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August 19, 2009 |
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Wednes
WSLC endorses Trumka, Shuler, Holt Baker
The
executive board of the Washington State Labor Council announces its
unanimous endorsement of the leadership team headed by Richard L. Trumka for
president of the national AFL-CIO. Also on the ticket is Arlene Holt Baker
who is seeking re-election as executive vice president and Liz Schuler, who
is seeking to fill Trumka’s current position as secretary-treasurer.
Read more.
► At Huffington Post -- Labor warns Dems: We'll sit out election if you oppose public plan -- Richard Trumka, the secretary-treasurer and likely next president of the AFL-CIO, said his federation is drawing a line in the sand when it comes to a public option in the health care bill. "We'll look at every one of their votes," Trumka said. "If they're against the Employee Free Choice Act, if they're against health care for that reason, I think it'll be tough for them to get support from working people."
Election results:
► CLICK HERE for links to county auditors' web sites with the latest election results for county and city races and ballot measures. CLICK HERE for results in special state legislative races.
► In today's Yakima H-R -- Out-of-state Democrat to face GOP incumbent in 15th District -- State Rep. David Taylor (R-Moxee) will face Democrat John Gotts, who pulled out of the race two months ago after deciding to move to California for a job.
► In today's Tri-City Herald -- Grant leads in 16th District race -- With 46% of the vote, incumbent Laura Grant (D-Walla Walla) leads a four-way race to hold the seat her father won for 11 terms.
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August recess health care events This month, tell your member of Congress to support health care reform and the America's Affordable Health Choices Act.
► TODAY
-- NARF
Chapter Meeting with Rep. Cathy McMorris
Rodgers (R-5th)
Wednesday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at All
Saints Lutheran Church, 314
S. Spruce St. in Spokane. |
Local health care news:
► In today's Oregonian -- Baird town hall simmers but doesn't boil over -- With at least 2,500 people drawn on a hot summer night to debate health care, Rep. Brian Baird's town hall bubbled with the potential for calamity. Instead, civility largely prevailed in the cavernous seating area of the Amphitheater at Clark County.
National health care news:
► In today's NY Times -- Democrats seem set to go it alone on health care bill -- Given hardening Republican opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of the minority’s cooperation in approving any overhaul, and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks. Top Democrats say that their go-it-alone view was being shaped by what they saw as Republicans’ purposely strident tone against health care legislation during this month’s Congressional recess, as well as remarks by leading Republicans that current proposals were flawed beyond repair.
► In today's Wash. Post -- Debate's path caught Obama by surprise -- Obama's advisers acknowledge that they were unprepared for the intraparty rift that occurred over the fate of a proposed public health insurance program, a firestorm that has left the White House searching for a way to reclaim the initiative on his top legislative priority.
► At Huffington Post -- House Democrats seek detailed financial info from health insurance companies -- The request included records relating to compensation of highly paid employees, documents relating to companies' premium income and claims payments, and information on expenses stemming from any event held outside company facilities in the past 2 1/2 years.
► In today's Wash. Post -- Whole Foods devotees lash out at CEO -- In an op-ed column in the Wall Street Journal last week, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey argued for health-care savings accounts and declared that health care is not an intrinsic right -- ideas with a conservative bent, which made Whole Foods' liberal customer base go ballistic. (Whole Foods is also aggressively anti-union and a vocal opponent of the Employee free Choice Act.)
► In The Onion -- Congress deadlocked on how not to provide health care -- "Both parties understand that the current system is broken," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Monday. "But what we can't seem to agree upon is how to best keep it broken, while still ensuring that no elected official takes any political risk whatsoever. It’s a very complicated issue."
"Ultimately, though, it's our responsibility as lawmakers to put these differences aside and focus on refusing Americans the health care they deserve," Pelosi added.
Health care opinion:
► At SeattlePI.com -- Health reform without a public option isn't real health reform (op-ed by state Sen. Karen Keiser) -- A public option has many advantages over a private, non profit organization--not the least of which is accountability -- a public option would be both publicly accountable and legally transparent. (Note the town hall meetings that Keiser has scheduled with Rep. Eileen Cody in the list of health care events at the right.)
► In today's NY Times -- The public plan (editorial) -- If President Obama wants to jettison the now-weakened public health plan to dampen overheated opposition, he should say what he will insist on instead.
Local news:
► In today's Everett Herald -- Sen. Murray: Aerospace is crucial -- Keeping the aerospace industry strong in Washington state isn’t just a regional issue, it’s a matter of national security, she says. Murray also talked about the health care bills in Congress, saying that if nothing is done the government will be spending one-third of its money on health care by 2025. She said Congress is trying to provide stable, competitive coverage for people that “can’t be taken away” and to stabilize spiraling medical costs. “The status quo is the most expensive option in the long run,” she said.
► In today's Yakima H-R -- Hanford cleanup will take longer, but is doable, thanks to pact (editorial) -- We are encouraged by the agreement forged between the federal government and this state. We have long been troubled by the repeated delays in fashioning an achievable cleanup effort at Hanford. Thanks to federal stimulus money, nearly $2 billion will be available to help speed up the cleanup. So far, the funds have saved nearly 300 Hanford jobs and created 1,424 more jobs.
► In today's Seattle Times -- Bellingham company owners admit knowingly hiring illegal immigrants -- Two members of an immigrant family that owns a Bellingham engine-manufacturing plant have pleaded guilty to knowingly hiring illegal immigrants in what is being called this area's first successful criminal prosecution of an employer under the nation's immigration laws.
► In today's Columbian -- Verify workers (editorial) -- Clark County is considering requiring contractors to use the online E-Verify system to validate the legal residence of workers hired for the largest public works projects. We encourage the county to move in this direction.
► In today's Bellingham Herald -- City notifies employees of layoffs, looks for deficit fixes -- City officials have notified 17 employees that their positions are being eliminated to help cut costs as the mayor battles more budget deficit issues. Their last day will be Sept. 30.
► In the Aberdeen Daily World -- Records request prompts lawsuit -- The union (IBT 252) that represents deputies and others in the county Sheriff’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Grays Harbor County aiming to block a public records request made by a private individual.
Unemployment news:
► From AP -- Washington state unemployment drops to 9.1% -- Washington's unemployment rate dropped to 9.1 percent in July and the state gained 4,000 jobs, an increase that hasn't happened in several months. The national unemployment rate was 9.4% for July.
► Regional unemployment coverage -- Oregon (11.9%); Clark County (13.7%); Snohomish (9.8%); Seattle Metro (8.9%); Spokane (8.2%); Whatcom (7.8%); Kitsap (7.3%); Yakima (7.2%); and Thurston (7.1%).
National news:
►
In today's Wall St. Journal -- Labor
Department to tighten scrutiny -- Labor Secretary Hilda
Solis has spent her first few months in office focusing on handing out $46
billion in stimulus money. Now, her department is adding staff and signaling
it will soon begin putting in practice the more assertive regulation of
business she promised early in her tenure. Solis has begun hiring 670 new
investigators to enforce labor regulations.
► In today's NY Times -- GM adds workers, shifts as demand surges -- A month after emerging from bankruptcy reorganization, GM is running low on cars. In response to the demand created largely by the “cash for clunkers” program, the company plans to bring 1,350 idled union workers in Ontario and Ohio back to work and provide overtime shifts for about 10,000 workers. GM plans to increase output at nearly all of its plants in the United States.
WEDNESDAY,
AUGUST 19, 2009
WSLC backs AFL-CIO's Trumka, Shuler, Holt Baker
The Washington State Labor Council distributed the following press release Tuesday afternoon:
"Rich Trumka has exactly what it takes to rally the labor movement as we fight to restore the middle class, battle for reform of our health insurance industry and pass the Employee Free Choice Act," said WSLC President Rick Bender. "He is a dedicated leader whose sense of justice and equality will help raise the consciousness of this country in the debate between corporate interests, government and the working families who are the backbone of this nation."
The diversity of the Trumka ticket was embraced by the WSLC executive board. Vice President Patty Rose, who is also the secretary-treasurer of the Pierce County Central Labor Council, said, "There is a tremendous excitement within the union movement to throw their support behind two strong women who will represent labor in this country. Arlene Holt Baker has rallied our union grassroots volunteers time and time again in support of political candidates who will champion labor’s causes. Liz Shuler is breaking a glass ceiling within the labor movement. Her election will mark a new path for women in labor and we support her one hundred percent."
Shuler is a friend of the labor movement in the Pacific Northwest having served as a legislative representative and grassroots organizer for IBEW Local 125 in Portland, Oregon. She currently serves as the executive assistant to IBEW International President Ed Hill.
"Liz lobbied with us in Olympia on behalf of the working families of this state," said WSLC Secretary-Treasurer Al Link. "We are excited to have her work with us on the national level and look forward to seeing her talent and energy in action. Her familiarity with the Northwest is also a bonus -- she knows our issues and we are proud to support her."
Richard Trumka is a third generation coal miner from southwestern Pennsylvania, who rose through the ranks to the presidency of the United Mine Workers of America and went on to become secretary-treasurer of the National AFL-CIO. He is endorsed by retiring President John J. Sweeney and, to date, is the only announced candidate for president of the 11 million-member AFL-CIO. The AFL-CIO will hold the elections at its convention scheduled for September 14th through 17th in Pittsburgh.
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The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO is the largest labor organization in Washington State representing over 400,000 working men and women and more than 600 affiliated unions. A state federation of the AFL-CIO, the WSLC is a voluntary non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and strengthening the rights and conditions of working people and their families.
Copyright © 2009 -- Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO