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November 7, 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,
NOVEMBER 7 ▪
Today's your chance to change the direction of this
country! Check out the WSLC's
election endorsements. MAIL BALLOTS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY
TODAY. You can also deliver your ballot to a drop-off station near
you. For your county's list of polling places or ballot drop-off
sites: Chelan,
Clallam, Clark,
Cowlitz,
Franklin,
Grays
Harbor, Jefferson,
King (vote
or drop off ballots at your nearest polling
place), Kitsap,
Kittitas,
Lewis,
Mason,
Pierce
(vote or drop off ballots at your nearest polling
place), Skagit,
Snohomish,
Spokane,
Thurston,
Whatcom,
Yakima,
and all
other counties. If you can't find your ballot, you can vote a
provisional ballot at your county auditor's office or courthouse. Click on
your county's link above to find out where and how to do this.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP GET OUT THE VOTE! Check the Labor
Neighbor schedule for opportunities to volunteer today to help get other
union voters to the polls.
Election
news:
▪
AFL-CIO Voter
Protection Program safeguarding voters' rights
▪ In Monday's
Columbian -- Union
political activity is democracy in action (Bender
column) -- Unlike business interests -- which outspend
labor 17-to-1 on political contributions -- unions have a democratic process
that decides which candidates and causes to support. Union members all have
the right -- and I would say responsibility -- to participate in those
decisions.
▪ At the
Horses Ass blog -- SurveyUSA:
Burner 49%, Reichert 49%
▪ In
today's Salem (Ore.) S-J -- Democrats'
voter turnout outpaces Republicans' in Oregon
▪ Today
from AP -- New
election rules, voting machines frazzle voters early
▪ Today
from AP -- Republican
control of Congress hangs in the balance --
GOP GOTV still vaunted.
▪ In
today's Washington Post -- Angry
campaigns end on an angrier note -- As the 2006 campaign staggered to an
angry close, national security and the Iraq war dominated the final-day
debate. National themes, not simply local choices, have framed the most
competitive races.
▪ In
today's Washington Post -- America's
crisis of confidence -- Think about this on Election Day: A new study
shows that Americans have lost faith in the people who lead their federal,
state and local governments, and in businesses, churches and schools. And
they are afraid to fly.
Local news:
▪ In
today's Bellingham Herald -- Bellingham
city council decides to retain ban on new big-box stores
-- Citizens say that a Wal-Mart would damage the local economy and erode
their quality of life.
▪ In
today's Kitsap Sun -- New
zoning boosts racetrack effort -- A new type of zoning approved by the
Kitsap County commissioners opens the door for a NASCAR track.
▪ In
today's Seattle P-I -- City
panel endorses new 520 bridge; proposed span goes to full council
▪ In
today's Oregonian -- Union,
Metro hope to resolve contract dispute this week -- Zookeepers and park
rangers have haggled over their contract with Portland's regional government
for months.
Boeing news:
▪ In
today's King County Journal -- Boeing
jobs hit 4-year high in area -- Boeing added 724
jobs in the Puget Sound area last month, boosting total employment in
the state to
67,601 workers.
▪ In
today's Everett Herald -- No
delays seen for 787; Boeing makes plans to increase production
▪ In
today's Seattle P-I -- 787's
big sections may be in Everett by February
TUESDAY,
NOVEMBER 7, 2006
AFL-CIO Voter Protection Program
safeguarding voters' rights
Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and
Washington focus of attention
Toll-free Nationwide Election Protection Hotline, 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Hundreds of volunteers in the AFL-CIO Voter Protection Program will be out
today in 23 communities in six key states -- including Washington -- to
educate citizens about their voting rights, help prevent the kinds of voting
rights violations that marred the 2000 presidential election and urge voters
to take advantage of new protections they enjoy under the Help America Vote
Act (HAVA) passed by Congress in 2002.
"Voting is a fundamental right that cuts to the core of our democracy,
said AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney. "We need to ensure that every
vote cast in this country counts and that every voice in our democracy
is heard."
As part of the AFL-CIO Voter Protection Program, the AFL-CIO has trained
union and voting rights activists on their states election laws and will
deploy them as poll monitors on Election Day. Poll monitors will be
available today to answer voters questions about their rights and through
rapid action networks, help resolve any issues voters may encounter. In
addition, AFL-CIO poll monitors will have a network of lawyers available to
handle problems that require legal action. Union activists have also
distributed fliers at work sites across the country to help workers make
sure they are able to cast their ballots and have their votes counted.
The AFL-CIO's Voter Protection Program is focused on communities in
Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington. The AFL-CIO
has coordinators in targeted areas who are partnering with local lawyers,
community allies and AFL-CIO unions and constituency groups..
Voters are urged to call the toll-free Nationwide Election
Protection Hotline, 1-866-OUR-VOTE, if problems arise.
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