Thursday, July 28, 2022

LOCAL

► From KUOW — Excessive heat warning remains in effect through Saturday — With temperatures topping 90 degrees in Seattle this week, many people are retreating indoors to beat the heat. But for some, like those who live or work outdoors, that’s not an option. For people like Tim Sonia, the labor foreman at a construction site in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood, the heat is hard to escape. When asked Wednesday how he and his colleagues were faring during the high temperatures, he replied, “It’s terrible.”

The Stand (July 27) — As heat wave sweeps state, outdoor workers have protections — Employers must monitor temperature and air quality, provide training and information, make sure workers get breaks from the heat, and take other steps.

► From the PSBJ — Oregon hotel company buys distressed Arctic Club Hotel in downtown Seattle — A Bend, Oregon, hotel company has purchased the financially distressed landmark Arctic Club Seattle, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. The hotel, now vacant, went into receivership in March 2021.

THIS WASHINGTON

► From Teamsters 117 — Public sector members may be eligible for student loan forgiveness — The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program allows eligible public sector workers to forgive their federal student loan debt. The International Teamsters Union is offering an online educational training on Aug. 9 via Zoom to provide information about the program and answer your questions.

The Stand (April 14) — It just got much easier to access Public Service Loan Forgiveness

► From the AP — Man accused in threats to kill Rep. Pramila Jayapal charged — Brett Forsell, a 49-year-old Seattle man arrested earlier this month on suspicion of committing a hate crime against U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal and threatening to kill her, has been charged with felony stalking.

► From the AFL-CIO (July 13) — Violent threats have no place in our democracy — Statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler:

“We strongly condemn the extremist, racially charged threats of violence against Rep. Pramila Jayapal at her home in West Seattle this past weekend. We are glad she is safe. Words have consequences, and our labor movement has zero tolerance for threatening language or hate crimes.

► From KING 5 — ‘There is collateral damage’: A father makes an emotional plea after son killed during pot shop robbery — In the wake of violent armed robberies, there is new pressure on lawmakers to better protect Washington’s cannabis shops. The SAFE Banking Act would help take cash out of the equation for legal cannabis businesses. Dennis Brown is in favor of cannabis banking reform. Brown’s 29-year-old son, Jordan, was killed on March 19, during an armed robbery at his workplace, World of Weed in Tacoma.

AEROSPACE

► From CNN — What it’s like inside Boeing’s new 777X — Described as “the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet,” the Boeing 777X was originally scheduled to enter into service in 2020, but the launch of the jetliner has been beset by delays. Now expected to debut in 2025, the airplane’s most striking exterior feature is undoubtedly its folding wingtips — a first for commercial aviation. But what will it look like from the inside?

► From Reuters — Boeing cuts estimates for 737 MAX deliveries, flags supply-chain constraints — Boeing executives on Wednesday cut estimates for 737 MAX deliveries this year and warned that supply-chain constraints have capped its ability to ramp up jet production despite “significant” demand. The company says it has increased its presence at the facilities of suppliers and set up teams of experts to address supply crunch in a number of areas, including engines, raw materials and semiconductors.

► From the AP — After hot bidding war JetBlue agrees to buy Spirit for $3.8B

THAT WASHINGTON

► From Roll Call — Semiconductor, science bill passes Senate, heads to House — A bill to bolster chip manufacturing and scientific research won Senate approval, setting Congress up to clear a trimmed economic competitiveness package after a more than yearlong push. The Senate voted 64-33 Wednesday to pass the “chips and science” bill. The House is expected to clear the legislation before leaving town Friday for the August recess, sending it to President Joe Biden for his signature.

TODAY at The Stand — Sen. Patty Murray, unions hail passage of CHIPS Act

► From The Hill — Whip-lash: House GOP moves to oppose CHIPS-Plus bill in rebuke to Manchin deal — House Republican leadership is urging members of its conference to vote against a bill to bolster the domestic chip manufacturing industry, a reversal from its position earlier in the day which comes hours after Senate Democrats struck a deal on a multi-billion dollar reconciliation package.

► From the AP — Manchin, Schumer in surprise deal on health, energy, taxes — In a startling turnabout, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin announced an expansive agreement Wednesday that had eluded them for months addressing health care and climate, raising taxes on high earners and large corporations and reducing federal debt.

► From the AP — What’s in, and out, of Democrats’ inflation-fighting package — Launching a long-sought goal, the bill would allow the Medicare program to negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, saving the federal government some $288 billion over the 10-year budget window… It would extend the subsidies provided during the COVID-19 pandemic to help some Americans who buy health insurance on their own… The bill would invest $369 billion over the decade in climate change-fighting strategies including investments in renewable energy production and tax rebates for consumers to buy new or used electric vehicles. The biggest revenue-raiser in the bill is a new 15% minimum tax on corporations that earn more than $1 billion in annual profits… With $739 billion in new revenue and some $433 billion in new investments, the bill promises to put the difference toward deficit reduction.

► From the NY Times — Surprise deal would be most ambitious climate action undertaken by U.S.

► From The Hill — Big business groups lash out at Manchin-Schumer deal — They are zeroing in on the plan’s 15 percent minimum tax on corporations, which would help pay for massive investments in climate and energy security, extended health care subsidies and reduce the deficit.

► From Politico — Biden administration expected to soon declare monkeypox a health emergency — The declaration, which is made by the Department of Health and Human Services, would follow a similar decision made last weekend by the World Health Organization. By designating the outbreak an emergency, HHS could then take a slew of actions, including accessing new money and appointing new personnel.

TODAY at The Stand — Monkeypox: Have we learned nothing from AIDS or COVID? (by Lyndon Haviland)

NATIONAL

► From In These Times — U.S. railroad workers inch closer to a possible national strike — After waiting over two years to secure a new union contract, and still reeling from the impacts of Wall Street-ordered cost-cutting measures, 115,000 beleaguered workers who operate the nation’s freight railroads are inching closer towards a possible strike, which could come as soon as September.

The Stand (June 15) — Mediation fails in railroad talks; Biden likely to intervene

BREAKING: Trader Joe’s workers in Boulder, Colorado, are unionizing with @UFCW_7, joining a growing union wave at the grocery chain.

This is the third Trader Joe’s to file for a union election. pic.twitter.com/2RBJSOUh4M

— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) July 26, 2022

EDITOR’S NOTE — Ready for a voice at work? Get 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 the San Diego Union-Tribune — Lorena Gonzalez sworn in as head of California Labor Federation — Former San Diego Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez took the helm of the California Labor Federation on Wednesday, announcing new initiatives for the organization. She plans to focus on expanding union representation throughout the state, she said, adding that a union contract can immediately improve workers’ lives.

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