WSLC Reports Today -- February 17, 2009

February 17, 2009

Feb. 13. Latest WSLC Legislative Update

Feb. 12: Aid sought for fire victims

Feb. 11: Legislative Conference agenda

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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

WFSE members rally to oppose all-cuts budget
More than 100 WFSE members converge on Olympia on Monday to fight the governor’s “all-cuts budget.” Locals from the entire I-5 corridor, Yakima and the Olympic Peninsula met one-on-one with legislators to give first-hand accounts of the devastating effects of the proposed budget on the vulnerable, public safety, health, recreation and the environment. Read more.

► In today's Olympian -- Rally calls for saving programs -- WFSE President Carol Dotlich says that people applying for unemployment insurance benefits or enrolling in a community college for more training are relying on state workers. "This is about quality of life -- quality of life in your neighborhood, quality of life in your communities and your entire state," she said.

► At TheOlympian.com -- WFSE's Devereux on tax exemptions -- A video of WFSE's executive director discussing why the state should close tax exemptions to help close the budget gap.

► At Publicola -- Last Republican WA governor's advice to Gregoire: Raise taxes -- Former Gov. John Spellman: ”I didn’t get elected to balance the budget. I got elected to serve the people, and at a certain point you’ve got to do what’s necessary -- raising taxes.”

Unemployment news:

► Today from AP -- Gregoire signs measure boosting jobless benefits -- "Our goal today is to put in their pockets some much-needed money," the governor said before signing her first bill this legislative session. The measure boosts the minimum weekly benefit amount, and adds $45 a week for all jobless workers. That makes the minimum payment $200 per week, and the maximum $586. (The WSLC applauds and thanks all the legislators who supported this.)

► In today's Everett Herald -- Timely boost in unemployment benefits -- Bigger benefit checks will go out starting in May, the result of legislation approved at both the state and federal levels.

► From Bloomberg -- Stimulus plan would alter unemployment system -- Rep. Jim McDermott inserted a provision to reward states that adopt changes in unemployment benefits, including providing benefits to people who quit a job for a "compelling family reason" such as caring for a sick or disabled member of their immediate family, or because of domestic violence.

► From AP -- Sen. Murray says stimulus isn't cure-all -- She visits Democratic leaders in the state legislature to talk about how the stimulus plan will help the state, which will get $7 billion under the plan for everything from transportation projects to food stamps to education.

► In the Tri-City Herald -- Hastings votes "no" on stimulus despite Hanford money -- The stimulus will provide up to $2 billion in extra cleanup money for Hanford, enough to create or sustain almost 3,000 jobs. He says it requires stable annual funding, not just a one-time boost.

Other legislative news:

► From AP -- Senate Democrats seek more oversight for Retro rebates -- The plan would require business groups to disburse most refund money to the businesses that paid for the insurance within 90 days. The groups could keep some of the money for administrative costs, but they would have to show those they insure, as well as L&I, how the rebate money was spent.

► In today's Yakima H-R -- Bill would give employers a teen minimum wage break -- HB 1928 would allow workers under 18 to be paid the federal minimum wage, which is $6.55 an hour.

► In The Olympian -- Bill's cuts aim at middle management -- A bill from Rep. Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor) would require reports on the number of state managers and their bonuses.

► In the Seattle P-I -- Ferry riders shore up support -- They will descend en masse on Olympia on Wednesday to rally support for WSF as it grapples with financing and service problems.

Local news:

► In today's Seattle P-I -- Starbucks spars over union -- How is it that a perceived latte-sipping lefty company finds itself in legal disputes with union employees around the country? In recent months, Starbucks has tussled with the Starbucks Workers Union in cases in three states: New York, Michigan and Minnesota. The company has settled three unfair labor practice complaints. (Also see our Jan. 6 posting: EFCA poster boy: Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz -- Need another reason to hate Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz? (Besides that he sold the Seattle SuperSonics to a bunch of Oklahoma City yahoos that had no intention of keeping the team in Seattle.) How about that he has overseen the spending of millions of dollars on anti-union consultants and lawyers to block his employees' attempts across the country to form a union?)

► From AP -- No more free lunch for overtime work at Hanford -- After more than half a century, the DOE has decided the use of federal funds to provide meals for OT workers must end. Many workers who get a 30-minute lunch break are 30 miles from the nearest eateries in Richland.

► In Sunday's Everett Herald -- Snohomish County defends pay raises amid layoffs, cuts -- Some 1,600 workers represented by county government's largest union (AFSCME) got a "signing bonus," which appeared on paychecks last month, an average of about $300 per worker.

► In today's Everett Herald -- Split air tanker deal? -- Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) says the U.S. Air Force should contract with both Boeing and Northrop Grumman-EADS.

Employee Free Choice Act news:

► In today's Lincoln (NE) J-S -- Workers and the country need the EFCA (John Sweeney and Ken Mass op-ed) -- Rebuilding America's middle class must be at the cornerstone of any effort our nation undertakes to fix this economy. We need the EFCA now more than ever. It will lift workers’ wages and benefits, and give our nation’s middle class a solid base from which to recover.

► At Huffington Post -- Mobilizing for the EFCA (Stewart Acuff column) -- It will take a huge demand and the largest grassroots legislative mobilization ever, to win the EFCA and restore balance to an economy ruined by deregulation, obscene greed, a fetish for disastrous free market economics, and 30 years of failed, now completely discredited trickle down economics.

National news:

► In The Nation -- Can green jobs be good jobs? -- A year ago, the Steelworkers stood alone in its Blue-Green Alliance with the Sierra Club, but today it includes the CWA, LIUNA, SEIU and the Teamsters, all of which have programs on green jobs. The chance to grow membership through green jobs is a rare opportunity, which unions are taking up with alacrity.

► In today's NY Times -- Union talks seen as key as GM makes case for funds -- With its access to a government lifeline possibly at risk, GM executives are locked in intense negotiations with leaders of the United Automobile Workers over ways to cut its vast bills for retiree health care.

► From McClatchy -- More of economic-rescue plan to be unveiled -- This week will be pivotal for Obama and the economy, as interlocking parts of his effort are signed, sealed or delivered.

► At AFL-CIO Now -- Chao's husband slows Senate vote (again) on Solis nomination -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has threatened to filibuster any of Obama’s cabinet and judicial nominees unless they meet a brand new set of conditions.

► In today's LA Times -- As CA legislature adjourns, governor prepares to lay off 10,000 -- In addition to shutting down public-works projects, Schwarzenegger moves toward massive state layoffs as legislators again fail to garner the final GOP vote needed to pass a budget.

► In today's NY Times -- Helping workers in hard times (editorial) -- The avalanche of lost jobs and grim national mood cry out for the laying of blame, and restrictionist groups are angrily pointing at illegal immigrants. But driving out every undocumented worker, a temptation in hard times, clears the way for laid-off Americans to pick lettuce, wash dishes and cars, and wait all morning outside Home Depot for a contractor to drive up. That doesn’t sound terribly smart.

► In today's Seattle P-I -- They sure showed that Obama (Frank Rich column) -- With passage of the stimulus deal, just as in the presidential campaign, Obama has once again outwitted the punditocracy and the opposition. The same crowd that said he was a wimpy hope-monger who could never beat Hillary or get white votes was played for fools again.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2009
WFSE members rally to oppose "all-cuts" budget

The following account of Monday's rally organized by the Washington Federation of State Employees, AFSCME Council 28 is posted at WFSE.org:

More than 100 Federation members from across the state converged on the Capitol Campus in Olympia on Monday’s Presidents’ Day holiday to fight the governor’s “all-cuts budget.”

Locals from the entire I-5 corridor, Yakima and the Olympic Peninsula met one-on-one with legislators to give first-hand accounts of the devastating effects of the governor’s proposed budget on the vulnerable, public safety, health, recreation and the environment.

It comes during a week when an unprecedented early preview of the next revenue forecast comes out. Also up are several hearings on higher education cuts and a major legislative attack on your health benefits.

The highlight of Monday’s action came at a coalition rally organized by Seattle Local 304, which includes Seattle Community College.

“This is not the time to cut jobs,” Federation President Carol Dotlich told the Local 304 rally. “When you’re trying to save the economy, preserving a job costs far less than creating an entirely new job….

“This is the quality of your life. This is the quality of life for your neighborhoods, your communities and your entire state….

“We have to fight the all-cuts budget.”

“It hurts all over the place as far as I’m concerned,” said Janice Melrose, a fiscal technician 1 at the Seattle Vocational Institute and a member of Local 304.

“The cuts will hurt public safety,” said Judy Kuschel, a Community Corrections officer 3 in Vancouver and member of Local 313. “They’re going to make a lot of criminals unsupervised and victims of violence won’t have offenders monitored.”

“The cuts disproportionately affect weaker members of society in order to protect the richest members of society,” said Dan D’Haem, a WorkFirst program specialist in Seattle and member of Local 843. “So it’s like the anti-Robin Hood.”

“There’s 60,000 state employees who are all taxpayers and voters in this state and we contribute to the economy and we work, we pay taxes and we provide services in all agencies,” said Diane Rauschenberg, an adult training specialist 2 at Rainier School in Buckley and a member of Local 491.