THURSDAY, MAY 17  ▪  Attorney General fights office workers' attempt to form union -- Some 70% of workers in two divisions of the state Attorney General's Office want a union. But the roughly 100 employees have faced nearly a year of hearings as AGO management objects to the employees' effort to win union representation. A PERC decision is finally near.

Election 2008:
▪  In today's Miami Herald -- Biden asks for union help -- The senator from Delaware came to South Florida to make his pitch for an endorsement from the AFL-CIO, known for putting ''boots'' on the ground to get the vote out. 
▪  In The Hill -- Union fight could impact campaign donations -- Votes on the Employee Free Choice Act, which labor and business describe as their biggest battleground in years, could have a major impact on political contributions in 2008. Some business groups say the EFCA vote will be a litmus test for their PAC money.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Fundraising for Gregoire starts early -- While Gregoire was still deciding bills' fates the past few weeks, supporters were sending invitations to her re-election fundraisers.
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Stage set for political bid by McKay -- A speech before the Mainstream Republicans by the former U.S. Attorney this weekend has fueled speculation.
▪  In today's Olympian -- Rep. Brendan Williams says he'll finish term -- After butting heads with Speaker Chopp over the BIAW-blocked home-warranty legislation, Williams says he will finish his second two-year term in the state House next year but will keep his options open after that.

Legislative news: 
▪  In today's Olympian -- Gregoire turns from pay equity (editorial) -- Gregoire could have and should have stood up for pay equity for state employees during the legislative session. She didn't.
▪  At the Olympian's Adam Wilson blog -- The machinations of gain sharing -- Gregoire: "We simply cannot afford gain sharing in this state. In my opinion it was the right thing to do for the taxpayers. But at the same time we did right by the retirees.”

Local news:
▪  At ShiftBreak.com -- NLRB punishes Oregon SEIU local by banning successful organizing tactics (audio file) -- In a highly unusual move, the NLRB bans the Portland union from using card checks for union recognition for the next 6 months. Shauna Bello, a spokesperson from SEIU Local 49, and Dmitri Iglitzin, a Seattle labor attorney, explain the implications of the NLRB action
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- 61-jet deal totals $4.7 billion -- As Boeing completes an order for 11 787-8s and 50 737s for a European tourism firm, Airbus plans to boost A320 production.
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Mad dash to finish 787 gets trickier -- Despite issues with fasteners and systems, Boeing vows to roll out the first Dreamliner by the July 8 deadline.  
▪  In the PSBJ -- Clash stalls $466 million hospital expansion in Everett -- An SEIU-Providence conflict in California and Oregon bleeds into Washington, with complications that could cripple an ambitious Everett hospital project and limit other hospitals' expansion plans in the future.
▪  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Sizing up Kaiser Aluminum: It's doing just fine (Caldwell column) -- Locally, the Mead smelter where 1,000 men and women once toiled for good, family wage jobs has been gutted. But the Trentwood rolling mill rolls on.
▪  In today's Olympian -- State agencies see staffing problem -- Agencies, including Employment Security, can’t fill enough job openings for tax auditors and information technology workers.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Consultant puts Brightwater tab at $1.8 billion -- possibly more 
▪  In today's Oregonian -- Portland-area donations up 19% for Letter Carriers' food drive

Immigration news:
▪  In today's NY Times -- Lawmakers near agreement on new immigration rules -- Under the plan, the government would adopt a point system to evaluate the qualifications and claims of many people seeking permission to immigrate. Family ties would remain an important factor, but would have less weight than under current law, while education and job skills would carry greater weight.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- State farmers lobby for visa changes -- A group of them travel to D.C. and tell lawmakers they need more flexibility to recruit enough seasonal agriculture workers, and they want Congress to pass legislation to overhaul the guest-worker program.
▪  In today's Yakima H-R -- Grower will build guest-worker housing in Naches -- Federal law requires employers hiring guest workers to provide housing and meals as a condition of employment.