MONDAY, MAY 21  ▪  Your union's news goes right here -- All WSLC-affiliated unions are encouraged to submit news stories, calls to action, event announcements and whatever else they want to share with the rest of Washington's labor movement. Just e-mail us!

Local news:
▪  In today's Olympian -- Union might sue to keep state employee pension gain-sharing -- The legislative repeal includes a clause that any suit that overturns it will also end the trade it offers. “The new law puts some folks in a very bad situation,” says WFSE's Tim Welch. “If we sue, we take away the early retirement for probably 80 percent of state employees. But if you’re in PERS 3, you probably chose it in part because of gain sharing, and you’ve lost it.” 
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Health insurance rises, again (editorial) -- Regence Blue Shield's 19% average price increase for individual health insurance is galling. Since 2002, Regence's medical and hospital claims have increased by one-quarter, but its capital and surplus have increased by six-quarters. Price regulation is not an ideal answer, but raising prices by 19% is asking for it.
▪  In Sunday's News Tribune-- Playing high stakes poker with roads plan (editorial) -- A hard-won consensus on Pierce County’s top highway priorities has suddenly fractured. It needs to be repaired soon. The final RTID package is to be decided next month.
▪  Today from AP -- Boeing Machinists in St. Louis narrowly approve contract -- The 951-883 vote sends a message that many employees were unhappy with the contract. Many cite language under which they could be laid off, then rehired under a new job classification that cuts their pay.
▪  Today from AP -- Aerospace industry pushes recruiting into cyberspace -- As their workforces get older, companies are using online job ads and chat rooms to lure college students.
▪  In the PSBJ -- Talking with Rosalinda Guillen, driector of Community to Community Development   

Political news: 
▪  From AP -- Teachers bail out on Bergeson -- She served in the WEA's top leadership before becoming the state’s education reform czar and the state schools chief. Now the WEA is ready to dump its old colleague in the next election – and hope to pressure her into not even running. 
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Moderate Republicans lend sympathetic ear to McKay -- The fired U.S. attorney says the evidence BIAW Boss Tom McCabe presented (of voter fraud in the 2004 election) was "a joke from an evidentiary standpoint that a crime had been committed."
▪  In Sunday's News Tribune -- Rossi talks of new try for Governor -- “I tell you what, if we did do this again, theoretically, we’re going to need you and everyone you know,” Rossi tells a GOP group.
▪  In today's Yakima H-R -- Clements aims to stay put as State Senator -- He plans to announce today that he will run to keep the seat he has held since being named to replace Alex Deccio.

National news:  ▪  Thank Sens. Cantwell, Murray their strong support of EFCA
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Employee Free Choice Act support gaining momentum across nation -- Working families have placed more than 30,000 phone calls to Congress; sent 300,000 e-mail and other communications (have you sent yours?), and state and local political leaders also are joining the rising tide of support for restoring the freedom to choose unionization. 
▪  From Newsweek -- Now they speak out -- When critics accuse U.S. companies of moving jobs to China to exploit cheap labor and sweatshop conditions, businesses argue that their presence has helped improve labor standards and even forward democracy. Now the same companies are lobbying to weaken a draft Chinese labor law, and worker advocates are calling them hypocrites.
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Bush attack on federal defense workers' rights challenged is in Congress 
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Air traffic controller staffing at crisis after years of Bush's FAA
▪  In today's LA Times -- L.A. gang members go union -- A rising number of gangbangers are moving into well-paid futures as members of the region's building trade unions.

Immigration news:
▪  Today from AP -- Senate debate begins today on immigration bill -- Cabinet secretaries promote the deal and play down criticism that it rewards people who have entered the country illegally. 
▪  In today's NY Times -- After aided bill on immigration, employers balk -- They say it will not cure the severe labor shortages they foresee in the coming decade. 
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Immigration reform: Highly flawed bill (editorial) -- While citizenship ought not be handed to illegal immigrants, creating a system that acts as more of a deterrent than an incentive for them to follow a legal path seems counterproductive.