MONDAY, JUNE 19  ▪  Leaflet THIS WEEK -- Today through Saturday, June 25 -- is the first of several scheduled worksite leafleting events across Washington state. Washington State Labor Council affiliates are urged to download a new two-sided flier -- one comparison U.S. Senate candidates and another comparing State Supreme Court candidates, and distribute them to members this week. Learn more about this effort, or contact Field Mobilization Director Benjamin Lawver.
▪  Sunday from AP -- McGavick received millions in leaving Safeco -- The Republican U.S. Senate candidate received a golden parachute worth more than $28 million upon leaving his post as the insurance company's CEO earlier this year.

Also today: ▪  Support Inslee effort to defund illegal NSPS -- His amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill would prohibit any money being spent on the illegal portions of this Bush administration attack on federal employee rights.

Local news:
▪  In today's Olympian -- Child care workers vote (again) to join union (brief) -- The vote was 2,336 to 240 in favor of organizing with SEIU Local 925, out of a potential ballot of 10,000 votes.
▪  Sunday from AP -- Foster parents say union effort with WFSE is gaining momentum -- After years of frustration and what they see as chronic disregard from government officials, one foster-parent-turned-union-organizer says foster parents are signing up in droves.
▪  In Saturday's Olympian -- Big issues in wings as unions, state talk -- Negotiations for the 2007-08 contracts have been friendly, but the big issues of pay and benefits have yet to come up.
▪  In today's Olympian -- Dissident state employees to continue fight against WFSE 
▪  In Real Change -- Getting even: Slighted seniors spread the word, demand changes -- Problems with the Medicare Part D drug program, Social Security privatization and a host of other problems faced by aging Americans were discussed at a public forum organized by the Washington Alliance for Retired Americans at the Seattle Labor Temple last week.
▪  In Real Change -- Immigrant owner-operator truckers want fair play at Port of Seattle -- Marchers, many from seagoing and waterfront unions like the Masters, Mates & Pilots and the ILWU, descended on Pacer International’s office to protest the firm's retaliation over a one-day strike.
▪  In the PSBJ -- Seattle port commission must mute its differences for exec search (editorial)
▪  In the Columbian -- Job cuts expected at Camas G-P mill -- The mill employs about 940 workers and is among the county's largest manufacturing operations. Union leaders are hopeful that the mill, which has had several owners in the past 10 years, can make the adjustment.
▪  In the Oregonian -- G-P offers severance to salaried workers at Camas mill 
▪  In Sunday's Everett Herald -- With first part finished, 787 Dreamliner becoming a reality

Political news:
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Anti-bias law still at risk -- Group considers an initiative to the legislature.
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Dave Schmidt says Senate is sole goal -- Some speculate he wants to succeed Snohomish County Auditor Bob Terwilliger, who will soon step down.

National news:
▪  In today's NY Times -- Here illegally, working hard and paying taxes -- In contrast to the typical image of an illegal immigrant -- paid in cash, working under the table for small-scale labor contractors on a farm or a suburban construction site -- a majority now work for mainstream companies, not fly-by-night operators, and are hired and paid like any other American worker.
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Illegal hiring is rarely penalized -- The Bush administration, which is vowing to crack down on U.S. companies that hire illegal workers, virtually abandoned such employer sanctions before it began pushing to overhaul U.S. immigration laws last year.
▪  Today at the Confined Space blog -- Smithfield Packing: Walking into the pit of hell -- Despite bleak conditions at the plant, the UFCW has been unable to organize its 5,500 workers, not because of lack of support, but because of Smithfield's illegal actions that prevented a fair election.
▪  From the Journal Papers -- Smithfield Foods CEO to step down -- His resignation follows the company's announcement that it will not appeal a recent court decision asserting that Smithfield disrupted workers' efforts to unionize at a N.C. pork processing plant in the 1990s.
▪  In today's NY Times -- Major N.Y. hotels reach agreement with union, but two Hiltons hold out
▪  In Sunday's Pittsburgh P-G -- Powered by virtual slave labor, China is stealing U.S. jobs (op-ed)