►  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Initiatives would close state liquor stores -- The campaigns for two separate initiatives to privatize liquor sales both expect to have enough signatures, raising the prospect of two competing plans for voters to sort out this fall.

►  At Publicola -- It's unclear what happens if both liquor privatization measures pass -- The main difference between the two initiatives is that I-1100 would not include any price controls and would make the cost of liquor licenses the same for both small and large retailers; I-1105 would include some price controls and would require large retailers to pay more for licenses.

►  More Ballot-For-Sale news at TheOlympian.com -- Pop-tax repeal initiative to turn in signatures -- Initiative 1107 seeks to repeal taxes added this year on soda pop, bottled water, candy and certain processed meats. The American Beverage Association of Washington, D.C., has provided all but $25 of the more than $1.7 million raised by the campaign committee. That accounts for the remarkable speed at which signatures were collected over eight days so far.

►  In today's (Everett) Herald -- GOP state senate candidate says his tax appeal may attract voters -- Republican candidate Dave Schmidt hasn’t paid the property taxes on his Mill Creek condo since 2008 but isn’t worried it’ll cost him with voters this fall. “It shows I’m just like a lot of people in the district,” he said. “They will know they have someone in office who has been where they’ve been.” Schmidt said he’s battling to keep his home from foreclosure.

Boeing news:

►  At SeattlePI.com -- Boeing negotiations with St. Louis Machinists fail -- Negotiators from Boeing and its union machinists in St. Louis finished mediated talks Tuesday with no resolution to contract issue, IAM District 837 reported. A strike could start as soon as Friday. The main sticking point is Boeing's proposal to replace defined-benefit pensions with a 401(k) plan for future hires represented by the union. Both sides appear to be digging in on the issue.

►  In the Wichita Eagle -- Spirit AeroSystems, Machinists reach tentative accord -- Machinists Local Lodge 839 has not yet released details of the tentative contract covering about 6,000 hourly workers in Wichita, but its negotiating team is expected to recommend that members accept the contract when they vote Friday -- the day the current contract expires.

The war on public employees:

►  In today's Seattle Times -- King County's labor policies should reflect today's fiscal reality (editorial) -- The county council must adopt new labor policies that eliminate automatic cost-of-living increases and having employees contributing to health premiums. There is a sense among some unions that if they just hold on, or just wait it out, that robust revenues will return and employees will not have to give anything back. Those who await bigger tax revenues are fooling themselves. The county has to get into the contracts and make key changes.

►  In today's Yakima H-R -- Commission takes hard line before union talks -- Yakima County commissioners signaled a tough stance in future bargaining with employee labor groups after reviewing budget cuts that will result in 10 layoffs. They said labor costs continue to be a contributor to expenses that are outstripping revenues during the current economic downturn.

►  In today's Columbian -- City rec workers form union, prepare to talk -- Employees in Vancouver’s recreation department have joined with AFSCME and contract talks will begin soon. The new union has 37 members. It’s just one of city's several ongoing and upcoming labor negotiations.

Local news:

►  In today's News Tribune -- Construction jobs in state still shrinking -- Washington construction jobs continued declining in May, with 700 fewer jobs available than in April, the AGC reports. Last month, 137,800 people held construction jobs in the state compared with 163,200 in May a year ago. That 15.6% year-to-year decline put Washington near the top of the list of states suffering the largest percentage declines in their active construction labor forces.

►  In today's News Tribune -- Pierce Transit's all-or-nothing approach is flawed (editorial) -- The agency is framing the decision in a simple way: The public either accepts higher taxes during the worst economy since the Great Depression or its transit services get gutted. Simple, but not honest. It smacks of an agency that doesn’t want a painful economic crisis to go to waste.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Seattle teachers union wants board to delay superintendent's contract -- At a union meeting Monday, Seattle teachers recommended that the Seattle School Board not extend Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson's contract until she shows significant improvement in how she works with parents, teachers and other members of the community

►  At TheOlympian.com -- TransAlta deal leaves some environmentalists uneasy -- The power plant in Centralia has reached agreement with state over reducing its emissions, but environmental groups including the Sierra Club are not so pleased, wanting even fewer emissions.

And, as if you didn't have enough to worry about...

►  In today's LA Times -- Social Security: Will Obama panel cripple it with "minor" tweaks? (Michael Hiltzik column) -- The instrument causing Social Security advocates anxiety today is the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which President Obama created in February to address the long-term budget deficit. Everything, including so-called entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security, should be on the table, he said, prompting some progressives to worry that he's plotting to offer Republicans cuts in Social Security in exchange for their agreeing to tax increases. it is the most efficient and successful government program in American history, saving millions of individuals and families from destitution since 1940. For some reason, there are people in Washington who don't like that idea. It's up to those who understand the program's virtues to drown them out, and make sure that their voices are heard deep inside the White House.

►  In today's (Everett) Herald -- Reducing Social Security benefits isn't "responsibility" (John Burbank column) -- President Obama's "Fiscal Responsibility Commission" seems to be intent on cutting Social Security benefits. Here is a better idea: propose a financial transaction tax. This would curb the out-of-control speculation and gambling that brought down our economy.

National news:

►  From AP -- Senate confirms two NLRB nominees -- The Senate has confirmed two candidates to be NLRB members, breaking a stalemate that has disrupted the board's ability to resolve labor-management disputes. Those winning confirmation were union lawyer Mark Pearce and Brian Hayes, the Republican labor policy director on the Senate committee that oversees labor issues. Not confirmed was was Craig Becker, a third NLRB nominee that Republicans have united in opposing because of his close ties to organized labor groups. 

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- Public supports paid sick leave -- Three-quarters of Americans say that paid sick leave should be a “basic workers’ right” and that Congress should pass legislation that guarantees workers paid sick leave, according to a new survey. Nearly half of all private-sector workers -- and 76% of low-income workers -- have no paid sick days and the survey found that one in six workers has lost a job for taking time off work to care for themselves or a sick family member.

►  In today's NY Times -- New UAW chief is taking on Toyota plants -- The union has been trying, and failing, to organize workers at Toyota for almost as long as the company has had assembly plants in this country. But now Bob King, the union’s new leader, says Toyota is vulnerable because of its safety problems and recalls. He has called on union members to picket Toyota dealerships and has vowed to “pound on Toyota” on the organizing issue at its 10 U.S. plants. 

►  In today's Washington Post -- Major online retailers split on plan to cut Saturday mail -- Amazon.com will tell lawmakers that delivery cuts are "a bad idea," while Netflix, the DVD mail-rental company, will say cuts would have little, if any, impact on its subscribers.