May 2004

Labor’s Voice Online is back… online!
Thanks for your patience while I was on maternity leave. My daughter, Isabella, arrived on

February 5th and is a happy, healthy baby! (That's us pictured at right.) I’m back at work and here to receive submissions for Labor’s Voice Online. You’ll see a few items in the Announcements section that may be old news but I wanted to make sure the word got out. I look forward to hearing from you with news or upcoming events for publication. – Valancy Blackwell

UFCW struggle continues
Negotiations are ongoing between UFCW, the union representing local grocery workers, and the employer group Allied Grocers, Inc., which includes representatives from Safeway, Albertson’s, Fred Meyer and QFC. The contract is being extended on a meeting-by-meeting basis and members are still at work. The next bargaining sessions are scheduled for June 3rd and 4th. For regular updates, you can visit the UFCW Local 1105 site or protecthealthbenefits.org, or call the local hotline at (206) 763-1105 x.327.

GSEAC reaches tentative agreement with UW
GSEAC/UAW Local 4121 and the University of Washington reached a tentative agreement on a contract yesterday, May 20th. Details of the agreement will be released upon member ratification. Congratulations to GSEAC and the student employees at the UW on this well-earned victory!

2004 Elections - It's time to get busy!
Washington’s successful Labor Neighbor program offers excellent opportunities to volunteer and help educate fellow union members about the candidates and causes that have earned labor’s support. Help put the grassroots back in YOUR neighborhood’s politics — fill out our online Labor Neighbor volunteer form here!

Announcements
• After a year and a half of hard work and commitment by workers at Allied Building Services hoping to organize with SEIU Local 6, the company agreed to a card check recognition and neutrality agreement earlier this month. Local 6 notes that this hard-fought victory is the result of workers mobilizing, picketing, marching, sending delegations to building managers, owners and elected officials, and working with community leaders.

• Last week the Washington State Supreme Court cleared one of the last major legal hurdles in the more than decade-long fight to build a third runway at Sea-Tac Airport, removing several environmental requirements that threatened to halt the $1.2 billion project. The decision clears the way for Sea-Tac to move forward with building a major portion of the runway this summer. The project is now scheduled to be finished in 2008.

However, the legal battle over the runway is still not over. An appeal over a separate federal permit is being considered by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. It is uncertain when that case will be decided but airport officials say they can continue the next phase of construction regardless of the outcome.

• Steelworkers approved a settlement with Oregon Steel Mills on March 16th. A tentative agreement was reached in January to settle the six-year-old labor dispute between the United Steel Workers of America and the company’s subsidiary, Rocky Mountain Steel Mills.

• The AFL-CIO voted in February to endorse Senator John Kerry’s bid for the presidency. They have posted a workplace flier, talking points and other materials about Senator Kerry on www.workingfamiliestoolkit.com for use by union members.

• The City of Seattle Commission on Sexual Minorities applauded our Council for passing two resolutions in March. One resolution expressed support for the right to civil marriage for same-sex couples and one opposing the federal marriage amendment.

• The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint on April 22nd alleging that Darigold violated federal labor law when it outsourced 60 Darigold drivers and locked out nearly 200 production workers who rejected a company contract proposal that would have allowed additional outsourcing. The Board demanded that Darigold must return the drivers to their positions and make them “whole” or pay the difference in wages and benefits they lost while working at the company the transportation work was outsourced to.

Meanwhile, this struggle continues, with a meeting between the union, Darigold, and the NLRB set for May 25th and another Board hearing coming up on July 12th.

• The AFL-CIO encourages the use of union arts and entertainment workers when planning conventions, meetings and other union events. If you need a musician for your event or an actor for an advertisement or theatrical production, call Paul Almeida at the AFL-CIO, (202) 638-0320, to learn how to find these professionals.

Online Resources
BushWatch is a powerful resource that can be used throughout the Election 2004 campaign season. Take a look here for tangible evidence of President Bush’s consistent protection of the special interests of corporations and the wealthy at the expense of America’s working families.

Upcoming Events
Saturday, May 22nd, 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Quality Health Care Conference
U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. will be the keynote speaker at this event to be held at Plymouth Congregational Church. Following the conference, he will lead a march from the church to Westlake Park to join the 2:00 p.m. rally for affordable health care.

Saturday, May 22nd, 12:30 p.m. March for Affordable Health Care for All
Join Jobs with Justice, labor supporters and community and religious groups will march for access to affordable, quality health care for Washington residents. The march will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Federal Building, 915 Second Avenue. The rally, featuring Congressman Jackson, will begin at 2:00 p.m. at Westlake Park.

Saturday, May 22nd, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Gala Labor Reception Honoring Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.
This free reception is open to all and will be held in Hall One of the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 First Avenue. Refreshments will be provided.

The owner of Kenworth Northwest is doing everything in his power to bust the union, Machinists Local 79. Company contract proposals include a $1.25 wage cut, health and welfare reductions and elimination of the pension plan. To support Kenworth employees at their rally on May 26th, meet at 20220 International Blvd. S. in the IHOP parking lot at 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, May 27th, 6:00 p.m. UFCW Community Support Coalition Meeting
The work continues in building community and faith coalition actions to support the UFCW grocery workers. Join us at this meeting, which will be held in Room 208 of the Seattle Labor Temple, for an update and to participate in further planning of actions.

Wednesday, June 16th, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Voice at Work Training
Join us for this free training to be presented by the KCLC Education Committee just before the June delegates meeting. The focus of the training is to spread the word about a national AFL-CIO campaign to restore the freedom to form unions and bargain collectively. The first step in the campaign is this national training effort, which will be used to build support among members for organizing, recruit activists and engage our members in a public campaign to restore organizing rights in America. It will be held in Hall One of the Seattle Labor Temple. Snacks will be provided. RSVP to Verlene Wilder at verlenekclc@igc.org or (206) 441-7102.

Saturday, July 17th, 12:00 noon Festival for Public Priorities
The National Governors Association will be meeting behind closed doors with CEOs and lobbyists from wealthy corporations in Seattle July 17th-19th. AFSCME is organizing this event, which will be held at Westlake Park, to protest the meeting and to advocate for quality public services, affordable health care and other public priorities that won’t be addressed by the Governors Association.