Political news:
▪  In today's Yakima H-R -- Let's give Tomás Villanueva a chance (editorial) -- Sen. Honeyford seeks his third term, but we find no real distinguishing accomplishments to recommend re-election and think it's time to give someone else a shot. That would be Villanueva, who we're confident would be unlike any other legislator from this area -- a man of the people, representing the people.
▪  In today's Olympian -- Keep Susan Owens on Supreme Court (editorial) -- Owens' 25 years of judicial experience, including the past six years on the state's highest court, make her the far superior candidate... Sen. Johnson's voting record shows him to be a conservative ideologue.
▪  In yesterday's Longview Daily News -- Let Rep. Brian Baird continue to serve us well (editorial)
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Newspapers fund plan to kill estate tax -- I-920 contributors include The Wenatchee World, Pioneer Newspapers, The (Vancouver) Columbian and The Seattle Times.
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Publishers' I-920 gifts put newsrooms in a tight spot (Connelly column)
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Cantwell, McGavick lock horns in debate -- Immigration reform provided one of the sharper exchanges. Cantwell chafed at McGavick's charge in a TV ad that she backs Social Security benefits for illegal workers. She cited a study that the allegation is untrue and part of a Republican Party strategy to inflame emotions against immigrants.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Big names, cash pouring into 8th District congressional race -- A poll released Thursday by Constituent Dynamics showed 48% of 1,015 likely voters in the district chose Reichert while 45% supported Burner. The margin of error was 3 percentage points. The poll echoes three other recent surveys showing the race is close or a dead heat.
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Republicans redirect funds from faltering U.S. House races

Local news:  ▪  "Organizing Our Futures" forum begins TONIGHT at UW (earlier post) -- The University of Washington's Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies will present a public forum entitled "Organizing Our Futures: Labor, Knowledge and the Economy" beginning tonight (Friday night) and continuing Saturday, Oct. 13-14 at the UW's Seattle campus. Learn more.
▪  At Tri-City Herald's blog -- Washington state ranks among most business-friendly states -- Forbes Magazine ranks Washington 12th best; Tax Foundation ranks the our state 11th best.
▪  In the Wenatchee World -- Longview Fibre closing Winton mill; 100 workers face layoff
▪  In today's News Tribune -- One more round for union, Clover Park School District
▪  In today's Oregonian -- Precision's tax break raises issue of wages -- A Portland manufacturer headed by the best-compensated CEO of any public company in Oregon receives approval for an extension of tax breaks worth $800,000, but there's a dispute about what new hires are paid.

National news:
▪  In today's NY Times -- China drafts law to boost unions, end labor abuse -- China is planning to adopt a new law that seeks to crack down on sweatshops and protect workers’ rights by giving labor unions real power for the first time since it introduced market forces in the 1980’s. The move, which underscores the government’s growing concern about the widening income gap and threats of social unrest, is setting off a battle with American and other foreign corporations that have lobbied against it by hinting that they may build fewer factories there.
▪  In today's Washington Post -- U.S. trade gap grew to new high ($69.9 billion) in August 
▪  In today's Wash. Post -- Wal-Mart workers win wage suit -- The retailer violated Pennsylvania laws by forcing employees to work through breaks and beyond their shifts without overtime pay.
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Taking control of globalization (op-ed by Nobel-winning economist) -- What is remarkable about globalization is the disparity between its promise and what has happened. Globalization seems to have unified so much of the world against it... Globalization can be changed; indeed, it is clear it will be changed. Will change be forced upon us, a result of a crisis, or will we take control of the process of globalization?

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