WSLC Reports Today -- September 21, 2006

Sept. 21, 2006

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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.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 21 ▪ Social Security privatization: It's ba-ack in 2007 (Bender column) -- President Bush has announced that he wants to revive his effort to partially privatize Social Security after November’s elections. Some Republican candidates love to campaign on this issue, but they won't mention the benefit cuts and/or higher taxes privatization would require.
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- McGavick accused of wanting to privatize Social Security -- Republican hopeful says he opposes "privatization," but supports diverting Social Security taxes from the public system into individual private accounts invested in stocks (which is the very definition of privatization... He also doesn't mention the benefit cuts or tax increases his plan requires.)

Also today: ▪ Labor Neighbor begins next phase -- 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 17th and 28th Legislative Districts, where a Labor Neighbor walks are scheduled starting TONIGHT and continuing next week. (VOLUNTEER!) Many more legislative leaflets will be available in the coming days... so check back at this site.
▪ In today's Olympian -- State puts I-933 price tag at $8 billion over 6 years -- That's how much taxpayers would have to pay developers and private property owners under the initiative.

Justice for Sale news:
▪ In today's Everett Herald -- Money may have bugged voters -- Donations that poured in to aid a Supreme Court challenger may have worked against him, says one professor. But the BIAW, which has spent about $1 million of its members' workers' compensation refunds so far on failed Supreme Court campaigns, blames the media.
▪ In today's Olympian -- Owens-Johnson now in spotlight -- Says BIAW: "It's all going to be about Steve Johnson now, and we'll campaign just as hard for him as we did for John Groen."
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Supreme wisdom (editorial) -- The same well-moneyed special interests that marred Groen's campaign may shift support -- and tactics -- to Stephen Johnson's. A measure of Johnson's suitability for the high court will be whether he accepts or repudiates those tactics.

Election news: ▪ House passes "poll tax" bill; judge rejects similar voter ID law (AFL-CIO Now) -- Reichert, McMorris and Hastings all vote to require a government-issued photo ID card starting in 2008, just in time for the next presidential election. Why is this a priority? Experts say voter fraud isn't the problem. The bill is viewed as an attempt to suppress the votes of racial and ethnic minorities -- and low-income people -- who are less likely to have valid photo ID. (Plus, the GOP fears losing control of the House this election and wants to hurry and pass this, just in case.)
▪ In today's Yakima H-R -- Hastings votes for ID requirement -- In Washington's all-mail elections, the bill would mandate that voters PHOTOCOPY (?!) their IDs and mail the copy with their ballot.
▪ In today's NY Times -- Keep away the vote (editorial) -- The Senate should not go along with a House bill that intentionally puts up barriers between eligible voters and the ballot box.
▪ Onion -- Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood gerrymandered to serve King Friday's make-believe agenda

State primary election news: ▪ The latest primary election results (Secretary of State's web site)
▪ In today's King Co. Journal -- Reichert trails Burner in total votes, but faced similar deficit in 2004
▪ In the Aberdeen Daily World -- "Take that!" says Sheldon in huge win for Senator -- “I think the Democrats better check their strategy before they hit November, because it can backfire.”
▪ In the Aberdeen Daily World -- Big bucks spent in hot Sheldon-Lucas 35th District race
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Pederson clings to slim lead in Dems' 43rd LD House race
▪ In today's King Co. Journal -- Kauffman leading Crawford 56-44 in Dems' 47th LD Senate race
▪ In today's Spokesman-Review -- Hailey leads as GOP race for Cox's 9th LD Senate seat tightens

Local news: ▪ Drink-In TODAY (Thursday) to support hotel workers at Seattle Westin
▪ Today from AP -- State's economic forecast looking up -- State tax revenue is expected to swell by $412 million in the next three years, pushing the state's surplus to more than $1.9 billion.
▪ In today's Bellingham Herald -- Immigration reform needed to stop raids (editorial) -- The system is broken. It must be fixed. Only real reform will end to the kinds of raids that have happened here.

National news:
▪ In today's Yakima H-R -- We need to prove gas prices (editorial) -- It was easy to view U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell's latest call for an investigation into possible price gouging at the pump in Eastern Washington as election-year posturing... (but) to her credit, this is not Cantwell's first venture into questioning gasoline pricing... and we support just such an investigation.
▪ From AP -- Criteria for Air Force tanker bid disputed -- Alabama lawmakers object to bidding criteria they say unfairly favors Boeing and hurts Airbus' chances of building them in Mobile.
▪ In today's News Tribune -- Report scolds VA over budget -- Veterans Affairs officials knew their budget was seriously out of whack, and badly underestimated how many soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan might seek medical and other services.
▪ In today's NY Times -- GOP in Senate narrow immigration focus to 700-mile fence

Why the Majority of Americans Hate Polls:
▪ In today's LA Times -- Bush, GOP making gains among voters -- The turnaround is a sign that the election battle could be fierce. But history shows Democrats remain poised to claim seats.
▪ In today's NY Times -- Only 25% in poll approve of Congress -- Americans have an overwhelmingly negative view of the Republican-controlled Congress, with substantial majorities saying that they disapprove of the job it is doing and that its members do not deserve re-election, says a poll.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2006
Drink-In TODAY to support hotel workers at Seattle's Westin

Back by popular demand, UNITE HERE has organized another Westin Drink-In for Thursday (today!), Sept. 21 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.