WSLC Reports Today
Updated DAILY... Almost Every Day!™ by 9 a.m. Pacific

Links are functional at date of posting, but sometimes expire. 
WSLC Reports Today links to stories of interest to organized labor; 
some positive, some negative. The intention is to inform.

Local news:
▪  In the Olympian -- WPEA, governor agree on proposed pay raise -- It calls for a 1.6% general pay raise in 2009 and 1.7% in 2010. WPEA members must approve the deal. Most unions, including the WFSE, are still in talks but in the last two rounds, almost all contracts included the same pay raises. The Senate budget forecast, which projects a $2.7 billion shortfall in the next biennium and has already prompted a hiring freeze, assumes 1.7% pay increases in both 2009 and 2010.
▪  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Sen. Lisa Brown challenges state's "supermajority" rule for taxes -- A 15-year-old law declaring that a tax increase requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature is unconstitutional, the Senate Majority Leader argues. Her fast-track lawsuit will be heard by the state Supreme Court on Sept. 9. 
▪  In today's News Tribune -- Jobs for prison inmates on the way back in state -- Four years after they were thrown out of Washington prisons, private companies are being asked to come back to provide jobs to inmates. Unions and private businesses were -- and still are -- concerned that prison programs might have an unfair competitive advantage over those on the outside.
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Boeing: Getting 747-8, 777 ready for production -- The two new jet derivatives will be brought to market this year and will play prominent roles at the Everett factory.
▪  In Saturday's Everett Herald -- Marysville teachers union, district OK tentative deal -- When contract talks broke down in 2003, Marysville teachers staged the longest school strike in state history.
▪  In today's Oregonian -- Workers' compensation changes in Oregon hurt workers, doctors say -- Health care providers say new pay rules are forcing them to drop some injured workers' cases.

One of the more offensive editorials you'll read:
▪  In today's Columbian -- Proposed EFCA would result in intimidation of workers (editorial) -- Comment from the staff of WSLC Reports Today: It's not surprising that the conservative, anti-union Columbian would oppose the EFCA, after all it has already run at least two columns by the AWB in opposition, without publishing anything that explains support for the bill. What's surprising is not only that they continue to perpetuate ignorant stereotypes about unions as thugs, but they also exalt employers as "the people who faithfully sign (workers') paychecks." So as a public service to union members and reasonable people in the Vancouver area, we offer this helpful link.

Election 2008:
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Sen. Joe Biden: A friend of working families --  Barack Obama's choice as running mate earned a 100% voting record on working family issues in 2007 and has a lifetime record of 85%. Plus, Biden is a staunch supporter of workers’ freedom to form unions. A co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, Biden told a Fire Fighters union presidential forum last year: “There is a middle class for one reason and only one reason in America. Organized labor. That’s why it exists.”
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- Union members kick off Democratic National Convention in Denver -- More than 2,000 union members and their families converged in Denver Sunday to begin the convention -- and the fall’s unprecedented union mobilization -- with a rally.
▪  From AP -- AFL-CIO, Change to Win, other unions reunite to support Obama -- Leaders from the AFL-CIO and Change to Win shared a stage together at a labor rally for Obama, touting their unity in the first presidential election since the labor movement split into two factions.
▪  Sunday in The Hill -- AFL-CIO to target a million voters this week -- AFL-CIO officials kick off their $53 million dollar mobilization to introduce Barack Obama to union voters in 24 “priority” states.
▪  In today's Olympian -- I-985 often shuns traffic audit -- Tim Eyman's I-985 would open carpool lanes to all drivers during nonpeak hours, going against the recommendations of a major report on traffic congestion. (WSLC delegates voted to recommend union members vote "NO" on I-985.)

National news:
▪  From AP -- Colorado's right-to-work (for less) initiative is backdrop to Denver convention -- Backers of the November ballot measure, including Jonathan Coors of the prominent brewing family, want voters to bar unions from negotiating union-security clauses in their contracts.
▪  Today from AP -- Tax loopholes seen as costing billions annually -- Accounting loopholes that largely benefit rich taxpayers and companies cost the government $20 billion a year even as the pay gap between chief executives and employees has widened.
▪  In today's Sacramento Bee -- Farmworkers' union chief wants change in voting -- UFW President Arturo Rodriguez pushes legislation that would make it easier for the union to organize by allowing farmworkers to sign cards in lieu of a secret-ballot vote (if they so choose).
▪  In today's NY Times -- That's 8 out of 457,000 (editorial) -- This month, the Bush administration rolled out a new strategy to solve illegal immigration and just as quickly rolled it back in. It was called Operation Scheduled Departure, and it was simply this: It asked people to turn themselves in. But its real purpose was to lend cover to a continuing campaign of raids and arrests. That is the real strategy. It is brutal, simplistic and also ineffective, but it is the one the country is sticking with.
▪  In today's News Tribune -- China won the gold for human rights abuses (editorial) -- They’ve been passing out medals liberally in Beijing, so why not award a few more -- for marring the games with authoritarian abuses, cruelties, and appalling attacks on human freedom and dignity.

MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008
Boeing Machinists demand share of profits as strike looms

The following coverage of Sunday's rally by Boeing Machinists and their supporters in SeaTac appears at www.iam751.org:

We can talk about the pride we have as Machinists Union members, but the rally we had today speaks for itself in why we are proud to be the Fighting Machinists. Words cannot begin to describe the spirit and energy that flowed throughout the rally nor the pride everyone felt seeing thousands of Union brothers and sisters joining together in solidarity with a common goal. The roar of hundreds of motorcycles rumbling the street led the march that covered three lanes of International Boulevard for over half a mile. The company can downplay it all they want as just another Union event, but you will see from the video it was much more than that and something they had better take seriously.

Our power is in our numbers. Our strength is in our collective voice. And it is that collective voice that will be one voice on September 3rd.

 

Demonstrating the community has much at stake in the outcome of these negotiations, Washington State Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer Al Link, State Senator Margarita Prentice, Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Southerland, 8th Congressional candidate Darcy Burner, Greg Deveroux from the State Employees, Operating Engineers, Teamsters, and many other addressed the enthusiastic crowd at the Doubletree Hotel. SPEEA President Cynthia Cole pledged support from SPEEA members, who will be at the bargaining table with Boeing in just a few weeks.

District 751 President Tom Wroblewski emphasized the need to stand together over the next week because It’s Our Time This Time. He cautioned that Boeing needs to listen to the message our members are clearly sending. He applauded the impact the members are making on the shop floor.

Aerospace Coordinator Mark Blondin blasted Boeing’s initial offer noting that while they pulled the Wichita issue off the table, there are still three strike issues on the table -- not to mention their substandard economic and benefit offer. He recapped the issues and ended by saying “what we do at the bargaining table will raise the standard of living for all non-union households in these counties and in this country -- it’s our job to deliver that!”

Bolstered from the outstanding support of the members, Union negotiators will return to the table with a clear mandate to keep Boeing moving forward on our issues. The Company needs to move off the three remaining strike issues and substantially improve the economic package, which includes pensions. Thanks to all who participated. Your continued support on the shop floor will help deliver a contract fitting of the best aerospace workers in the world.

For regular updates on the progress of IAM-Boeing talks, visit www.iam751.org/contract08.htm.

Copyright © ^{2008 --  Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO}