Election 2008:
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Obama tells AFL-CIO Council he's counting on union movement -- The presidential candidate says he is counting on the union movement’s largest-ever voter mobilization to play a key role in his drive to take back the White House for working families on Election Day.

National news:
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Wal-Mart's attempt to kill employee choice backfires --  When Wal-Mart tried to squelch the Employee Free Choice Act by requiring its employees to sit through mandatory meetings that stress the downside for workers if stores were to be unionized, it didn’t expect the idea would backfire. But after the story broke, folks who had never heard of or discussed the EFCA began talking about it and learning why it’s needed.
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- AFL-CIO Exec. Council welcomes 3 new members, honors 4 retiring members -- Joining the council are AFT's Randi Weingarten, IATSE's Matthew Loeb, and AFSA's Jill Levy.
▪  In today's NY Times -- Inquiry finds underage workers at Iowa kosher meat plant -- The child labor law violations at the Agriprocessors plant included employing minors in prohibited jobs, exposing them to hazardous chemicals, and making them work with prohibited tools like knives and saws.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Iraq has $79 billion, but U.S. footing reconstruction bill -- The unspent windfall, which covers surpluses from oil sales from 2005 through 2008, will reinforce the growing debate about the $48 billion in U.S. taxpayer money devoted to rebuilding Iraq so far.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2008
Murray urges labor to elect Obama, fight for tanker contract

Sen. Patty Murray is excited.

"I'm excited because after eight... very... long... years, we are going to see a change in the White House," Washington's senior U.S. Senator told more than 400 delegates and guests at the Washington State Labor Council's 2008 Convention in Vancouver. As Tuesday's keynote speaker, Sen. Murray reminded everyone that electing Barack Obama was the key to restoring both the freedom to choose unions and the middle class in this country.

"We cannot afford to keep going down the path of George Bush and John McCain, it's time for an administration that puts working families first again!" she exclaimed, earning a standing ovation from the assembly. (See Sen. Murray's speech.)

But Sen. Murray's loudest ovation came when she pledged to continue fighting for the $35 billion Air Force refueling tanker contract to create jobs in this country, and in this state. The Air Force initially awarded the contract to European-based Airbus/EADS, but the Pentagon recently decided to reopen the competition for the contract after government auditors found significant errors in the Air Force's handling of the process.

"We’re going to have to keep fighting to make sure the Pentagon runs a fair and transparent competition – one that doesn’t tip the scales to favor one bidder," Murray said. "And I think you’ll all agree with me that it’s time we had someone in the White House who understands the need to preserve our domestic aerospace industry -- someone who values our workers and our leadership in that field.

"And we certainly don’t need someone who is fighting for the other team!" she added, referring to John McCain's efforts to help Airbus/EADS secure the contract.

Tuesday's session of the WSLC Convention began with a welcome from State Rep. Jim Moeller (D-49th) who told delegates that America doesn't have so much of a mortgage crisis as it has a pay crisis and blamed the looming recession on the Bush administration's failed economic policies. 

"So (President Bush said) Wall Street was drunk," Moeller said. "We're left to ask, who the hell was the bartender?"

Also addressing delegates Tuesday were Alison Eisinger, Director of the Seattle/ King County Coalition on Homelessness, on the need for affordable housing; Deb Bortner of the state Department of Financial Institutions on the foreclosure crisis; Stephanie Celt, Director of the Washington Fair Trade Coalition, on... fair trade; Janice Adair of the Department of Ecology on Cap and Trade proposals; State Treasurer Mike Murphy; John Ladenburg, the labor's endorsed candidate for State Attorney General; and British Columbia Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair who discussed the common challenges that trade unionists are facing with their Brothers and Sisters in Canada.

"There may be a border there that means a lot to some people," Sinclair said. "But it doesn't mean a lot to working people," who he said face similar battles over health care and corporate greed.

The WSLC Convention also honored to Union Sisters on Tuesday:

-- Former WSLC Political Director Diane McDaniel was given the Power to the People Award for her role in helping build the Washington State Labor Council political program into a model for AFL-CIO state federations across the country. She thanked delegates for the honor, and for keeping her grounded in the heady world of politics.

-- Terry Tilton, Assistant Executive Secretary of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, was given the Women's Committee's 2008 Elsie Schrader Award, which honors people who have helped advance women in leadership roles at their unions and for activism on behalf of women within the labor movement. Over the years, Tilton has mentored many women who are now successfully pursuing nontraditional construction occupations after personally experiencing being discouraged from entering the trades.

Here's the agenda for the rest of the convention, which runs through Thursday:

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}