NEXT UPDATE -- Not until 2005!  (But... but... why?)

Links to press stories are functional at the date of posting.  In some cases, free registration is required at newspapers' sites.  Links sometimes "expire" when the source would like to begin charging 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 December 13-14, 2004

Previous weeks' news: Dec. 6-10 -- Dec. 1-3 -- Nov. 15-19

TUESDAY, Dec. 14 -- Rick Bender elected to AFL-CIO General Board

Also today -- Taxpayers pick up tab for Farm Bureau's submission of phony blood samples
— In today's King Co. Journal -- Boeing quietly adds workers -- After slashing its state work force by more than 27,000 jobs after 9/11, Boeing has been adding workers. It now has 55,209 workers in the state, which is 1,676 more than at the start of the year.
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Alcoa fires up Wenatchee plant
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Sunnyside looks to Houston for privatized water plan -- Council thinks it might save money. Houston water firm's office in Vancouver would handle broken water lines and other repairs.
— In today's Seattle Times -- DSHS employees accused of deliberately obstructing Medicaid audit
— In today's Everett Herald -- Nonunion city workers to share in health costs; union workers may be next
— In today's Spokesman-Review -- About 2,250 Empire Health hospital employees to get raise -- Says CEO: "we had no choice but to invest in our employees." Meanwhile, at Group Health...
— In today's Seattle P-I -- Seattle firefighters await vote results on whether to pursue staffing initiative
— In today's Tri-City Herald -- Wal-Mart's Tri-City sphere growing
— In today's NY Times -- How do you drive out a union? SC factory provides textbook case -- Leader of anti-union campaign acknowledges a mysterious consultant known as Mr. X advised him on how to oust the union and helped him write fliers calling union leaders names like "trailer trash," "Uncle Tom" and "dog woman." He also testified that envelopes filled with cash had often been sent to his home and he had no idea who had sent them. "I don't look a gift horse in the mouth," he said.
...plus -- GOP's Social Security plans involve deep cuts to tomorrow's retirees
— In today's Yakima H-R -- Bush's plan to create 2nd Social Security system is too risky (editorial)
— In today's Washington Post -- There's no accounting for new Social Security plan (Sloan column)
— Today from Reuters -- Trade gap swells more than expected to record high of $55.5 billion
— Today from AP -- US Airways flight attendants OK intermittent strikes if contract voided

MONDAY, Dec. 13 -- Join struggling flight attendants at SeaTac picket on Tuesday
— In the P.S. Business Journal -- Flight attendants plan picketing at Sea-Tac Airport
— In today's Seattle Times -- King County Councilman's ballot among those rejected -- Phillips' ballot, along with any others rejected for the same reason that are discovered, will be presented Wednesday to the county's canvassing board. Meanwhile, the state Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing today in the Democratic Party's lawsuit seeking reconsideration of rejected ballots. Learn more.
— In today's Olympian -- Increased pension costs in the works -- Public employees soon will fork over more of their paychecks for pensions, although a legislative proposal is in the works to ease the pain.
— Today from AP -- Will voter-approved Hanford initiative withstand court challenge?
— In the News Tribune -- Safeway may keep some stores open on Christmas
...plus -- Democrats say party lacks clear agenda -- Rep. Smith, in particular, is concerned the party might drift too far to the political left. As co-chairman of the Kerry campaign in Washington state, Smith said the Massachusetts senator was constantly undercut by the party’s liberal wing.
— In today's Seattle Times -- State's next governor must reverse economic slide -- This is the latest locally generated "we suck" op-ed attempting to refute positive news from disinterested national think tanks.
— In today's NY Times -- Airbus says its A380 jet is over budget
— In the LA Times -- Three-month laundry lockout ends at Wilshire Grand 

Previous weeks' news: Dec. 6-10 -- Dec. 1-3 -- Nov. 15-19

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14
Rick Bender elected to AFL-CIO General Board
State leader will serve at critical time as national body considers reform

Rick S. Bender, president of the Washington State Labor Council, has been elected to serve on the AFL-CIO General Board at a time the union federation is considering major reforms to try to reverse the decline in union membership. He was elected by officers representing 13 state federations in the AFL-CIO’s Western Region at their conference in Las Vegas earlier this month. He replaces Art Pulaski of the California Labor Federation.

"It’s a tremendous honor and I’m looking forward to the challenge," Bender said. "As the AFL-CIO considers major changes, my main goal is to make sure state federations like the Washington State Labor Council retain the ability to be effective advocates. Legislative efforts to weaken labor and discourage unionization are happening more and more at the state level. We need to make sure that state and local laws don't interfere with workers' right to organize a union free from employer intimidation and harassment."

The AFL-CIO General Board decides policy questions referred by the Executive Council for the largest labor organization in the country, representing more than 13 million union members. President John Sweeney, Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka, Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson, and the international presidents of AFL-CIO affiliated unions comprise the Executive Council.

Some international union presidents are calling for structural changes in the AFL-CIO to better address declining union membership rates. Washington state is bucking that trend. It now ranks 5th in nation with a 19.7% union membership rate in 2003, up from 18.5% in 2002. Some 502,000 Washington workers were union members in 2003, a 30,000 increase from 2002.

Bender’s election will not affect his status as WSLC President, an office he has held since March 1993. He previously served as Executive Secretary of the King County Labor Council (1991-1993) and Executive Secretary of the Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council (1987-1991). A member of Laborers Local 242 in Seattle, he began his career as an apprentice with Cement Masons Local 528 in 1966.

Bender was a state legislator from 1973 to 1991, serving 10 years in the House and eight in the Senate. Among his accomplishments in Olympia were serving as Senate Majority Whip, House Assistant Majority Leader and chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14
Farm Bureau submits phony blood samples in testing program

The Washington Farm Bureau has submitted phony blood samples to the state Department of Labor and Industries in an apparent attempt to discredit the agency's new medical-monitoring program to test for farmworker exposure to dangerous pesticides. The scheme failed when the department identified the samples as fraudulent, but that didn't stop the Farm Bureau from billing the state to cover its cost of drawing the samples.

The "employee" names given for the WFB's fictitious farm included Jerri Honeyford, who is believed to be the wife of state Sen. Jim Honeyford (R-15th). It is not clear whether she actually submitted a blood sample or her name was used as a pseudonym.

"This bogus Farm Bureau scheme to discredit the testing program is an outrage and the fact that they expect Washington taxpayers to pick up the tab is difficult to believe," said Erik Nicholson of the United Farm Workers. "Clearly, the Farm Bureau is more concerned with playing costly games than protecting the health and safety of farm workers. They should be ashamed."

The L&I medical monitoring program, implemented this year after more than a decade of debate, tests for a blood enzyme affected by exposure to certain pesticides. Farm workers whose enzyme levels are significantly depressed trigger a workplace consultation from L&I or, if their enzyme depression is particularly acute, may be reassigned to avoid exposure. In the initial results, nearly 20% of the farmworkers tested had nervous system depression warranting consultation, and about 3.5% required reassignment.

The testing program was implemented despite opposition from the WFB, which claimed it would be unnecessary and too costly. The WFB has since acknowledged that the initial results were alarming and cause for concern. WFB did succeed, however, in convincing the state to cover the cost of drawing and processing the blood.

The WFB submitted a claim to L&I seeking reimbursement for the cost of drawing the phony blood samples. That request was denied in a letter from L&I Director Paul Trause, who wrote, "I am concerned that your unilateral actions undermine the work of the scientific and advisory panels to build common ground from which good public policy could be made."

A Stakeholder Advisory Committee -- which includes employer, employee and government representatives -- was set up to oversee the testing program and to address issues that may arise. The Farm Bureau circumvented that panel by submitting its phony samples.

For more information, contact UFW's Erik Nicholson at (206) 255-5774.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13
Join struggling flight attendants at SeaTac picket on Tuesday

United Airlines flight attendants, joined by Alaska Airlines flight attendants and other supporters in the labor community, will be picketing SeaTac Airport from 8 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Flag Pavilion to put a local voice to the struggles of all in the profession to maintain fair working conditions and benefits. As United management attempts to abrogate its union contract and dissolve the flight attendants' pension, their Alaska Airlines counterparts are also being asked to take pay cuts and diminished benefits.

The event coincides with a National March on Washington D.C. just north of the White House where flight attendants from around the country will stand up for their careers and seek to hold elected officials accountable. They intend to unite and send a strong message that they will not be victimized by management mistakes and the lack of a sound aviation policy.

Across the nation, airline management is seeking to cut costs are destroying flight attendant contracts, pensions and careers in an unprecedented assault that threatens the collapse of wages, benefits and working conditions across the industry. Airline management wants to turn back the clock on the decades of progress AFA made turning a job into a profession. Through the years AFA members have fought and won a number of critical changes that have led to safer airplanes and have transformed our profession into a career of safety and security professionals.

Airline management is overreaching. If they are not stopped, these cuts will spread to financially healthy carriers and then on to other industries throughout the United States. The demise of pension benefits, health care benefits and decent wages, will be the demise of middle-class America. 

Meanwhile, the White House and Congress have refused to enact any policies to address the skyrocketing cost of fuel, the rising costs of health care, and the loss of thousands of aviation jobs.  Congress has turned a blind eye to the serious structural problems with the nation’s defined-benefit pension system and the federal agency that insures them. Flight attendants can no longer bear the burden for Washington’s lack of sound aviation policy. Our legislators must take action now before thousands of jobs are lost and the nation is left without one its most critical industries.

Help send a message to airline management, Corporate America and lawmakers that dragging down the standard of living for flight attendants, threatens the foundation of traditional American values. Attend the SeaTac Airport picket on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Bring your colleagues, friends and families.

For more information, contact Bev Bullock at 206-367-6892 or Erin Gailey at 206-324-6063 .