TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2009
Washington work safety ad campaign launched 

The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), in partnership with the Washington State Labor Council and three other business and labor organizations, began an advertising campaign Monday to raise awareness about the importance of workplace safety in Washington state.

Television, radio and Internet ads in Western Washington will spread the message that the most important reason for making your workplace safe is not at work at all. Instead, workplace safety is important as a means of sustaining relationships with family and friends outside the workplace.

The centerpiece ad, called “Homecomings” (posted at the top of this page) shows people coming home from work to their loved ones, juxtaposed against one boy who is worried that his dad isn’t home from work yet. The ad concludes with a reminder that, on average, two people die every week in Washington from on-the-job injuries and illnesses. The ads call attention to WorkSafe.Lni.wa.gov and resources for making workplaces safer.

Co-sponsoring the ad campaign are the Washington State Labor Council, the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, the Association of Washington Business, and Associated General Contractors.

“Running this campaign now is particularly important because there are significant risks to workplace safety during an economic recession,” said L&I Director Judy Schurke. She noted that businesses may be tempted to cut corners on workplace safety when times are tight, and employees worried about having no other job options may not speak up about unsafe conditions. Also, employees may be fatigued from additional workloads or may be doing unfamiliar tasks, making them more prone to injury.

“These ads are a great reminder that this issue isn't just about saving money on workers' compensation premiums, it's about doing everything we can to make sure the workers in Washington state arrive home safely to their loved ones," said WSLC President Rick Bender.

L&I purchased licensing rights to an award-winning workplace-safety campaign developed in Australia, saving creative and development costs. The ads were revised for Washington residents, including voice-overs to eliminate the Australian accent.

In Australia, surveys showed that about 85% of viewers thought the ads were quite or very effective. Also, 24% of employers and 18% of employees said they had personally taken action as a result of the campaign. This was considered a very strong result in a low-interest category such as occupational safety and health.

About $450,000 in TV and radio airtime and Internet space has been purchased. The money comes from dedicated workers’ compensation funds, which can’t be used for purposes other than workers’ comp and workplace safety. Preventing one workplace injury that turns into a long-term pension could pay for the cost of the campaign. Currently, L&I has 3,964 claims with costs for each that are more than $450,000.

The ads will run in May and June, and again in September and October, with some radio advertising also airing in July and August.

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2009
New law commits state to health care reform
But good news in horrible year is dampened as SB 5945 is partially vetoed

Health care advocates throughout the state left this year’s legislative session with grave concerns and huge challenges: the legislature cut $1 billion out of Washington ’s health care, public health, and long term care system crippling the Basic Health Plan, vastly increasing the number of uninsured Washingtonians and seriously straining our community health clinics and emergency rooms.

In the midst of these drastic cuts, one bill gave the Healthy Washington Coalition (HWC) and other advocates some hope on the horizon.  The Legislature approved SB 5945 to establish a goal of guaranteeing quality affordable health care coverage of all Washingtonians by 2014. (The HWC is a group of more than 90 health care, hospital, labor and community organizations -- including the Washington State Labor Council -- that supports secure, quality, affordable, health care for all Washingtonians.) 

Gov. Gregoire signed SB 5945 into law on Monday, but surprised HWC by vetoing one section that established a process of quarterly meetings by an unpaid advisory group to "monitor the progress of health care reform legislation at the federal level, with the goal of aligning state health care activities so that the state is prepared to participate in federal health care reform..." The governor said she vetoed the section because the legislature made no appropriation to cover staff time for the advisory group.

"We were all caught by surprise at the bill signing that the governor decided to veto a very important part of the bill," said HWC Chair Robby Stern. "We wish we could have discussed the governor's cost concerns and come up with a solution that preserved this section. It's just very unfortunate that we were given no 'heads-up,' or even consulted before the surprise veto. 

Despite the partial veto, the HWC remains committed to working aggressively to see that the remainder of the new law under SB 5945 achieves its goal.

"We are fortunate to have Senator Keiser and Representation Cody who, as health care leaders, are committed to achieving health care coverage for all Washingtonians," Stern said. "This year has been dismal and disappointing but the Healthy Washington Coalition remains committed to working with elected officials to create a better future that provides solutions to the failure of the health care system to deliver quality, affordable health care to a growing number of people in Washington ."

The Coalition put a high priority on preserving the health care safety net, and while the outcomes might have been even worse without the Coalition efforts, the health care safety net suffered extreme damage, particularly for the most vulnerable in our state.  

“We know that fixing the health care system is essential if we hope to overcome these challenging economic times,” said Ingrid McDonald, Advocacy Director, AARP Washington & member of the Healthy Washington Coalition Steering Committee.  “Containing costs and ensuring coverage for everyone is an important step in stabilizing and improving this rocky economy.”

While the HWC  continues to work towards health care reform in Washington they are also joining more than 150 other organizations on Saturday, May 30 for a March and Rally for “Health Care for All – Mother’s Leading the Way.” The May 30 event, which will feature U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and other prominent reform advocates, is a grassroots movement for national healthcare reform. Click here for more information about the rally.

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2009
KDNA Radio employees in Granger strike

The following press release has been distributed by Teamsters Local 760:

GRANGER (May 16, 2009) -- The employees at NCEC/KDNA Radio have elected to go on strike in support of their fellow employees who have been unfairly disciplined and/or terminated during an organizing campaign with Teamsters Union Local 760. Since the start of the campaign, NCEC/KDNA Radio has committed numerous unfair labor practices against the employees who work and serve the community at the radio station. 

The current Executive Director, Maria Fernandez, has terminated two employees for their involvement in the Union campaign. She has also suspended two others and denied other employees their lawful Weingarten rights.

The current Executive Director of KDNA radio has committed such acts as to secretly record conversations with the employees of the station without informing them, agreeing to a confidential mediation session with the employees and a community mediator then going on the air at the radio station and breaking confidentiality.

These are just some of the examples of the unfair acts being committed against the employees at NCEC/KDNA radio, a station that was founded on worker rights.

(signed)
Bob Koerner
Teamsters Union Local 760.

^{Copyright © 2009 --  Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO}