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January 8, 2009 |
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Thursday, January 8, 2009
WSLC publishes its 2009 Legislative
Position Papers
From minimum wage to workers' compensation, from overtime pay to unemployment insurance -- the Washington State Labor Council is not only the voice of Washington's labor movement, all too often it is one of the only voices in Olympia on behalf of everyday working people on these important issues. Every two years before the legislative biennium begins, the WSLC publishes Legislative Position Papers on specific legislative issues, including background information, labor's position and recent legislative histories. Learn more.
Reunification?
►
In today's NY Times -- Labor
calls for unity after years of division
The
presidents of 12 of the nation’s largest labor unions issue a call for reuniting
the American labor movement, which split apart three and a half years ago
when seven unions left the AFL-CIO and formed the rival federation Change to
Win. The reunification effort -- which was promoted by Obama's transition
team -- has several labor leaders calling for revamping and
modernizing the AFL-CIO, traditionally the nation’s main federation,
currently with 56 member unions. But several labor leaders have called for
replacing the AFL-CIO with a new, more dynamic group, and perhaps renaming
it because they vowed they would never rejoin the AFL-CIO. Labor officials said
they did not discuss on Wednesday who would succeed President John Sweeney,
74, who is scheduled to step down this year after heading the AFL-CIO.
Local news:
► In today's Seattle P-I -- Floods hit Western WA hard -- Floodwaters and avalanches shut down travel while thousands flee rising rivers that have reached historic levels before spilling over levees. More than 30,000 people have been told to leave their homes in the Puyallup River Valley, while floodwaters closed Interstate 5 south of Olympia, and the city of Tacoma declared a state of emergency in the face of flooding inundating the area.
► In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing jobs in Washington shrank late last year -- Boeing employment in Washington state slipped in the last two months of 2008, according to just-released numbers showing the first job reductions at the airplane maker since mid-2004.
►
In today's Bellingham Herald -- Intalco
to eliminate 80 more jobs -- The company says it
doesn't know specifically which jobs will be eliminated, but the cuts will
be "across the board," including salaried, hourly and contractor
positions, throughout the first half of the year.
► In today's Spokesman-review -- 165 mining workers to lose jobs at Teck Comico -- The Canadian mining company files paperwork officially announcing permanent layoffs of 165 workers at its Pend Oreille zinc mining and milling operations near Metaline Falls.
► In today's Spokesman-Review -- Former Tidyman's grocery workers recoup some savings -- They recoup a fraction of their retirement savings by settling part of their suit against executives.
► In the Tennesseean -- Vought plans to replace strikers -- The aircraft component company (and Boeing supplier) has told almost 900 striking employees that if they don't come back to work they will be permanently replaced. The IAM members have been on strike for 101 days, with the main sticking point in negotiations being Vought’s insistence on replacing a defined pension plan with a 401(k) type plan for workers with less than 16 years of seniority. (Sound familiar?)
State government news:
► In today's Kitsap Sun -- Future of ferries at stake; are Bremerton, Kitsap ready? -- Legislators will decide what form the financially strapped system will take in the future. Local lawmakers can't go to bat for riders if they don't know what they want. (Public hearings begin.)
► In today's Daily World -- Harbor legislators head into budget-crunching session -- Asked if any of the legislators would be in favor of raising taxes, no one responded favorably to the idea. They said it would take two-thirds of the Legislature to pass a tax increase and they said that kind of support isn’t there. Sen. Jim Hargrove (D- Hoquiam) says an increase in “fees” is a possibility.
National
news:
► At AFL-CIO Now -- Survey: Public strongly supports Employee Free Choice Act -- A new survey released today shows 78% of those polled want to see legislation that protects workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain for a better life -- great news and a strong signal to Congress and President-elect Barack Obama that we need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
► From AP -- Obama warns of dire consequences without stimulus -- He says the recession could "linger for years" unless Congress pumps money into the economy, making his highest-profile case yet on an issue certain to define his early presidency.
► In today's NY Times -- Obama promises bid to overhaul retiree spending -- He says overhauling Social Security and Medicare would be “a central part” of his efforts to contain federal spending, signaling for the first time that he would wade into the thorny politics of those programs.
► In today's LA Times -- Stock downturn leaves pension underfunded, study says -- The collapse of the stock market last year left corporate pension plans at the largest companies underfunded by $409 billion, reversing a $60-billion pension surplus at the end of 2007. Shoring up the plans could cause further pain for workers, businesses and the struggling economy.
► Today from AP -- Continuing jobless claims rise more than expected -- The number of people continuing to seek unemployment benefits has risen sharply, indicating that laid-off workers are having a harder time finding new jobs as the recession enters its second year.
► In today's Bellingham Herald -- Washington state lawmakers want to reject their pay increases -- Congressional members from our state say they would prefer not to get a $4,700-a-year pay raise amid a recession with millions of people unemployed. But they may not be given a chance to turn it down. The 2.8% raise, increasing base salaries to $174,000, took effect Tuesday.
► In today's NY Times -- Behind the health spending data (editorial) -- Buried in new statistics was sobering evidence that growing health costs can only be remedied through deep-seated reform.
Every two years
before the legislative biennium begins, the WSLC
publishes Legislative Position Papers on
specific issues, including background information, labor's
position and recent legislative histories.
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 8, 2009
WSLC publishes 2009 Legislative Position Papers
From
minimum wage to workers' compensation, from overtime pay to unemployment
insurance -- the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO is not only the voice of
Washington's
labor movement, all too often it is one of the only voices in Olympia on
behalf of all working people on these important issues.
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Where We Stand Here are
the WSLC's 2009 Legislative Position Papers on specific legislative
issues. Each has background information, labor's position and recent
legislative histories. Download
a 50-page PDF file of the entire document: Health Care and Prescription Drugs Immigration Reform, Guest Workers & New Americans Minimum Wage and Tip Penalties Overtime Pay & Wage-Hour Standards "Right-to-Work" vs. Free Bargaining State Employee Collective Bargaining Tax Policy, Subsidies & Economic Development Workers'
Compensation |
The Position Papers -- listed at the left -- are intended to provide a summary of the issues affecting working families that have come up and are likely to come up again in the State Legislature. They are a quick educational and reference tool for legislators and others who follow the legislative process.
The WSLC also publishes a weekly Legislative Update newsletter, the first 2009 edition of which will be published tomorrow (Friday) outlining the council's legislative agenda for this session. Click here to join the WSLC's email listserve to make sure you receive the Legislative Update.
The United Labor Lobby will hold its first meeting at the WSLC's Olympia office at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 12 -- the first day of the 2009 legislative session. The time and day of future meetings will be announced at the meeting.
More detailed information about legislative issues are available upon request. For more information, email Communications Director Kathy Cummings or call her at 206-281-8901.
The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO is the largest labor organization in the state, a nonprofit association of some 500 AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions and organizations, representing approximately 400,000 union members across Washington.
One of the services the WSLC provides to its affiliated organizations is legislative education and advocacy. As is the case with collective bargaining, by joining forces and speaking with a united voice on issues affecting working families, labor has greater influence.
There are approximately 580,000 union members in the state -- 20.2% of the non-agricultural workforce -- ranking Washington as the 4th most unionized state in the nation.
Copyright © 2009 -- Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO