WSLC Reports Online -- May 2002

WSLC Reports is a monthly summary of labor news and a preview of coming events. It is not intended to be comprehensive. More detail is available on each of these (and other) items online. If you would like to receive this via e-mail, fax or mail, Get on the List!

Redistricting and narrow political majorities in Congress and the State Legislature will make this November’s election especially important, as will the statewide gas tax and other ballot measures affecting working families.

JUNE 6-8—"Young Workers and the Labor Movement: Then and Now" is the theme of the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association’s annual conference Thursday through Saturday at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. This conference is always a unique opportunity for trade unionists, workers, activists, students, educators and others to examine the rich heritage of the working class, and explain links with today’s struggles and circumstances.

JUNE 19—Enron: Could It Happen to You? Hear from former Enron workers, financial experts, local workers and leaders about how to protect your retirement security at this town hall meeting Wednesday, June 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Hall 1 of the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Ave. For info, call the King County Labor Council at (206) 441-8510.

JUNE 26-30—The Summer School for Union Women at the Evergreen State College’s Labor Center in Olympia will focus on "Strengthening Our Unions in a Changing World Through Education and Solidarity." All women who are members of labor unions are invited to participate in this residential program. The deadline for registration is June 10. More info.

AUGUST 19-22—The WSLC 2002 Constitutional Convention at the Ridpath Hotel in Spokane will feature AFL-CIO President John Sweeney as keynote speaker. In addition to many educational forums and workshops, the main business of the convention is for delegates to debate and establish WSLC positions or policies on issues, candidates and programs by voting on motions and resolutions. The convention call has been mailed to affiliated unions; contact your union for information on how to serve as a delegate.

The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO will hold its COPE (Committee on Political Education) Endorsing Convention—where the unions that comprise the WSLC will make endorsements for Congress, state legislative and judicial races, and ballot measures for the 2002 elections—on Saturday, June 1 at the IAM District 751 Hall, 9125 15th Pl. S., in South Seattle. It begins at 9 a.m., with registration opening at 7:30 a.m.

The preceding evening (Friday, May 31) at 7 p.m., the Statewide COPE Committee will meet at the WestCoast SeaTac Hotel, 18220 International Blvd. S., to consider recommendations in these races. This committee consists of the WSLC Executive Board, Central Labor Councils, WSLC Political Director Diane McDaniel, and a representative from AFSCME, IAM, IBEW, SEIU and UFCW. Representatives of any affiliated union may observe Statewide COPE proceedings, but space is limited. As each legislative and judicial race is considered during Saturday’s convention, if Statewide COPE has a recommendation, that motion will be made to initiate debate. At the conclusion of debate, a two-thirds majority of the delegates present is necessary for an endorsement to occur.

Affiliated unions received their COPE Convention calls months ago and should be registered by now. If you have questions, call (206) 281-8901 or 1-800-542-0904.

Some endorsement action can’t wait for the convention. The WSLC Executive Board voted in late April to endorse Initiative 790, a pension reform measure for police and fire fighters. Some 198,000 valid signatures must be collected by July 5 to put I-790 on the ballot. Washington is one of only four states where police and fire fighters lack any representation on their own pension board. Instead, the statewide Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Retirement System 2 is run by a committee made up entirely of legislators, even though police and fire fighters contribute half the cost of their pensions. I-790 would change that. It would guarantee our public safety workers representation on a new governing board, giving them a voice in their own retirement without cost to taxpayers.

The WSLC Executive Board has previously voted to oppose two other initiatives now in the signature-gathering phase: I-776 is yet another effort by discredited anti-tax profiteer Tim Eyman and his company to reduce car-tab fees, this time targeting for repeal all local-option vehicle excise taxes. I-777 is a so-called "right-to-work" measure filed by members of the College Republicans at the University of Washington. So far they have raised very little money and there are few reports of signature gathering. More info.

Some 1,200 service and maintenance employees at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane voted 582 to 261 on May 15 for union representation with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1001. The workers sought union representation to gain a voice in the changes occurring at SHMC and the health care industry. "Sacred Heart is a good place to work, but it’s not the place it was 20 years ago", said Audrey Hill, a baker at Sacred Heart and a 20-year employee. "It’s time Administration treated us with the same respect we show the patients. Of course we’d like better wages, but we also deserve fairness. With a union we can earn that. More info.

Meanwhile, the same day about 550 technical and service employees Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup—including respiratory therapists, certified nursing assistants, health unit coordinators, technologists, housekeepers, and dietary staff—voted to form a union with Service Employees International Union District 1199NW. The vote was 266-166. "This is a big victory for the entire community, because it means that frontline employees will have a stronger voice at the hospital. Our goal is to protect and improve the quality of care our patients receive here," said Lisa Johnson, a surgical technologist at Good Samaritan. More info.

A National Labor Relations Board judge ruled May 14 that the Kaiser Aluminum lockout—from January 1999 to September 2000—was illegal and has ordered the company to pay 20 months of back wages and benefits for some 3,000 steelworkers in what is believed to be the largest such award in history. Kaiser is likely to appeal the ruling, which could cost it up to $200 million. The company is now in federal bankruptcy court after filing for Chapter 11 reorganization Feb. 12. This type of bankruptcy delays payments of bills run up before the filing, but requires the company to pay new bills. Once one of Spokane’s largest employers, Kaiser’s smelters in Tacoma and Spokane (Mead) are currently closed, but its rolling mill in Spokane (Trentwood) is still operating, albeit with a much reduced workforce. The judge’s ruling offers vindication to the workers and the United Steelworkers of America who argued all along that the lockout was illegal. More info.

The Building Industry Association of Washington on May 7 officially withdrew Referendum 52, a ballot measure it had filed to repeal collective bargaining rights just granted to state employees. This right to bargain over wages and benefits was just signed into law April 3 after a decades-long effort to achieve its passage. The BIAW said it dropped the effort because other unnamed groups in its coalition were unwilling to finance the signature gathering effort and campaign.

Led by the Iron Workers District Council of the Pacific Northwest, union activists and steel company executives are fighting a plan to purchase of 20,000 tons in foreign steel and have the bridge deck for the second Tacoma Narrows bridge built by Japanese and Korean companies. The ironworkers say that would amount to shipping 250 well-paying jobs overseas during a recession and would further undermine the struggling U.S. steel industry. State officials insist money is tight and they must buy the cheapest steel to stay within the $800 million budget. The bridge is being financed with state funds and, ultimately, through tolls to be imposed on motorists. If any federal funds had been used in the financing, use of U.S. steel would be mandatory. More info.

The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 8 has rallied labor, church and community groups to support immigrant workers at Sky Chefs Kitchens, an airline catering company near SeaTac Airport. On April 18, the company collaborated with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to set up a sting that led to the arrests of 12 immigrants charged with using fraudulent Social Security numbers. Sky Chefs told workers to attend a phony company meeting at which they were arrested. The INS says the arrests are necessary to ensure post-Sept. 11 airport security, but HERE 8’s Dana Wise disagrees: "These arrests happened in the context of nationwide negotiations between employees and Sky Chef about working conditions and benefits." Wise called it "an intimidation tactic." More info.

In 30 cities across the nation May 15, including Seattle and the Yakima Valley, local and national labor, religious, community and immigrant organizations announced an unprecedented campaign called "A Million Voices for Legalization" to urge the White House and Congress to move forward on immigration reform. This summer, the groups are working together to gather a million postcards before the November elections to show America’s political leaders that there is still broad support for immigration policies that give hard-working, tax-paying immigrants already in the United States the opportunity to earn legal status. For more information, contact Sergio Salinas of SEIU Local 6 at (206) 448-7348 x336. More info.

The Rolling Thunder Down Home Democracy Tour is a festival of music, arts and grassroots organizing. A county fair with guts. A revival with a reason. A concert with consciousness. And it’s coming to Seattle on Aug. 24. Spearheaded by Jim Hightower, a progressive commentator from Texas, the first festival took place in Austin in April. It included well-known performers from hip hop, Tejano, rock, folk, and other musical genres, plus hands-on workshops, games, food booths, and scores of tables and booths for community organizations. Unlike other festivals that may allow a few non-profit tables around the fringe, the whole idea behind this festival is to fuse grassroots politics, music and fun while reaching out to new people. Find out how to get your organization involved in this event by contacting Bob Barnes at (206) 841-4650. For more info, visit www.rollingthundertour.org.