Also today:  ▪  Support Governor's L&I rate holiday at hearings this week -- The WSLC supports the Governor's proposal for a six-month suspension of the medical-aid portion of workers' compensation taxes, allowing businesses and workers to share equally in this $315 million tax break. The WSLC is urging all others, including representatives of other labor organizations, to testify in support of the proposal at public hearings in the coming week.

Local news:
▪  In yesterday's (Vancouver) Columbian -- Media conglomerates bad for democracy (Rick Bender column) -- Corporate media consolidation is a major threat to balanced public discourse in America, and therefore to democracy itself.  And now, the FCC is considering making the problem worse.
▪  In today's Bellingham Herald -- Brown & Cole bankruptcy plans go ahead -- The Lynden Cost Cutter grocery store is expected to close by the end of the month as the reorganization begins.
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Roads votes may be linked -- If the Legislature approves, a highway and transit plan for Sound Transit and Snohomish Co. will be one question on the 2007 ballot.

Legislative news:
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Gregoire pushed for rainy-day fund -- She'll seek a constitutional amendment to set up a "rainy day" reserve that's difficult for legislators to tap except during economic slumps, and get it started by setting aside some of the projected $1.9 billion surplus.
▪  In yesterday's Columbian -- Affordable housing? Where? -- Builders blame rising home prices on development fees and the price of land, not the cost of labor and materials, so they've launched a $1.3 million radio ad campaign calling for deregulation. (Then, we can look for more land.)

National news:
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- 50,000-member National Postal Mail Handlers Union rejoins AFL-CIO 
▪  In the LA Times -- No friend of labor (op-ed by Dmitri Iglitzin and Steven Hill) -- Thanks in part to the NLRB, most American workers haven't seen their share of the booming economy.
▪  In today's Oregonian -- Freightliner to cut at least 5,000 jobs -- Labor leaders expect at least 500 Portland employees will lose their jobs this spring.

Last Throes update:
▪  In today's Yakima H-R -- Hastings takes issue with Iraq Study Group conclusions -- Doc says the focus should remain on "victory" in Iraq.  Meanwhile, a new poll shows a record-high 62% of Americans say the Iraq war isn't "worth it" and a record-low 16% say the U.S. is "winning" there; two car bombs targeting laborers looking for work exploded today in central Baghdad killing at least 63 people; Whidbey Island mourns the death of Marine Corps Maj. Megan Malia McClung, the highest ranking woman killed in Iraq; and U.S. troops there, almost none of whom have ever heard of the Iraq Study Group, focus on the "little things" and staying alive.
▪  Of the 2,931 U.S. troops killed in Iraq so far, 2,794 have died (see a list) since Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" and an end to major combat operations on May 2003, and 2,465 have died since Saddam's capture. More than 5 years after 9/11, Osama bin Laden is at large.
▪  The WSLC's affiliated unions have called for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO is supporting the Governor's proposal for a six-month suspension of the medical-aid portion of workers' compensation taxes, allowing businesses and workers to share equally in this $315 million tax break. The WSLC is urging all others, including representatives of other labor organizations, to testify in support of the proposal at public hearings in the coming week.  The scheduled hearings:

• TUKWILA -- Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. at the L&I office, 12806 Gateway Dr.

• SPOKANE -- Thursday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. at the Ridpath Hotel, 515 W. Sprague Ave.

• TUMWATER -- Friday, Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. at the L&I office, 7273 Linderson Way S.W.

• YAKIMA -- Monday, Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. at L&I's office, 15 W. Yakima Ave.

This proposal is the result of a medical-aid surplus in the state workers' compensation fund that is a result of previous premiums paid, investment income on that money, and cost-saving measures employed by the state Department of Labor and Industries. The governor's proposal represents the best possible way to allow both workers and employers to share equally in these benefits, which is fair since workers and employers each pay 50 percent of the medical-aid premiums.

If you can't attend any of the public hearings listed above, written comments can be sent to Ronald Moore, acting manager, Employer Services, P.O. Box 44140, Olympia, WA 98504-44140, or mooa235@LNI.wa.gov. They must be received by the close of business Jan. 5. 

A final decision on the proposal will be made Jan. 24.

The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO urges all union members and community supporters to support more than 15,000 members of the Steelworkers union (USW) on strike against Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. by participating in a nationwide leafleting event this Saturday outside Goodyear stores around Washington state . The USW members have been on strike for more than two months to keep good union jobs here in America and to protect retiree health-care benefits.

You can join the USW in demanding justice for Goodyear workers by participating in leafleting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the following locations:

SEATTLE -- *** NEW location from previous announcement *** -- Goodyear Auto Service Center, 1105 Stewart Street. Coordinator: Gaylan Prescott, cell 360-560-6163, gprescott@usw.org

SPOKANE -- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 4423 North Division St. -- Coordinator: Steve Powers, cell 509-990-5483, spowers@usw.org

PASCO -- Goodyear Commercial, 3306 N. Commercial Ave.  -- Coordinator: Stephanie Green, cell 509-539-8726, Greens0177@aol.com

SILVERDALE -- Goodyear Auto Service Center, 10726 Silverdale Way N.W. -- Coordinator: Bob Grady, cell 360-204-9512, badbob6942@yahoo.com

MOUNT VERNON -- Elliott Auto Service Center, 1621 Riverside Drive -- Coordinator: Joe Solomon, cell 360-929-1958, Blazemee@hotmail.com

PORTLAND -- Division Tire Inc., 12121 S.E. Division St. -- Coordinator: Pete Passarelli, cell 360-561-7694, ppassarelli@usw.org

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:  More than 15,000 USW members from 15 facilities across the United States and Canada have been on strike at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. since October 5. They walked off the job to protest unfair contract proposals made by the company. Twelve of the facilities are in the U.S. and are covered under a master contract. Three Canadian facilities have separate contracts but also walked off the job in solidarity. Goodyear workers vow to hold out “one day longer” than the company to obtain a fair and equitable contract that provides reasonable job security and for a fair deal on retiree health care.

By forcing this labor dispute, Goodyear is attempting to wash its hands of its health care obligation to current and future retirees. This is unprecedented. Retired workers at Goodyear, many of whom face illnesses and medical conditions directly related to their jobs, would soon be left without health care insurance coverage if Goodyear has its way. Also, the USW is fighting to keep employers like Goodyear from discarding North American production facilities in favor of low-wage overseas operations. This issue has far-reaching ramifications for all working people in North America .

In 2003, the union accepted wide-ranging concessions on wages, pensions and health care, and made the difficult decision to allow the closure of one tire plant. Union workers granted all of this to Goodyear in exchange for job security commitments that would protect members and their families. In 2005, Goodyear posted its highest profits in seven years and gave top executives large bonuses. But in 2006, Goodyear broke its promise, announced the closure of the Tyler , Texas , plant with 1,100 jobs and wants to take away even more from workers. On October 31, Goodyear brought in temporary replacement workers to take the jobs of union men and women.

THE COMPANY: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells tires and related products and services worldwide. The company manufactures rubber tires for automobiles, trucks, buses, aviation, motorcycle, farm implements, earthmoving equipment, industrial equipment, and various other applications. Goodyear also develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells belts and hoses for motor vehicles; conveyor and power transmission belts; rubber track for agricultural and construction equipment; and other products and services.

The company is headquartered at 1144 East Market Street , Akron, OH, 44316-0001 , phone, 330-796-2121, fax, 330-796-2222. It employs about 80,000 people in 28 countries. Robert J. Keegan is the CEO. Jonathan (Jon) D. Rich is the President of North American Tire.  

ONE DAY LONGER:  USW members at Goodyear are in this fight until Goodyear provides workers with security through investment at plants in North America , and keeps its promise to provide for workers after retirement by maintaining decent health care benefits for retirees and their spouses.  The issues in this strike are universal for all union workers.  Ultimately, the outcome of USW v. Goodyear will have an impact on every worker, both in the U.S. and abroad.  The sheer size of this dispute means that the whole world is watching.

Learn more at www.USW.org.