►  In the Spokesman-Review -- Initiative campaigns attract $30 million to state -- Soda pop sellers, liquor distributors and warehouse retailers are pouring millions of dollars into Washington to influence residents’ votes on a slew of statewide ballot measures. Some $30 million so far -- the majority from out of state -- has flooded the coffers of campaigns for or against an array of initiatives.

Local news:

►  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Recession impacting unions at negotiating table -- With 465,000 union workers, Washington is the fourth-most organized state in the union. But as labor leaders weigh in on how things are going this Labor Day, this is certain: Strong ranks don’t always translate to unions having the upper hand at the bargaining table in this era marked by furloughs, vanished pay hikes, higher costs for health-care, layoffs and watered-down retirement plans. If union workers are tense today, they’re more tense about tomorrow.

►  In the Olympian -- Governor's proposal to increase workers' health premiums follows national trend -- If state employees end up paying a higher share of their health insurance costs next year, they won't be alone. Gov. Gregoire's negotiators have proposed to hold the state’s monthly contribution even at an average $850 per worker.  (The money covers health, dental, life, disability and other insurance.) But that would lead to a whopping increase in their workers’ monthly share of insurance premiums -- to 26%, up from 12%. The WFSE, which is bargaining on behalf of about 40,000 workers, has rejected the governor’s offer. 

►  In the Olympian -- Unpaid furloughs set for today -- Nearly 50 agencies, boards or commissions will be shuttered Tuesday, marking the third state furlough aimed at saving payroll costs.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Steep rate hikes on way for individual health insurance -- Most insurers offering individual policies have asked for and been granted rate increases, effective Oct. 1, according to the state's insurance commissioner. Regence BlueShield's rate increase -- an average 16.5% -- was one of the highest. "It's just appalling," said a 60-year-old Seattle woman who received a letter from Regence: Her $708-per-month policy will jump to $994.

►  From AP -- UW archive gathers story of labor's history -- Washington has a strong history of labor organization, and the early leaders of the state's labor movement were colorful, powerful leaders who organized citywide strikes and held massive parades on Labor Day. The UW is making a special place for the documents of this state's labor history in its University Libraries Special Collections. The archive is a compendium of letters, meeting minutes, rally posters, newspaper stories and photos -- a sort of day-by-day record of the business of running a union.

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- Obama unveils huge jobs/infrastructure plan at LaborFest -- In a Labor Day address to more than 10,000 union members and their families in Milwaukee, President Obama announced a massive new job-creating road, rail, runway and air traffic control rebuilding project. Obama said it was “the great American middle class that made our economy the envy of the world. It’s got to be that way again.” Joining Obama at the lakefront festivities were AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Trumka told the crowd, “Working women and men in Milwaukee -- and all across our country -- made America ‘No. 1’ in the world. Now it's time for America to make working people ‘No. 1!’ ”

►  In The Hill -- Trumka: President, not Tea Partiers, can get country back to work -- "President Obama and Democratic leaders share our vision of an America built on good jobs -- and together, we’re going to get America back to work," the AFL-CIO president told the crowd. "It won’t be the bankers. It won’t be the Tea Partiers. It won’t be the 'party of no'."

►  In today's NY Times -- Obama offers a transit plan to create jobs -- Looking to stimulate the economy and create jobs, Obama calls for upgrades to the nation’s roads, rail lines and runways -- part of a six-year plan that would cost tens of billions of dollars and create a government-run bank to finance transportation projects.

►  In the NY Times -- Rising to the occasion (Bob Herbert column) -- On Labor Day in Milwaukee, Obama finally began to vigorously push the kind of high-profile, rebuild-America infrastructure campaign that is absolutely essential if there is to be any real hope of putting Americans back to work and getting the economy back into reasonable shape over the next few years.

►  In today's LA Times -- Obama seeks massive tax breaks for business -- This week, Obama will call for tax incentives that would allow businesses to write off 100% of new capital investment through 2011, which the White House says could save businesses $200 billion over two years.

National news:

►  In The Hill -- Unions will demand aggressive labor agenda, even after mid-term hit -- After the 2010 midterm elections, labor leaders say they expect a leaner, more aggressive Democratic Congress to push through measures to create jobs. And like the $50 billion infrastructure plan pushed by President Obama on Monday, unions will call on lawmakers to pass legislation to aid state and local governments and provide incentives for business lending.

►  In today's LA Times -- Millions can find only part-time or lower-paying jobs -- Beyond the 15 million Americans who have no jobs at all, millions more are caught in part-time or limited jobs that don't pay them enough to maintain their standard of living -- much less contribute to the strong consumer spending needed to power the nation out of the economic doldrums.

►  In the NY Times -- Congressional charities pulling in corporate cash -- There are at least two dozen charities that lawmakers or their families helped create or run that routinely accept donations from businesses seeking to influence them. The sponsors -- AT&T, Chevron, General Dynamics, Morgan Stanley, Eli Lilly and dozens of others -- contribute millions of dollars annually in gifts ranging from token amounts to a check for $5 million.

►  In today's NY Times -- Labor tries to organize car washed in Los Angeles -- Organizers aim to unionize this city’s carwash workers, hoping to improve their paltry pay and end widespread abuses. The unions, led by the United Steelworkers, acknowledge that it is a struggle, but they voice confidence that they can organize the first carwashes soon, and that this will start a domino effect once other owners realize that unionized businesses can survive and even thrive.

►  In the Seattle Times -- Recognizing the immense contribution of labor unions (E.J. Dionne column) -- Whatever else they achieve, unions remind us of the dignity of all who toil, whatever their social position, color or educational attainments. We should miss labor's influence more than we do.