MONDAY, JUNE 25  ▪  U.S. Senate to vote tomorrow on Employee Free Choice Act -- Tomorrow, America's workers will find out which U.S. Senators believe workers should be free to form unions without employer interference and which think it’s just fine for employers to harass, intimidate and fire workers who want to join together and bargain for a better life. Washington's Democratic Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell -- both of whom have co-sponsored the EFCA -- are both expected to support it 

Local news:  ▪  Sen. Murray secures funding for electrical training in NW Washington
▪  In the P.S. Business Journal -- Unions win big raises as construction booms -- Carpenters, cement masons, laborers, Teamsters and operating engineers get 5% to 6% raises in '07, '08 and '09.
▪  In the P.S. Business Journal -- Construction firms cash in on region's real estate boom -- The surge of work has driven Puget Sound employment in the construction trades to record levels.
▪  In the P.S. Business Journal -- Behind the scenes, Boeing makes itself "leaner" -- Boeing Commercial Airplanes' financial health is in many ways a result of striping inefficiencies out of assembling the four Boeing models -- 737, 747, 767 and 777 -- currently in production.
▪  In the News Tribune -- Aid when jobs go offshore should cover service sector (op-ed by Rep. Adam Smith and WashTech's Marcus Courtney) -- The Trade Adjustment Assistance program needs to be modernized to meet the demands of the global economy. The program has been insufficiently funded, and it does not reach all of the workers that need it, including service-sector workers.
▪  At ShiftBreak.com -- Latest ShiftBreak (MP3 audio file) -- Reviews of Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" by members of the Seattle preview audience; 1,300 drywallers in Washington and Oregon back to work after 18-day strike; workers win suit against Del Monte in Portland, then are deported.

Health care news:
▪  In today's Olympian -- Washington state leads way in improving health care for kids -- By the end of the decade, fewer sick children will go without seeing a doctor, at least in Washington state.
▪  In today's Bellingham Herald -- Lawmakers press for universal health-care bill -- Congress is focused on reauthorizing and perhaps expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program, but some Washington lawmakers say it's not enough. “It’s another Band-Aid,” says McDermott.
▪  In the Int'l Business Times -- Unions move toward health-care reform deal -- As rising health-care costs hurt workers and retirees alike, America's unions inch toward a sweeping agreement with U.S. corporations on health-care reform. Universal coverage is expected to be funded jointly by employers, employees and the U.S. government -- creating a solution that falls somewhere between the current private-sector dominated system and Canada's state-funded health care.

State political news:
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Ruling could stem public-sector unions actions (column) -- The (Supreme Court) ruling was described in some news media as a "slap down" of the state teachers union. But in many respects the decision targeted our state Supreme Court as much as the union.
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Democrats considering run against lands commissioner Sutherland -- Said interested: Sen. Erik Poulsen, King County Councilman Dow Constantine and Peter Goldmark.
▪  In the Spokesman-Review -- Washington Roundtable pushes fiscal conservatism (Caldwell column) -- The business group discusses how it can have more success keeping public officials mindful of the long-term effects of budget decisions made with just a one- or two-year time frame in mind.
▪  In today's Oregonian -- After long drought teachers union scores in Oregon -- They've won an 18%  boost in state aid, a long-sought state insurance pool for school employees, a rainy day fund to help insulate schools from cuts in economic downturns. And that's just the top of the list.
▪  In today's Salem S-J -- After 9 years, Oregon Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown to step down

Election 2008:
▪  From AP -- Democrats court unions for money, volunteers -- They can be found rallying union workers, walking picket lines or helping sign up members. Democrats running for president are after something else this time of year: the endorsements of the oh-so-important labor unions.
▪  In today's Wash. Post -- Romney gains credibility in early primary states -- He remains behind Guiliani and McCain in most national polls, but the former Massachusetts governor's standing in the states that will kick off the nominating process has risen dramatically.
▪  Today from AP -- Clinton cautious on health care reform -- When it comes to health care reform, Hillary Rodham Clinton epitomizes the old adage, "once burned, twice shy."

Immigration news:
▪  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Hired hands in short supply for mid-Columbia farmers -- A tight labor market has already taken an $11 million toll on the state's asparagus crop... As the agriculture industry enters its busiest months, plenty of jobs are available for anyone willing to work.
▪  In today's Washington Post --- Illegal immigrants targeted by states -- Frustrated with Congress's inability to pass an immigration overhaul bill, state legislatures are considering or enacting a record number of strongly worded proposals targeting illegal immigrants.
▪  In today's LA Times -- Pressure builds anew on immigration bill -- A Senate showdown is expected this week on a proposed overhaul. Bush calls the status quo "unacceptable."
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Immigration bill: One more shot -- An overhaul -- the chief domestic initiative of Bush's second term -- will take center stage a final time this year as the Senate returns to a bipartisan bill that stalled a few weeks ago. Bush is expected to discuss it Tuesday.
▪  In today's NY Times -- High-tech titans strike out on immigration bill -- High-tech companies have made a huge effort to reshape the bill to meet their demand for more foreign workers, but have had only limited success. (Learn more: H1-B visa program: Fix it before we expand it.)