WSLC
Reports Today
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Links are functional at date of posting, but sometimes expire. Some links require free registration. WSLC Reports Today links to stories of interest to organized labor; some positive, some negative. The intention is to inform.
FRIDAY, JUNE 2 ■ Apprenticeship programs are now accepting applications
Boeing
news:
■ In today's Seattle Times --
Regence
BlueShield says 8,000 patients can keep doctors -- After
hundreds of SPEEA members complain (and rally
outside Regence offices), about 500 doctors who had been excised from a new
Boeing health plan will get to stay on at least another year.
■ In today's Seattle P-I --
No
big changes likely in 747 plant -- Overall,
employment levels at the Everett plant are expected to
stay steady when production ends in late 2009 on the 747-400 in favor of a
newer model. But it says that the number of engineers needed on the new
747-8 program will total only in the high hundreds rather than several
thousand needed in the past.
■ In today's Everett Herald --
Boeing
short on engineers for newest 747 -- Boeing says a shortage of trained
aerospace engineers around Puget Sound is prompting it to look outside the
region.
■ In today's Seattle Times --
Russian
engineers to play big role on 747-8
■ Today from Bloomberg --
Boeing
gets firm orders worth up to $6.4 billion, including 20 777s
■ In today's Seattle P-I --
Landing
the tanker: When the South goes courtin', it often wins -- EADS is
working to position itself in the South so it can win the hearts and minds
of powerful politicians.
Local
news:
■ In today's NY Times --
Pact
averts strike at Alcoa -- The 250 USW members at its Wenatchee plant and
at 14 other master contract locals had voted
to authorize strikes if negotiations failed.
■ In today's Spokesman-Review --
Sacred
Heart nurses win on break issue -- WSNA
wins arbitration case that forces the Spokane hospital to give 15-minute
breaks for every four hours worked.
■ In today's News Tribune --
NASCAR
track faces stiff public test (editorial)
-- It is finally gaining momentum among politicians --
which is not the same thing as momentum with the public.
■ In today's Peninsula
Daily News --
How
the state blew $87 million in Port Angeles -- Planning came too late and
construction sped ahead too fast, dooming the Hood Canal Bridge graving yard.
■ In today's Yakima H-R --
Yakima
Resources plywood mill closure will end long history
■ In today's Everett Herald --
Transit
taxes could spread -- Sound Transit's boundaries may grow under a road
and transit tax package voters would have to approve.
Spin-ergy
news (or The Tale of
Two Press Releases):
■ From AP --
BPA
finalizes plan to help aluminum companies -- BPA says mills in
Washington, Oregon and Montana will get millions of dollars to buy cheap
electricity over the next five years.
■ In today's Bellingham Herald --
Intalco
will struggle with new BPA power deal -- Intalco says the new five-year
contract means it will be paying "hugely more" for the power it
needs.
Silence
of the Lamb news:
■ In today's NY Times --
Pork
1, Antiterrorism 0 (editorial)
-- Homeland Security grants, which slash spending for
New York and Washington by 40% -- and shower money on Omaha and Louisville
-- are more about pork barrel politics than security. Given how important
the stakes are in protecting the nation against terrorism, they are also a
disgrace. -- As chair of a key Homeland Security subcommittee, Rep. Dave
Reichert is in a position to question this disgrace, but instead, he remains
silent while our
state suffers similar cuts rather than risk offending his
sponsors in the White House. Other Republicans have spoken out.
Like Rep. Peter King (R-NY) who
says, with the Homeland Security cuts, Bush has "declared war on
New York."
Political
news:
■ In today's Seattle P-I --
Eyman
to file Ref. 65 signatures Monday to repeal gay rights law
■ In today's Yakima H-R --
Democrats
gather in Yakima today for weekend convention
■ In the new Rolling Stone --
Was
the 2004 election stolen? -- Republicans prevented over 350,000 Ohio
voters from casting ballots or having their votes counted -- enough to have
elected Kerry.
Health
Care news:
■ In today's Everett Herald --
Hiding
the true cost of health care (editorial)
-- In Washington, much of that (Medicare
reimbursement) shortfall will be made up by employers, and in turn by the
rest of us. That hidden tax will be assessed while the Bush administration
and congressional Republicans call for extending tax cuts. On what planet
does that make sense?
■ In today's LA Times -- Healthcare
costs spur calls for limits on profits -- Rising costs spark efforts to
cap insurers' profits, just as surging gas prices are fueling talk of a
windfall oil profit tax.
National
news:
■ Today from AP --
U.S.
payroll growth stalls with 75,000 new jobs in May -- The count is the
smallest since October 2005, when hiring stalled after the Gulf Coast
hurricanes.
■ Today from AP
--
Eyes
of Wall Street, company critics on today's Wal-Mart meeting
■ In today's SF Chronicle --
Bills
to increase California's minimum wage approved -- Legislature OKs
boosting the minimum wage by $1 (making it $7.75) followed by automatic
increases for inflation (as Washington does). But Gov. Schwarzenegger
opposes the automatic increases.
.
Earlier this week: WEDNESDAY,
5/31 -- THURSDAY, 6/1
Last week: Monday,
5/22 -- Tuesday, 5/23
FRIDAY,
JUNE 2, 2006
Apprenticeship programs are now
accepting applications
There are lots of opportunities available for family-wage careers in the building and constructions trades. Washington state's significant public and private investments in school, road and other construction projects, combined with an aging workforce in many skilled trades, mean that now is a great time for young people to enroll -- and start to earn while they learn!
Following are just some of the programs that are accepting applications. (The state Department of Labor and Industries regularly posts these openings here.)
| Columbia
Basin Carpenters JATC -- Occupation:
Carpenter. Applications accepted year round and are available at: 2819 W Sylvester Pasco, WA 99301 509-545-1781 Phone 509-545-4664 Fax cbct01@yahoo.com www.carpenterspnwrc.org Eastern Washington
– Northern Idaho Carpenters JATC --
Occupation: Carpenter. Eastern Washington
and Northern Idaho Cement Masons JATC --
Occupation: Cement Mason. Information
Flyer (16 KB PDF). Applications will be available on a year
round basis from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM to all interested individuals
at: Inland Empire
Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry Apprenticeship Training Committee
-- Occupations: Maintenance Plumber/Steamfitter,
Plumber, Refrigeration Fitter, Residential Plumber, Steamfitter.
Applications are accepted each Thursday, 1 - 3 p.m. on a year-round
basis at: Inland Empire Roofers
and Employers Apprenticeship Committee.
Occupation: Roofer. Applications are accepted
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on a year-round basis at: Northwest Laborers
Apprenticeship Committee --
Occupations: Laborer, Laborer (City of Seattle),
Laborer (Shipyard Worker). If you are interested, you should contact
the local that you are interested in working out of. See
Attached Listing. Questions: call 800-554-4457 or 800-240-9112. Operating Engineers Regional
Training Program JATC -- Occupations: Heavy Equipment Operation
and Maintenance; Construction Surveying. Write for, or drop off
applications: |
Pacific Northwest
Ironworkers and Employers Local #86 Apprenticeship Committee
-- Occupation: Ironworker. Apply on site and in
person. Applications accepted Tuesdays between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm
at: Pasco Millwrights
JATC -- Occupation: Millwright.
Applications accepted year round and are available at: Portland Sheet Metal
Workers JATC. Occupation: Sheet
Metal Worker. Where and when to apply: Puget
Sound Electrical JATC -- Occupations:
Construction Electrician, Low Energy/Sound and Communication
Technician, Maintenance Eelctrician, Neon and Electrical Sign
Installer, Outdoor Lighting and Traffic Signal Installer, and
Residential Wireman. Seattle and Vicinity
Sprinkler Fitters Apprenticeship Committee.
Covers King County only. Occupation: Sprinkler
Fitter. Applications are available each Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
except holidays at: Seattle Area Roofers
Apprenticeship Committee --
Occupation: Roofer. Program
Information flyer (14 KB PDF). Applications are available each
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. except holidays at: Seattle Boilermakers
Apprenticeship Committee --
Occupations: Boilermaker (Uptown Shops and Shipyards). Where and
when to apply: Seattle Heat Frost
Insulators & Asbestos Workers JATC.
Occupation: Asbestos Workers. Program needs 10 to
20 new apprentices. Apply Monday thru Friday 6:30 a.m. until 3:30
p.m. at: |
South Puget Sound
Carpenters -- Occupations: Bridge
Carpenter, Carpenter, Carpenter Piledriver, Dock and Wharf Builder,
Insulation Applicator, Maintenance Carpenter, Residential Carpenter,
Shipwright. Applications are accepted Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - noon
and 1 - 4 p.m. at: South Puget Sound Carpenters Training Center Bates Technical College 2201 S. 78th St B-512 Tacoma, WA 98409 253-472-2629/2931 Sprinkler Fitters
Apprenticeship Standards. Covers
entire state except King County. Occupation: Sprinkler
Fitter. Applications are available Monday - Friday,
9 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. at: Western
Washington Cement Masons Apprenticeship --
Occupation: Cement Mason. NOTE: The Western Washington Cement Masons
Apprenticeship will hold the next Testing and Selection of new
apprentices on Saturday, July 8, 2006, at 8 a.m. at the Duwamish
Training Center at 6770 East Marginal Way S. in Seattle. For
consideration, applications should be in to our office by July
1st. Applications can be obtained in our office, at the Cement
Masons Union Hall, located at 14675 Interurban Ave. S. Room 101 in
Tukwila, or by calling (206) 762-9286. Western Washington
Piledrivers, Bridge, Dock & Wharf Builders Apprenticeship
Committee -- Occupations: Bridge
Carpenter, Carpenter Piledriver, Dock & Wharf Builder. Looking
specifically for female applicants. Western Washington
Sheet Metal JATC -- Occupations:
Residential Sheet Metal Worker, Sheet Metal Service
Technician, Sheet Metal Worker, and "Sheet Metal Test, Adjust
and Balance Technician." Where and when to apply:
|
If you have news items regarding unions or workplace issues in Washington state that you would like to see posted here, please submit them via e-mail to David Groves or via fax to 206-285-5805.
Copyright © 2006 Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO