WSLC Reports Today -- September 20, 2006

Sept. 20, 2006

THE PAST WEEK:
TUESDAY
MONDAY
Friday, Sept. 15
Thursday, Sept. 14

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.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20 ▪ PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS: (* WSLC-endorsed)
STATE SUPREME COURT -- Gerry Alexander* 54.6%; John Groen 45.4%
Tom Chambers* 58.6%; Jeanette Burrage 41.4%
Susan Owens* 46%; Stephen Johnson 33% (those two will now face off in the general election)
43rd LD HOUSE -- Pederson 23.3%; Street 22.9%; Sherman 18%; Pure 12.9%; Dodson* 11.7%
Click here for updated numbers and other election results at the Secretary of State's web site.

Also today: ▪ Now... LET'S GET TO WORK! -- Union members and activists are encouraged to begin downloading and distributing leaflets for November's General Election. Ballots will be in the mail in just four weeks, so get started TODAY! New leaflets are now available on Statewide Initiatives and the House race in the 28th Legislative District, where a Labor Neighbor walk is scheduled for this weekend. (VOLUNTEER!) Many more legislative leaflets will be available in the coming days... so check back at this site.

Election news:
▪ In today's Everett Herald -- Justices safe for now -- At least one state Supreme Court justice (Chambers) will keep his seat while the fate of a second (Alexander) is still up in the air following a controversial campaign fueled by special-interest money. More than $1.8 million was spent by or on behalf of (BIAW's Boy) John Groen.
▪ In today's Seattle Times -- How the high court goes (editorial) -- If the Alexander-Groen result holds, it is a remarkable demonstration that mounds of money and scurrilous advertising did not sway a majority of Washington voters. Particularly odious was the BIAW's TV ad that attempted to tar Alexander with a drunken-driving episode about which he merely commented to a reporter.
▪ In today's Olympian -- Sheldon holds solid lead in bitter 35th race -- Sheldon 57%; Lucas 43%
▪ In today's King Co. Journal -- Race close in 47th LD Senate -- Kaufman 57.7%; Crawford 42.3%
▪ In today's Columbian -- Campbell leads in 17th LD race -- Campbell 52.9%; Burkman 47.1%
▪ At the Secretary of State's web site -- The latest primary election results

Political news:
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether to hear case on unions, politics -- The Walton Foundation-funded Evergreen Freedom Foundation and Republican State Attorney General Rob McKenna are appealing a case they lost in this state to the U.S. Supreme Court. They want to establish tougher restrictions on unions' participation in the political process.
▪ In the Seattle Weekly -- Marty the Politician -- Martin Selig, Seattle's answer to Donald Trump, has gone all in to repeal the state's estate tax. As of Sept. 11, his contributions to the I-920 campaign totaled a staggering $807,500 -- almost 3/4ths of the campaign's $1.1 million.
▪ In yesterday's Columbian -- I-920 is a vote for family-owned businesses (AWB's Brunell column)
▪ In today's Rocky Mountain News -- Minimum wage proposal most popular item on Colorado ballot
▪ In today's Oregonian -- Oregon is biggest spending cap fight left -- Oregon is one of three states with the proposal on this fall's ballot. Michigan, Nevada and Montana have disqualified theirs.

Local news: ▪ Drink-In on Thursday to support hotel workers at Seattle Westin -- Back by popular demand, UNITE HERE has organized another Westin Drink-In for Thursday (tomorrow!) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Seattle's Westin Hotel, 5th and Stewart, and YOU are invited!
▪ In today's Spokesman-Review -- Labor dispute follows Ridpath sale -- The new owner says he is not responsible for assuming the union contract. He has rehired 16 of the 56 Ridpath employees but outsourced other functions, such as housekeeping and food and beverage service.
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Cost to replace viaduct could rise drastically -- Revised cost estimates for replacing the viaduct and the 520 Bridge -- to be released today -- could be 45% higher.
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Wages lose ground on living costs -- Washington families must earn more to cover the basics, but the job pool doesn't offer enough good-paying jobs, a new report finds.
▪ In today's Everett Herald -- In our healthy state, goal must be opportunity for all (Burbank column)

National news:
▪ Today at AFL-CIO Now -- Fix the nation's unemployment system, don't break it
▪ In today's Wash. Post -- Boeing snags $2.5 billion contract to protect U.S. borders -- Its plan is a network of 1,800 towers -- some of which exist, but most of which would be erected along the Mexico and Canada borders -- equipped with sensors, cameras, and heat and motion detectors.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2006
Drink-In on Thursday to support workers at Seattle's Westin

Back by popular demand, UNITE HERE has organized another Westin Drink-In for Thursday (tomorrow!) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Seattle's Westin Hotel, 5th and Stewart, and YOU are invited!

In July, about 100 supporters of Westin Hotel workers occupied the entire hotel lobby and did their part by drinking beverages, talking and laughing with friends -- and management sat up and took notice. Some progress has since been made in negotiations, including good immigrant worker protection language and non-discrimination language.

However, Westin management is still only offering an insulting 10-cent increase in the first two years (wage + pension - healthcare), increased workload for already overworked and injured housekeepers, and other unfortunate proposals. They also refuse to meet with community leaders about the negotiations.

So it's time to show them that the community is watching -- and supports the workers in these negotiations. After work on Thursday, come to the Westin Drink-In and show your solidarity!

For more information, contact Jessica Lawson at 206-728-2326 x21.

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.