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January 28, 2010 |
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Updated DAILY... Almost Every Day!™ by 9 a.m. Pacific
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Thursday
Rally
to Protect Our Future: Feb. 15
The Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition is planning a major rally at noon on Presidents Day, Monday, February 15 on the Capitol Steps in Olympia. All union members are urged to attend and urge legislators to
stop devastating cuts to education, health care, and services for the most vulnerable. Instead, our state should close tax loopholes and create other sources of revenue. The future of our state and our economic prosperity depend on it! Read more.
State of the Union news:
America's workers: Show us the jobs
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: "Americans are also deeply frustrated and angry. We want to see elected leaders who’ll fight for us and bring real change. We want jobs -- President Obama is absolutely right that jobs must be our number one focus in 2010. And we must act on a scale that will be meaningful." Read more.
► From AP -- Voters to president: Less talk, more action -- Millions of Americans tuned in to the State of the Union address, aching for solutions but wary -- aware that in too many places voters are no better off today than when they elected Obama. Many are so disillusioned with their economic situations that they are tired of all the politics and promises and want action.
► In today's NY Times -- Obama to Democrats: "Don't run for the hills" -- President Obama used his address to chastise Republicans for working in partisan political lock-step against him and for obstructing efforts to create jobs. And he warned Democrats to stiffen their political spines.
► At NYTimes.com -- Health care moves down the agenda -- After spending 2009 emphasizing it as his top domestic priority, Obama gave it much less prominence in his address. He did not mention it until more than half an hour in -- a sign of how imperiled the bill has become.
► In today's Wash. Post -- Justice Alito: "You lie!" (well, not quite) -- Obama criticized this week's Supreme Court decision removing limits on corporations' political contributions: "I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests or, worse, by foreign entities." In the audience, Justice Samuel Alito mouthed the words "not true, not true."
Local news:
► In today's Seattle Times -- Washington
to get $590 million for high-speed rail improvements -- The stimulus
money, aimed at improving rail travel times from Blaine to Portland, is the
Northwest's piece of an $8 billion package for high-speed rail, to be
announced today by Obama. "Anybody who travels the I-5 corridor in our
state knows that we need to find new, efficient options to get commuters and
commerce moving. And anybody interested in boosting our state's economy
knows that now is a great time to take action," said a statement from
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
► In today's Olympian -- Shared Work proves popular -- Shared Work allows full-time employees whose hours have been cut by at least 10% to make up the difference with unemployment benefits. A record number of businesses utilized the state program in 2009 to offset the slower economy, and that pace continues this year. Last year, 2,800 businesses and 51,000 employees used the program, up from 621 employers and 21,272 employees in 2008.
► In today's Tri-City Herald -- DOE vows to help with transition to fewer Hanford jobs -- Hanford is receiving nearly $2 billion in economic stimulus money to help speed cleanup, including work that had been planned for later years. That accelerated work means that the size of the program will begin to decrease, the DOE says, and the agency wants to ease that transition.
► In today's Seattle Times -- Seattle Symphony, management reach tentative agreement -- The deal ends months of tense negotiations and averts a strike. The 23-month, three-season contract would immediately cut musicians' pay by 5% until the end of this season, with the current pay scale resuming in 2011. Musicians also would pay a greater share of their health coverage.
► In the Daily News -- Longview school officials consider offering retirement incentives -- They may incent veteran teachers to reduce layoffs this spring, but the effort may not save much money.
► In today's (Aberdeen) Daily World
--
A
year after the mill -- In the white uniform
of a first-year culinary arts student, Robbie Davis has found a new passion 55
miles and 365 days away from his final shift at the Weyerhaeuser Co. sawmill
in Aberdeen. After nearly 38 years with the company, Davis was one of 220 employees laid
off. Scores of veteran workers, many with more than 30 years at
Weyerhaeuser, faced starting over in the middle of a crushing recession. Some focused on survival. Some embraced the chance to start over.
But a lot can change in a year.
Legislative news:
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Unemployment benefits are SAVINGS JOBS
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► In today's Olympian -- Oregon tax vote spurs interest here -- If the vote to increase taxes on businesses and the wealthy encouraged Democrats here to act boldly, leaders were not letting on. “It’s not changing our direction. It’s just heartening to know that other people have gone through it and done a pretty good job of having a dialogue with the public about how important public schools are and deserving of funding,’’ says House Speaker Frank Chopp.
► In today's Tri-City Herald -- Oregon tax vote won't alter Washington's course, legislators say -- "We've thought all along in the Senate that we can't take an all-cuts approach to the budget shortfall, but we can't take an all-revenue approach either," Brown said. "We're looking at a balance between the two, and the results from Oregon don't change strategy."
► At SeattleTimes.com -- Green light for tax increases? Gregoire praises Oregon vote -- Gregoire: "Oregon voters met the challenge of these difficult times and clearly said that schools, healthcare, public safety and other essential services cannot be forsaken. It is gratifying to see..." House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt (R-Chehalis): "They might be more socialist or whatever you want to call it than we are. I know we want to move that direction but I don't think we're as ready as they are." (Socialists?! Really? That's all you got? Whatever, indeed.)
► In today's Seattle Times -- Groups urge state to triple tax on polluters to plug budget hole -- Environmentalists are pushing to raise the "hazardous-substance tax" on petroleum, pesticides and other chemicals, which could bring in an extra $250 million a year. The Legislature could use up to $150 million a year over the first few years to plug the state budget shortfall with the rest dedicated to stormwater cleanup, which would get a larger share in future years.
► In today's (Everett) Herald -- House bill would give some day-care workers unions OK -- The House of Representatives voted 62-35 for a bill granting collective bargaining rights to workers at day care centers that receive state subsidies for serving low-income children.
► At SeattlePI.com -- Bill aims to speed up big transportation projects -- and silence Seattle? -- SB 6366 would eliminate the need to get some local permits for work on projects, like replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the 520 bridge, and expedite work by eliminating waiting periods.
► In today's Seattle Times -- State's mental-health-care system needs resources, family input (guest column by Martha Monfried) -- We cannot afford to eliminate or restructure the general-assistance program, reduce the Medicaid rates paid to mental-health providers or cut the unrestricted state dollars supporting those with mental illness as proposed in this round of budget cuts. If we do, more people like my sister will end up dead, in prison or on the street. Simply put, it is inhumane and uneconomic only to preserve or further block the revolving door of short hospital stays and inadequate follow-up support. We can and must do better.
Political news:
► In today's (Longview) Daily News -- State Dems, Gregoire back Heck for Baird seat -- The governor's endorsement is a boon to Heck, who faces a crowded field. The race is expected to attract unprecedented amounts of money from outside the district. Heck is also supported by former Congressman Don Bonker, former governor Booth Gardner, and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. Asked if Democrats are rallying around Heck to avoid a bloody and costly primary battle, Democratic party chairman Dwight Pelz said, "No, no. We have three strong Democrats in the race and the state party is not taking a position." (Where labor stands.)
► From AP -- Gregoire
memo for candidate broke law, regulators say -- The governor violated
state law by soliciting money for a congressional candidate during
the session, regulators say. Her campaign committee points to obvious
ambiguities in the law and said there was no intent to skirt it. (Meanwhile,
a WSLC e-mail that everyone
agrees did NOT violate
state law was referred to the State Police for possible criminal prosecution.
These nutty laws sure are ambiguous!)
► In today's Spokesman-Review -- City Councilman Bob Apple making his bid for Legislature -- The Spokane City Councilman will run against Andy Billig and Louise Chadez for retiring Democratic Rep. Alex Wood’s seat.
Boeing news:
► In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing says it can ride out global recession -- Prospects for deliveries, a vital issue to employment in Washington, remain relatively steady. In 2010, Boeing projects delivering 460 to 465 jets, about 20 fewer than this year. Those delivery slots are already sold out. The decrease will be almost entirely in the more expensive wide-bodies, built in Everett, including about a dozen fewer 777s because of a planned production cut in June. Despite some experts' recent predictions to the contrary, Boeing will hold its current production rate for the Renton-built 737 single-aisle jet "for the foreseeable future."
► In today's (Everett) Herald -- Better news for Boeing means bonus for employees -- Higher fourth-quarter earnings mean a big payout for local workers on Feb. 18. Eligible employees will receive up to seven days’ worth of additional pay. Machinists, who received a $1,500 payment in November as negotiated in their contract, won’t receive this incentive payment.
National news:
Deadline
is this Saturday, Jan. 30 for 2010 Union Plus Scholarships
For the past several months, the Washington State Labor Council has been advertising the availability of 2010 Union Plus Scholarships, which will provide $200,000 in scholarships to union members, their spouses and dependants. The scholarship application deadline is this Saturday! Learn more.
► In today's NY Times -- Ford reports $2.7 billion profit in 2009 -- The profit for 2009 was a swing of $17.5 billion from 2008, when it lost $14.8 billion. It is Ford’s first full-year profit since 2005.
► In today's Wall St. Journal -- Ford halts production of vehicle in China (subscription required) -- Ford has stopped production of a vehicle in China after discovering that the gas pedal used came from the supplier involved in the recall at Toyota.
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 28, 2010
Rally to
Protect Our Future on Feb. 15
Union
members: Attend state budget rally on Presidents Day in Olympia
The
Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition -- which includes the Washington
State Labor Council and several of its biggest affiliated unions -- is
planning a major rally at noon on Presidents Day, Monday, February 15 on
the Capitol Steps in Olympia. All union members are urged to make plans to
attend and to tell our elected officials to stand up against special-interest
lobbyists, the Eyman Extremists and the right-wing teabaggers and protect
our future during this economic crisis.
Help stop devastating cuts to education, health care, environmental programs, and services for the most vulnerable. Instead, our state should close tax loopholes and create other sources of revenue. The future of our state and our economic prosperity depend on it!
Members of the Washington Federation of State Employees, Council 28: Click here to register in advance for the rally. All others can RSVP or get more information at www.OurEconomicFuture.org.
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 28, 2010
America's
workers: Show me the jobs
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka On President’s State of the Union Address, January 27, 2010:
President Obama was exactly right when he spoke tonight of the stubborn resilience of the American people in the face of adversity. Despite daily insecurity and the deep hurt of not being able to find jobs, working people’s goodness, decency and hard work have kept our country going.
But Americans are also deeply frustrated and angry. We want to see elected leaders who’ll fight for us and bring real change. We want jobs -- President Obama is absolutely right that jobs must be our number one focus in 2010. And we must act on a scale that will be meaningful:
We need more than 10 million jobs just to get out of the hole we’re in. We want health care fixed. We want our leaders to break the stranglehold of Wall Street and the big banks and make them pay to repair the economic damage they created.
President Obama spoke directly to those concerns tonight. He called for a jobs bill and putting people to work. He called for America to take its place as a world leader by investing in our economic foundation, education, infrastructure and energy technology. He demanded tough financial reform. He called for curbing corporate influence, stopping tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas and enforcing trade rules. He committed to end the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. And he said we must finish the job of reforming health care.
The President was right to call out Republicans for obstructing change and putting politics ahead of progress.
Now it’s time for all of us to get busy and work together to bring the big changes that are essential-starting with enacting a jobs bill that is big enough to create jobs for the millions of people who want to work and can’t find jobs. The time for small change is long gone. We were pleased to see that the President embraced two of the job creation proposals we have made - investing in infrastructure and helping small businesses get credit through TARP funds.
We’re ready to fight for the President’s vision - and we’re going to insist that it be done right. That includes restoring the freedom of workers to bargain to make jobs into good jobs by passing the Employee Free Choice Act.
We will not agree with every aspect of every proposal. We will continue to be an independent voice for middle class Americans and fight for the change working families need-and we are ready to do more. This is the time for a broad movement of Americans demanding jobs and an economy that works for all, and we’re ready to put our energy and leadership into building that movement-taking the fight to the doorstep of the banks that are exploiting struggling homeowners, of corporations that are running away from communities and of lawmakers who choose to back them up.
We hope elected leaders at every level will choose instead to lead with action. Working America is watching to see what they do. We are in a “show me” kind of mood and we are ready to see results.
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 28, 2010
Deadline
Jan. 30 for 2010 Union Plus Scholarships
For the past several months, the Washington State Labor Council has been advertising the availability of 2010 Union Plus Scholarships, which will provide $200,000 in scholarships to union members, their spouses and dependants. The scholarship application deadline is this Saturday, January 30, 2010.
Click
here to download the application.
Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship program has provided more than $2.8 million to help fulfill the educational dreams of students who represent millions of working families across the nation. Union Plus Scholarship awards are presented annually.
In 2009, 133 students were awarded a total of $200,000 in scholarships from the Union Plus Scholarship program, which is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation with funding from HSBC, the issuer of the Union Plus Credit Card.
All members of unions participating in the Union Plus programs (as well as their spouses and dependent children) are eligible to apply for scholarships. You do not need to participate in a program in order to be eligible.
How the Scholarship Program Works
In addition to demonstrating academic ability, applicants are required to submit essays of no more than 500 words describing their career goals, detailing their relationship with the union movement and explaining why they are deserving of a union scholarship.
Individuals must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Graduate school students are also eligible for Union Plus Scholarships. There is no requirement to have participated in any Union Plus program in order to apply.
For more information, visit the Union Plus website.
Copyright © 2010 -- Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO