FRIDAY, JUNE 1  ▪  WSLC to celebrate 50th anniversary at Aug. 16-18 convention -- Plan now to attend the 2007 Convention of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO set for Thursday, Aug. 16 through Saturday, Aug. 18 at the SeaTac DoubleTree Hotel near the airport.

Machinists Strike in Spokane:
▪  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Machinists go on strike -- About 370 Machinists at Triumph Composite Systems Inc., where floor panels of all Boeing and some Airbus planes are made, went on strike this morning. The union voted overwhelmingly late last night to reject a contract and picket lines went up at 6 a.m. "Although it was a good offer, it did not meet our members' expectations," said IAM coordinator Mark Blondin. "Members believe Triumph can do better."

Possible Carpenters Strike:
▪  At CarpentersPNWRC.org -- Carpenters prepared to strike across Oregon, SW Washington (PDF) -- More than 1,300 Carpenters union members may walk off the job in wage-and-benefit dispute.
▪  In today's Oregonian -- Drywallers threaten to strike over pay -- Depending on whether other trade unions honor the carpenters' picket lines, a strike could cripple work at high-rise condos in downtown Portland and commercial buildings in the suburbs. A business agent with Laborers Local 296 said that although other building unions disagreed with the carpenters about organizing and fundraising issues, they probably would honor the pickets.
▪  In the Longview Daily News -- Carpenters union prepares to strike -- Union carpenters and drywall workers may walk off the job today. Representatives of Longview's LIUNA 791, which represents local carpenters, said they plan no sympathy walk-out and they were unaware of the strike.
▪  In yesterday's Seattle P-I -- Labor agreement reached between contractors and Carpenters, IUOE -- The Carpenters union reached an agreement affecting more than 5,000 carpenters and 490 general contractors in Western Washington. Vote totals are expected on a similar contract between the contractors and the largest union of heavy-equipment operators, IUOE Local 302.

Local news:
▪  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Utility worker killed at Othello school event -- An Avista employee dies and a school teacher is injured during a science demonstration witnessed by about 600 elementary school students. Line foreman Bob Smith, 50, was in an elevated utility bucket along with a teacher at the school's annual egg drop when the bucket crashed to the ground.
▪  In today's Olympian -- Talks deadline arrives for St. Peter's nurses union -- The hospital’s three-year contract for about 650 nurses represented by UFCW Local 141 expired at the end of February. The contract's extension, granted amid federally mediated talks, expires today.
▪  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Open state employee union negotiations (editorial) -- The state government is bargaining with public dollars over public services, and the unions are out of line trying to keep their negotiating stances secret from those who ultimately write the checks.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Highways package readied for ballot -- It took five years, but a regional planning group has finally decided which lanes, roads and ramps to offer up to voters.
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Panel signs off on billions for regional road package -- Leaders of Snohomish, King and Pierce counties endorse a $17.7 billion, 20-year plan for a vote this fall. 
▪  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Hanford's K East Basin declared sludge-free -- Workers finish removing the last of the elusive muck from the leak-prone basin sitting 400 yards from the Columbia River.
▪  In The Columbian -- Baird: Technical training deserves attention -- The nation needs to do a better job of training teenagers and young adults for technical jobs that don’t require college, he says.
▪  In today's Olympian -- Unregistered businesses cost state up to $375 million in lost revenue (brief)
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Public schools: Fix the financing (editorial) -- Gregoire's efforts to impose accountability on the state's education system would be more impressive if she and the Legislature had done the hard work of providing assured financial resources.
▪  In the Salem S-J -- Oregon bill would crack down on illegal workers -- House OKs forcing frims that get economic-development funds to certify that none of their workers are illegal immigrants. 

Election 2008 news:
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Mitt Romney's "business experience:" Firing workers, hiring them back at lower wages -- His  investment firm bought an Indiana office supply firm, promptly laid off 350 workers and then offered them their jobs back at lower wages. Shades of Circuit City, anyone? 
▪  From AP -- Clinton wants to increase tech worker visas -- At a Silicon Valley CEO Summit, she says she's trying to increase the number of so-called H1B visas aimed at highly educated workers. (See WSLC President Rick Bender's latest column: Let's fix H1-B visa program before we expand it.)
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Obama launching Seattle effort today -- He'll speak at the WaMu Theater in the Qwest Field Event Center at 5:30 p.m., with as many as 5,000 people expected.

National news:
▪  In today's LA Times -- Unions split over immigration bill -- Competing demands by two factions of organized labor could sink the latest immigration bill by dividing Democrats who rely on union support. The divide reflects a deeper rift within the party, which includes a growing constituency of immigrants as well as middle-class workers afraid of layoffs as U.S. jobs move overseas.
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Enterprise Rent-a-Car throws up roadblocks for employees seeking a union -- Workers at the Enterprise facility in Lynn, Mass., want join a union, but the company has refused to recognize their card-check election, has has reportedly fired two union supporters.
▪  Today from AP -- Bush's veto threats loom over labor bills -- Labor legislation that is a priority for Democrats has become the definition of ''veto bait'' for the White House. Five of the 24 veto threats President Bush has issued since Democrats took control of Congress target bills with provisions that benefit unions and their members.
▪  In today's NY Times -- New Jersey court hands Wal-Mart a setback -- A suit claiming off-the-clock violations can proceed as a class action on behalf of 80,000 current and former employees.