News for the week of December 1-5If you have news related to the labor movement in Washington state that you would like to share via WSLC Reports Today, we encourage you to submit it by e-mail, by fax (206-285-5805) or by phone (206-281-8901)
News for the week of December 1-5Friday, 12/5/97 — Temporary
workers at Microsoft, Boeing about to lose OT pay
Wednesday, 12/3/97 — Richland rally
on Saturday will call for FFTF Restart
Tuesday, 12/2/97 — President
Rick Bender elected to national AFL-CIO board
Monday, 12/1/97 — WSLC issues policy statement on Electrical Deregulation
News from previous weeks:
November 24-28, 1997
November 17-21, 1997
November 10-14, 1997
November 3-7, 1997
October 27-31, 1997
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Temporary workers at Microsoft, Boeing about to lose OT pay
The Department of Labor and Industries is prepared to implement a new rule starting Feb. 1, 1998, that exempts thousands of software industry professionals working under hourly contracts from receiving time-and-a-half overtime pay. The move that will save Microsoft and Boeing (and cost the workers affected) millions of dollars.
These workers often make as much as $40-50 an hour, but are called upon sporadically to work long hours one week and none the next. They also generally do not receive the benefits permanent employees they work alongside receive. The new rule would not apply to those who make less than $27.63 an hour.
The idea was one that passed the State Senate, but suffered a procedural defeat in the House in 1997. But the Dept. of L&I appears to have the authority to implement the change without legislative approval and is ready to do so. A hearing, which did not appear to be widely publicized, held last week in Olympia drew only five witnesses, all of whom testified in favor of the change. The public comment period ended Tuesday.
Few of these workers are represented by labor unions, but those who are under contract with the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 17 in Seattle will not be affected by the change. The union was able to negotiate a clause that exempts employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Richland rally on Saturday will call for FFTF Restart
Union members in the Richland area are encouraged to participate in a rally at John Dam Plaza in front of the Federal Building on Saturday from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. calling for the restart of the Fast Flux Test Facility, which is now operating in a standby mode only.
This is labor's chance to be heard on the proposal to restart the FFTF for medical isotope and short-term tritium production. Environmental groups want to mothball the facility (translation: close it permanently), which would mean no isotopes, no tritium, no FFTF jobs, and the ones who will pay the most are the Americans who suffer from cancer.
Among the sponsors of the rally are the American Nuclear Society, the Health Physics Society and the Nuclear Medicine Research Council, all of which want to generate public support for nuclear medicine and nuclear power.
At the same time and place Saturday, the Hanford Environmental Action League is sponsoring an anti-FFTF rally, so it is particularly important that many union members come and bring their families to support the restart. And bring your union banners!
President Rick Bender elected to national AFL-CIO board
Hailed by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney as "a strong, vibrant voice for working families," Washington State Labor Council President Rick Bender has been elected to the AFL-CIO General Board, making him Washington state's first-ever representative at this prestigious table.
Bender was elected unanimously Monday to one of four at-large seats on the General Board by officers representing 13 state federations in the AFL-CIO's Western Region at their conference in Las Vegas. He replaces Claude "Blackie" Evans of the Nevada State AFL-CIO, who is retiring from his position on the council.
"It's a tremendous honor and I'm looking forward to the challenge," Bender said. "My main goal is to build a closer working relationship between the state federations and the national AFL-CIO. With more federal programs and labor standards being shifted to the state level, the need for an activist state federation has grown in the past few years." The AFL-CIO recognized this development when it added state federation representation at this level two years ago.
The 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 Sweeney, Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka, Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson, and the international presidents of AFL-CIO affiliated unions comprise the Executive Council.)
"Rick Bender's leadership provides a strong, vibrant voice for working families," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "Washington state is a great model for the rebirth of the American labor movement."
Bender's election will not affect his status as WSLC President, an office he has held since March 1993. Prior to that he had 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 long, accomplished career with organized labor as an apprentice with Cement Masons Local 528 in 1966.
He 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.
WSLC issues policy statement on Electrical Deregulation
The following is the position on electrical deregulation adopted by participants in the WSLC Conference on Electrical Deregulation and subsequently endorsed by the WSLC Executive Board.
Any discussion of legislation to "deregulate" or "restructure" electrical power must center on the question of how the proposed changes will improve the lives of the people of Washington state. The cost of electricity in Washington state and the northwest is the lowest in the nation. It is environmentally friendly, sustainable, and an essential component of basic living for all citizens.
There is now a national, regional, and state level interest in "deregulating" or "restructuring" our electrical resources. The primary movers of this effort are many large industrial consumers and a significant sector of the electrical utility industry. The issue of electrical deregulation is a large and complex subject that affects every resident of our state. It has serious implications for our public and private utilities, our environment and the quality of life for all people in our state.
The labor movement, representing the working people of this state, believes this is not the appropriate time to pass any legislation that would, in any way, further deregulate the generation, transmission, or distribution of electrical energy in our state. We firmly oppose any federal legislation that would either "deregulate" or "restructure" the electric industry or require states to take such action.
Much study of this issue and its impact on the people of Washington is required. Such a study must include all the stakeholders. Among the issues that must be addressed are:
1. There must be measurable standards that ensure increased system reliability, consumer and worker safety and a system for monitoring and enforcing these standards.
2. We must ensure that all consumers, including fixed and low income, have access to basic, affordable, and reliable service with continuation of funding programs that assure uninterrupted service.
3. We must ensure that any net costs or benefits resulting from "deregulating" or "restructuring" will be shared equitably between all electric users with no cost shifting.
4. We must assure continuing investments, at least at present levels, in public purpose programs, including energy efficiency programs, renewable resources, low income support, and other environmentally sound practices.
5. We must maintain at least the same level of public services we presently enjoy as a result of revenues produced by the utility taxes. Contributions to state and local revenues must assure that local public services are financially stable and support the quality of life to which the people of Washington are accustomed.
6. There must be significant consumer education and full disclosure prior to any possible "deregulation" and comprehensive consumer protection legislation must be passed.
7. There must be continuing public power and public participation in the utility business.
8. We must do everything possible to ensure the continuation of BPA as a valuable, publicly owned regional resource in public ownership and retain preferential access to low cost Northwest resources, including those of the BPA, for all Washington electrical consumers.
9. All negatively impacted workers must be accounted for as stranded costs.
Organized labor insists that electrical "deregulation" or "restructuring" should only be considered if it can be demonstrated that it will improve the lives of the people of Washington state. We, along with other interested parties, will continue studying this issue to ensure that the interests of all the workers, businesses and residents, as well as the environment of the state of Washington are protected.
If you have a news item regarding unions in Washington state that you would like to have posted on WSLC OnLine, please e-mail or fax a news release to (206) 285-5805.
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