Wednesday, July 15, 2015

LOCAL

► In today’s Seattle Times — Space Needle, UNITE HERE fail to reach new labor contract — UNITE HERE Local 8 and Space Needle management have been through 11 federal mediation sessions over the last three years. The Space Needle, which has failed to negotiate a contract with a union representing many of its employees for several years, said Tuesday it had reached an impasse and was going to implement its last offer. The union says the offer does not include enough job-security protections and that it reduces workers’ access to union representation.

► From KOMO TV — Union demands action over school district’s ‘unsafe’ kitchen — The union that represents about two dozen Seattle Public Schools employees claims its members are fed up with “unsafe” working conditions in the central kitchen at district headquarters, a spokesman said. “All we want is a safe work environment for our members,” said Mike McBee, Recording Secretary for IUOE Local 609.

ALSO at The Stand — Seattle School District employees fed up with unsafe kitchen

► In the (Longview) Daily News — KapStone millworkers to vote on ‘unfair labor practice strike’ — KapStone’s millworkers will be back to the polls this week to decide whether to go on an unfair labor practice strike, even as company and union officials continue federal mediation. Union members overwhelmingly approved of a measure in December that lends their bargaining board the power to call a strike if necessary. It’s been a month since AWPPW Local 153 provided the company with a 10-day strike notice.

► In today’s News Tribune — Tacoma council votes to send $12 wage issue to fall ballot — The Tacoma City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday to send a $12 minimum wage issue to the fall ballot. The issue would elevate the city’s lowest-paid workers to a $12 hourly wage by 2018, and would compete with another proposal placed on the ballot earlier this year via citizen petition that would raise the wage to $15 per hour in January 2016.

► In today’s Spokesman-Review — Spokane City Council sends immigration initiative to county for verification — Upward of 200 people converged on Spokane City Hall Monday night to voice both support and concern with a police department policy that says the immigration status of an individual “shall not be the sole basis for a contact, detention or arrest.”

► In today’s Seattle Times — 18-year-old truck drivers: Lack of decent wages cause worker shortages (letter) — The story on the move to allow 18-year-olds to get licenses to drive big-rig trucks gives the game away when it says, “The driver shortage could be eliminated by raising truckers’ wages and improving working conditions.”

AEROSPACE

► In the P.S. Business Journal — 767 freighter order by FedEx would be a boost for Everett — Rumors are flying that the Memphis-based cargo carrier may add another 25 or so Boeing 767-300F freighters, worth $5 billion at list. A new order for the Everett-produced 767 would be a lift for Boeing, and would help keep the Everett production line moving while it’s being prepared to also build KC-46 tankers for the Air Force.

► In today’s Spokesman-Review — Explosion rips through Newport aerospace company — An explosion ripped through an aerospace company in Newport Tuesday night, shattering glass and causing a section of the roof to collapse. The blast, which occurred shortly before 9 p.m., sent five people to the hospital. At least one person was taken by helicopter to Spokane.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

► From Politico — Criminal justice reform gains bipartisan momentum — As President Barack Obama on Tuesday evening called on Congress to take up criminal justice reform, a bipartisan group on Capitol Hill was putting the final touches on a sentencing overhaul deal to be announced as soon as next week.

NATIONAL

► In the Philadelphia Inquirer — AFL-CIO leader Trumka hears about wage theft — In the offices of Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka sat quietly as lawyers, workers, and advocates talked about people who work and don’t get paid. “Most of us know that wage theft goes on, but the depth and the breadth of what goes on escapes most of us,” Trumka said. “It’s enormous. It’s the difference between poverty and not-poverty.”

► From The Hill — Unions: This time, we’ll defeat Walker — Labor groups are gearing up for another fight with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) now that he has entered the presidential race. After a failed recall bid in Wisconsin, unions are determined to make sure Walker never sets foot in the Oval Office.

► In today’s Seattle Times — Income inequality is making your life worse (by Bill Clapp and Mauricio Vivero) — Nationally — and particularly in Washington state — the failure to fund our schools is our political system’s greatest failure. Reversing this trend is the key to addressing persistent inequality.

The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 10 a.m.