UPDATED DAILY -- M-F by 9 a.m. Pacific

Union members: Get your 2002 Working Families' Voter Guides!
Click here to download your Voter guide and other election information.

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. 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 Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2002

Previous weeks' news: Oct. 21-25 -- Oct. 14-18 -- Oct. 7-11

BREAKING NEWS from Reuters -- ILWU, PMA reach agreement on technology issue 

FRIDAY, November 1 -- Bender: A difficult time for workers' comp premiums to rise
...plus -- Governor to join in Labor Neighbor activities in Everett on Saturday
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Area business owners uneasy about hike in workers' compensation premiums
...plus -- Income tax won't happen, won't fix problem (editorial)
— In today's Everett Herald -- Boeing still cutting jobs in Everett
— In today's SCJ -- Boeing: No decision on possible 767 cuts
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Troubling questions on State Supreme Court candidate Jim Johnson (Connelly column)
— In today's Oregonian -- I-790 a vote for public servants (op-ed)
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Living wage ordinance makes economic sense for city (op-ed)
At AFLCIO.org -- Nov. 21 will be Day of Action at Wal-Mart
— In today's Washington Post -- Close election turns on turnout
...plus -- Bush sold stock despite lawyers' warning; letter disclosed day after SEC probe dropped
— In today's L.A. Times -- Nation caught in a jobless free fall
...plus -- Number of "involuntary" part-time workers is growing
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Carpenters' union chief to return $200,000 from stock deal under inquiry

THURSDAY, October 31 -- Union Plus scholarship applications are now available online
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing plans 700 job cuts on 767 line
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Employers gripe about L&I tax hike
...plus -- Don't be confused by R-53: Just vote "Yes" (editorial)
— In today's Eastside Journal -- "Yes" on R-53 (editorial)
— In today's South County Journal -- "No" on I-776 (editorial)
— In today's Everett Herald -- Fairhurst for Supreme Court (editorial)
— In today's Seattle Times -- I-790 ads ignore potential costs
— In The Stranger -- Strange bedfellows: Newspaper Guild, Blethen
— In yesterday's Aberdeen Daily World -- Tugboat worker union (IBU) says Port overstepped
— In today's Washington Post -- Top Bush union ally (UBC's McCarron) to return Ullico stock gains
— In today's N.Y. Times -- SEC chief withheld that new accounting czar faces fraud charges himself
...plus -- Do lower taxes mean faster economic growth? -- Comparing other nations' experiences adds considerable weight to the argument that the level of taxes has had little long-term effect on growth... contradicting earlier findings that purported to show that high taxes reduced growth rates. There is no such relationship, and many economists now agree.

WEDNESDAY, October 30
At ILWU.org -- See entire ILWU filing with Justice Department
— In today's L.A. Times -- Delays at ports denied by ILWU
— In today's Seattle Times -- ILWU points at shippers, Justice Dept.
...plus -- Boeing support group to cut 1,200 to 1,500 jobs
— In today's Everett Herald -- SPEEA talks begin on a positive note
...plus -- Snohomish County, state need benefits of Ref. 51 (op-ed)
— In today's So. County Journal -- Boeing-SPEEA talks at a glance
— In today's Yakima H-R -- State income tax on way to 2003 ballot?
— In yesterday's Columbian -- I-790 ads raise questions about taxes
— In today's Seattle P-I -- I-790 is unreasonable (editorial)
— In today's Eastside Journal -- I-790 is too radical (editorial)
— In yesterday's Daily World -- 90 IBEW members sign petition for PUD GM Lovely's resignation

TUESDAY, October 29 -- Labor Neighbor: Update on final weekend, Election Day plans
...plus -- SPEEA looks for improvements as Boeing talks begin today
— In today's Seattle Times -- Good vibes set tone of Boeing-SPEEA talks
...plus -- U.S. will "aggressively" challenge Airbus subsidies
...plus -- Firefighters, police deserve a say in pension fund (I-790 op-ed by IAFF's Kelly Fox)
— In the new P.S. Business Journal -- Planes still profitable: Boeing margins will slip, but not into red
— In today's News Tribune -- As both union and port chief, Marzano seeking one thing: more jobs
...plus -- Voters will decide fight over unemployment tax with R-53
...plus -- Fairhurst-Johnson Supreme Court race has air of partisanship
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- R-53 unemployment tax measure isn't business as usual
...plus -- Workers' comp in crisis: Spokane business owners decry rate hike, blame mismanagement
...plus -- Training more nurses not the answer -- Op-ed: By focusing on the production of a new crop of nurses, Congress merely installs another revolving door in hospitals that nurses are trying to flee. ... When hospitals stop treating nurses as cheap, disposable labor -- and in the process exposing patients to unnecessary risks -- then recruitment will pay off.
— In today's Everett Herald -- Providence Everett nurses ratify new contract, get raises
...plus -- Setting Nov. 18 deadline, Marysville coaches OK strike
...plus -- Too many unknowns make I-790 a risky bet (editorial)
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Voters still split on Referendum 51
— In today's Olympian -- Gorton: "No" vote on R-51 would be costly
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Congress must keep working to protect retirement savings (editorial)
— And a related story from the AP -- U.S. pensions train risks running out of gravy
— In today's N.Y. Times -- The mood at work: Anger and anxiety

MONDAY, October 28
At ILWU.org -- ILWU accuses PMA of violating injunction with mismanagement
— In today's Pacific Business Journal -- ILWU on slowdown charges: Prove it
— Today at Labor Notes -- Employers have long-term plan to weaken union's control of ports
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Get out the vote? Labor knows how
...plus -- Big business buys power through anonymous ads (must-read Connelly column)
...and Sunday -- Initiative 776 doesn't accomplish much (editorial)
— In today's Everett Herald -- SPEEA, Boeing head back to bargaining table
— In today's Seattle Times -- Airbus pursuing Pentagon contracts
— In Sunday's South County Journal -- R-51 is last and best chance for traffic help (editorial)
— In today's News Tribune -- R-51 would shore up failing pillar of state's economy (editorial)
...plus dueling Referendum 53 op-eds -- Pro and con
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Mayor does an about face, now supports I-790
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Too many unknowns to back Initiative 790 (editorial)
— In today's Eastside Journal -- Kirkland looking at business head tax to make up $2.8M hole
— In today's L.A. Times -- Chances fade for Democrats to gain control of U.S. House
....plus -- Continuing port tensions worry retailers, growers
— In today's Washington Post -- Gridlock woes take the sheen off of Seattle

Previous weeks' news: Oct. 21-25 -- Oct. 14-18 -- Oct. 7-11

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Governor to join in Labor Neighbor activities in Everett

Governor Gary Locke will greet—and then join—volunteer union members participating in Labor Neighbor household walks to promote labor-endorsed candidates and encourage fellow union members to vote in Tuesday's election. He will be at the Everett Labor Temple, 2812 Lombard Ave., on Saturday morning:

• 9.a.m. - Breakfast served to volunteers
• 9:45 a.m. - Governor arrives to meet and greet volunteers
• 10 a.m. - Brief training program for volunteers
• 10:30 a.m. - Volunteers are dispatched into 44th Leg. District. Governor will join one of the teams to visit a few households.

Labor Neighbor is the grassroots political education program of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.  One of its principal activities is "union household walks" where rank-and-file volunteers visit the households of other union families to discuss the importance of the coming election and distribute information about labor-endorsed candidates and ballot measures.  To date, more than 2,500 union volunteers have visited more than 80,000 union households in 13 legislative districts across the state.

At Saturday's household walk in Everett, volunteers will be distributing information about labor's endorsed candidates in the 44th Legislative District: Phil Doerflein for State Senate, and Hans Dunshee and John Lovick for State Representative. In addition, they will distribute literature in support of Referendum 51.

To learn more about the Labor Neighbor program and schedule for this weekend's activities across the state, click here.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
Union Plus scholarship applications are now available online

Applications for the 2003 Union Plus Scholarship program are now available. Since 1992, the program has provided more than $1.6 million to help fulfill the educational dreams of students. The awards are presented annually to members of AFL-CIO affiliated unions and members of their families who want to begin or continue their secondary education.

To download an application, go to www.unionplus.org or send a postcard with your name, return address, telephone number and international union affiliation to: Union Plus Scholarship Education Foundation, c/o Union Privilege, P.O. Box 34800, Washington, DC 20043-4800.

This year, 101 students, representing 32 AFL-CIO unions, were selected to receive $150,000 in scholarships. The application deadline is Jan. 31, 2003, and recipients' names for the 2003 program will be announced May 31, 2003. (Due to the high volume of applications, only winners will be notified.)

For more information about this program and the many other special programs and benefits available to union members and their families, visit www.unionplus.org.

UPDATED FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Labor Neighbor: Update on final weekend, Election Day plans

This is it... the final weekend of Labor Neighbor activities before the critical Nov. 5 election that will determine whether our state takes the high road in addressing transportation and state budget problems. Union volunteers are needed all around the state; so PLEASE make plans to spend a few hours Saturday and/or Sunday to participate in household walks.

Plus, download and return the Labor Neighbor Election Day Volunteer Form (118 KB PDF file) to participate in the all-important get-out-the-vote activities on Tuesday.

IMPORTANT R-51 LEAFLETING UPDATE: Due to overwhelming response of volunteers in Seattle for the Oct. 19 leafleting blitz on behalf of Referendum 51, nearly all of the precincts targeted have been covered and a sufficient number of volunteers for this Saturday's follow-up blitz have already been identified. Those volunteers will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Seattle Labor Temple at 2800 1st Ave. The IAM Hall in South Seattle will no longer be used as a staging area for R-51 leafleting.

So those of you who had planned to volunteer for R-51 leafleting Saturday are urged instead to spend a couple hours handing out 2002 Working Families' Voter Guides as part of Labor Neighbor's final weekend of member-to-member household walks. 

Note: LABOR NEIGHBOR PHONE BANKS have been added in Seattle Saturday through Tuesday at the Labor Temple and Monday and Tuesday at the IBEW 46 Hall. Volunteers are needed!

Here's the weekend schedule:

TUESDAY, NOV. 5 -- Download and return the Labor Neighbor Election Day Volunteer Form (118 KB PDF file) to participate in the all-important get-out-the-vote activities on Tuesday.

NOTE: If you have volunteers available at times other than those listed on the calendar, please contact the coordinator to make arrangements to train and dispatch at an earlier/later time. We will never turn down a volunteer!!

Thank you for making sure your union is well represented at the 2002 Labor Neighbor activities.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29
SPEEA looks for improvements as Boeing talks begin today

Following is a press release distributed Monday afternoon by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, IFPTE 2001:

SEATTLE - With negotiations for a new three-year contract opening Tuesday, the labor union representing engineering and technical employees at The Boeing Company is advising members to stand up, stay strong and realize they have the power to secure a good contract.

Negotiating teams for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) open talks at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Doubletree SeaTac hotel with Boeing. In the coming weeks, SPEEA and Boeing will work on three separate contracts that affect more than 19,000 employees in seven states.

"We're in a lot better shape at the negotiations table than many people may realize," said Charles Bofferding, executive director of SPEEA. "We represent the people who design new products and make sure existing products make it out the door. Those functions are critical to Boeing's ability to recover."

When the two sides last met in 1999, the talks resulted in one of the largest strikes by a white-collar professional union in U.S. history. Neither side wants to repeat the experience.

Three bargaining units are involved in the negotiations. The Puget Sound Professional Unit represents 10,700 engineers. The Puget Sound Technical Unit represents 7,200 technical employees. The Wichita Engineering Unit represents 1,250 engineers in Kansas.

"We are problem solvers by nature," said Dave Patzwald, chair of the Professional Negotiating Units Negotiations Team. "If The Boeing Company comes to the table and is willing to work with us, we will secure a good contract."

Key issues in negotiations include increasing base wage pay to market levels. SPEEA uses much of Boeing's own information to show the aerospace giant is paying its engineers and technical workers wages that are below what they could earn at other companies.

The union points out that Boeing continues to make money and turn a profit for shareholders. The Company also spent more than $9 billion in the last four years in a stock buy-back program. Boeing profits topped $2.9 billion in 2001 and are on track to exceed $2.5 billion this year.

Maintaining medical and other benefits will also be a key negotiations point. An inferior offer in the benefits area, including takeaways, was the trigger that caused the 40-day strike.

The union also seeks greater job security for represented employees. Workers at some Puget Sound and Wichita facilities complain about being assigned to train foreign workers with the understanding that their U.S. Boeing job will be eliminated after the training is complete. Boeing laid off more than 26,000 employees in the United States during the past year.

SPEEA plans to mark the start of talks by distributing informational fliers to employees as they enter work. Employees in Everett and Auburn are also planning lunchtime barbeques. Everett employees will meet at 11 a.m. outside the Twin Towers near Seaway Boulevard and 75th Street S.W. Auburn employees will meet at 11 a.m. in parking Lot M near First Avenue North.

SPEEA represents more than 22,800 employees in Washington, Kansas, Oregon, California, Texas, Utah and Florida.