National news:
▪  In the NY Times -- Shipping costs start to crimp globalization -- Cheap oil, the lubricant of the world's quick, inexpensive transportation links, may not return, upsetting the logic of diffuse global supply chains that treat geography as a footnote in the pursuit of lower wages.
▪  In today's NY Times -- Screen Actors Guild is divided against itself -- Infuriated by hard-line tactics used by SAG leaders in contract talks with Hollywood’s largest studios -- talks that broke down a month ago -- a less militant collection of actors has started a campaign to take over the guild.
▪  In today's NY Times -- Last-minute mischief for Labor Dept. (editorial) -- The Department of Labor has shirked its responsibility to upgrade workplace safety.
▪  Today from AP -- Verizon, unions agree to extend talks -- CWA, IBEW agree to "stop the clock" on contracts that were set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

Election 2008:
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Obama leads, pessimism reigns among low-wage workers -- Obama holds a 2 to 1 edge over McCain among the nation's low-wage workers, but many are unconvinced that either presidential candidate would be better than the other at fixing the ailing economy or improving the health-care system, according to a new national poll.
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Wal-Mart wants to make sure its employees don't vote Democratic -- Wal-Mart and all its $13 billion in 2007 profits are quaking. The retail monolith is scared that Democrats will be elected to office this fall -- and might pass legislation that would level the playing field for workers seeking to join unions.
▪  Today from AP -- Wal-Mart denied meddling in election  

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2008
WSLC's 2008 Convention begins today in Vancouver

Here's the agenda for the Washington State Labor Council's 2008 Constitutional Convention, being held beginning today at the Vancouver Convention Center:

MONDAY, AUGUST 4

9:00 a.m. -- Convention convenes
9:30 -- WSLC President Rick Bender
10:00 -- Governor Chris Gregoire
10:30 -- Maria Elena Durazo, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
11:00 -- Health Care panel (including Nick Unger, Robby Stern, Sarah Cherin and Jeff Johnson)
11:40 -- Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain
Noon -- LUNCH
1:30 p.m. -- Workshops (Political Action, Project Help, Health & Safety Grants) 
3:15 -- Workshops (Community Colleges, Women's Committee, Health Care)
7:30 -- Movie: "Eye of the Storm: Our Fight for a Better Contract" (58-minute documentary about the longshore lockout at West Coast ports in 2002)
8:30 -- Talent show! (feat. MC J. "Jonah" Johnson)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5

9:00 a.m. -- Convention reconvenes
Welcome from State Rep. Jim Moeller, D-49th
9:15 -- Alison Eisinger on Affordable Housing
9:45 -- Deborah Bortner on the Foreclosure Crisis
10:00 -- Stephanie Celt on Fair Trade
10:15 -- Janice Adair on Cap and Trade
10:30 -- U.S. Sen. Patty Murray
11:00 -- B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair
11:30 -- State Treasurer Mike Murphy
LUNCH
1:30 p.m. -- Workshops (Worker Privacy Act, Economic Development and Transportation Committee, and Trade Policy)
3:15 -- Workshops (Immigration, Cap and Trade, State Health Care Reform)
5:30 -- COPE Barbecue

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6

9:00 a.m. -- Convention reconvenes
Welcome from State Rep. Deb Wallace, D-17th
9:20 -- Jim McIntire, candidate for State Treasurer
9:35 -- Peter Goldmark, candidate for Lands Commissioner
9:50 -- House Speaker Frank Chopp
10:10 -- David Alexander, National Labor College
10:20 -- State Senator Craig Pridemore, D-49th
10:45 -- U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell
Noon -- President's Club luncheon (speaker: U.S. Rep. Brian Baird) 
2:00 p.m. -- Statewide COPE (political endorsement action)
-- Consideration and adoption of resolutions
4:00 -- Adjourn for the day
6:00 -- Convention Reception
7:00 -- Convention Banquet (speaker: U.S. Rep. Brian Baird and comedian Peggy Platt)
9:00 -- Live music and dancing

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7

9:00 a.m. -- Convention reconvenes. if necessary
-- Consideration and adoption of resolutions (until adjournment)

Copyright © ^{2008 --  Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO}