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October 3, 2007 |
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WSLC
Reports Today
Updated
Almost Every Day™
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.
WEDNESDAY, OCT 3 ▪
After a long hiatus, Today’s Reports
are back. Recently hired WSLC Communications Director,
Kathy Cummings, is attempting to follow in David Grove’s footsteps and
bring you up-to-date links to the news of the day from local, regional and
nation news sources. Kathy is working from her home in the
So change your address book! Get your stories and ideas to Kathy Cummings. Let’s keep our Labor Community united, let’s make some noise, try out some new things and most importantly, let’s keep working families front and center in our fight to make the world a much better place.
WSLC news:
The Washington State Labor Council mourns the loss of a dedicated employee.
Life-long labor leader and community activist, Christenia Alden, passed away this weekend. She was a dedicated employee of the WSLC, AFL-CIO for more than twenty years. Her hard work, commitment and leadership touched the lives of many in our state and beyond as she fought steadfastly for the rights of working families.
Chris was a field agent primarily handling political activities for Eastern Washington. She also acted as a lobbyist for working families during state legislative sessions. After retirement, she stayed active in her local community and was a regular at WSLC conventions selling COPE buttons and barbecue tickets.
Labor and Washington's working families have lost a true friend.
Local news:
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Unions Making Effort to Hire More Minority Workers -- KNDO/KNDU TV Yakima, WA -- Industry experts say state and union programs are giving minority workers a new chance to pursue their dreams
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State treasurer backs measure for roads, transit - Seattle Times -- State Treasurer Mike Murphy, who criticized Seattle's monorail financing in 2005, is endorsing Proposition 1, a larger measure to fund roads and transit.
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Boeing pier could open in February -- Everett Herald -- A new pier intended to handle jet parts for the Boeing Co.'s Everett assembly plant will likely be ready for operation in February after a delay of many months and a cost overrun of millions of dollars
- Attorneys, insurers spar over Ref. 67 --Everett Herald --Two of the state's most powerful lobbies dispute a new law that lets consumers collect triple damages on denied insurance claims.
- Union
at BHR closer to strike -- The Olympian --
The union representing more than 200 mental health workers at Behavioral
Health Resources in three counties has voted to authorize a strike for
Oct. 11.
Regional News:
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NEA
unions settle suit with women Anchorage
Daily News -- The state's teachers union and its
parent organization have agreed to pay $750,000 to settle a 5-year-old
sexual discrimination lawsuit brought by three former employees.
National News:
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Blaze Kills 5 Workers in Colorado -- NY Times -- Five workers at a hydroelectric plant outside Georgetown, Colo., were killed on Tuesday when a chemical fire trapped them in a water tunnel where they were working.
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Wal-Mart Workers Win $62 Million -- AP Wire -- Wal-Mart workers in Pennsylvania who previously won a $78.5 million class-action award for working off the clock will share an additional $62.3 million in damage
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Union leaders say workers fed up Daily Press -- Labor leaders say workers are fed up amid stagnant wages, worries about health insurance coverage and jobs lost overseas. (It may not be news to us, but it is good when it is news for everyone else.)
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Bush vetoes children's health insurance bill -- Seattle Times -- President Bush, in a confrontation with Congress, today vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have dramatically expanded children's health insurance.
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One union agrees to IBC reorganization plan Kansas City Business Journal -- Interstate Bakeries Corp. (makers of Twinkies) has reached an agreement with one of its large unions and will continue to pursue an agreement with the other, even though a self-imposed deadline has passed.
- Clinton gains teachers union endorsement -- Seattle PI -- The American Federation of Teachers backed Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign Wednesday.
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Prentiss Smith: "Labor unions have been good for this country's workers"- opinion printed 10/1 Shreveport Times, LA -- "I have been a member of labor unions for over 30 years, and I will be the first person to say their strength and their viability are as important as any institution that we have in this country..."
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Gary Becker and Richard Posner on Labor Unions National Association of Manufacturers Blog -- We have to know what others are saying and react accordingly. This article doesn't give unions a great shake, but there is a place for comments maybe yours can make a difference.
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Airline delays worsen in August -- Seattle PI --The union says delays will worsen unless the government hires more members and pays them better. The FAA and the union have been locked in a contract dispute since the agency declared an impasse last year.
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NLRB sets window for decertification -- Tacoma News Tribune-- Bushies are at it again -- In a 3-2 vote, the NLRB decided to give anti-union employees a chance to object to unionization and demand a secret ballot election even if the company agreed to a card check campaign on formation of a union.
Water
Cooler News :
▪ Secessionists
meeting in Tennessee -- Seattle
PI -- In an unlikely marriage of desire
to secede from the United States, two advocacy groups from opposite
political traditions - New England and the South - are sitting down to talk.
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 Kathy Cummings
or via fax to 206-285-5805.
Copyright © 200
7 Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO