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.
Also
today:
▪ TODAY
tipped
workers, allies will tell Frist: Hands off our tips! -- All
supporters of our state minimum wage law are urged to participate in a
protest TODAY outside a Seattle fundraiser that Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is holding for Republican candidate Mike!™
McGavick. Inside, people will be paying $500-a-plate
to hear from champions of an attack on
Washington's minimum wage. Outside, people who work for tips will send
Frist (and Mike!™) a message: Hands off our tips! Political
news: Immigration
news: Local
news: National
news:
MONDAY,
AUGUST 14 ▪
WSLC's
2006 Convention is next week in Wenatchee -- The
annual 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.
▪
In Saturday's Seattle Times -- McGavick
loaning his campaign $2 million -- Mike!™
reaches into his pockets and digs out $2 million for his U.S. Senate
campaign. The former CEO of Safeco collected $28 million in stock and other
perks when he left the company this year.
▪
In the Spokesman-Review -- Bush's
latest numbers should give Republicans pause (Camden
column) -- Dems are abuzz about a poll suggesting
Peter Goldmark has a shot to beat Rep. McMorris.
▪
In today's News Tribune -- Supreme
Court races add sparks to primary -- Voters will check out the
candidates at forums in Seattle on Tuesday and Tacoma on Thursday. Time is
short. While races for the Legislature and other seats won’t be decided
until the November general election, two of the three races for the Supreme
Court are likely to be decided in the Sept. 19 primary.
▪
In Sunday's Olympian -- Pick-a-party
primary could bring surprises -- Could Tim Sheldon, the maverick
Democratic state senator from Mason County, end up like U.S. Sen. Joseph
Lieberman, kicked out of office by more liberal Democrats tired of his
overtures to Republicans?
▪ In
the P.S. Business Journal -- Balanced
development is threatened by I-933 (op-ed) --
Ironically, it would require even more land-use bureaucracy: to administer
and judge claims, decide which claims to pay and which rules to waive.
Instead of increasing the transparency and consistency of land-use
regulations, it would create uncertainty, unpredictability and delay.
▪
In today's Seattle P-I -- Thinking
voters aren't tied to the party line (Connelly
column) -- The country is polarized, but that's no
justification for blind, unthinking partisanship.
▪ In
the Yakima H-R -- Sen.
Mulliken certifiably miffed at her party's rules -- She's not happy with
rules that enabled Max Golladay to be "certified" as the GOP
primary candidate for the House.
▪ Today
from AP -- Lamont
surprised by Lieberman-Cheney claims his win bolsters terrorists
▪ From
AP -- GOP
resolution on citizenship riles immigrant-rights, labor groups -- The
Republican resolution in Oregon to deny citizenship to American-born
children of noncitizen immigrants is denounced as a symptom of ignorance and
racism. (Washington Republicans passed one also.)
▪
From AP -- Day
laborers present challenges for labor -- Some say organizing mobile and
largely undocumented workers presents logistical challenges and risks
alienating the rank-and-file.
▪ Today
from AP -- Organic
farmers hit by worker shortage -- Increased
patrolling along the border with Mexico, and easier, higher-paying jobs in
the city have made farm workers scarce.
▪
In the Washington Post -- Study
finds immigrants don't hurt U.S. jobs -- High
levels of immigration in the past 15 years do not appear to have hurt
employment opportunities for American workers.
▪ In
the P.S. Business Journal -- State
delegation in Congress should work on lifting visa lid (editorial)
▪ In today's Wash.
Post -- Hope
for immigration reform? (editorial) --
Republicans have introduced an intriguing, if imperfect, proposal that may
offer the last, best hope for achieving reform this year. It begins with
beefed-up enforcement, but as part of a comprehensive package that also puts
the millions now living in the U.S. illegally on a path to legal status and
eventual citizenship.
▪
In the Walla Walla U-B --
Prison
staff pay doesn't match duties, cost (editorial)
-- The state has spent $100 million for a State
Penitentiary expansion (but) the Legislature needs to address salaries, and
it needs to find creative ways to help these officers find ways to buy homes
in this community. Or we will have spent a fortune on buildings and not
accomplished a thing.
▪
In the Everett Herald -- Gregoire
to visit Everett today to assess future needs -- Town
Hall meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Everett Events Center. Doors open at
6:30 p.m. Click
here to RSVP.
▪ In today's Tri-City
Herald -- Funding
benefits work force councils -- Work force development councils in
Eastern Washington get $5.4 million to provide employment and training
assistance.
▪ In
The Olympian -- Injured
state worker advocates for "pain pump" -- The
medical device gave an injured worker "a whole new lease on life,"
but he had to battle with L&I, which had refused to pay for the pump
until he took the agency to court and won a decision in the Court of
Appeals.
▪
In today's News Tribune -- Where
are all the workers? -- Puyallup Fair officials lament dearth of
applicants for minimum-wage jobs as corn shuckers, corn-dog dippers and barn
broomers.
▪
At AFL-CIO Now -- Former
AFL-CIO unions can return to federation -- AFL-CIO council votes to
allow charters to be reissued to unions that merged into CTW unions before
the disaffiliations.
▪
In today's Wash. Post -- Another
warning of a retiring federal work force (column)
-- In
2015, 54% of contracting officers will be eligible to retire, a sharp jump
from 2005, when 13% were eligible.
▪
In today's Sacramento Bee -- Think
your boss is bad? Thing again -- meet the worst
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 was July 21st! 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. (Click here for a tentative convention agenda.)
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.
MONDAY,
AUGUST 14,
2006
Tipped workers, allies
will tell Sen. Frist: Hands off our tips!
|
JOIN TODAY'S PROTEST All union activists and supporters of our state minimum wage law are urged to participate in a protest TODAY (Monday, August 14) in downtown Seattle. WHAT: Tipped Workers Protest Sen. Bill Frist WHEN: TODAY -- Monday, August 14th at 5 p.m., outside the Rainier Club, 820 4th Ave., in downtown Seattle Wear your Union colors; bring your banners and signs. For more info, visit www.unitehere8.org or contact Jessica Lawson, jlawson@unitehere.org or 206-963-6019. |
The following press release has been distributed by UNITE HERE Local 8:
“WAGE FIGHT NOT OVER”
Coalition of Union and Unrepresented Tipped Workers and allies will hold a demonstration Monday outside Rainier ClubSEATTLE -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, champion of the deceptive federal minimum wage bill, will be met by a crowd of Washington state tipped workers and allies outside the Rainier Club TODAY (Monday, August 14, 2006).
While Frist is inside trying to help raise money for Republican Senate candidate Mike McGavick, workers will be picketing the doors and joining their voices in protest. Tipped workers are appalled by Frist’s recent attack on their already poverty level wages.
Background
While the failed bill would have gradually increased the federal minimum wage above the current $5.15 per hour, it would have immediately cut Washington State’s minimum wage for tipped workers down to $2.13. In Washington State alone, 122,810 tipped workers would have been affected, not to mention the secondary effects it would have had on the greater community (Economic Policy Institute).
Melody Swett, 31-year Seattle Westin Hotel Lobby Bar worker, passionately expressed her frustration in the possibility of losing at least $900 out of her monthly income. She relies on these tips to not only pay her mortgage, utility bills, and put food on her table; but to also help support her elderly mother. Swett was likewise distraught that in order to make up for lost wages due to the proposed law change, it would have forced her to stop tipping out her co-workers in the non-traditionally tipped positions (i.e. food runners and cooks). These workers depend on the $400 a month she tips them out, so that they too can maintain their current living standards.
For the Republican Party, which holds states’ rights as a main principle, it is surprising that they are so adamant in passing a bill that would strip states' and cities' rights from regulating their own minimum wage laws. In 1998, voters in Washington State passed a minimum wage initiative indexed to increase with inflation; the proposed bill was in complete disregard to the voters overwhelming endorsement of a good minimum wage.
While Republicans say that Washington State’s minimum wage would not have been affected, non-partisan groups like the Congressional Research Service studied the language and emphatically disagree. Our very own Washington State Department Labor and Industries upholds these non-partisan conclusions.
Frist ultimately voted down the heinous bill he originally backed so that he can reintroduce the piece of legislation in the fall. For this reason, tipped workers and allies will stand united outside the Rainier Club to send the message to the Tennessee Senator to stay out of our pockets!
The No Tip Penalty Taskforce Committee, made up of union and non-union workers, is calling all Washington State tipped workers and allies to join them in telling Frist that he will have a fight on his hands in the fall!
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