MONDAY, JULY 2  ▪  No "Free Choice?" How about a little RESPECT? (Bender column) -- The RESPECT Act would restore union rights to millions of workers harmed by the NLRB’s new interpretation of "supervisors" who can be denied union representation.  The Senate version (S.969) has been co-sponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and the House version (H.R. 1644) has been signed by Democratic U.S. Reps. Brian Baird, Norm Dicks, Jay Inslee, Rick Larsen, Jim McDermott, Adam Smith, and Republican Rep. Dave Reichert.
▪  Open letter -- Rep. Dicks: "Now is the time to act" on RESPECT Act (PDF) -- "Let's bring (it) to a vote... and restore the protections that millions of affected American workers need and deserve."

Get paid... Get a Union!:
▪  In Sunday's Seattle Times -- State employees cashing in on their unions' new clout -- Many state workers are getting the biggest raises they've seen in nearly two decades -- maybe the biggest ever -- under new contracts. Thousands of workers are getting double-digit increases. Since winning broad new collective-bargaining powers from the Legislature in recent years, the largest state-worker unions have more than doubled in size.
▪  In Sunday's Seattle Times -- Gregoire: Raises will help state compete for workers -- She says that she's convinced state wages have fallen too far behind local government and private industry.
▪  In today's News Tribune -- Hefty raises kick in for state employees -- Union-represented state employees will step into a better-paying world when they go to work today. They get at least a 3.2% raise plus a $756 lump-sum payment negotiated by their unions.
▪  In Sunday's Olympian -- Dept. of Revenue workers halt union ousting effort -- The effort fails to decertify the WPEA, which represents about 900 people there, so employees will get raises.

Local news:
▪  In today's (Everett) Herald -- Union wanted bigger 787 role -- As outside suppliers build the bulk of the 787, the company relies on local Machinists only to piece those major structures together. "It's a lot fewer jobs than what we've had in the past," says IAM 751 President Tom Wroblewski.
▪  In the PS Business Journal -- State is adding jobs -- but few in manufacturing -- Some factories are doing more with fewer workers, while others report they can't find enough skilled workers.|
▪  In Sunday's (Everett) Herald -- 787 has world's eyes on county -- Everett is the backdrop July 8 as the 787 is unveiled. The company says up to 100 million people worldwide will be watching.
▪  In the PS Business Journal -- Brightwater sewage plant may stall over land-use request -- A long-simmering dispute about who will pay for the $1.8 billion project has turned a narrow slice of land in Lake Forest Park into a valuable bargaining chip for the city of Seattle.
▪  In today's Olympian -- Local forum will tackle state's health care obstacles -- Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell will take part in a community discussion about health care Monday (today).

Legislative news:
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Lobbying is big business in state -- Top 7 spenders: General business, government, real estate, health care (facilities), health care (practitioners), insurance, unions.
▪  In the PSBJ -- Payday loan regulations are strong enough already (MoneyTree CEO's op-ed) 
▪  In today's Salem S-J -- Bill says foster care workers can unionize in Oregon -- Foster care home operators typically care for five senior and disabled people in their homes, providing round-the-clock care. More than 60% of them have already signed cards with SEIU Local 503.
▪  In yesterday's (Vancouver) Columbian -- Tale of two legislatures -- The Washington and Oregon legislatures, led by Democratic majorities, worked in tandem on many issues this year. Washington's 2007 accomplishments are creating a buzz nationally. This year, the network named Washington one of six "star states" that advanced progressive reforms on multiple fronts.

Election 2008:
▪  In today's LA Times -- Obama raises record $32.5 million -- In the second quarter of 2007, he trounces even Clinton, his closest Democratic rival, who raised $27 million.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Rossi's race: Questions for the non-candidate (editorial) -- In open-books, open-records Washington, Rossi should voluntarily release the names of contributors and the contribution amounts to the nonprofit organization promoting him and his ideas. Voters have a right to wonder why Rossi invented this group and pretends it is not part of a campaign.