NEWS ROUNDUP
Boeing contract, bipartisan cuts, UI actions today…
BOEING
► In today’s (Everett) Herald — Union ratifies Boeing deal — “As a result of this vote, we have the strongest commitment to the future of aerospace jobs in Washington state that we’ve ever had,” said IAM 751 President Tom Wroblewski.
► In today’s News Tribune — Boeing workers approve groundbreaking pact— “This is just good news for the working families in the Northwest,” said Mark Blondin, aerospace coordinator for the union.
► In today’s Seattle Times — Boeing bonuses to give a little boost to local economy — The $5,000 signing bonuses in the new Boeing contract will make for some extra-nice holidays for the families of Machinists union members, and likely for at least some area retailers.
STATE GOVERNMENT
► In today’s Wenatchee World — Parks are paying price as state cuts into budgets — The top State Parks position in North Central Washington was eliminated Tuesday along with roughly 160 other managers and field staff in a budget-cutting decision by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
► At TheOlympian.com — Budget negotiators aim for partial solution— An “early-action” plan in the works might carve out $400 million or $500 million that both parties can agree on, said the House GOP’s lead budget negotiator. He hopes they can reach a deal by next week that can be presented to the public and the Senate.
► In today’s Seattle Times — Legislature leaning to make cuts next year — State lawmakers, who kicked off a 30-day special session Nov. 28, are talking about leaving by Dec. 20 or earlier.
► In today’s Tri-City Herald — Kennewick asserts bond rating will not be hurt by Wenatchee default— Kennewick officials refute the state treasurer’s assertion that the Wenatchee debacle has dinged their recent efforts to refinance the Three Rivers Convention Center.
► At TheOlympian.com — 2nd lawsuit filed vs. Costco’s liquor plan — A second lawsuit was filed to block I-1183 on behalf of a Longview resident who leases commercial space to a state liquor store that will close in May, a businessman who runs two Red Apple groceries, and the Washington Association of Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention.
► At Washington Policy Watch — Kids love cake… so let them eat it (Brendan Williams column) — A proposal is before the Legislature to shortchange learners by subtracting 4 days from the school year. Because this would also reduce school employees’ salaries by 2.2%, it is also the sort of back-door attack on collective bargaining becoming common in our state. We’re more subtle than Scott Walker, but no less anti-labor.
LOCAL
► In today’s News Tribune — Tacoma councilman calls for time-out before police, fire cuts— Layoffs of 100 city police and fire employees may be delayed by a month while the city negotiates with Tacoma’s public safety labor unions about ways to reduce planned budget cuts.
► From AP — Former Hertz drivers in Seattle sue over firings— The lawsuit filed Wednesday in King County Superior Court claims Hertz Corp. terminated them after they refused to clock out for prayers. The lawsuit claims they had not been required to clock out previously and the rules were changed to target Somali Muslims.
ALSO SEE — Hertz terminates 25 Muslim workers; Teamsters file ULPs
NATIONAL
ALSO SEE — Tell Congress to extend UI benefits now! (The Stand, Dec. 7) — Thursday at 10 a.m., the M.L. King County Labor Council is urging union members and all advocates for unemployed workers to join them as they visit Rep. Dave Reichert’s Mercer Island office, 2737 78th Ave. SE, to urge his support for the extension. Can’t make it? Click here to sign an emergency petition to Congress urging support for the UI benefit extension.
► At Huffington Post — Republican: Drug test the jobless
► At Politico — Big liberal money may skip moderates— The Senate Democratic majority may hinge on the reelection of vulnerable moderates like Ben Nelson, Claire McCaskill and Jon Tester, but deep-pocketed liberal groups say they won’t go to the mat for them in 2012.
► At TPM — Poll: Elizabeth Warren leads Scott Brown by 7 points
► In Time — Wage woes: Why raises have become to rare — The cost of fat is rising faster than your paycheck, about five times as fast. And it’s not only the price of butter and oil at the supermarket that are making your pay increases — if you are getting any at all — look slim. In the past year, the prices of clothing, public transportation and even trash collection are all up more than the earnings of the average American worker
TODAY’S MUST-READ
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 9 a.m. These links are functional at the date of posting, but sometimes expire.