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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 October 7-11, 2002

Previous weeks' news: Sept. 30-Oct. 4 -- Sept. 23-27 -- Sept. 16-20

FRIDAY, October 11 -- Conference, hearing examine workers' rights at UW, Harborview
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Port stirs, gets off to slow start 
...plus -- Some unions fume at Bush for intervention
— In today's Olympian -- Dockworkers return to Olympia port --
"If (the PMA's) not going to negotiate with the president of the United States, what makes you think they're going to negotiate with a group of 10,000 Longshore workers?" asks one worker.
— In today's Seattle Times -- Yes to R-53 -- Editorial: Referendum 53 improves the tax system that funds unemployment pay, and should be supported by voters.
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- R-53 deals with complex issue of unemployment taxes
...plus -- Democrats' immigrant legalization bill a long shot to pass
— In today's News Tribune -- Businesses banking on Boeing bonuses coming Oct. 18
...plus -- I-776 may not hurt Sound Transit; it will hurt local roads (editorial)
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- FFTF supporters continue to plead for facility
— In today's Washington Post -- States' budget woes fuel Medicaid cuts
...plus -- As he prepares for war, Bush plans two-week taxpayer-funded campaign tour
...plus -- What matters on Election Day -- Dionne column: The "war issue" matters least to the independent voters most likely to determine the outcome of the election.
— From In These Times -- Labor champions corporate reform as Big Business squirms
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Moles at work -- Krugman column: The Financial Times reports that it wasn't just Congressional Republicans and the accounting industry that blocked the appointment of John Biggs to head a crucial new accounting oversight board; the White House was "concerned at labor union backing for Mr. Biggs." The end result: corporate reform is dead in the water.

THURSDAY, October 10 -- White House held port meetings with business, but not labor
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Backlog await bitter port workers
— In the new Seattle Weekly -- Are the shippers really trying to bust the union?
— In yesterday's Columbian -- Area dockworkers not happy with the president
— In today's Oregonian -- PMA: "Safety" is code for "slowdown"
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Dispute lingers as longshoremen return to work
...plus -- Better laws to settle the port labor dispute -- Op-ed by ex-NLRB Chairman Gould: "Final-offer arbitration" legislation replacing Taft-Hartley's archaic and one-sided injunction process should be introduced without delay. It would be an invaluable tool in resolving future strikes and lockouts—and the mere prospect of it could help spur meaningful negotiations in the current labor dispute.
In other news:  Labor-Neighbor needs YOU tonight and this weekend
— In today's News Tribune -- Garbage haulers' strike shows no sign of coming to an end
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Woeful legislators left it to us; let's do right thing on R-51 (editorial)
— In today's Seattle Times -- Extend jobless benefits to fight nation's other war (Cantwell op-ed)
— In the new Seattle Weekly -- "If I Ran Seattle" by Tim Eyman
— In the new Stranger -- Dog-shooting Seattle Times publisher floats secret plan that could kill the P-I
— In today's Oregonian -- State's prescription drug plan drawing national attention
— In today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Oregon's preferred drug list skips some "big name" drugs
At AFLCIO.org -- Sweeney praises Gephardt's "important first step" on immigration reform
— In today's Wall Street Journal -- Labor solidarity unravels at United Airlines
— In today's Washington Post -- Focus on war talk hampers Democrats
...plus -- At U.S. corporations, gap grows between what's earned at what's taxed -- Now, at a time of burgeoning corporate scandals, a growing federal budget deficit and new security demands on federal tax dollars, the phenomenon is attracting new scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service, the Treasury Department and Congress.

WEDNESDAY, October 9 -- The truth (you won't find in the papers) about the port lockout
At AFLCIO.org -- Trumka: Bush's port intervention "a tragedy with historic ramifications"
— In today's L.A. Times -- West Coast ports ordered to reopen
...plus -- ILWU, PMA argue over safety vs. speed
— In today's News Tribune -- "We plan on working," say Tacoma longshore workers
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Expert: Taft-Hartley delays settlements
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Political advantages for Bush outweigh labor's ire over injunction
— Today's cavalcade of editorials supporting Bush's intervention -- Eastside Journal, Everett Herald, N.Y. Times, News Tribune, Seattle P-I and Seattle Times. 
In other news:
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Record demand at food banks around state
...plus -- Boeing to vacate 7 Everett buildings; 1,800 workers to be moved
— In today's News Tribune -- Garbage strike continues; no talks planned
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- I-790: Fair or costly benefits for police, fire fighters?
— In today's Seattle Times -- Lack of funds puts teaching mission at risk, UW president warns
...plus -- Poll: Majority in state say they'd pay more to extend health care coverage to those without
...plus -- R-51: Accountability for transportation (editorial) and Preserving gridlock won't save the Earth (Ramsey column) and The anti-road crowd isn't making any sense (Cameron column)
— In today's Eastside Journal -- Locke: State budget shortfall makes R-51 even more urgent
— In the new P.S. Business Journal -- Budget shortfall spurs talk of private liquor stores
— In yesterday's Aberdeen Daily World -- Grays Harbor County outlines "painful" budget cuts, layoffs
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Kitsap County plans health care cuts to reduce limit layoffs
— In today's Oregonian -- Poll: Minimum wage initiative likely to pass, but health care measure lags
— In today's Washington Post -- Help for the jobless -- Editorial: Extending all expiring temporary unemployment benefits for another year would cost an estimated $14 billion. But it is spending that will come to an end as the economy recovers. Lawmakers can help support that recovery by putting money in the hands of people likely to spend it quickly, on food, housing and other necessities. More support for jobless workers now is a humane and common-sense response to a real need.
— In today's L.A. Times -- House Republicans push $65 billion in tax cuts for beaten-up investors (but so far refuse to extend benefits for people WHO'VE LOST THEIR F#@%& JOBS!)

TUESDAY, October 8
At AFLCIO.org -- White House takes unprecedented action in ILWU lockout
...plus -- Don't forget today's protest/leaflet at Toyota of Puyallup
— In today's L.A. Times -- Bush sets stage for forcing port open; ILWU vows it will "work safe"
....plus -- Reaching ports deal made more difficult by history, emotion
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Shippers, dockworkers are far, far apart—and full of distrust
...plus -- Charges of politics have dogged Taft-Hartley Act
In other news -- Janitors' solidarity rally Thursday at Seattle's Westlake Park
— In today's News Tribune -- First garbage strike (IBT 313) hits area
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Garbage haulers in Pierce County go on strike; scabs imported
...plus -- Where are the Democrats? -- Must-read Friedman column: The problem with the Democrats is not that they are being drowned out by Iraq. The problem is that the Democrats have nothing compelling to say on all the issues besides Iraq.
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- City approves living-wage plan setting $10 minimum wage
— In today's Olympian -- I-790 paid signature gatherer accused of fraud
...plus -- Zarelli slashes campaign spending as D.C. job hunt falters
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Fluor considers cuts in Hanford firefighting effort
— In today's Walla Walla U-B -- R-51 funds state's most serious road problems (editorial)
— In today's Everett Herald -- Congress should extend state's jobless benefits (editorial)
— In today's Oregonian -- Judge rules PERS board at fault for overpayment of billions
— Last week in the Wichita Eagle -- What's worth a strike to SPEEA?
...and today -- Russian titanium on modified 767s has USWA in an uproar
— In today's Washington Post -- Homeland Security fight is not an arcane squabble -- "This is the leading edge of the most significant change in civil service law since the end of World War II."
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Retiring Sen. Gramm to join investment banking firm -- More evidence that corporate scandals have not slowed the revolving door between federal government and the executive offices of the corporate conglomerates that run it. The ethically challenged are encouraged to apply.
— Today from MSNBC.com -- Are Republican presidents better for the stock market? No.

MONDAY, October 7 -- Seattle: WE NEED YOUR HELP to pass critical Referendum 51
...plus -- As Bush intervenes in ILWU lockout, Toyota protest Tuesday in Puyallup
ILWU lockout news:
— This morning from AP -- Bush to intervene in West Coast port lockout
— In today's Olympian -- West Coast port talks break off indefinitely
— In today's Seattle P-I -- PMA's Miniace vs. ILWU's Spinoza: Two tough guys battle
— In Sunday's Seattle Times -- Seattle stevedoring firm is a spark in the port battles
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Study fault's government's effort to halt child labor
In other news:
— In today's News Tribune -- Garbage talks break down; strike could begin today
...plus -- Yes on R-51: Total solution or total bust? (Op-ed by Reps. Fisher and Mitchell)
...plus -- Everyone benefits from programs requiring use of apprentices (op-ed by IBEW JATC trainer)
— In Sunday's Seattle Times -- Drivers need to step up, pay fair share for highways (R-51 op-ed)
— In Sunday's Wenatchee World -- Agreement on long-term housing solution for farm workers
— In today's Everett Herald -- California's paid family leave plan should stay there (editorial)
— In today's Olympian -- Voters must refocus on health care (editorial)
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- First universal health plan in U.S. up for vote in Oregon
— In today's Oregonian -- Northwest labor disputes belie low level of unrest nationwide
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Public says Bush needs to pay heed to weakened economy
...plus -- Enthusiasm by Democrats over congressional elections on the wane
— In today's Detroit News -- End U.S. oversight of Teamsters union (editorial)
— In Sunday's L.A. Times -- A legislative year that fit labor's bill in California

Previous weeks' news: Sept. 30-Oct. 4 -- Sept. 23-27 -- Sept. 16-20

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11
Conference, hearing examine worker rights at UW, Harborview 

Labor relations at the University of Washington do not always reflect the core values of the institution.  Complaints of increasing anti-union sentiment, a loss of the UW's reputation for fairness and respect for all employees and students, and concern about campus priorities in a time of budget cuts are cropping up. 

The Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies at the University of Washington in association with campus unions (SEIU, GSEAC/UAW, WFSE/AFSCME), faculty (AAUP) and professional organizations (PSO) is hosting a two-day conference today and tomorrow, Oct. 11-12. These two days of discussion will allow people to assemble while communicating across boundaries of work place and discipline, in a new climate affecting work conditions and teaching across the U.S.

In conjunction with the conference, members of the Jobs with Justice Workers’ Rights Board (WRB) will hold a hearing from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in Room 241 of UW-Seattle's Mary Gates Hall.

The WRB Hearing will consist of a panel of prominent UW, community and elected leaders who will hear and address the difficulties that workers face on campus and at Harborview Medical Center. Saturday's WRB panelists will include Rep. Marilyn Chase (D-32nd), NAACP Washington State President Oscar Eason, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36th), U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-7th), Seattle Port Commissioner Lawrence Molloy, Graduate and Professional Student Senate President David Nixon, and Statewide Poverty Action Network President Aiko Schaeffer.  

Workers from the UW and Harborview will give testimony. These employees are facing threats to their rights to organize, layoffs, cuts in health benefits and unsafe working conditions.

The goal of the Harry Bridges Center's two-day conference is to hear testimonials of campus workers and to provide useful information about the effects of new legislation, solidarity and inter-union activity, resource allocation at UW, and collective bargaining (new laws enable faculty, academic student employees and state employees to collectively bargain for the first time). 

The Friday session, beginning at 3 p.m. in UW-Seattle's Smith Hall, Room 102, will consider faculty unions and organizations across the United States, focusing particular attention on conditions at the UW. Representatives of three major higher education unions (AAUP, WFT and NEA) from several universities will talk about how collective bargaining works and what it might mean here.

Saturday in Mary Gates Hall, Room 241, the Bridges Center, campus unions and community organizations will hold a day of presentations, workshops and plenary discussions on the issues affecting campus workers today. Michael Honey. Chair of the Harry Bridges Labor Center, will deliver opening remarks at 9 a.m., followed by the WRB hearing at 10 a.m., a break for lunch, and workshops at 1:30 p.m. on student labor action, winning the right to collectively bargain, and organizing for the future.

More information on UW campus unions can be found at: http://faculty.washington.edu/gregoryj/uwunions/.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
White House held port meetings with business, but not labor 

In yesterday's WSLC posting regarding President Bush's Taft-Hartley injunction to reopen the ports, we suggested that the Bush Administration, instead of remaining neutral and trying to broker an agreement, was siding with the Pacific Maritime Association and other business groups. Today, comes news that the Bush Administration held White House meetings with the business interests without bothering to do so with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The following story appeared in today's Washington Post.

Port Meeting May Stir Fairness Debate
Bush Aides Briefed Business, Not Labor

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 10, 2002; Page A12

The Bush administration held a briefing for business lobbyists seven hours before seeking a court order reopening West Coast ports but provided no similar briefing for labor unions, administration officials said yesterday.

The briefing, held in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House, could complicate efforts by President Bush's aides to portray him as a neutral party in the politically charged dispute. Bush hoped to avoid intervening but did so after intense lobbying from corporations and industry groups, many of them headed by Republican donors.

White House officials said they were torn between their worry about the billions of dollars in economic damage being caused by the shutdown of 29 ports, and their fear that invoking the presidential powers of the Taft-Hartley Act for the first time in 24 years could promote a backlash from labor unions right before the Nov. 5 elections.

The meeting with industry, held Tuesday morning, was the second at the White House in five days. The administration was still trying to avoid turning to Taft-Hartley late Friday, when Bush officials met with business groups in the executive office building and urged them to promote a settlement by contacting Democratic lawmakers with ties to labor.

"If this process became a political left-right, Republican-Democrat process, we were going to be throwing gasoline on a fire rather than creating a cooling-off period," a senior administration official said. "We needed to get the message out that everyone needed the ports operating and that for this to become a political battle would doom it to failure."

Longshoremen returned to the docks last night to begin unloading a backlog of more than 200 ships after a federal judge granted Bush's request for an order restarting work. Port operators complained that the 10,500 union members could work slowly in protest, and administration sources said measures were put in place to gauge productivity.

The White House political office has invested vast hours in trying to build alliances with selected unions, and administration officials said they feared that invoking Taft-Hartley -- which labor leaders immediately branded as a favor to management -- could set back that effort. Worse, outside advisers warned Bush's aides that providing a rallying point for unions just before the elections could tip the result of some House or Senate races, especially in Rust Belt states where labor remains influential.

Administration officials said they received reports throughout the weekend that port talks were not progressing. Negotiations broke off late Sunday night, with the sides stymied over the union contention that new waterfront technology would eliminate jobs.

At 10 a.m. Monday, Bush signed an executive order appointing a three-man board of inquiry -- the first step under Taft-Hartley toward a forced reopening of the ports. The board returned its report Tuesday morning, and Bush announced shortly thereafter that he would seek a court order restarting work. Slightly more than four hours later, a federal judge in San Francisco ended the shutdown for a week. Then the parties will return to discuss whether the judge should extend the reopening for an 80-day "cooling-off period."

Officials said Karl Rove, Bush's senior adviser, telephoned Teamsters President James P. Hoffa to try to reassure him about Bush's intentions, and Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. talked to AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney on Sunday.

Sweeney, however, wasn't mollified. Steve Rosenthal, the AFL-CIO's political director, has begun preparing material about Bush's decision for use in tight House and Senate races. "We're looking for opportunities to connect the dots for union members, and this is a basic 'Which side are you on?' issue," Rosenthal said. "No one around here has been concerned about the White House effort to divide the labor movement because when push comes to shove, they will take management's side every time."

A labor official allied with the administration, who insisted on anonymity, said the unions working with Bush "understand that the White House was put in a very difficult position." And a senior administration official said the White House is not worried about long-term damage to Bush's relations with labor. "People won't say it out loud, but there are many union workers around the country who were relieved, because their jobs were in jeopardy," the official said.

The White House refused to release a list of the groups that were invited to Tuesday's briefing for business, but officials said the gathering included more than 50 companies and interest groups and lasted about 40 minutes. An administration official described it as a discussion of "the mechanics of Taft-Hartley and what it requires and the calendar process."

The Friday meeting had been held at the request of the National Association of Manufacturers. A White House economic official spent more than an hour listening to dire predictions from representatives of about 25 companies and trade groups that were suffering from the weeklong lockout, including Nike, a grain association and the Grocery Manufacturers of America.

Among those who spoke was Peter Friedman, executive director of the Agriculture Ocean Transportation Coalition, who warned that overseas customers for wheat, grapes, french fries and other products would turn to other countries for supplies if exports remained stranded. "Our object was to let them know the severity of the situation," he said. "Very soon, it was not going to be just rotting food in California but people losing their jobs all over the country."

Lobbying was also heavy at the Commerce Department, where companies were sending Secretary Donald L. Evans estimates of how many workers they would have to lay off each week that the ports remained closed. Bush realized he could wait no longer.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
Labor-Neighbor needs YOU tonight and this weekend

With less than a month to go before the general election, the Labor Neighbor activities are in full gear across the state from Bellingham to Vancouver, from Silverdale to Spokane. Volunteers are needed to spend a couple hours phoning or walking in their local neighborhoods to deliver labor's message for the all-important election that will determine control of both houses of the State Legislature.

TONIGHT (Thursday) from 5:30 to 8 p.m. there are phone banks running in Bellingham, Everett, Seattle. Here are the details, plus this weekend's schedule of Labor Neighbor walks (please RSVP to the LN Coordinator):