DAILY NEWS
Union YES at The Columbian ● NO on I-976 ● Who unplugged first?
Friday, November 1, 2019
LOCAL
► In today’s Columbian — Columbian newsroom employees vote to unionize — “As we have said throughout this process, we will follow the law and bargain in good faith with the union’s representatives to reach a contract that is fair and equitable to all parties,” said Publisher Scott Campbell.
► In the Olympian — St. Peter nurses join other Providence bargaining groups in authorizing strike — Nurses at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, according to UFCW 21. Wednesday’s strike authorization vote followed similar votes at Providence hospitals in Spokane, Centralia, Walla Walla and Everett in recent days.
ALSO at The Stand — Teamsters win big ruling in UNFI relocation to Centralia
► From the NW Labor Press — Physicians-in-training unionize at Oregon Health and Science University — Oregon AFSCME turned in union authorization cards signed by a majority of about 830 doctors at OHSU. The union will become official after the Oregon Employment Relations Board checks the cards against a list provided by the university.
► From the NW Labor Press — Union-made pizza? In Portland, Wobblies serve a fair slice — All 13 workers at Scottie’s Pizza in Portland signed a petition announcing their decision to unionize with the Industrial Workers of the World. When they delivered the petition to owner Scottie Rivera, he was happy to recognize the union.
ELECTION
► In today’s Seattle Times — I-976 will bring pain, set back progress (editorial) — The destructive initiative would drain about $700 million from infrastructure funds annually. This means less money to keep roads safe and stable, and more time lost to capacity-limiting emergency repairs when conditions deteriorate. Such is the price of ripping up transportation budgets to make car tabs a flat $30. Ballot initiative promoter Tim Eyman’s gimmick would have voters kill off funding for sidewalks, bus routes, police patrol of state highways and other crucial aspects of the state’s transportation network. Voters should make the sensible decision and reject this dangerous proposition.
► In today’s Tri-City Herald — Reject I-976. Safety is more important than saving on car tab fees (editorial) — In the Tri-City region, particularly in Richland and Prosser, road budgets would be drastically reduced if I-976 were to go into effect… We don’t like the recent spending habits of the Legislature, either. But I-976 cuts too deep in one critical budget category —transportation — and it isn’t safe.
ALSO at the Stand — Let’s vote for opportunity, not division (by April Sims) — Ignore opponents’ attempts to inflame racial divisions. Approve Initiative 1000 via Referendum 88 for shared prosperity.
BOEING
► From Reuters — Not just the MAX: planemakers face slump in demand for wide-body jets — Orders for long-distance wide-body jets are on track to fall this year by the most since the throes of the 2008 financial crisis, fueling concerns that the drop will eat into future cash flow at Boeing and its European rival Airbus.
THIS WASHINGTON
► In today’s Columbian — Affordable Care Act must be bolstered, protected (editorial) — Despite persistent efforts by the Trump administration to undermine it, the ACA is relatively stable in Washington. With the enrollment period open until Dec. 15 — and with health insurance being a key topic heading toward the 2020 election — it seems a good time to reassess how the law is working here and throughout the country… Expanded coverage improves the health of our communities, increases preventive care that in the long run reduces costs, and improves the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians.
► From the AP — Washington Supreme Court: State not at fault for 2013 Skagit River bridge collapse — In a 5-4 decision, the court pointed to a state law that says vehicle owners or operators must exercise due care in making sure their vehicles can pass under a structure, and that the state can’t be held liable for damages caused by an over-height vehicle.
IMPEACHMENT
EDITOR’S NOTE — Last week, Senate GOP Boss Mitch McConnell told his party to make this fight about the process, not the facts of the Trump-Ukraine scandal. After Thursday’s procedural vote, Washington Republican Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse all reliably stuck to that script in their statements.
► In today’s Washington Post — 3 takeaways from the House’s impeachment inquiry vote — 1) Republicans’ process argument is fading. It was already a somewhat thin argument that the impeachment inquiry is illegitimate because House Democrats are holding closed-door depositions (which are normal for such a sensitive investigation) and because they didn’t hold a vote (they just did — and Republicans voted against it).
► In today’s Washington Post — Americans divided over whether to impeach and remove Trump, poll finds — Although the poll found that the public is split on the ultimate question of Trump’s fate, support for the impeachment-inquiry proceedings has risen over the past few months.
THAT WASHINGTON
► In today’s NY Times — Lots of job hunting, but no job, despite low unemployment — Even in some of the hottest labor markets in the country — let alone lagging rural regions and former industrial powerhouses — workers, including skilled ones, say they cannot find jobs that provide a middle-class income and don’t come with an expiration date.
► In today’s NY Times — Manufacturing ain’t great again. Why? (by Paul Krugman) — Trump is presiding over an economy that, despite low unemployment, doesn’t feel like a boom to most Americans. And he has utterly failed in his politically crucial promise to make manufacturing in key swing states great again.
► From Politico — GOP tax writer expects Trump to roll out tax plan next year
NATIONAL
► From the AP — Deal gives Ford workers $9K signing bonus; plant will close — The deal still has to be approved by committees of national union leaders and local officials who will meet in Detroit Friday. Then it will be sent to Ford’s 55,000 union workers for a ratification vote.
► From The Guardian — Laborers and domestic workers stay behind as thousands flee California wildfires — Amid a heavy smell of smoke from the Kincade fire burning just miles away, work continued for many people in the mandatory evacuation zones of Santa Rosa on Tuesday. Contractors hammered. Landscapers dug holes. Crews removed port-a-loos. All amid an air quality index measured unhealthy, with officials warning locals to stay inside.
T.G.I.F.
► Thirty years ago today, the premiere of MTV Unplugged was recorded. This program showcased musicians’ live acoustic performances of their songs. For the next 20 years — until MTV completely gave up the pretense of being a network about music — the show memorably featured Nirvana, Eric Clapton, Mariah Carey, Lauren Hill and many others, some of whom released recordings of their multi-song acoustic sets. But the very first episode was just one song, and it featured one of The Entire Staff of The Stand’s all-time favorite bands… Squeeze! Well, actually it’s just the band’s brain trust, Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, interviewed by legendary MTV News anchor Kurt Loder.
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 10 a.m.