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Reports for November 1-5, 2004

Previous weeks' news: Oct. 25-29 -- Oct. 18-22 -- Oct. 11-15

THURSDAY, Nov. 4 -- UNITE HERE boycotts Seattle Sheraton, Crowne Plaza -- Rally at Westlake Park on Wednesday, Nov. 10 to support hotel workers in Seattle and San Francisco.
Also today -- Gregoire gains; Cooper closes gap; Lantz, Green maintain narrow leads
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Gregoire opens lead of 15,000 votes (AP) -- Secretary of State Sam Reed says it could take two weeks to settle this year's gubernatorial contest.
— In today's Olympian -- State workers waiting -- The possibility of a Republican governor and certainty of a Republican attorney general brings uneasiness for some state workers and excitement for others.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Republicans are the odd party out in Legislature
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Valley GOP legislators not worried about Democrats' majority... if Rossi wins
— In today's Seattle P-I -- I-884's failure, state budget crisis to put extra squeeze on education
...plus -- After latest loss, Eyman plows on; next up: government performance audits
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Next up: Initiative drives are coming together -- Virgin column: Both sides await outcome of the election to determine the course of dueling workers' compensation initiatives. 
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Nethercutt ponders Cantwell challenge (AP)
— In today's NY Times -- Washington state votes down charter schools -- again
National news: — Today from AP -- Despite massive effort, unions couldn't deliver votes for Kerry -- Union leaders had agreed to set aside differences to focus on defeating Bush. Now attention turns to the divide about labor's future.
— In today's LA Times -- Democrats' losses go far beyond one defeat -- The 2004 elections underscored that the nation's so-called red territories are becoming redder. And that threatens to leave Democrats at a long-term disadvantage in future races for the White House and battles for Congress.
...plus -- California business groups score wins on health insurance, lawsuit limits

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 3 -- Governor race tied; Democrats look to regain State Senate
At AFLCIO.org -- Survey: Union members backed Kerry -- Sixty-five percent of union members voted for Kerry, with an even bigger margin -- 68 percent -- voting for Kerry in battleground states.
— Today from Reuters -- Bush wins re-election, reaches out to foes
— In today's Seattle Times -- Democrats close to control of Washington State Legislature
— In today's Olympian -- Initiative roundup -- Losers: Charter schools (again), sales tax hike for education and Eyman's gambling initiative. Winners: Hanford waste restrictions and "Top Two" primary.
— In today's S.F. Chronicle -- Mandatory health insurance for workers failing in California
Other news: — In the Daily News -- Alcoa to reopen Wenatchee smelter in December
— In today's Seattle P-I -- 7E7 work might be headed south -- South Carolina appears to be the leading contender for facility where large fuselage sections would be joined, stuffed with wiring, systems and other components, and then transported in a modified 747 to Everett.
— In today's Seattle Times -- New interim ferry chief, Mike Anderson, was once a ticket seller

MONDAY, Nov. 1 -- This is it!  VOLUNTEER to be part of historic GOTV effort!
At AFLCIO.org -- Download the Voters' Bill of Rights for Washington state (PDF)
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Local election sites will be crowded on Tuesday -- Teamsters Local 760 trained at least 20 poll volunteers Saturday. Joe Wurtz, business representative, said the volunteers will watch to make sure the provisions of the Help America Vote Act are followed.
— In Sunday's Columbian -- Groups pouring money into elections -- Notorious GOP hit man Bruce Boram continues to be the dirty consultant of choice for Washington businesses. Puget Sound Energy, Microsoft, Tyson Foods, Safeco, Phillip Morris Co., the WA Restaurant Assoc., etc. are among those paying for mail accusing Rep. Deb Wallace (D-Vancouver) of opposing "tax incentives to save local Hewlett-Packard jobs."  But Wallace voted FOR the high-tech tax incentives!  Her crime was voting against a Republican amendment to remove all reporting requirements so companies like MICROSOFT could get the tax breaks anonymously and taxpayers won't know how much they got.

Also today -- Group Health abandons mediation, imposes contract terms
...plus -- Group Health caregivers call for management to return to bargaining
— In Saturday's Seattle P-I -- Group Health imposes offer; union says co-op flouting bargaining process
— In Saturday's Tri-City Herald -- Citing "mad cow" scare, Tyson seeks temporary wage freeze
— In Sunday's Longview Daily News -- St. John's Medical Center, union (SEIU) narrow gap in talks
...plus -- Cowlitz County faces $2.8 million budget gap, additional cuts in services on horizon
— In today's News Tribune -- City of Milton may lay off quarter of police force due to budget shortfall
— In Sunday's Bellingham Herald -- Cuts, layoffs as city's financial squeeze hits firefighters, parks, museum
...plus -- Health care coverage pinches paychecks -- David Warren, president of the Northwest Washington Central Labor Council, said he's seeing health insurance premiums go up 12 to 22 percent this year in the contracts up for review among the 22 unions in his organization.
— In the PS Business Journal -- A business model for health care in the Puget Sound area (Ron Sims op-ed)
National news: — In today's NY Times -- States are battling against Wal-Mart over health care -- "Socially, we're engaged in a race to the bottom," said Craig Cole, the chief executive of Brown & Cole Stores, a supermarket chain that employs about 2,000 workers in Washington and adjoining states and pays for insurance coverage for about 95 percent of its employees. "Do we want to allow competition based on exploitation of the work force?" he asked.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
UNITE HERE boycotts Sheraton, Crowne Plaza; rally on Nov. 10

The following information has been distributed by UNITE HERE Local 8. (Note: The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO has not yet formally sanctioned this boycott by putting the hotels on the WSLC Do Not Patronize list.)

Rally in support of UNITE HERE workers Join the fight for fairness and decency for hotel workers by attending a major rally at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at Seattle's Westlake Park, 6th Ave. & Westlake, across the street from the Westin Hotel. NOTE: The rally is not a part of the boycott campaign described at left. They are separate efforts towards the same goal of supporting hotel workers struggling for decent jobs and dignity at work. In Seattle, union members are being worked to injury, having their jobs outsourced and being slapped in the face by supervisors. Hotel workers across the U.S. and Canada are fighting for: — Affordable health care (U.S. only) — A safe workload that minimizes the risk of injury — Job security/protection from outsourcing — Respect on the job — The right to organize without intimidation and coercion — In San Francisco, 4,000 workers from 14 hotels have been indefinitely locked out Please show your support for these workers by making plans to attend the Nov. 10 rally.

UNITE HERE has declared boycotts on Seattle’s downtown Sheraton Hotel & Towers and Crowne Plaza Hotel; we are requesting your support in this effort. The boycott is part of an ongoing multinational campaign to win better wages, working conditions, and bargaining rights for non-union hospitality workers.

Hospitality workers are being squeezed in many directions by their increasingly powerful and multinational employers. These global hotel giants (Hyatt, Starwood, Hilton, Marriott and Intercontinental, to be specific) are currently attempting to impose health care reductions, greater workloads, pension cuts, and stagnant wages that are leading to increasingly Wal-Mart-like working conditions.  By keeping hotel workers separated in their respective cities, the companies will be better able to destroy the middle-class benefits that union hotel workers took decades to achieve.  In response, UNITE HERE local unions are fighting to have all of their contracts expire in the same year, 2006.

In 2006, major contracts will expire in New York, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Honolulu, Monterey, Sacramento, Detroit and Cincinnati.  Currently, there are fights going on in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C. to win two-year contracts that will also expire in 2006. The efforts based in these three cities are referred to as the ‘04/’06 campaign.

In San Francisco, 4,000 workers have been indefinitely locked out of 14 hotels after they refused to accept a five-year agreement that would increase family health care costs from $10/mo. to $273/mo. In Los Angeles, lockouts have been threatened for months. L.A. employers have also allegedly illegally implemented their so-called last, best and final offer that, for the first time, imposes payments for health care that workers are unable to afford, thereby forcing hundreds of families into the uninsured population. Moreover, the employers have allegedly illegally intimidated and fired outspoken leaders, many of them being African-American and Latinos.  In Washington D.C., employers plan to impose similar terms beginning on November 1.

The Seattle Boycott

Here in Seattle, the majority of contracts are set to expire beginning this winter and continuing through 2007. The Westin Hotel, a major contract for Local 8, is set to expire in 2006.  Any concessions which the hotel chains achieve in San Francisco, L.A. and Washington D.C. will be demanded locally as well.  It is crucial for us to be offensive now in order to prevent a defensive fight down the road.

The Sheraton and Crowne Plaza hotels maintain inferior wage, benefit, and working condition standards that work to undermine those in unionized properties.  They have also been selected as targets because their owners and operators are directly involved in the San Francisco, L.A. and Washington D.C. struggles.  They must be held accountable for their actions and sent a clear message that an injury to one is an injury to all.

The promise of our nation is that those who work hard and play by the rules will be rewarded; that they will be able to provide for themselves and their families.  Today, hotel corporations are trying to take away workers’ foothold in this promise.  Our union has drawn a line in the sand and said that this must be stopped.  We make it very clear that in order to achieve living wages and good benefits across the entire industry, we must build power locally and link these local efforts on a multinational scale.  We ask that you take part and stand with us in our struggle. 

Ways you can help include:

• Agreeing to honor the boycott and encouraging everyone you know to do the same

• Participating in organized leafleting

• Making phone calls or going on delegation visits to the clients of the boycotted hotels

For more information, please visit: www.unitehere.org -- www.hotelworkersunited.org -- www.hotellaboradvisor.info                                   

For more information, contact Benjamin Mantle at 206-728-2326 ext. 21.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Gregoire gains; Cooper closes in; Lantz, Green maintain leads

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Governor race tied; Democrats look to regain State Senate 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Group Health abandons mediation, imposes contract terms

Despite Surging Profits, GHC Forces Premiums, Spousal Coverage Penalties, Sick Leave Takeaways Onto LPNs, Medical Assistants

 

Group Health management has announced that it is walking away from the federal mediation process with 1,060 frontline employees, unilaterally imposing benefits cuts and other changes that had been rejected in a vote by employees.

 

Group Health’s maneuver affects approximately 1,080 licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, custodians, and other frontline staff who have been negotiating their contract since May of 2003. Over 1,100 registered nurses, social workers in two other bargaining groups continue to negotiate their contracts.

 

“This attempt to bypass the mediation process means that Group Health is failing to act as a responsible employer. We want to work these issues out through a process of compromise and negotiation. Group Health only wants to make demands,” said Sandy Heinzle an LPN at Group Health’s Silverdale clinic.

 

Despite record profits, Group Health imposed new individual and family health care premiums, higher co-pays for medical care and prescriptions, spousal coverage penalties, and changes that weaken employees’ ability to use leave because of illness.

Group Health’s attempt to bypass the bargaining process comes as Group Health’s continues to enjoy solid financial success.

·      In an Oct. 26 email to employees, incoming CEO Scott Armstrong confirmed that GHC is in the “strongest financial position we’ve been in for years.” Since 2002, Group Health’s net worth has surged to $452 million, and increase of 148 percent.

·      Group Health’s bottom line is strong. In 2003, Group Health’s margin surged to 7.95 percent of revenue. (In comparison, Wal-Mart stores—the largest corporation in the world—earned a 3.5 percent margin in 2003.) Because the revenue margin is so strong, GHC recently announced plans to reduce prices for consumers. Even after price cuts, Group Health says it expects a solid revenue margin of 2.5-3 percent in 2005.

Negotiating committee members from all three bargaining groups will meet tomorrow, October 30, to plan how to work with the federal mediator to move negotiations forward.

Group Health LPNs, medical assistants, registered nurses, behavioral therapists, and other frontline staff are members of Service Employees International Union District 1199NW, Washington ’s largest health care union.

For more information, contact SEIU 1199NW's Carter Wright at (425) 917-1199.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Group Health caregivers call for return to bargaining Nov. 10

Frontline Caregivers Call for Group Health Management to Return to Bargaining on Nov.10

All Three Bargaining Groups Remain United, Reject Attempt to Isolate LPN-Medical Assistant-Service Workers

 

In a letter sent today to Group Health management and the federal mediator, frontline Group Health employees called on the HMO’s management to return to federally-mediated talks starting on November 10. SEIU caregivers are prepared to negotiate around-the-clock to reach settlements and reject Group Health’s attempt to divide licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, and other staff from their registered nurse and social worker colleagues by imposing contract terms on that bargaining group.

 

Without notifying the federal mediator, Group Health announced on October 29 that it intends to impose contract terms on its licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, and other employees in service job classifications. Group Health’s failure to complete negotiations with any of its SEIU employee groups is an indication of how badly its tactics have damaged employee-management relations.

 

“Group Health is trying to isolate one group of us and impose its demands. It’s an attempt to divide and conquer, but it’s not working. It’s pulling us closer together. We’re going back to the negotiating table to get an agreement that works for all of us,” said Pam Hill, a neurology Medical Assistant at the Capitol Hill Medical Center.

 

“We’re all part of a team. What affects one of us affects all of us. We are going to stick together to negotiate fair contracts for all of us,” said Betsy Schmidt, a RN at the Renton Medical Center.

 

Group Health is attempting to impose demands that had been rejected by LPNs, MAs, and other service job classification members in a July vote—including health care cost shifts, weakened sick leave policies, and weakened federal Family and Medical Leave rights. For many workers, higher health care costs would wipe out all of the wage increases Group Health offered in its imposed settlement. Some employees’ would lose income because of higher costs.

 

SEIU 1199NW members at Group Health negotiate contracts for three bargaining groups: approximately 1,060 LPN/medical assistant/service workers; about 1,000 RNs; and about 115 social workers and behavioral therapists. The LPN/medical assistant/service workers’ contract expired in September 2003. Contracts for the other two groups expired in July 2004.

 

Members from all three groups went on strike together for five days in August 2004.

For more information, contact SEIU 1199NW's Carter Wright at (425) 917-1199.