Also today:  ▪  AFL-CIO adds Blue Man Productions to "Don't Buy" list -- The AFL-CIO is asking union families to boycott the Blue Man Group, which plans a 2007 U.S. tour that begins in February here in the Pacific Northwest, including shows in Yakima, Everett and Spokane.

Ferry news:
▪  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Panel forecasts ferry fare increases -- A panel evaluating the system's finances says car-and-driver fares likely will need to increase even more. Other suggestions: eliminating frequent user passes and altering labor agreements "that increase costs and reduce flexibility for the ferry schedules." (Note: Ferry fares have increased more than 70% in the six years since the car-tab Initiative 695 gutted a principal ferry revenue stream, one that the Legislature has never replaced. Total ferry ridership has steadily declined over that same period.)
▪  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Vote on tax increase for ferries set for February -- Kitsap Transit Director Dick Hayes wants area taxpayers to subsidize private passenger-only ferries, but is forfeiting the money from the sale of state boats because he wants to run the new boats without the maritime unions. In an effort to avoid an election defeat like Kitsap's 61% rejection of a similar proposal in 2003, Hayes & Co. are hoping to gerrymander a transit service district that excludes areas that opposed the last measure. Who gets to vote is expected to be decided next week.

Legislative news:
▪  At the News Tribune blog -- Payday loans, round 2 -- Despite a mighty effort last year to win legislation to curb “predatory” payday lending, just one of 14 bills passed, and that was a minor one that did nothing to cap interest rates on such loans. The battle will be joined again in 2007.
▪  In today's Olympian -- Democrats' tax chief Rep. Jim McIntire cut loose -- He acknowledges that his calls to consider a state income tax might have put his caucus in a tough spot politically.
▪  In yesterday's Columbian -- Sen. Zarelli will introduce state rainy day fund legislation
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Lawmakers still have little taste for public-paid Sonic arena
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Viaduct retrofit would cost $2.3B, almost as much as a replacement 

Boeing news:
▪  From Bloomberg -- In setback for Airbus, Lufthansa deal imminent for 20 Boeing 747-8s 
▪  From AP -- Consortium competing with Boeing gets a boost in tanker bid -- Air Force agrees to hold all bidders harmless from international trade disputes pending before the WTO.
▪  From AP -- Boeing snares deal for 3 787s from Israel, Switzerland as Airbus announces rival

Local news:
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Wal-Mart abuses female employees (op-ed by NOW member) -- Despite the lure of low prices, I'm joining other women in Seattle on Thursday to urge shoppers to think before they shop at Wal-Mart. I know most of the women working there are thankful they have a job, even one that underpays and possibly mistreats them. That is no reason for us to sit back and let the abuse continue. Together, we can change Wal-Mart. Please think before you shop.
▪  In today's News Tribune -- Paccar to issue dividend, buy back $300M in stock -- It had record net sales of $4.21 billion last month, up 19% over the same quarter last year, and net earnings of $403.6 million, up 32%. (And, oh yeah, it's also laying off 400 employees at its Renton plant.)
▪  In the Spokesman-Review -- State's top PACs: Where they got their money, where they spent it
▪  In the Seattle Times -- Keep America's ethnic media thriving, independent (op-ed) -- Learn more.

Congressional news:
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Liberal coalition eyes first 100 hours -- The Change America Now coalition, or CAN, meets at AFL-CIO headquarters to outline the many methods it will use to press for passage of the House Democrats' legislative agenda next year, which includes a federal minimum wage increase and an effort to reduce the cost of Medicare prescription drugs.
▪  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Congress can help 8.6 million taxpayers (editorial) -- With any luck, we'll see quick action this week to extend the federal tax deduction on our state and local sales tax.
▪  In the News Tribune -- A 4th-quarter fumble of sales-tax deduction (editorial) -- There's something obscenely wrong with a legislative process that kills worthy measures -- not because they lack support, but precisely because so many people want them enacted.

National news:
▪  In the USA Today -- $44,000 a year for health insurance? -- With the latest increase, that's what some family plans will cost entertainment industry workers who buy insurance as a group.
▪  Today from AP -- Commission says Bush Iraq policy "not working" -- America says, "Well, duh."

The following letter to the editor from the staff of WSLC Reports Today appears in today's edition of The Seattle Times:

Trading places: Welcome to our mission

For the first time, The Times has declared support for incorporating internationally accepted labor standards into the core of future trade agreements, saying such basic worker protections should be considered "standard rules of a modern economy, and acceptable to legitimate business" ["Democrats and trade," editorial, Dec. 2].

That, my new friends, is the heart of organized labor's criticism of so-called "free trade" -- that the deliberate exclusion of such standards promotes the exploitation of workers overseas, and accelerates job loss in America. For taking that position, we have been dismissed as anti-trade protectionists trying to preserve our horse-and-buggy industries. So, welcome to the fringe!

Unions have always had confidence in the ability of American workers, businesses and products to compete internationally. And we have always supported trade.

But when the most powerful trading partner on Earth chooses to exercise its economic influence only for corporate and property rights -- and not fundamental human rights -- our nation is debased. And the working class, here and abroad, pays the price.

The remaining question: Is The Times merely accepting the inclusion of basic human rights, or is it willing to join us in demanding them?

— David Groves, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Seattle

The AFL-CIO is asking union families to boycott the Blue Man Group, a theatrical production company headquartered in Las Vegas running shows concurrently in five U.S. cities: Las Vegas, Boston, New York, Chicago and Orlando. The company also produces Blue Man shows in London, Berlin and Toronto. This boycott is especially important in the Pacific Northwest because Blue Man Productions plans a U.S. tour in 2007 that begins here at the following venues: 

• Feb. 1 at the Yakima Valley Sundome

• Feb. 2 at the Everett Events Center

• Feb. 3 at the Portland (OR) Memorial Coliseum

• Feb. 6 at the Spokane Arena

• Feb. 7 at the Boise (ID) Idaho Center

The decision to put Blue Man Productions on the AFL-CIO's official boycott list was taken at the request of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE) with support from dozens of performing arts unions in the United States, Canada and Europe.

“This production bills itself as ‘cutting edge’ as an entertainment concept, but it is a throwback to the dark ages in labor relations,” said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka. “Blue Man Productions is about to learn a harsh lesson in labor solidarity, an experience they could have avoided by simply acknowledging the right of their workers to bargain collectively.”

IATSE’s Las Vegas Local 720 was certified as the bargaining agent for stagehands employed by the company following a May 25, 2006, NLRB election. Officials from the local union stress employees are predominantly concerned with health care, retirement coverage and safety on the job.

Efforts to negotiate an initial agreement for the 44 employees involved were stonewalled by Blue Man Productions management despite earlier pledges from principal partner Matt Goldman during the period leading up to the election to abide by its outcome. Goldman retained Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, a politically-connected law firm whose partners include Democratic bigwigs Robert Strauss and Vernon Jordan along with President Bush’s nephew George P. Bush, as its counsel for the election and subsequent challenges.

Lawrence Levien, a former NLRB attorney now on the Akin Gump payroll, has represented Blue Man Productions throughout the process. Nevertheless, the union has beat back company appeals at the regional and national level, where a three-member panel ultimately upheld the union’s right to bargain and affirmed the unfair labor practice charges against the company. Blue Man Productions has appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. At the union’s behest, attorneys for the NLRB lodged a counter motion to enforce its bargaining order with the appeals court. It may be months before the court acts.

Meanwhile, IATSE has secured pledges of support from 36 labor organizations including performing arts unions in the U.S., Canada, Britain, Norway and Germany as well as an endorsement from the massive Union Network International (UNI), an international confederation of 900 unions in 140 nations representing 15 million workers.

Stagehands for Blue Man Productions had a collective bargaining agreement through IATSE Local 720 until October 2005 when the company refused to renew that agreement after moving from the Las Vegas Luxor Hotel to its new Las Vegas venue at the non-union Venetian Hotel.

In addition to the Pacific Northwest shows listed above, upcoming 2007 tour dates and venues for Blue Man’s U.S. productions include:

February 9, Sacramento (CA) ARCO Center • February 10, 2007 Oakland (CA) Arena • February 11, Bakersfield (CA) Rabobank Theatre • February 12, Los Angeles (CA) Gibson Ampitheatre • February 13, Phoenix (AZ) US Airways Center • February 15, Amarillo (TX) Civic Center • February 16, Bossier City (LA) CenturyTel Center • February 17, Biloxi (MS) Beau Rivage Casino • February 18, Little Rock (AR) Alltel Arena • February 19, Huntsville (AL) Von Braun Center Arena • February 21, Tallahassee (FL) Leon County Civic Center • February 22, Orlando (FL) TD Waterhouse Centre • February 23, Ft. Lauderdale (FL) BankAtlantic Center • February 24, Tampa (FL) St. Pete Times Forum • February 25, Ft. Myers (FL) Germain Arena • February 27, Miami (FL) BankUnited Center • March 1, Columbia (SC) Colonial Center • March 2, Norfolk (VA) Constant Convocation Center • March 3, Charlottesville (VA) John Paul Jones Arena • March 4, Knoxville (TN) Thompson-Boling Arena • March 6, Richmond (VA) Coliseum • March 8, Youngstown (OH) Chevrolet Centre • March 9, Washington (DC) Patriot Center • March 10, Atlantic City (NJ)

Etess Arena-Taj Mahal • March 11, Raleigh (NC) RBC Center • March 13, Columbus (GA) Civic Center Arena • March 15, Evansville (IN) Roberts Stadium • March 16, Memphis (TN) DeSoto Civic Center • March 17, Louisville (KY) Feedom Hall • March 18, Dayton (OH) Nutter Center • March 20, Binghampton (NY) Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena • March 21, Syracuse (NY) War Memorial at Onecenter • March 22, Buffalo (NY) HSBC Arena • March 23, Orilla (ON-Canada) Casino Rama Entertainment Center • March 24, Detroit (MI) The Palace of Auburn Hills • March 25, Grand Rapids (MI) Van Andel Arena • March 27, Green Bay (WI) Resch Center • March 28, Duluth (MN) Entertainment Convention Center • March 30, St. Paul (MN) Xcel Energy Center • March 31, Kansas City (MO) Kemper Arena • April 1, Wichita (KS) Kansas Coliseum • April 3, Peoria (IL) Civic Center Arena • April 4, Dekalb (IL) Convocation Center of Northern Illinois • April 5, Sioux City (IA) Tyson Event Center • April 6, Fargo (ND) Fargodome • April 7, Sioux Falls (SD) Arena • April 9, Rochester (MN) Mayo Civic Arena • April 10, Madison (WI) Kohl Center • April 11, Colombia (MO) Mizzou Arena • April 13, Birmingham (AL) BJCC Arena • April 14, 2007, New Orleans (LA) Arena • April 15, Mobile (AL) Civic Center Arena • April 17, Greenville (SC) BI-LO Center • April 19, Philadelphia (PA) Wachovia Center • April 20, Hershey (PA) Giant Center • April 21, Baltimore (MD) 1st Mariner Arena • April 22, Wilkes Barre (PA) Wachovia Arena