WSLC Reports Today -- February 18, 2009

February 18, 2009

Feb. 17: Rally: Oppose "all-cuts" budget

Feb. 13. Latest WSLC Legislative Update

Feb. 12: Aid sought for fire victims

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Retro snafus aside, workers' comp is a bargain
Washington state has the 14th lowest workers' compensation rates in the nation, according to the latest state-by-state comparison. In fact, because we are the ONLY state in the nation where workers pay a portion of the workers' comp premiums, currently estimated to be 25-27% of the costs, Washington actually ranks 4th LOWEST IN THE NATION in terms of employer costs. Yet still the business lobbyists in Olympia whine about workers' comp costs and plot new ways to cut benefits to injured workers. Read more.

'Dirty Jobs' host decries loss of skilled trade jobs in U.S.
Mike Rowe, the host of the Discovery Channel program "Dirty Jobs," believes there is a bias against skilled labor as well as a nationwide shortage of educational programs to provide training for high school students interested in pursuing those careers. His web site aims to raise awareness about the amount of skilled trades jobs being lost in the U.S. Read more.

Legislative news:

► In the Yakima H-R -- Too many "ifs" hamper state labor recruiter idea (editorial) -- Having states like ours get into the business of recruiting seasonal labor is asking for trouble. That's probably why Rep. Bruce Chandler (R-Granger) may amend his "Essential Worker" bill. Instead of seeking a federal waiver, he would have the state ease the bureaucratic tangle created by the guest worker provisions of the H-2A visas for agricultural workers and the H-2B classification for nonagricultural laborers. (Click here to learn more about this labor-opposed bill.)

► In today's Kitsap Sun -- Ferry riders try to rally support in Olympia -- Ferry supporters are going to Olympia today with a plan that includes specific ideas for saving money by using less fuel and cutting back on administrative staff. It also calls for dedicated revenues from gas taxes and for the ferry system to not pay state sales taxes on fuel.

► In today's Daily News -- Lawmakers launch bid to save Naselle Youth Camp -- SB 6039, sponsored by Sen. Brian Hatfield (D-Raymond) and HB 2234, filed by Reps. Dean Takko (D-Longview) and Brian Blake (D-Aberdeen) would allow young offenders to be sent directly to the youth camp for treatment and saving the state a significant amount in detention costs.

► In today's Olympian -- Gregoire must follow through on streamlining (editorial) -- Gov. Gregoire has kicked off an effort to streamline state operations, improve efficiency and make government more accountable to the public. It remains to be seen whether her actions match the rhetoric.

► In today's Seattle P-I -- Health care: Choose to invest (editorial) -- Other societies spend less but do a much better job of assuring basic health for everyone. In bad economic times, we must choose to make progress, or we will slip even further into brutally unequal health care results.

► At Publicola -- Elephant missing in Olympia. This is not a metaphor -- If YOU are the woman who ripped off the elephant statue from the Republicans' caucus room during the Governor's inaugural ball, you better return it. They have you on the security video.

Local news:

► In today's Seattle Times -- Metro Transit fears $100M shortfall, service cuts -- Plummeting sales-tax revenues, which account for two-thirds of Metro's revenue, could force "catastrophic" cutbacks in bus service, the agency warns. Unless the Legislature authorizes a local option MVET, county officials say, it will likely translate into a 20% cut in bus service.

► In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing's McNerney: Wage freeze won't work -- "More than a few of you have written to me asking whether we could avoid layoffs altogether by not paying incentive awards this year or by freezing wages across the board... (this) would put us at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to attracting and retaining the high-performing people."

► In today's Seattle P-I -- Union explores P-I buyout idea -- The Pacific NW Newspaper Guild is "trying to figure out if enough P-I employees are interested," says the union's Liz Brown. The Guild has never before bought out a paper but has facilitated buyouts. She noted the Guild itself would not buy a paper or launch a web site; those undertakings are outside its charter.

► In the Wichita Business Journal -- Boeing, SPEEA to resume contract negotiations -- Contract talks have been on hold since the union, which represents 700 workers in Wichita, rejected the company’s contract offer Feb. 5. Initial negotiations between the two sides began in November.

Auto industry news:

► At AFL-CIO Now -- UAW reaches agreement with Big 3 automakers -- UAW President Ron Gettelfinger: "The changes will help these companies face the extraordinarily difficult economic climate in which they operate."

► In today's Washington Post -- Once-mighty UAW yields to market -- The plan is expected to accelerate wage reductions, job cuts and loss of benefits, changes already spurred by foreign competition, declining sales and the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression.

► In today's LA Times -- GM, Chrysler seek $22 billion more from U.S. (us) -- In return, the automakers say, they'll slash jobs and vehicle lines. (Seriously. This story really says that.)

► Now, watch our new hero, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, rip this Fox NewsBot a new one:

More national news:

► In today's Washington Post -- Swift, steep downturn crosses globe -- Markets around the world plunged Tuesday as evidence mounted that the global economic crisis is worsening. The sharpness of the slowdown has alarmed economists, who see no obvious engine for recovery.

► In today's LA Times -- Business group condemns climate initiative on economic grounds -- The Western Climate Initiative, touted as a model for national global warming legislation, will strain the region's electricity grid and prolong the economic recession, a business group asserts.

► Today from AP -- Obama to unveil $75 billion mortgage relief plan -- The plan is more ambitious than initially expected -- and more expensive. It aims to aid borrowers who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are currently worth, and borrowers on the verge of foreclosure.

► At SeattlePI.com -- NEA chief has "high hopes" for Obama, Duncan -- Dennis Van Roekel shares his thoughts on the new president, the idea of "merit pay" and his priorities and plans.

Employee Free Choice Act news:

► In today's Chicago Sun-Times -- 3,000 union members rally for bill to make organizing union easier -- "How are we going to fix this economic mess without a middle class?" said housekeeper Shirley Brown to a cheering crowd representing dozens of unions around the city including AFSCME, the Teamsters and others in the public and private sectors.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009
Retro snafus aside, workers' comp's a bargain here

Following is an excerpt from the Washington State Labor Council's most recent Legislative Update newsletter:

Last week brought some disturbing news about a computer glitch that resulted in $10-15 million a year in workers' compensation overpayments to Retrospective Rating Programs. Hopefully, this will spur some overdue legislative scrutiny of the Retro program, how its refunds are calculated and delivered to participating employers, and whether the costly program is achieving its goal of safer workplaces.

Certain government-haters are already seizing upon this snafu as evidence that the state-run workers' compensation system is too costly and inefficient. Is it really?

Washington state ranks 38th in the nation -- or 14th lowest (including the District of Columbia) -- in terms of workers' comp rates, according to the latest state-by-state comparison conducted by Oregon's Department of Consumer and Business Services. The latest study by the Oregon agency, which is updated every two years, was released in October 2008.

In fact, the news is even better for Washington employers. We are the ONLY state in the nation where workers pay a portion of the workers' comp premiums, currently estimated to be 25-27% of the costs. Factoring that in -- which Oregon's study does not -- Washington actually ranks 48th, or 4th LOWEST IN THE NATION in terms of employer costs.

But don't expect to read about this good news in the newspapers. Why? Because it's the legislative session!

This is the time we wring our hands in worry because the gaggle of corporate lobbyists in Olympia, trying to save a buck for their clients, keep repeating that our workers' compensation costs (among other things) are too high and are harming the state's business climate.

This year has been no exception. Workers' compensation "reform" to lower costs is on the agenda for Boeing and the Association of Washington Business, among others. So, naturally, the echo chamber of public policy organizations that they fund agree it's a problem that needs a-fixin'. The Washington Research Council reports that our state "has among the most expensive workers' compensation" programs in the nation. (They don't cite a source for that particular research.)

Continuing to play its patented trump card -- "location is a choice" -- Boeing has called on the state to lower workers' compensation costs. And Lord knows, when Boeing talks/threatens, newspapers like The (Everett) Herald and Puget Sound Business Journal are quick to parrot its call to action, swallowing whole the fiction that our workers' comp costs are comparatively high. After all, "Boeing said so. At a luncheon. With lots of important people. That WE were invited to."

Does we sound bitter and snarky? Far from it!

The Washington State Labor Council takes great pride in joining the state Department of Community and Economic Development in touting Washington as a great place to do business. Forbes magazine agrees, ranking Washington the 3rd best state in the nation to run a business, as do the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (we're 5th best!) and even the conservative Washington Tax Foundation (we're 12th best!)

We just wish we weren't swimming upstream against the torrent of deliberately distorted negative publicity that spews from self-interested business lobbyists who, despite all evidence to the contrary, still insist that We Suck™.

Just imagine the positive impact on Washington's business recruitment efforts and job creation if a local CEO were to join us in proclaiming this state as the great place to do business that it is!

That's only happened once that we remember. Whatever happened to Kerry Killinger anyway?

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009
'Dirty Jobs' host decries loss of skilled trades jobs

Mike Rowe, the host of the popular Discovery Channel program "Dirty Jobs," has launched a web site -- www.MikeRoweWORKS.com -- aimed at raising awareness about the amount of skilled trades jobs being lost in the United States.

After four years as host of "Dirty Jobs," Rowe believes there is a bias against skilled labor as well as a nationwide shortage of educational programs to provide training for high school students interested in pursuing high-tech careers.

“I’ve come to believe that we marginalize skilled labor,” Rowe said. “We make fun of it. We avoid it. And the consequences of doing so are not good. Our infrastructure is crumbling around us. Yet somehow, we have a labor shortage and high unemployment.”

With an arsenal of information and considerable personal experience, Rowe promotes educational awareness and user participation on the unique website. A long-time supporter of unions, Rowe is committed to nothing less than changing how the world looks at work and skilled labor.