WSLC Reports Today -- July 18, 2006

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WSLC Reports Today
Updated DAILY... Almost Every Day™ by 9 a.m.

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.

TUESDAY, JULY 18 ▪ WSLC's 2006 Convention will be Aug. 21-24 in Wenatchee -- Among our guests will be AFL-CIO Exec. Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson, AFGE President John Gage, AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff, Apollo Alliance President Jerome Ringo, and several prominent lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Speaker Frank Chopp.

Also today: ▪ S.O.S.! Urge Cantwell, Murray to oppose harmful budget bill -- A vote is expected this week on S. 3521, which its sponsors call the "Stop Over-Spending" bill. But it poses a serious threat to funding for Medicaid, Medicare, children's health care, food stamps and other domestic priorities, while protecting and preserving corporate tax breaks.

Local news:
▪ Today from Bloomberg -- Alaska Airlines workers get a raise; IAM members approve contract
▪ In the Longview Daily News -- Labor shortage leave berries unpicked -- Farms across the state are facing a labor shortage as tighter border security crimps the supply of Latino migrant workers.
▪ In today's Spokesman-Review -- Living wage plan might kill jobs instead (Caldwell column) -- If not changed, a proposed initiative that would require Spokane's "big box" retailers to pay workers a living wage should itself be put in a big box, and buried. A city scratching for revenue should not be encouraging stores that generate sales-tax proceeds to locate or expand elsewhere.
▪ In today's Tri-City Herald -- Estimated cost of Hanford vitrification plant may increase
▪ In today's Tri-City Herald -- BPA to cut rates again -- The rate announced Monday is 3% below what utilities are being charged this year and about 13% below BPA's average rate over 5 years.
▪ In today's Seattle Times -- Public health employee stabbed at downtown Seattle clinic
▪ In today's Oregonian -- Janitorial firm in Portland settles suit over wage laws -- In a case arising from an SEIU organizing drive, 365 Rose Garden workers will share the $84,125 settlement.

Not Exactly "Man Bites Dog" news:
▪ At the Postman on Politics blog -- Eyman makes false claim in appeal for money

Other Political news:
▪ At the Postman on Politics blog -- Gregoire to raise money for incumbent judges -- "I just want an even playing field," she says, adding that she was "chagrined" by the business special-interest money raised by candidate John Groen just before new campaign limits went into effect.
▪ In today's King Co. Journal -- Challenger Burner raises more than Reichert for 2nd straight quarter
▪ In today's Spokesman-Review -- Ex-mayor Jim West in hospital with serious complications (brief)
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Rick Larsen a rare voice of moderation -- As Democrats and Republicans grow more polarized over the Iraq war, he has emerged as one of the few voices of moderation.
▪ In today's Bellingham Herald -- Taxpayers subsidize Cheney GOP rallies for McGavick, Roulstone
▪ In today's NY Times -- GOP's bid for blacks falters -- Bush may speak at the NAACP convention, but conservatives’ opposition to the Voting Rights Act fed perceptions that his party is offensive.

Boeing news:
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- 787 chief Mike Bair says jet is mostly on schedule
▪ In today's Everett Herald -- First visible signs of 787 to arrive soon -- The development leader talks about the progress, and says the 747s that will carry the parts will arrive in Everett soon.
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Qatar order for 20 777s up in the air

Where-Your-Tax-Dollars-Go news:
▪ In today's NY Times -- A windfall from shifts to Medicare -- The pharmaceutical industry is beginning to reap a windfall from a surprisingly lucrative niche market: drugs for poor people.

Other national news:
▪ At AFL-CIO Now -- Association of Flight Attendants comes to agreement with Northwest
▪ At Working Life blog -- Will Fast Track survive? -- Amid handwringing about the apparent demise of the so-called Doha round of world trade negotiations lurks the 2007 expiration on Bush's fast-track authority. The question is: will Democrats be united in opposing its renewal?
▪ In today's LA Times -- Wal-Mart puts its faith in ex-nun to convert critics -- The retailer hopes that a new hire, who's worked in war-torn regions, can help it boost its image.
▪ In today's NY Times -- Texas hospitals reflect debate on immigration -- Public hospitals are facing an uneasy decision: demand immigration documents, or provide basic care to anyone.

Earlier this week: MONDAY, 7/17
Last week: Monday, 7/10 -- Tuesday, 7/11 -- Wednesday, 7/12 -- Thursday, 7/13

TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2006
WSLC's 2006 Convention will be Aug. 21-24 in Wenatchee

The 2006 Constitutional Convention of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO will begin Monday, Aug. 21 at 9 a.m. at the Coast Wenatchee Hotel and Convention Center in downtown Wenatchee. Convention business is expected to be completed by noon Thursday, Aug. 24.

Under the theme, "Opportunity Knocks," the convention will open with a report from WSLC President Rick Bender regarding the state and mission of the Council one year after several international unions left the AFL-CIO to form the Change to Win Coalition, and the opportunities that organized labor has in the coming election. He will be followed by Monday's special keynote speaker, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson.

The annual WSLC Convention is an opportunity for union officers, staff and rank-and-file delegates to hear from distinguished union and government leaders, attend informative workshops, develop relationships with other unions -- and have some fun. "The Tournament in ‘06," the annual golf fund raiser to benefit community service agencies, will be Sunday, August 20 with a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start at Wenatchee's Highlander Golf Club. For registration information, contact Nancy or Julie at the Puget Sound Labor Agency at 206-448-9277, or download the tournament flier/registration form.

You say you want a resolution?

Well, you know... the Washington State Labor Council's Constitution says proposed resolutions should be submitted 30 days prior to convention, which would be this Friday! However, "late" resolutions are accepted until the first day of convention and will still be considered by delegates. That said, affiliates are urged to submit these resolutions at the earliest possible time to facilitate reproduction and distribution to the convention body.

These resolutions are a key part not just of the WSLC convention, but of the organization itself. It is through the debate and passage of these resolutions that WSLC positions and policies are established. Any WSLC-affiliated (or chartered) union may submit resolutions, and because this year is a constitutional convention, those resolutions can include amending the constitution and, therefore, the structure and organization of the WSLC itself. (See the 2004 Resolutions adopted at the last constitutional convention for examples.)

The resolutions are first referred to various committees that meet Monday afternoon and consider whether to recommend changes or corrections. Debate and voting on the resolutions, and any committee amendments, will begin Wednesday afternoon and continue Thursday morning, as necessary.

In addition to Chavez-Thompson, other distinguished convention speakers scheduled to appear include AFGE President John Gage, AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff, Apollo Alliance President Jerome Ringo, and several prominent lawmakers including convention banquet speaker U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, House Speaker Frank Chopp, and several U.S. Representatives and congressional candidates. Addressing the convention banquet following Sen. Cantwell will be comedian Will Durst, who brought the house down at last year's convention.

Issues to be addressed by panels and speakers include immigrant workers and immigration reform, UNITE HERE's Hotel Workers Rising campaign, Labor Neighbor 2006 political organizing efforts, health care reform, UFCW's Wal-Mart campaign, ballot initiatives, workers' compensation, and other issues. Workshops are planned on union organizing, offshore outsourcing, election mobilization, workers' compensation, immigration reform, community and technical colleges, economic development, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, and much more.

Convention calls were mailed to all affiliated AFL-CIO and Solidarity- Chartered Change to Win local unions. Those convention calls indicate the number of voting delegates and alternates to which each union is entitled. If you are interested in attending the WSLC Convention representing your union, contact your local and ask them what the process is to apply.

In addition to Sunday's golf tournament (described above), other entertainment includes some short labor films to be screened Monday night, the COPE Barbecue followed by karaoke in the plaza outside the convention center on Tuesday night, and the convention reception and banquet on Wednesday night followed by more karaoke in the plaza. In addition, there are lots of great recreational activities available nearby.

The Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel is a unionized facility located at 201 N. Wenatchee Ave. The phone number for reservations is 509-662-1234, but we are told the hotel is fully booked, although a waiting list has been established. A block of rooms has also been reserved at the nearby Red Lion; phone 509-663-0711. Tell them you are with the Washington State Labor Council to get the $85 room rate.

A tentative convention agenda will be posted here as soon as it is available. For general convention questions, call the WSLC at 206-281-8901.

TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2006
S.O.S.! Urge Cantwell, Murray to oppose harmful budget bill

The following Call to Action has been distributed by Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans:

A vote is expected this week on S. 3521, which its sponsors call the "Stop Over-Spending" bill (S.O.S.). This bill would make devastating changes in the budget process, posing serious threats to funding for Medicaid, Medicare, children's health care, food stamps TANF, school lunches, and other human services:

It would grant Bush the line-item veto he has coveted to eliminate or scale back any expansion to Medicaid or children's health funding.

It sets unrealistic targets for reducing the deficit. If the deficit doesn't shrink to meet the targets, the programs listed above would be hit with an across-the-board cut.

It would create a commission to look at long-term "solvency" of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, defining "solvency" to guarantee deep future cuts in these programs.

It would create a "Sunset Commission," to make recommendations to cancel or reshape any federal program with "fast track" treatment in Congress.

This cynical bill gives Bush a veneer of fiscal responsibility. In fact, it is not a serious attack on the deficit. It protects Bush tax cuts for corporations and the rich while slashing critical services for children, seniors, low-income families and people with disabilities.

CALL TO ACTION: STOP the S.O.S. bill! CALL Senators Maria Cantwell (206-220-6400) and Patty Murray. (206-553-5545). TELL THEM: Oppose S. 3521, the SOS bill. It threatens the lives of millions who rely on our entitlement programs!

For more information, see the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ analysis of the bill. If you have more questions, please call the PSARA office 206-448-9646 or Maureen Bo, 206-285-5668.

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