SEATTLE (Jan. 31) — More than 200 workers, students, unemployed people and others rallied and marched to a local Wells Fargo branch Tuesday to call on the bank to pay its fair share of taxes. Gina Peterson of Columbia City took part because even though she doesn’t have work, she paid more federal income tax […]
The following editorial, regarding the Infrastructure Jobs Bond, appeared Jan. 29 in The (Tacoma) News Tribune: A genuinely good idea tends to pop out from among the nondescript crowd of been-theres and done-thats. State Sen. Derek Kilmer’s proposal to create jobs without new taxes looks like that kind of idea. The Gig Harbor Democrat – […]
JOBS NOW… AND MORE LATER ► In Sunday’s News Tribune — Kilmer’s plan: Ingenious job creation in hard times(editorial) — A genuinely good idea tends to pop out from among the nondescript crowd of been-theres and done-thats. State Sen. Derek Kilmer’s proposal to create jobs without new taxes looks like that kind of idea. With […]
By DAVID GROVES The Stand OLYMPIA (Jan. 29) — “We must no longer allow Washington to be one of the ten most expensive states in which to operate a business,” says Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna, as he makes his case for why he should be elected governor this fall. This talking point is nothing […]
LIVE BETTER, WORK UNION! ► In the LA Times — Union membership grew nationally in 2011 — U.S. labor unions picked up 49,000 new members in 2011. Young people between 16 and 24 years old accounted for almost a third of the new jobs, the AFL-CIO reports. Overall, unions gained 110,000 new jobs in […]
STATE GOVERNMENT ► At Washington State Wire — Billion-dollar jobs plan is the talk of the town — but some worry about credit-card financing — Talk of a billion-dollar jobs plan is finally getting serious at the statehouse, as a quiet two-month lobbying effort by the Washington State Labor Council and the Associated General […]
OLYMPIA (Jan. 27) — As reported earlier in The Stand, Republicans have introduced a package of bills that are all aimed at creating a lower state minimum wage. Sponsored by Rep. Cary Condotta (R-East Wenatchee) and the other GOP members of the House Labor Committee, the three bills are scheduled for a public hearing on […]
On Friday, Jan. 27, show solidarity with Ruby Ridge dairy workers and their supporters by joining them as they present petitions to Darigold urging the company to take action to protect the workers. Rally at Seattle’s Westlake Park at 2 p.m. and march to Darigold HQ, 1130 Rainier Ave. South, to deliver the petitions. Can’t […]
‘RIGHT TO WORK’ FOR LESS UPDATE (Jan. 26): With the Indiana House’s passage of the right to work’ legislation, the Indiana AFL-CIO has requested an end to all national phone banks. So the Thursday, Jan. 26 afternoon phone banks in Seattle are cancelled. Stay tuned for word on next steps. And thank you for […]
OLYMPIA (Jan. 26) — The legislative leaders sponsoring the Infrastructure Jobs Bond legislation on Wednesday released draft project lists identifying what capital construction work around the state could be funded through the legislation. Meanwhile, labor and business leaders gathered to renew the call to pass the bill and create these desperately needed jobs, as soon […]
CHECK OUT THE UNION DIFFERENCE in Washington state: higher wages, affordable health and dental care, job and retirement security.
FIND OUT HOW TO JOIN TOGETHER with your co-workers to negotiate for better working conditions and respect on the job. Or go ahead and contact a union organizer today!
