WASHINGTON

LEGISLATION AND EDUCATION

IDAHO

LEGISLATION AND EDUCATION

 

                   Richard Prete

JANUARY 2012

Idaho L&E, Dale Broadsword

                    Dale Broadsword

                          JANUARY 2012

     

Brothers and Sisters,

The month of December brought an increase to the already high level of political action in Washington State. There have been several demonstrations at Bellingham, Olympia, Spokane, Seattle, Vancouver, Aberdeen, and other cities.  They focused on hotel workers, firefighters, the postal workers, job cuts overall, healthcare, and of course...the state budget.

The Legislature ended the 2nd Special Session on Dec.14h with another 480 million dollars in cuts to our budget.  Unfortunately, they were trying to achieve 1.5 Billion in cuts.  This need, along with the bickering and party posturing by both sides will continue into 2012.

 Redistricting of Legislative Districts throughout WA is underway.  District boundaries will be adjusted to reflect population changers documented by the 2010 census.  Meetings continue, and results should be available early in 2012.  I will try to get whatever changes are made to you as soon as possible... But please check later in the year to make sure there aren’t any changes to your district I might have missed.

 While those problems continue there is some good economic news throughout the state. The Navy agreed to a project Labor Agreement for the 600 million dollar project at Bangor. (Silverdale WA).  Boeing landed a huge contract from Southwest Airlines for almost 200 planes.  Boeing workers voted for a four year contract that will provide stability for their future.  The Public Employment Relations Commission sided with firefighters against the city of Everett for refusing to bargain over work overload for the past two years.

 All these things and many more that I haven't mentioned are the reasons we want all our members to be informed on current Political and Labor issues, and to vote in every election. Not every issue is a blockbuster. Lots of small and medium need resolution and serve as the foundation for the larger ones that always surface.

 The 2012 Legislative session will begin on January 9th and will continue until March 8th.  If things go as they have in past years we will most certainly be looking at more special sessions.  On top of all this we will be faced with choosing a new Governor and many other legislators.  My cry continues... Learn the facts of the issues and VOTE.

 

 

In Solidarity,

Rich Prete, WASHINGTON STATE  L&E Chair.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

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Well I Hope everyone had a great Christmas. The New Year is ringing in load and clear, there were many of our Brother and Sisters across the Country who did not. They were either unemployed, on strike, or had been locked out of their jobs. 

  We need to remember this when voting comes up in November and or in the primaries in May. Look at the people who we want to get elected and what they stand for, they need to stand for working men and women across both our great states and our country instead of corporations.. We need people in congress state and nationally to stand up for them.  This is a Presidential election year and several seats in the House and Senate are up for elections also.

We all have seen the stalemate from our politicians in congress. So when they come around asking for your votes, ask them what they did for the working people. Did they vote against extending unemployment insurance? How they voted for the so called free trade agreements and the health care? Also how would they vote on the employee free choice act, and right to work if they were to come up for a vote in the next election cycle.

These are some of the questions we need to be asking the people who are running for office as their vote affects our lives and the lives of our children greatly. This also applies to State office seekers as they have a say on some of the implementation of the laws passed by our national congress.

I know you don't like hearing about politics so early in the year, but all year long you will be bombarded either thru one or the other forms of medium and thru individual contact. So be prepared to ask the hard questions when you meet these candidates who will be asking for your vote.

As the Candidates’ file for election I will let you know as soon as I can. Also the County is trying to reduce the number of polling places from 72 down to about 50 so some of you may have to travel a little bit to vote or you can send into the county and ask for a absentee ballot sent to your house. You can go to Kootenai County .gov and click on election office to get your printable absentee form to mail into the election office. If you need to register to vote you can get the form to fill out and mail back to them.

"I hope you'll take some well-deserved time this holiday season to rest, reflect and recharge. Because in 2012, huge challenges will keep on coming. And we'll need you."  (Richard L. Trumka - President of AFL-CIO)

  

In Solidarity,  Dale R. Broadsword,

IDAHO L&E Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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