Local news:  ▪  Solid Ground voluntarily recognizes union for shelter workers -- Solid Ground, formerly the Fremont Public Association, voluntarily granted union recognition to 44 employees at the nonprofit organization’s Broadview Emergency Shelter.
▪  In today's Bellingham Herald -- L&I announces workers' compensation rate holiday -- Beginning July 1, employers and workers will not pay the Medical Aid Fund premium for work performed from that date through Dec. 31, which will save employers and employees about $315 million.
▪  In Sunday's Olympian -- Pay questions persist for state -- More than a year after it calculated its first round of paychecks, the state’s $67 million payroll computer still is raising questions about errors. The WFSE believes the problems are not all caused by human error.
▪  In the P.S. Business Journal -- Carpenters union aims to engage younger ranks -- As Northwest carpenters gear up for major contract negotiations this spring, the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters is text-messaging and e-mailing to gather input from members.

Legislative news:
▪  In today's Olympian -- Lightly used services save state millions -- Budget writers get a $200 million boost, thanks to an unexpected drop in caseloads for programs such as medical care of the needy. More good news -- reportedly $40-$50 million worth -- could come with Thursday's quarterly revenue forecast.
▪  In the News Tribune -- Nothing but baby steps on payday lending reform (editorial) -- Reasonable regulation is possible and necessary if the Legislature is to protect consumers from predatory lenders. It should be near the top of lawmakers’ to-do list next year.
▪  In Monday's Olympian -- Legislators optimistic about health care changes -- "The pieces are jelling. I've never seen this kind of willingness -- the 'let's just try,' " says Sen. Karen Keiser.

Boeing news:
▪  Today from AP -- China says it'll build its own planes -- China expects to start making homegrown large commercial aircraft by 2020, an aviation industry official says.
▪  In the Seattle Times -- Outside supplier for Boeing moves inside -- In a move that doesn't sit too well with the Machinists' union, Boeing has leased a 25,000-square-foot building inside its Everett jet plant to Messier-Dowty, which provides the landing gear for the new 787 Dreamliner.
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Boeing reaches deals for 28 jets listing at $4.5 billion

National news:
▪  Today at AFL-CIO Now -- Blue and green and ready to stop illegally logged timber -- The United Steelworkers (USW) and the Sierra Club have called on the U.S. Department of Commerce to expand an existing investigation of unfair trade subsidies from illegal logging. 
▪  In the S.F. Chronicle -- California Nurses Association says it will join AFL-CIO -- The association, which represents more than 65,000 nurses, will use its affiliation to press for health care reform.
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Nation of immigrants: More humane law (editorial) -- Opening more legal work opportunities, some of them temporary, would help us and our neighbors.
▪  From Bloomberg -- Union opposition costs Wal-Mart stores, analyst says -- Union opposition is hurting the world's largest retailer's sales and efforts to open new stores in a "meaningful" way.
▪  In Monday's Wash. Post -- Balance for labor (editorial) -- The Employee Free Choice Act would take a playing field tilted too far in the direction of employers and tip it way back in the other direction.
▪  In Monday's NY Times -- The next big health care battle (editorial) -- In a shortsighted effort to save money and promote its free-market philosophy, Bush has proposed reducing the federal contribution to a highly successful children’s health insurance program operated by the states.
▪  In the USAFewDaysAgo -- Giuliani avoids firefighters' gathering -- The GOP contender accepted an invitation to the International Association of Fire Fighters conference, but then he backed out.
▪  In today's NY Times -- Strike at big shipyard yet another effect of Katrina -- Nearly 7,000 workers in Mississippi demand better wages to make up for sharp post-Katrina increases in prices for everything from milk to gas to rent, which are bringing family finances to the breaking point.