NEXT UPDATE: Monday, Dec. 1 by 9 a.m. Pacific -- Why so long?

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 November 18-21, 2003

Previous weeks' news: Nov. 10-14 -- Nov. 3-7 -- Oct. 27-31

FRIDAY, Nov. 21 -- Buy Union Week: Give the gift of good jobs Nov. 29-Dec. 7
...plus -- State employees at Dept. of Ecology need your help on contract talks
— In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing outsources much of 7E7, but key role for Everett
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Local 7E7 workforce will be "significant" with program HQ in Everett
...plus this brief -- Boeing lays off 70 more workers, 50 in area
— In today's King County Journal -- With 7E7, Boeing outsources wings for first time
— In today's News Tribune -- Target employers with poor safety records -- Editorial: Voter rejection of L&I's ergonomic rule should not let employers think they are off the hook when it comes to worker safety. Unless or until employers with poor safety records see the light, L&I should target the worst 12% for special scrutiny by putting them on a "Dirty Dozen" list. Publicize their names so that workers will know that they are at greater risk, and customers will know that they're patronizing a business whose workers suffer an inordinate number of injuries. That kind of public exposure might finally shame these bad actors into taking steps to protect their workers.
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Farmers worry about crackdown on illegal migrant workers (AP)
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Disaster gear moving to Pierce County, angering Seattle firefighters
— In today's Olympian -- More job-retraining dollars are needed (editorial)
— In today's Seattle Times -- The foodless ferries -- Editorial implying the food workers' union deserves some blame for the loss of service, but letting WSF boss Mike Thorne off the hook -- in fact, applauding him -- for his efforts to increase revenue, even though they drove away the food contractor!
...plus -- UW wants interim president to stay on; is he a placeholder for Locke?
— In yesterday's Columbian -- Frito-Lay, union dispute work schedule at Vancouver plant
At AFLCIO.org -- Showdown: Will Bush defy Congress, take away overtime pay?
— In today's Washington Post -- Overtime pay issue threatens big spending bill
...plus -- Working on overtime (editorial)
...plus -- Two major unions (UAW and IBEW) oppose energy bill on eve of Senate vote
...plus -- Bid to change Social Security is back; Bush aides resurrect privatization plan
...plus -- Trade talks end in vague accord; progress toward FTAA less then had been envisioned
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Demonstration turns violent at trade talks in Miami
...plus -- Congress completes details of Medicare drug bill; Democrats shut out of negotiations
...plus -- AARP gone astray -- Krugman column: Over the years AARP has become much more than an advocacy and service organization for older Americans. It receives more than $150 million each year in commissions on insurance, mutual funds and prescription drugs sold to its members.  That's why they've joined the coalition of the bought-off in supporting the Medicare drug bill.
— In today's Buffalo News -- How Bush may revive unions (op-ed)

THURSDAY, Nov. 20 -- Seniors oppose Medicare drug bill in Congress, says new poll
...plus visit the Working Families e-Activist Network -- Tell Congress: Don't privatize Medicare
— In today's News Tribune -- Washington Democrats oppose Medicare drug bill
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Counting votes and attacks in final Medicare drug bill
— In today's Sacramento Bee -- AFL-CIO to air TV ads opposing Medicare drug bill
— In today's Washington Post -- AARP decision to back drug bill followed a long GOP courtship
— In today's Seattle Times -- "Competition" won't save Medicare program -- Column: If conservatives want to reduce the taxpayer's exposure to rising Medicare costs, let them say that. But all this talk about "choice" and "modernizing" Medicare with "marketplace competition" is pure malarkey.
Breaking news:  7E7 headquarters will be in Everett; assembly site still TBA (AP)
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Wal-Mart problem spreading to farm? -- The state Farm Bureau has advised members that they could be the target of a new round of federal investigation into the hiring of illegal immigrants, and that the best long-term solution is to lobby for wholesale immigration reform.
— In today's Olympian -- Workers' comp rate decision delayed -- The delay is needed so that an independent actuary can consider criticisms raised by the BIAW that there are excess reserves in the system. BIAW's analysis assumes a 6.3% return on future investment earnings; L&I's assumes 4%.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing's Renton plan will still be busy after 757
...plus -- AT&T Wireless outsourcing jobs to India -- One source says as many as 70 percent of the about 3,800 employees in the information-technology group could lose their jobs.
...plus -- Part-time faculty do full time job (op-ed by WFT President Sandra Schroeder)
...plus -- Pull the plug on this energy bill -- Editorial: The bill is so full of corporate favors that its sponsors weren't even embarrassed that it subsidizes development of a Hooters in Shreveport, La.
— In today's Seattle Times -- Transportation or education? Sales-tax proposals create a dilemma
...plus -- Group Health, Overlake announce alliance -- Deal closes 1,100-employee Eastside Hospital.
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Trashing workers' rights to fight terrorism? -- Op-ed: Federal workers have never had the right to strike or negotiate wages and lacked many of the basic protections had by employees in the private sector. Now, (many have) lost what remaining collective bargaining rights they did have. Their hiring, firing and disciplinary process has completely disappeared.
— In yesterday's Daily News -- Honor promises made to Longview Aluminum workers (letter)
Today at AFLCIO.org -- Sweeney: Border security bill would undermine wages, labor rights
— In today's Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel -- Labor unions' goal: Revise FTAA pact or stop it cold
— In today's L.A. Times -- Doubts create a voter split over Bush, new poll finds
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Plan would postpone $2 billion in pension financing at United Airlines

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 19 -- Urge Gov. Locke to fully fund the home care contract
— In today's Bremerton Sun -- Ferry food workers, customers brace for kitchens' closure -- WSF boss Mike Thorne, in a press release, seeks to deflect criticism about his demands for more money from the lost food vendor by pointing the blame finger at the union (IBU) representing galley workers.
— In today's Seattle Times -- 7E7 site winner will get a bonus: a second plant
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Vought to get more 7E7 fuselage work
...plus -- Made in Misery: How 12 women escaped sweatshop slavery (an ongoing series)
...plus -- Park honors legacy of Cesar Chavez
— In today's King County Journal -- Hundreds of local AT&T Wireless jobs could go to India
...plus this related story -- State lost 11,200 tech jobs in 2002
— In today's Bellingham Herald -- Northwest Senators oppose energy bill
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Size of proposed tax breaks in energy bill startles experts
— In today's Everett Herald -- Health costs hit Everett's budget -- Mayor Frank Anderson has convened meetings with city employee unions to ask that workers not get sick so much.
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- Mayor supports benefits for domestic partners of city workers -- But Mayor-Elect Jim West is not so sure, citing cost concerns.
— In yesterday's Daily News -- Longview fire fighters give chief vote of "no confidence"
— In today's News Tribune -- After 3-year battle, Lakewood finally OKs rezone for new Wal-Mart
...plus -- Leadership failing state, Rossi says at kickoff -- GOP candidate for governor says all three high-profile Democratic candidates are beholden to organized labor.
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Rep. Shirley Hankins returns to GOP caucus
— In today's Oregonian -- U.S. program to assist, retrain laid-off workers sluggish
Working Families e-Activist Network -- Give thanks by donating to the "Hold the Line for Health Care" strike support fund for Southern California grocery workers
— In today's L.A. Times -- Grocers accused of stonewalling as strike approaches 6-week mark
...plus -- Arnold proposes more workers' comp cuts -- California's new governor wants to slash an additional $11 billion from the state's $29-billion system. Meanwhile, in today's S.F. Chronicle, see Dollars still pouring in to Arnold; one big donor has huge stake in workers' comp "reform"
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Medicare bill supporters confident of passage
— In today's Washington Post -- FTAA may be limited so members could "opt out" of some parts
...plus -- Where's the discipline? -- Anyone who thought Republican control of Congress and the presidency meant a new era of budgetary discipline -- indeed, anyone who's worried about the country's fiscal condition -- the latest numbers are sobering. Discretionary spending authority swelled by 9% in 2003, even after adjusting for inflation. Over the past two years, it's grown nearly 26%.
...plus -- Dean calls for "re-regulation" of U.S. business

TUESDAY, Nov. 18 -- Stop FTAA, Bush's latest trade deal that will cost more U.S. jobs
— In Sunday's Miami Herald -- FTAA will just send more U.S. jobs overseas (Sweeney op-ed)
...plus -- Forum on exporting state's tech jobs Thursday night at UW
— In yesterday's Seattle P-I -- Time running out for extended unemployment benefits
...plus today -- Jobless benefits must be extended -- Editorial: As the holidays approach, Congress has one job that demands action above all others. It must extend jobless benefits for Americans suffering a prolonged economic struggle... No one who has been trying to find work should be cut off. That's particularly true in Washington and other high-unemployment states.
...plus on Saturday -- Ferries to lose food service; 150 IBU members warned of Jan. 1 layoffs
— In yesterday's News Tribune -- Washington appears to be odds-on favorite for 7E7 assembly
...plus -- Home-care workers' registry is still in the works
...plus -- Privatization more expensive to government, U.S. Forest Service finds
— In today's King Co. Journal -- Schools or roads? Poll to test sales tax views (w/ Bender comment)
— In Sunday's Bremerton Sun -- Restore fairness to civilian defense workers (op-ed by Rep. Inslee)
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- Lobbying begins to avoid closure of state's military bases
— In yesterday's Longview Daily News -- Layoffs, closures wear on local residents
...plus on Saturday -- Editorial was unwelcome, condescending (op-ed by USWA's Gaylan Prescott)
— In today's Seattle Times -- Marysville schools chief granted contract extension; critics howl
— At AFLCIO.org -- Sweeney: Medicare deal offers "skimpy drug plan," path to privatization
— In today's N.Y. Times -- Medicare plan covering drugs backed by AARP
— In today's Washington Post -- Medicare monstrosity -- Dionne column: The problem is that many conservatives don't like Medicare as it is. They would prefer a system in which the government guaranteed everyone a certain amount of money that could be used to buy private health insurance. Ending Medicare as we know it is their long-term goal. They call this "expanding choice."
...plus yesterday -- "Outsourced" federal workers may gain appeal rights
— Today from AP -- Labor Dept., delays hurt job program for displaced workers
— At TradeAlert.org -- National interest versus corporate interest -- Boeing in America lobbies for more foreign content in its U.S.-produced aircraft, even those it builds for the military, but Boeing in China is committed to more Chinese content in the planes it builds there.  It would seem Boeing is well on its way to being more of a good corporate citizen of China than of the United States.

Previous weeks' news: Nov. 10-14 -- Nov. 3-7 -- Oct. 27-31

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21
Buy Union Week: Give the gift of good jobs Nov. 29-Dec. 7

Holiday shoppers have a new way to support good jobs as well as please family and friends, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said, announcing AFL-CIO support for “Buy Union Week,” Nov. 29- Dec. 7.

“Shoppers can take the sweat(shop) out of holiday shopping and can give the gift of good jobs -- the gift our country needs most of all,” Sweeney said.

Consumers can visit new web sites that specialize in selling union-made clothing and other items:

• www.nosweatshop.com serves as a “virtual mall” populated by such union companies as No Sweat Apparel; SweatX; Union Jean and Apparel; Union Threads and Unionwear.

• www.aflcio.org/shop, the AFL-CIO's The Union Shop, your source for quality union-made-in-the-USA gifts and gear.

• www.justiceclothing.com researches the companies that produce the garments it sell, where the clothes are made and under what conditions.

“You can fill 10 shopping carts with union-made gifts through these companies. You could shop all day at any mall in the U.S. and have problems filling even one cart with U.S. union-made goods. That’s an indication of how bad the economy is for U.S. workers, but here is a chance for us to start turning things around,” Sweeney said.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21
Dept. of Ecology employees need your help on contract talks

The Washington Federation of State Employees, AFSCME Council 28, sent the following message to its members, but also encourages other union activists to help break an impasse in these contract talks:

Members at the Department of Ecology are asking your help now that management’s actions have stalled negotiations on their interim contract.

The Ecology workers who organized with the Federation earlier this year are negotiating a contract to protect their new rights until the first master collective bargaining agreement goes into effect in 2005. But Ecology management has balked at allowing the union team any more release time to negotiate. They’ve told the Ecology members they’ll have to use leave time to work on their contract.

No other agency, including at Licensing and Health where union teams are also negotiating interim contracts, has made such a request. To deny Ecology union team negotiators the same release time is a dangerous double standard that shows gross disrespect for the work they do.

On top of that, the union team at Ecology even offered to work weekends and evenings, but management apparently didn’t want to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work to get a fair contract in place in a reasonable amount of time.

CALL TO ACTION: The Ecology members are asking you to join them in sending a strong message to management. Call or e-mail Ecology Director Linda Hoffman at (360) 407-7011 or lhof461@ecy.wa.gov and tell her:

“Please show respect for Ecology employees and their bargaining process. Grant release time to the Federation Ecology Bargaining Team; it’s only fair!”

Remember to do this on your time and on your own equipment.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Poll: Seniors oppose Medicare drug bill in Congress

By nearly a two-thirds majority, senior Americans say Congress and the White House should work for a better Medicare prescription drug plan than the one offered in a bill the House and Senate are set to vote on this week, according to a new nationwide survey. Only 19 percent of those polled say Congress should pass the current bill.

Peter D. Hart Research Associates conducted the poll of voters ages 55 years and older Nov. 18-19 for the AFL-CIO after details of the bill -- merged from earlier House- and Senate-passed versions -- were released.

Respondents overwhelmingly view the drug plan unfavorably (65 percent to 26 percent), and a whopping 78 percent say the legislation does not do enough to protect retirees now covered by employer-provided prescription drug plans.

The poll also found 65 percent unfavorably view the bill’s increase in subsidies for private HMOs and move toward privatizing Medicare. Some 64 percent of respondents oppose the plan’s provisions to ban importation of drugs from Canada and prevent Medicare from negotiating with drug companies for lower prices.

Bill Moves to Privatize Medicare

Seniors’ organizations, health and consumer advocates and other groups are mobilizing to stop the bill that was crafted in closed-door, Republican-dominated House and Senate meetings and backed by President George W. Bush. The bill would:

• Move Medicare toward privatization and steer seniors and people with disabilities to private HMOs.

• Force 32.5 million beneficiaries to pay higher premiums and other Medicare costs.

• Open the doors to a whopping $139 billion in profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

• Do nothing to rein in soaring prescription drug costs.

• Threaten the employer-provided drug benefits of millions of retirees.

“Under the proposed bill, Medicare as we know it will cease to exist,” says Edward Coyle, executive director for the 2.7 million member Alliance for Retired Americans.

On Capitol Hill, hundreds of seniors joined lawmakers, including Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), in a rally to “Stop Congress from Passing a Lemon of a Bill.”

“This is a social experiment and we are using our seniors as guinea pigs,” said Kennedy in a Senate floor speech this week.

Medicare Bill: ‘Slush Fund’ for Private Insurers

While the final product provided a small amount of funding designed to discourage employers from dropping their retiree drug coverage and forcing seniors into Medicare or private HMOs for drug coverage, it set aside far more -- $12 billion -- in what Kennedy described as a “slush fund” to help private insurers take over Medicare’s role in providing drug benefits.

In addition, the pharmaceutical industry -- which has lobbied heavily for the bill -- will reap a $139 billion windfall profit because the legislation does not contain mechanisms to control prices and does not allow Medicare to negotiate prices for prescription medication, according to a report by the Health Reform Program at Boston University’s School of Public Health.

In pushing for the Medicare bill, the pharmaceutical industry ramped up its already extravagant lobbying on Capitol Hill: In the first six months of this year alone, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America -- the drug industry trade association -- spent $8.5 million lobbying Congress and federal agencies, according to federally filed lobbying reports.

Prescription Drugs More Costly Under Medicare Bill

In October, another study found as many as 13.4 million seniors and people with disabilities will be forced to pay more for their prescription drugs under the House and Senate Medicare prescription drug bills that were melded together to form the final legislation now under consideration.

Paying More for Less by the USAction Education Fund reports that if the Senate provisions on premiums, deductibles and co-payments are adopted, Medicare beneficiaries would pay $1,100 a year -- more than what 48 percent of seniors and people with disabilities, or 13.4 million people, currently pay in drug costs. Slightly fewer seniors are similarly impacted under the House bill’s provisions.

TAKE ACTION -- Tell Congress: Do not privatize Medicare. Do not take away existing prescription drug benefits. Visit www.unionvoice.org/campaign/o27medicarerx to tell your Representative and Senator what you think.