia; (D)— 4,573 —55.24%
State Rep., Position 2
Skip Priest; (R)— 4,437 —54.42%
Greg Markley; (D)— 3,716 —45.57%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 31
State Senator
Yvonne Ward; (D)— 4,896 —41.03%
* Pam Roach; (R)— 7,036 —58.96%
State Rep., Position 1
* Dan Roach; (R)— 6,666 —56.47%
Mike Connor; (D)— 5,137 —43.52%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 32
State Senator
* Darlene Fairley; (D)— 6,708 —59.56%
Michael Plunkett; (R)— 4,554 —40.43%
State Rep., Position 1
Kevin Grossman; (D)— 3,533 —31.88%
Robert Ransom; (R)— 3,667 —33.09%
* Maralyn Chase; (D)— 3,879 —35.01%
State Rep., Position 2
* Ruth Kagi; (D)— 6,813 —62.04%
Travis William Prather; (R)— 1,744 —15.88%
Margaret R. Wiggins; (R)— 2,424 —22.07%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 33
State Senator
* Karen Keiser; (D)— 4,774 —65.36%
James Russell; (R)— 2,530 —34.63%
State Rep., Position 1
Peter Graves; (R)— 2,841 —39.12%
* Shay Schual-Berke; (D)— 4,421 —60.87%
State Rep., Position 2
* Dave Upthegrove; (D)— 4,495 —63.40%
Henry M. Foote; (R)— 2,594 —36.59%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 34
State Rep., Position 2
Larry L. Gilbert; (R)— 2,635 —27.68%
Cary Thomas; (L)—536—5.63%
* Joe McDermott; (D)— 6,347 —66.68%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 35
State Rep., Position 1
* Kathy Haigh; (D)— 11,208 —62.17%
Frank Dare; (R)— 6,819 —37.82%
State Rep., Position 2
* Bill Eickmeyer; (D)— 10,549 —58.19%
Craig Chapman; (R)— 7,578 —41.80%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 36
State Rep., Position 1
Angela Brink; (R)— 2,449 —21.85%
* Helen Sommers; (D)— 8,757 —78.14%
State Rep., Position 2
* Mary Lou Dickerson; (D)— 8,922 —80.59%
Rudy McCoy-Pantoja; (R)— 2,148 —19.40%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 37
State Senator
* Adam Kline; (D)— 4,068 —59.83%
Dawn Mason; (D)— 2,731 —40.16%
State Rep., Position 1
John Stafford; (IC)—957—15.18%
* Sharon Tomiko Santos; (D) — 5,344 —84.81%
State Rep., Position 2
Angela Toussaint; (D)— 1,636 —23.37%
Cheryl Chow; (D)— 2,092 —29.88%
Ruth Bennett; (L)—270—3.85%
Eric Pettigrew; (D)— 3,002 —42.88%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 38
State Senator
* Aaron Reardon; (D)— 8,163 —66.66%
Glenn Coggeshell; (R)— 4,081 —33.33%
State Rep., Position 1
Randall Rike; (D)— 1,349 —11.02%
Erv Hoglund; (R)— 5,328 —43.54%
Dylan Malone; (D)— 2,144 —17.52%
John R. McCoy; (D)— 3,415 —27.90%
State Rep., Position 2
Gregory Dean Lemke; (R)— 4,727 —38.82%
* Jean Berkey; (D)— 7,448 —61.17%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 39
State Rep., Position 1
Bob Quarterman; (D)— 6,037 —39.90%
Carolyn Eslick; (R)— 3,989 —26.36%
Dan Kristiansen; (R)— 5,104 —33.73%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 40
State Rep., Position 1
* Dave Quall; (D)— 10,181 —60.89%
Brian J.M. Rosenau; (L)—610—3.64%
Roger E. Pederson; (R)— 5,928 —35.45%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 41
State Rep., Position 2
Mike Wensman; (R)— 5,353 —52.94%
Judy Clibborn; (D)— 4,758 —47.05%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 42
State Senator
Peter Francis Tassoni; (GRN)—580—4.22%
Dale Brandland; (R)— 7,247 —52.78%
* Georgia Gardner; (D)— 5,644 —41.10%
Donald B. Crawford; (L)—259—1.88%
State Rep., Position 1
* Doug Ericksen; (R)— 7,990 —59.76%
Jim Boyle; (D)— 5,380 —40.23%
State Rep., Position 2
Gene Goldsmith; (R)— 5,965 —44.35%
* Kelli Linville; (D)— 7,483 —55.64%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 43
State Senator
Linde Knighton; (GRN)— 1,823 —20.72%
* Pat Thibaudeau; (D)— 6,973 —79.27%
State Rep., Position 2
Eleanor Owen; (D)— 2,359 —29.23%
* Frank Chopp; (D)— 5,711 —70.76%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 44
State Senator
Phil Doerflein; (D)— 6,371 —46.08%
Dave Schmidt; (R)— 7,455 —53.92%
State Rep., Position 1
Hans Dunshee; (D)— 6,989 —50.44%
Brent Samodurov; (R)— 2,369 —17.10%
Tim Krivanek; (R)— 4,496 —32.45%
State Rep., Position 2
* John Lovick; (D)— 7,221 —51.96%
Randy Nichols; (R)— 6,676 —48.03%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 45
State Rep., Position 1
* Toby Nixon; (R)— 4,367 —56.21%
Dave Asher; (D)— 3,401 —43.78%
State Rep., Position 2
* Laura Ruderman; (D)— 4,080 —51.68%
Elizabeth Bookspan; (R)— 3,814 —48.31%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 47
State Senator
Rebecca Clark; (D)— 1,607 —21.43%
Debbie Jacobson; (D)— 1,654 —22.05%
* Steve Johnson; (R)— 4,238 —56.51%
State Rep., Position 1
Phil Fortunato; (R)— 2,609 —34.75%
* Geoff Simpson; (D)— 3,028 —40.33%
Steve Altick; (R)— 1,870 —24.91%
State Rep., Position 2
* Jack Cairnes; (R)— 4,081 —54.94%
Pat Sullivan; (D)— 3,347 —45.05%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 48
State Senator
Luke Esser; (R)— 4,181 —49.36%
Steve Van Luven; (R)— 3,291 —38.85%
Christine Lawniczak; (L)—998—11.78%
State Rep., Position 1
George Aiton; (R)— 4,646 —53.73%
Ross Hunter; (D)— 4,000 —46.26%

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 49
State Rep., Position 1
Mike W. Smith; (R)— 6,521 —39.05%
* Bill Fromhold; (D)— 10,177 —60.94%
State Rep., Position 2
Catherine Rich-Daniels; (D)— 4,805 —28.99%
Marlene Adams; (IC)—847—5.11%
Jim Moeller; (D)— 5,617 —33.89%
Barbara A. Peterson; (R)— 5,304 —32.00%

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Stand up for union janitors; against Equity Office Properties

All trade unionists and community members who support family wage jobs are asked to call a local executive for Equity Office Properties, the largest owner of commercial real estate in the country, that is replacing union janitors at the Verizon building on the Eastside with low-paid non-union workers with no benefits. (See Call to Action below.)

The Service Employees International Union Local 6 is running full page ads in some area newspapers today explaining the plight of their members who are losing some of the few union janitor jobs on the Eastside that have decent pay and provide benefits. (Download a 179 KB PDF file of the ad.) The ad reads:

Meet Maria Noriega.

Maria has worked as a janitor at the Verizon building in Eastgate for ten years. It's been a good union job, and at $10.15 an hour she's been able to support her family. She and her three children have health insurance and she has a modest retirement pension.

But a few weeks ago, Equity Office Properties decided to use a non-union cleaning contractor whose workers report pay of $7.50 an hour with no benefits. Maria and twelve other janitors' union jobs will be replaced by non-union jobs paying poverty wages without affordable health insurance, pensions, or other benefits.

Equity Office Properties...
Turning Washington working families into the working poor.

Equity Office Properties is the largest owner of commercial real estate in the country. Equity owns and manages more than 127 million square feet of office space and in 2001, they brought in more than $3 billion in revenue.

When our region loses good jobs, our whole community suffers. Tax revenues go down while the need for social services increases. And when employers try to save money by eliminating health insurance benefits, taxpayers are left picking up the tab.

Tell Equity that they should be ashamed for what they've done to Maria and other janitors they've displaced. Ask why the janitors who clean their buildings all night shouldn't get a living wage, health benefits, and retirement security.

Contact Equity Vice President Pat Callahan at (206) 264-8800 or pat_callahan@equityoffice.com.

For more information, contact SEIU 6 at (206) 448-7348.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
You are cordially invited to a Dock Opera on Wednesday

The fight for a fair contract with West Coast shippers continues for some 10,500 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union with little progress. So once again, it's time to show these workers that they have the support of the community and the labor movement, and this time the rally will be led by another group of workers struggling for a fair contract: the Seattle Opera Chorus.

Rally, chant and sing with these artists represented by the American Guild of Music Artists (or better still, just listen to them sing) at a rally from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Stevedoring Services of America offices on Harbor Island, 1050 Spokane Street, Seattle. Sandwiches and soda will be provided at the event is coordinated by the ILWU and Washington State Jobs with Justice.

The publicly subsidized Seattle Opera twice lost court rulings to the American Guild of Musical Artists that require the Opera to pay all choristers, not just some of them. Angry at the paid singers' solidarity with their formerly unpaid coworkers, Opera management then insisted on a wage freeze and declared it would cease bargaining until the union agrees to the freeze. (Learn more.)

Wednesday's rally is being held outside Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) because the company controls the largest block of votes on the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) bargaining committee, which sets the agenda for contract negotiations. Additionally, as the largest stevedoring company in the nation, SSA is perhaps the most important reason why negotiations are currently stalled. The union says SSA is working to build a competitive advantage over other stevedore companies within the PMA by creating fictive business identities that outsource ILWU longshore work to use non-union labor.

Longshore workers from Bellingham to San Diego have been working without a contract since July 1. There has been some movement in negotiations, as both sides reported tentative agreement on medical benefits in early September, but no progress is reported on the biggest issue separating the two sides: the introduction of technology that would eliminate good family-wage jobs.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
No IAM strike: 62% reject contract, but strike sanction fails

Members of the International Association of Machinists rejected Boeing's "last, best and final" contract offer Friday, but failed to muster the 66.6 percent majority required to strike the company. Members rejected the proposal by 62 percent, but only 61 percent voted to authorize a strike. Under provisions of the IAM Constitution, Boeing's proposed contract therefore automatically took effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

"First of all, I want to thank our members who worked with this Union over the past year identifying and prioritizing the issues that were important to our members and their families. This Union is a very democratic organization. Our members have spoken, and we will support their decision. I want to thank every member who participated in the process. I understand the pain that this Company contract proposal has inflicted upon our membership," said District 751 President Mark Blondin.

"Our members clearly rejected the Company's offer and saw it would eliminate jobs, but felt they could not strike the Company at this time. Boeing has used scare tactics, threats and the very real economic hardships of these times to force this job-eliminating contract on the Union membership. The Union will do everything in our power to work within the confines of the law and this agreement to protect the interests of our members and their jobs. As we have said repeatedly, this is about jobs and our priority remains on keeping jobs in this state," added Blondin.

"Boeing may think they won a victory tonight, but what does any company gain by threatening its workforce? Boeing has bought themselves years of resentment and deep internal division, and that's no basis for a competitive, high-productivity company. What sort of victory is that?" said IAM Chief Negotiator Dick Schneider

"Our Constitution, a document written by IAM members, requires a two-thirds vote to authorize a strike. That super-majority protects our members from sacrificing their earnings and savings when the support necessary to sustain a strike does not exist," said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger.

"For the next three years, our members will have to work under the terms of a contract that the majority felt was inadequate. The IAM will make the best of a bad situation by doing everything in our power to protect and aggressively represent our members," Buffenbarger pledged.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Labor Neighbor phone bank volunteers needed for primary

Thank you to all the Labor-Neighbor volunteers who participated in household walks over the weekend! Now Labor Neighbor coordinators need volunteers in Seattle, Everett and Longview for the final primary election phone banks tonight and tomorrow to turn out union voters. Union members are asked to spare two or three hours to participate in the Washington State Labor Council's grassroots political action program of member-to-member education. (See schedule below.)

Labor-endorsed candidates (download an endorsement list) are counting on help getting out the union vote for Tuesday's primary. They know Labor Neighbor could have a dramatic impact in their districts given that fewer voters turn out for primaries, and there are new reports that fewer absentee ballots are being returned so far this year than in the past.

Some of these candidates' elections will be decided on Tuesday because they face no real opposition in the general election. So let's get out and support the candidates who have proven they will put working people's interests first when they go to Olympia as state legislators.

Here is the Labor Neighbor schedule for today and tomorrow:

Date	Activity	Location	Start Time	End Time	Contact
MONDAY Sept. 16	GOTV Phone Bank (King)	IAM 751 9125 15^th Place, Seattle	5:30 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	Anh Nguyen (206) 979-1281
Sept. 16	44^th LD Phone Bank	Everett Labor Temple, 2812 Lombard Ave	5 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	Lee Marchisio (425) 239-7389
Sept. 16	18^th LD Phone Bank	Longshoremen’s Hall, 617 14^th Ave, Longview	5 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	Dan Buell (360) 951-5749
TUESDAY Sept. 17	GOTV Phone Bank (King)	IAM 751 9125 15^th Place, Seattle	4 p.m.	7 p.m.	Anh Nguyen (206) 979-1281
Sept. 17	18^th LD Phone Bank	Longshoremen’s Hall, 617 14^th Ave., Longview	4 p.m.	7 p.m.	Dan Buell (360) 951-5749
Sept. 17	44^th LD Phone Bank	Everett Labor Temple, 2812 Lombard Ave	4 p.m	7 p.m.	Lee Marchisio (425) 239-7389

Labor Neighbor activities will continue on weekends throughout September and October, so mark your calendars now to volunteer, especially in October and on the weekend preceding the Nov. 5 general election.

For more information about the Labor Neighbor program, contact Jennifer Grace at (206) 281-8901 or call one of the Labor Neighbor Coordinators in your area listed above.

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.