DAILY NEWS
Let Charles Walk ● Sharing is caring ● R.I.P., Dr. John
Friday, June 7, 2019
FREE SPEECH
► BREAKING from The Columbian — Heritage students walk out in support of student barred from ceremony — Dozens of Heritage High School students walked out of class Friday in solidarity with a classmate who alleges school administration has turned a blind eye to bullying, harassment and sexual assault on campus.
The audience could be heard gasping in a video of his speech, then bursting into applause.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Watch his speech at YouTube and ask yourself, what are we teaching our children when they are given an opportunity to speak out about something important — are brave enough seize that opportunity — and then are punished because the grownups (school administrators) disagree with them or are embarrassed? #LetCharlesWalk!
BOEING
► BREAKING from the Seattle Times — Boeing didn’t plan to fix 737 MAX warning light until 2020 — After discovering a problem in 2017 with a cockpit warning light on the 737 MAX, Boeing decided it would defer an update to fix the issue until 2020, congressional officials said Friday.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Meanwhile, as Boeing circles the legal wagons…
► From KSN — Spirit implementing short workweek in wake of 737 MAX issues — Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita, Kan., is implementing short workweek starting Friday, June 21 in wake of 737 MAX issues. The company is shortening the workweek to 32 hours (20% per-week salary impact) for all salaried, management and executive employees working on commercial airplane programs. Spirit is attempting to reduce costs as it deals with the impacts of the 737 MAX grounding.
IMMIGRATION
► In today’s Seattle Times — U.S. immigration reform, not Mexico tariffs (editorial) — Tariffs should be a last resort to correct other countries’ unfair trade policies. They must not be used for political purposes or to shift blame for domestic failures. But that’s what Trump is doing by threatening Mexico with tariffs if it doesn’t support his hard-line stance on immigration. Americans should see these threats for what they are: bullying and distractions from our failure to enact meaningful, compassionate immigration reform and constructive, deliberate foreign policy.
► In today’s Seattle Times — Jayapal says former White House chief of staff ‘cashing in’ on immigration policies — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7th) is seeking more information on reports that former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, after helping to implement the administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy, has joined the board of directors of the company that operates the largest shelter for unaccompanied migrant children.
NATIONAL
EDITOR’S NOTE — Want your share? Get a union! Here’s more information about how you can join together with co-workers and negotiate a fair return for your hard work. Or go ahead and contact a union organizer today!
► From Reuters — U.S. job growth slows sharply, heightens fears about economy — U.S. job growth slowed sharply in May and wages rose less than expected, raising fears that a loss of momentum in economic activity could be spreading to the labor market.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Which helps explain this…
► From Bloomberg — Walmart’s CEO calls on Congress to boost minimum wage — Calling the current $7.25 minimum wage “too low,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said it’s “time for Congress to put a thoughtful plan in place” to boost it.
T.G.I.F.
► Malcolm Rebennack Jr., the flamboyant New Orleans singer-pianist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer known as Dr. John, died yesterday. The Entire Staff of The Stand had the pleasure of seeing Dr. John at Jazz Alley in Seattle in 2006 about a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated his hometown. Between songs he lamented the slow and ineffective response of the federal government to that tragedy, and suggested that race and class were factors. The people of Puerto Rico would probably agree. Here is the good doctor performing with The Band in The Last Waltz. R.I.P., Malcolm.
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