Also today:  ■  Holiday shoppers: Wal-Mart's low prices result in high costs -- Union newsletter editors are encouraged to publish this article about the Wake Up Wal-Mart campaign.

Local news:  ■  In today’s Yakima H-R -- Workers' comp costs for employers will increase slightly -- L&I clarifies previous announcement of no rate increase after the Farm Bureau complains.
■  In yesterday's Tri-City Herald -- Child care workers vote to unionize with SEIU Local 925
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Boeing's 800 jet orders for 2005 officially set record 
■  In today’s Seattle Times -- No fraud discovered yet in Boeing computer theft case -- The stolen laptop contained names and Social Security numbers for 161,000 current and former Boeing employees, and in some cases bank names, account numbers and routing numbers.
■  In today’s Bellingham Herald -- BP Cherry Point, maintenance contractor fined in worker's death
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- We spoke as one state on I-912 (Shapley column) -- We in Washington -- yes we -- rejected I-912 and gave the go-ahead to hundreds of important projects across the state.
■  In yesterday’s Columbian -- French labor laws to blame for poverty, riots (column by AWB's Brunell) -- France's high minimum wage and costly work rules make employers hesitant to hire people... Legislators who think America needs more regulations to protect jobs and help workers should look at the columns of smoke rising over French towns, and think again. (Next month's column: "Washington's labor laws to blame for state's remarkable job growth and economic recovery.")

Solidarity Charters:  ■  At Working Life blog -- The state of the deal -- Not everything is resolved between the national AFL-CIO and the Change to Win unions, but letters by CTW's Anna Burger and SEIU's Andy Stern confirm that the two sides have reached basic agreement on the core issues (Which is why on Nov. 16 the AFL-CIO and CTW both announced the roll-out of Solidarity Charter program, and why WSLC President Rick Bender immediately welcomed CTW locals in Washington state to rejoin.)

The States of Nursing:  ■  In today’s LA Times -- Search for nurses in California is feverish -- The pay is high and the come-ons are extreme as hospitals face a new staffing requirement.
■  In the Seattle P-I -- Alienation of nurses at Swedish is feverish -- Swedish Medical Center's CEO says contract talks are at an "impasse" after nurses and other hospital workers overwhelmingly rejected a contract offer eliminating their defined-benefit pensions and cutting health benefits.

Medicare drug "benefit:" ■  In today’s Washington Post -- New drug benefit questioned -- The new Medicare drug benefit fails to deliver drug prices as low as those found at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Canada and at high-volume U.S. pharmacies, a congressional report says.
■  In today’s News Tribune -- Medicare can't match Costco -- Costco and Drugstore.com might be negotiating lower prices from pharmaceutical companies than leading Medicare drug plans.
■  In the Washington Post -- Drug benefit disaster (Samuelson column) -- As policy, the drug benefit is a calamity. Republicans deserve the backlash, because their motives were so blatantly political.

National news:  ■  In today’s NY Times -- Delphi chief fights battle of Detroit -- Amid bankruptcy proceedings, Delphi's chief exec has confronted its unions in a way that Detroit has rarely seen.
■  In today’s LA Times -- Manufacturers report worker shortage -- Factories are struggling to find enough qualified employees after cutting 3.4 million jobs since 1998, says a trade group. (Hmmm. They could always... I don't know... STOP CUTTING BENEFITS and PAY MORE!)
■  In today’s SF Chronicle -- SF plan to insure health of workers -- Proposed city legislation would require San Francisco businesses with 20 or more workers to pay for health care insurance.
■  In today’s Atlanta J-C -- Unions will survive, but not as they were (column) -- With apologies to pro-business, neoconservative revisionists of history, unions are not, nor have they ever been, the tyrannical boogeyman of American economics... Unions will always have a place in America's political and economic system. However, union leaders must realize their public image of endorsing "more money for less work" simply doesn't register with common-sense voters.
■  Today from Scoop -- World's first Starbucks strike spreads to 10 stores in New Zealand

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22  ■  Child care providers form union to improve services -- Washington family child care providers voted 92% to join SEIU 925 for a voice to improve access to quality child care. Representatives of the 10,000 providers will meet with DSHS to discuss concerns and support legislation that would allow them to negotiate a contract with the state.
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- At-home child care operators to join union
■  In today’s News Tribune -- State child-care employees vote to join service workers union
■  Today from AP -- Child care workers OK link with union 

Local news:  ■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Swedish says contract talks with nurses at an "impasse" -- Declaring an impasse could enable the company to impose the contract changes overwhelmingly rejected by union members. The union has not decided whether it would strike over such a move.
■  Today from AP -- Swedish says contract was "best and final" offer -- SEIU 1199NW president trades harsh letters with Swedish CEO. The union says execs have "angered and disappointed" staff and the CEO accuses SEIU of "intimidation and harassment" during the contract vote.
■  In the Olympian -- New revenue forecast may aid pensions -- The pensions are not part of the new state contracts, and can be addressed through negotiations and lobbying with the Legislature.
■  In today’s Yakima H-R -- State should forge compromise to reflect growers' concerns (editorial) -- Now that the state has completed public hearings on a controversial pesticide notification rule, concerns of those testifying at the gatherings can be fashioned into a reasonable compromise.
■  In the Bellingham Herald -- Hopefully, Georgia-Pacific changes will benefit employees (editorial) 
■  In today’s Spokesman-Review -- Mistake may cost STA $1 million -- Spokane transit agency could be liable for more than $1 million in missed Social Security payments for 114 employees.
■  Today from AP -- Federal jury rejects whistleblower claims of ferry workers
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- King County social workers can't keep up with child-welfare visits

Boeing news:  ■  In today’s Seattle Times -- Boeing may move some jobs to Renton, Everett -- The 450-worker Propulsion Systems Division is moving from a Seattle facility on Marginal Way to the final assembly plants. The move will happen within the next couple of years.
■  At SPEEA.org -- SPEEA negotiators unanimously recommend Wichita engineers reject Boeing offer 
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- 747-8 gives Boeing a boost (op-ed) -- The 747-8 may not be much more than a breast enhancement and some Botox, but it's no boob job. It's a brilliant strategic move.
■  In today’s News Tribune -- Dreamliner delivers Cloud Nine -- Boeing shares close at nearly a 5-year high after the company announced deals for 26 787 Dreamliners from two leasing companies.

National news:  ■  Today at AFLCIO.org -- Unions call Delphi contract offer "ridiculous" 
■  In today’s NY Times -- Mixture of shock, resignation on GM shop floors set to close
■  In today’s Cleveland Plain-Dealer -- AFL-CIO's Sweeney sees anti-union efforts growing bolder 
■  In the USA Today -- Economy moves forward, but leaves many behind -- Economic data show the nation in the midst of a 4-year expansion featuring robust corporate profits. But that prosperity hasn't been spread evenly. The poverty rate has risen. Wage gains are among the slowest on record. Pensions are in a death spiral. Health care costs are rising. Savings rates have fallen.
■  Today at the House of Labor blog -- University Labor Centers are under assault -- In a country of shining multi-million dollar business schools in almost every major university in the country, one of the silliest rightwing campaigns is the effort to defund the handful of university labor centers.

Wal-Mart news:  ■  In today’s Yahoo News -- Ten Commandments for Wal-Mart (op-ed by Sen. Kennedy) -- Wal-Mart sells itself as the all-American company, but it violates American family values every single day. Wal-Mart refuses to sell magazines, books, or CDs that it believes will offend Americans' values. But what Wal-Mart's leaders can't seem to grasp is that Americans are offended by its shameful tactics to boost profits at the expense of hard-working families.
■  In today’s LA Times -- Wal-Mart scripts response to movie -- Store managers are instructed to read a two-page "script" to workers, warning that the retailers' critics are out to get them, too.
■  Today from AP -- Wal-Mart draws fire for wrong prices -- Union-sponsored studies of random purchases at 60 California stores found that the wrong price came up 8.3% of the time.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21 ■  Cingular organizing drive a success! (at WashTech.org)
■  In the Seattle Times -- Bothell Cingular workers joining union -- WashTech/CWA has organized more than 900 Cingular Wireless employees in Bothell, marking the first time the organization has successfully unionized a significant number of employees in the technology industry.
■  In the PS Business Journal -- Tech union gets a boost -- WashTech president Marcus Courtney says the infusion of 1,000 Cingular Wireless workers is a major coup for the 8-year-old union.

Also today:  ■  10,000 family child care providers voting to form a union -- Concerned about the quality of child care and early learning services for working families in Washington, 10,000 family child care providers have been voting on whether to form a union with Service Employees International Union Local 925. Family child care providers will announce the results of the vote and discuss next steps for making their strong voice for quality child care heard at a press conference TODAY at 10 a.m. at the Garfield Community Center.

Local news:  ■  In today’s Seattle Times -- Nurses reject Swedish -- After six months of tense talks between Swedish Medical Center and SEIU 1199NW, nurses and other workers have overwhelmingly rejected what the hospital system has described as its best and final offer. The union leadership had recommended rejection.
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- 80% of members vote down Swedish contract -- It would've dramatically changed benefits for 2,000 nurses, 1,800 service workers and 500 technical workers. The union has distributed petitions for workers to sign if they want the union to schedule a separate strike vote. If there is a strike, Swedish says it will not hire scabs, it will reduce services.
■  In Sunday’s Olympian -- State workers face job loss (editorial) -- It's time for state workers to stop fighting the inevitable and pay up -- join a union or face termination.
■  In Saturday’s Olympian -- State worker accounts delayed -- Most state employees won’t be able to set aside pre-tax dollars in special accounts for their out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses early next year, even though their landmark labor contract signed by the governor authorized it.
■  Today from AP -- Emirates Airlines orders 42 777s worth $9.7 billion -- Meanwhile, China has also signed a deal to buy 70 Boeing 737 airliners valued at $4 billion.
■  In Sunday’s Everett Herald -- Tired Snohomish County commuters were key to defeating I-912
■  In the PS Business Journal -- Granted a rare does of trust, state must act fast after I-912 (editorial) 
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- State GOP says it will keep challenging voter registrations
■  Today from AP -- Spokane mayor's job offer broke the law, says investigator's report

Wal-Mart news:  ■  In Sunday’s Kitsap Sun -- "Buy local" stressed at anti-Wal-Mart film -- Screenings of "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" continue statewide. Click here for showings. More info.
■  In today’s Denver Post -- Make Wal-Mart accountable (editorial) -- Wal-Mart needs to treat employees better, rather than create an illusion it does. The Walton heirs, four of America's top 10 billionaires, can afford that instead of shifting expenses to the taxpayers.

National news:  ■  At MCall.com -- Momentum shifts against Bush's economic policies (Sweeney op-ed) 
■  In today’s NY Times -- GM to cut 30,000 jobs and close 12 facilities in 3 years -- Nearly 10% of the company's employees will be cut as GM shuts down auto assembly plants in Oklahoma City; Lansing, Mich.; Spring Hill, Tenn.; Doraville, Ga.; and Oshawa, Ontario. Seven parts factories and distribution centers will be closed in Oregon, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ontario.
■  In the Wall St. Journal -- Autoworkers see jobs shrink, middle-class life slip away 
■  In today’s NY Times -- Rescuing your retirement (op-ed by DOL's Elaine Chao, et al) -- Our traditional defined benefit pension system is in crisis... real reform must not be put off any longer.
■  In today’s LA Times -- Ports' short-haul truckers endure long hours, high costs
■  In today’s LA Times -- Bush skirts rights issue -- The president's visit to China ends amid doubts about how forcefully he pursued his foreign policy goal of advancing freedom overseas.

Last Throes update:  ■  In Sunday’s Everett Herald -- "As long as it takes" is no longer good enough (editorial) -- The United States has done its share. The focus of the Bush administration, the Pentagon and Congress must be firmly on handing the security responsibility for Iraq over to the Iraqi government. Afterward, we can take a full accounting of how we got there.
■  In Sunday’s News Tribune-- Time to spell out terms for quitting Iraq (editorial)
■  In today’s Spokesman-Review -- Iraq War's critics deserve answers (editorial)
■  In Sunday’s Seattle P-I -- Iraq War: We need to talk (editorial) -- The argument over how we got into the Iraq war pales in importance to the debate over how we get out.

Union newsletter editors are encouraged to publish all or part of the following article in their next editions to help spread the word about the Wake Up Wal-Mart campaign this holiday season:

The following press release was distributed Monday by Service Employees International Union Local 925. For more information, contact SEIU 925's Gretchen Donart at 206-322-3010 x14:

10,000 Child Care Providers Join Together
to Improve Services for Washington Children
92% Yes Vote to Form Union with SEIU to Gain Voice for Quality Care

SEATTLE -- Washington family child care providers voted 92 percent to join Local 925 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for a voice to improve access to quality child care for Washington families. Ballots were counted on Saturday.

“Child care providers know what it takes to provide quality care and education, and we’re excited that we have a stronger voice to improve child care in our state,” said Donna Horne, a child care provider from Everett.

Family child care, or home-based child care, is a popular child care setting for many of the 700,000 Washington children who spend time in child care arrangements while their parents work -- but a third of family child care providers in Washington leave the field every year. 

“It’s been getting harder and harder for families to find affordable, quality child care, and this election is a step in the right direction,” said Barbara Flye, whose 20-month-old daughter Lucy spends time in family child care.

Many providers can’t afford to stay in the industry because they make well below minimum wage and have no access to affordable health care.

Providers will next meet with the Washington Department of Social and Health Services to discuss their concerns and work together with the state to strengthen child care and early education services.  At the top of their list of priorities is reducing turnover and increasing options for family child care in Washington communities by improving subsidy reimbursement rates and giving input on regulations that help promote safe, quality, affordable child care and early education.

At the same time providers will be working to build support for legislation that would allow them to negotiate a contract with the state.

The 10,000 providers are only the second group of family child care providers to have a union election, after the success of 49,000 Illinois providers in April.  The American Arbitration Association, a nationally respected organization committed to fairness and neutrality, ran the three-week vote-by-mail election and announced the results.

With this election, SEIU Local 925 represents 20,000 public service workers in Washington State, including workers at the University of Washington, school districts, local government, and non-profit organizations.  Nationally, SEIU is the largest and fastest-growing union in the country with 1.8 million members.