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August 9, 2007 |
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WSLC
Reports Today
Updated DAILY...
Almost Every Day™ by 9 a.m.
Links are functional at date of posting, but sometimes expire. Some links require free registration. WSLC Reports Today links to stories of interest to organized labor; some positive, some negative. The intention is to inform.
THURSDAY,
AUGUST 9 ▪
Boeing
unions want more work in Air Force tanker bid -- The
Coalition of Labor Unions at Boeing asks Washington's congressional
delegation to urge the Department of Defense to increase domestic content
requirements for the Air Force tanker.
▪ At Postman on Politics -- Unions
say Boeing should bring tanker jobs home -- As the Air Force gets close
to a decision, Boeing unions say they want Congress to require the company
to build more of the plane in the United States. On the current 767 -- which
Boeing would modify to create the KC-767 aerial tanker -- the fuselage and
tail, or empennage, are made overseas.
Reminder: ▪ Applications for WSLC Communications Director position are due Friday
Local
news:
▪ In yesterday's Wenatchee World -- Quincy
labor negotiations at a stalemate -- Teamsters
Local 760 launched the strike at Celite Corp. on July 2 in response to a
company proposal that would eliminate seniority status during layoffs and
increase health-care costs for workers. Negotiations are deadlocked. The
company has hired scabs and security guards to watch the picketers.
▪ In today's Everett Herald -- SPEEA
Board bickers over column -- A month after ousting Executive Director
Charles Bofferding, members of the board remain at odds. The
latest dispute involves a column written by SPEEA President Cynthia Cole
giving her account of the board's action and voicing concern over the manner
in which it acted, a column she says was censored out of the group's monthly
publication. Others say Cole tried to use the column to attack board
members.
▪ In today's Yakima H-R -- Cantwell
touts children's health bill -- The House and Senate proposals must be
reconciled by a conference committee before a final piece of legislation
lands on the president's desk. Bush has vowed to veto he bill. Cantwell says
the Senate bill has "strong bipartisan support" and can overcome a
veto. The vote in the House, however, was not veto-proof (thanks
to Rep. Dave Reichert and other House Republicans who have
sided with Bush.)
▪ In today's Spokesman-Review -- Higher
incomes are vital statistics indeed (Caldwell
column) -- A Spokane economic development group has
moved away from an approach that used to stress cheap labor, it says, and
the sectors that helped the community add 10,000 jobs last year -- health
care, manufacturing and construction -- offer attractive compensation.
▪ In today's Olympian -- Providence
St. Peter to buy oncology center -- “We don’t see anything ahead but
expansion,” says PSP boss Jim Leonard. (Meanwhile,
protracted contract talks between the hospital and its nurses remain at a
stalemate over the issue of safe staffing levels.)
▪ Today from AP -- State
agency sends governor wind farm revisions -- For a second time, it has
recommended she approve a proposed central Washington wind farm despite
locals' objections.
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Workers
at Seattle City Light give communication poor marks in survey -- More
than 80% don't think the utility's executives understand what's going on at
the front lines.
Oregon
news:
▪ In today's Salem S-J -- Oregon
state government will add 1,777 full-time jobs --
Most of the new positions are devoted to public safety, state universities
and the Department of Human Services.
▪ In today's Oregonian -- Oregon
pension fund will shift its money -- The Oregon Investment Council says
the move away from U.S. stocks offers more risk and a chance for better
returns.
Election
2008: ▪
AFL-CIO Executive Council
chooses to hold off on endorsement
▪ In today's NY Times -- AFL-CIO
decides not to endorse for now, leaving unions free to do so -- Labor
leaders said several large unions were leaning strongly toward Sen. Clinton
and others toward former Sen. John Edwards.
▪ In the USAToday -- AFL-CIO:
"No consensus candidate"
▪ From CNN -- Labor
still has clout in political arena -- There's a good reason why
Democratic candidates court the support of organized labor. During the 2006
congressional elections, the AFL-CIO's political program boasted its
volunteers knocked on more than 8 million doors and reached out to 30
million voters, many in the union-rich and politically crucial states of
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Immigration:
▪ In today's Yakima H-R -- Cantwell
sees tough going to pass AgJobs bill -- The political divisions that
killed the U.S. Senate's comprehensive immigration reform proposal earlier
this year may prevent any progress on the issue in the near future, she
says.
▪ In today's NY Times -- The
misery strategy (editorial) --
The federal government’s abandonment of comprehensive immigration reform
has been matched by unprecedented crackdowns at the state and local level.
It enshrines enforcement and punishment above all else. It is narrow,
shortsighted, disruptive and self-defeating. And on top of that, it won’t
work.
▪ Today from NPR -- Rules
to target illegal immigrants worry employers -- "A lot of employers
are going to play it safe and fire these employees," says U.S. Chamber
of Commerce guy.
▪ In today's Yakima H-R -- It
looks like another sweet year for apples -- Another strong crop is
expected this fall for the state and for Yakima County, the nation's No. 1
apple-producer. But the question remains -- will there be enough workers for
the entire harvest?
Infrastructure:
▪ In the Everett Herald -- Modest
investment will help get our roadways unclogged (Burbank
column) -- The Roads and Transit Proposition on the
November ballot will generate $600 million a year for 20 years to invest in
Sound Transit and the highway infrastructure. We need to do this.
▪ At AFL-CIO Now -- Future
of our economy depends on infrastructure -- The
Minneapolis tragedy has put the condition of the nation’s roads, bridges,
railroads and other parts of the infrastructure on the political agenda.
But President Bush already has said he will veto the pending transportation
bill, which currently includes nearly $5 billion for bridge and
highway maintenance.
▪ Today from AP -- Bush
against raising gas tax -- He dismisses raising the federal gasoline tax
to repair the nation's bridges at least until Congress changes the way it
spends highway money.
▪ In today's Washington Post -- Bush
may try to cut corporate tax rates
Other
national
news:
▪ From MSNBC -- Disabled
worker's heartfelt question resonates with workers -- Disabled
steelworkers union member Steve Skvara asked the question heard loudest in
Tuesday night's AFL-CIO Democratic presidential forum.
He got a standing ovation -- the only one of the night.
▪ Today from AP -- Rescuers
close in on trapped Utah miners -- A 2
1/2-inch-diameter hole has been cut to a depth of 1,300 feet, with just 200
feet to go before rescuers can finally learn if the miners survived the
cave-in early Monday. The hole was expected to be finished later today.
▪ Today from AP -- Ford's
Mulally: Fuel standards suck
Last
Throes update:
▪ In today's Seattle Times -- 26
American service members killed in the past week (letter)
-- But first, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and some creepy on-the-air
drooling over Sen. Clinton's cleavage.
▪ In the NY Times -- British
criticize U.S. air attacks in Afghanistan -- British commander says the
high level of civilian casualties from U.S. bombings is making it difficult
to win over local people.
▪ Of
the 3,683
U.S. troops killed in Iraq; 3,544 of them have died since
Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" and an end to major combat
operations in May 2003; 3,222 have died since the capture of Saddam;
and 2,824 have died since the government was handed over to the
Iraqis.
▪ The
WSLC's affiliated unions have called for an end to the U.S. occupation of
Iraq.
THURSDAY,
AUGUST 9, 2007
Boeing
unions want more work in Air Force tanker bid
Following is the lead story in the latest edition of the International Association of Machinists District 751's Aero Mechanic newsletter:
As our Union continues to lobby for Boeing to be awarded the Air Force refueling tanker, Union leaders have put together a new strategy which would translate into additional American jobs.
While the Washington Congressional delegation has long been supportive of a Boeing built Air Force tanker, the Coalition of Labor Unions at Boeing (CLUB) is asking our elected officials to do more than that. Union leaders want officials to make the case to return manufacturing of many of the major parts of the tanker to the U.S. With a vote on the tanker likely to come in October, now is the time to present the case.
Congressional delegates were requested to ask the Department of Defense to increase domestic content requirements for the Air Force tanker.
Specifically, the CLUB would like to see a Boeing tanker where both the fuselage and empennage are built in the U.S. On the current version of the 767 these parts are made overseas. Yet on other models, our members have previously performed this work and shown they have the required skills and expertise. If the work is returned to the U.S., it is a better investment for taxpayers who will foot the bill and who have expressed concern that U.S. military planes be built by American workers.
The CLUB has also proposed the idea to Boeing, but believes a push from Congressional reps, who will be voting on the tanker decision, could be more effective.
The CLUB discussed the idea with Congressman Adam Smith on July 20th and plan to make the issue front and center with other Congressional delegates before the contract is awarded in October.
THURSDAY,
AUGUST 9, 2007
AFL-CIO
top leadership chooses to hold on endorsement
Following
its presidential forum attended by 17,500 union members in Chicago Tuesday
night, the AFL-CIO Executive Council on Wednesday chose to hold off making
an endorsement of a single candidate for president, instead calling for
continuing "this education and mobilization process -- not only to hear
from the candidates, but to ensure that the candidates hear from America's
workers."
In a released statement, the 47-member top leadership body left the
door open for an endorsement at a later date and made clear that each of the
AFL-CIO's 55 unions could make its own primary endorsement.
"It is clear that a number of the Democratic candidates have the
experience and the credentials to lead our nation," wrote the Executive
Council. "And it is
equally clear that our members support a number of the candidates -- many
union members have told us all the candidates are impressive and they are
eager to support many of them."
"The issues affecting our nation's working families took front and
center last night," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.
"We will make absolutely sure that the spotlight remains on
working people's concerns, like good jobs, affordable health care, and the
freedom to join and form unions to improve their lives."
In 2004, the AFL-CIO made an endorsement for John Kerry in February.
The AFL-CIO's "Working Families Vote 2008" campaign is the
broadest effort yet to involve working people in the selection of president.
In addition to hosting last night's Presidential Forum, the
10-million member union federation held town hall forums with each candidate
and union members over the last four months, and 20,000 people voted on the
questions to be posed at last night's forum on the group's interactive
website (www.workingfamiliesvote08.org).
Rather than endorsing at this time, the Executive Council pledged that
unions "will focus on preparations for the greatest involvement ever by
working voters in the crucial 2008 elections."
In 2006, the AFL-CIO's massive union mobilization proved key to
shifting the balance of power in Congress when it mobilized more than 13.6
million voters in 32 states. In
recent national elections, one in four voters have been union household
members.
THURSDAY,
AUGUST 9, 2007
Applications for WSLC
Communications Director due Friday
The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO is seeking applicants for the position of Communications Director. Here is the job posting (printable version):
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Groves resigns from WSLC After 15 years with the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, David Groves has resigned as Communications Director to accept a communications position with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302, which represents heavy construction equipment operators in Washington and Alaska. His last day at the WSLC will be Friday, August 24. "I want to thank the officers, staff and affiliates of the Council for everything they've done for me over the years," Groves said. "It's been a pleasure and an honor to advocate for Washington's working families, and I'm really excited about continuing to do so, while taking on some new challenges at a strong, growing local union." |
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
is widely considered
to be the "voice of organized labor" in our state.
A state federation of the AFL-CIO, the Council represents the
interests of more than 500 affiliated local unions with more than 400,000
rank-and-file union members. The Council’s core programs and
services for affiliated unions are legislative advocacy, political action,
communications and media relations, and assistance with organizing
campaigns.
The Council is seeking an
experienced, highly skilled, motivated individual for the position of
Communications Director. It
is the Communications Director’s responsibility to ensure that the
Council's events and positions are well-publicized and that the organization
is presented in a positive light -- both in the news media and within the
labor movement among affiliated unions.
The position reports directly to the President of the Council.
Minimum
Job Qualifications:
Five (5) years of previous
experience in communications and/or media relations, or a combination of
education and experience that would provide for the following knowledge,
skills and abilities:
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Excellent oral and written communications skills, with strong proficiency with writing and editing.
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Desktop publishing skills designing newsletters and leaflets. Proficiency using Adobe In-Design (formerly PageMaker) and Photoshop would be ideal.
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Successful experience in media relations: fielding press inquiries, promoting events and issues to ensure media coverage, and proactively promoting positive news coverage.
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Web site maintenance skills and the ability to update the Council’s web site (www.wslc.org) regularly with news and information. Web design experience and proficiency using Microsoft FrontPage would be ideal.
Additional
qualifications:
The following qualifications are considered very desirable, but are
not strict requirements of the position and should not discourage applicants
who meet the minimum job qualifications: experience working in the labor
movement; Bachelor’s or graduate degree in communications or a related
subject; experience in the news media, politics or legislative affairs;
experience working with a progressive organization; bilingualism a plus.
Employment
details:
The Communications Director is a full-time salaried position, which
includes some evening and weekend work as needed, and is based in Seattle
,
Women
and persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Salary
and Benefits:
$66,400-82,500 (DOE). Excellent
benefits, including paid vacation, sick leave and holidays, full
employer-paid family health coverage (including dental and vision), a
defined-benefit pension plan, an optional 401(k) program, and more.
The position is covered under a union contract with Office and
Professional Employees Local 8.
Application Instructions: Submit a cover letter and résumé. If sent via email, the files should be in MS Word, PDF or text formats. Please submit to Jan Hays via email at jhays@wslc.org or via standard mail to the WSLC, 314 First Ave. West, Seattle, WA, 98119.
Applications must be received by Friday, August 10.
If you have news items regarding unions or workplace issues in Washington state that you would like to see posted here, please submit them via e-mail to David Groves or via fax to 206-285-5805.
Copyright © 200
7 Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO