Local #174 Teamster News Archives
May 2011

 

 

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Register for the 2011 Teamster Women’s Conference!
Posted May 31, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
The 2011 Teamster Women’s Conference is scheduled for August 26-28, 2011 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in New York, New York. The opening session will be held Friday, August 26th at 2:00 p.m. and the conference will adjourn at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 28th.

A room block has been set up at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, located at 811 7th Avenue and 53rd Street, New York, New York 10019. To receive the special Women’s Conference room rate of $199.00, please call the hotel at 212-581-1000 before the deadline date of July 28, 2011 and mention that you’re with the IBT Women’s Conference.

Registration for the conference can be done in one of two ways:

  1. Go to www.teamster.org/women to register online, or
  2. Fill out the attached registration form and fax it to 202-624-6851.

The Schedule for the Women’s Conference is:

Friday, August 26, 2011

Saturday and Sunday, August 27-28, 2011

TRAVEL: If you would like assistance with your travel arrangements, please call Teamster Travel Services at 1-800-428-3591.

REGISTRATION/CONFERENCE INFO: If you have any questions regarding the conference, please call Vicky Matullo at 202-624-8724.

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Workplace changes await state employees
Posted: May 29, 2011
Source: The News Tribune
State employees already expect changes in their paychecks after July 1. Many are in for changes in their workplaces, too.

Lawmakers wrapped up 135 days of regular and overtime sessions last week, shifting the course of state government and opening the door to more “outsourcing” to the private sector.

What will get contracted out remains to be seen, according to the Office of Financial Management and affected agencies. Short term, more state printing might go to private print shops, and later, a private car agency might be allowed to bid for the right to run the State Motor Pool.

The changes are part of a restructuring sought by Gov. Chris Gregoire to save about $18 million and streamline government, eliminating about 95 jobs in five agencies.

Leaders at the Washington Federation of State Employees negotiated and agreed to 3 percent cuts in pay and hours as well as higher health care costs. But they are wincing over the rest of the cuts and suggest the government will end up paying more, not less.

“Given the economic times, we needed to sacrifice to some extent, but I think we are bearing more than our share,” Washington Federation of State Employees executive director Greg Devereux said after the special session’s end Wednesday.    Read the entire source story here.

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Christening in Seattle for new ferry Kennewick
Posted: May 27, 2011
Source: The Kitsap Sun
Washington's newest ferry, the Kennewick, will be christened in a ceremony Friday afternoon in Seattle at the Vigor Shipyards, formerly Todd Pacific Shipyards.

The Transportation Department says House Transportation Chairwoman Judy Clibborn will break a bottle against a bulwark on the vehicle deck.

The Kennewick is the third new 64-car ferry. It follows the Chetzemoka and Salish.

From Seattle the Kennewick will be moved to Everett for outfitting. It should be delivered by the end of the year.

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Sad news for the Movie Industry
Posted: May 26, 2011
Source: City of Seattle Office of Film + Music
As most of you know by now, last night the legislature adjourned without the House voting on Washington's Motion Picture Competiveness Fund, effectively ending any future funding for the program. As an office that advocates and supports film production in Seattle, this is a very disappointing outcome. For a variety of unique reasons, Washington (like Oregon and British Columbia) is well leveraged to be a successful film production center for this international industry. Over the past four years of the incentive program, the success of this program has been demonstrated by a sharp and continued increase in production on both sides of the state. Seattle alone has seen a 34% increase in production since the incentive program was put in place. Additionally, this program has seen strong support from labor and business, and also received a thorough audit by JALARC who recommended the continuation of the Fund to the legislature.

With this kind of momentum and demonstrated success, accepting the failure of the bill this session is difficult. However, as we learn more about what happened we will use what we learn to put ourselves in a better position as we approach next steps and work to improve our message for future opportunities to grow film industry jobs. We will also continue developing and marketing Seattle as a film destination and working to support our partners at Washington Filmworks. This is a setback for our local film industry but not the end of the great progress made over recent years. Seattle is, and will be, open for film business

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Benefits are available for trade-impacted workers, businesses
Posted May 26, 2011
Source: The Stand
As a recent Letter to the Editor in the News Tribune pointed out, assistance is available to laid-off workers and businesses impacted by foreign trade, and it is being underutilized. The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, in partnership with the State Employment Security Department, maintain a website — TAA-Washington.org — to help laid-off workers and downsizing businesses affected by foreign competition access the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.

Here are some examples of the benefits available to laid-off workers:

(These benefits reflect those available to workers laid off from an already TAA-certified company. Benefits may be slightly different for future certifications but are still substantial.)    Read the source story here.

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Senate OKs ferry reform, surcharge bill
Posted: May 26, 2011
Source: The Kitsap Sun
The Washington Senate on Monday approved a 25-cent ferry ticket surcharge and an overhaul of the ferry system's management.

The Senate voted 36-9 to approve the bill, with all three Kitsap Peninsula senators voting with a majority. The House approved the bill last weekend, and it now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The bill installs a 25-cent surcharge on each ferry ticket to raise money to build a new 144-car ferry. A surcharge would raise $6.6 million annually if ferry ridership is steady at 2010 levels. The 2011-2013 transportation budget — including $122.8 million set aside to build a new 144-car ferry — has already been signed into law.

The bill requires a yet-to-be-appointed committee to set goals for safety, service, cost-containment, maintenance and construction in the ferry system. If 80 percent of the goals are not met annually, a fix-it plan is supposed to be created within a year.

The bill also addresses some worker-management matters.

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Historic ocean tug pulls into Harborfest
Posted: May 26, 2011
Source: The Kitsap Sun
This year's [ Saturday & Sunday] centerpiece for Harborfest is a World War II Navy tugboat then called the Wampanoag and now called the Comanche. The handsome tug took part in the 1945 Okinawa campaign, hoisting injured sailors onto its decks and towing battle-crippled ships out of the war zone. It was built the year before, one of 89 such tugs produced by the Navy during the war.

Big, worn by time and sturdy, it's as close to original condition as can be found. It's awaiting visitors at the outer float of the Bremerton Marina.

After wartime duty, the Comanche was pulled into service by the U.S. Coast Guard, and then into commercial service up and down the West Coast.

Now, it's based in Tacoma and is slowly undergoing restoration.    Read more here.

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Members Pick Up Pieces After Deadly Storm
Posted: May 25, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
At last count, more than 100 are dead and thousands are missing after a tornado—the single deadliest since the National Weather Service began keeping records—ripped through Joplin, Mo. on May 22.

Among the dead is 35-year-old Heather Baum Terry, a LaBarge Inc. Teamster with Local 823 in Joplin. Forty other members of the local are currently missing and a number of members have lost homes.

The tornado cut a path through the town of about 50,000 residents nearly 10 miles long and two miles wide, taking with it schools, churches and more than 2,000 homes. The storm also destroyed a hospital and a Teamster plant.

“I haven’t seen destruction like this since Katrina,” said Roy Gillespie, Human Rights Commissioner and member of Joint Council 13 in Overland, Mo. “Whole neighborhoods have been wiped off the map.”

Gillespie, along with other HRC representatives, are providing assistance to Local 823 and members of the Joplin community. Among other things, Gillespie and Rod Taylor, President of Local 823, have begun searching for missing members by walking through shelters and coordinating with FEMA and the Red Cross.

“Rod has been out tirelessly helping members and the people of this community,” Gillespie said.

Members from Local 823 are providing logistics for the American Red Cross on a volunteer basis. Members from Local 245 in Springfield, Mo. and Kansas City Teamsters are also assisting storm victims. Members from Joint Council 13 will join the recovery and clean-up efforts in the coming days.

Gillespie is encouraging Teamsters from across the country to refrain from donating supplies and material goods and instead focus on making monetary donations to the Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund.

“The best thing to do is donate to the Disaster Relief Fund,” Gillespie said. “These people have lost everything. If you give them food and clothing and furniture, they have no place to put it.”

To learn more or to donate to the Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund, click here.

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‘Shameful’ cuts OK’d; see how they voted
Posted May 24, 2011
Source: WSLC

On Monday, the Washington State House and Senate passed labor-opposed workers’ compensation legislation, without amendment, that Gov. Chris Gregoire calls “some of the largest reforms in the system’s 100-year history.” The bill — which had no public hearing and no fiscal note explaining its costs — was made public for the first time at about noon, passed the House 69-26 in the afternoon, and passed the Senate 35-12 in the evening. (See roll calls below.)

EHB 2123 was the product of closed-door negotiations between Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire and legislative leaders of both parties, who held a news conference Sunday night announcing the deal, which passed both houses within 24 hours. It will make Washington the first state in the country that offers what Gregoire calls “structured settlements” to injured workers 55 years and older (lowered to 50 by 2016), which are essentially the lump-sum buyouts opposed by labor but spread over periodic payments. Next year alone, the state anticipates injured workers will get settlements that are $335 million less than they would otherwise receive, and a total of $545 million less over 2012-15.

“The passage of EHB 2123 yesterday without public hearing, without public debate was shameful,” said Jeff Johnson, President of the Washington State Labor Council. “I am astounded by the ability of a Democratic legislature to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our unique workers’ compensation system, only to begin its second 100 years by dismantling that which makes it unique. You can re-label compromise-and-release settlements as ‘structured settlements’ and you can deceive yourself into believing that workers have real protections in this bill, but you cannot avoid the fact that more than a half billion dollars in benefits will be taken from injured workers from this section of the bill alone.”

EHB 2123 also freezes injured workers’ cost-of-living adjustments for one year, reducing benefits by an estimated $31 million in 2012 and $124 million in 2012-15; deducts prior disability awards from pension awards and eliminates interest payments of permanent partial disability awards, which cuts benefits by $99 million in 2012 and $133 million over 2012-15; and makes several other changes.

Here is the House roll-call vote on EHB 2123, which was sponsored by Rep. Tami Green (D-Tacoma).
Democrats are listed in bold.

VOTING YES: Representatives Ahern, Alexander, Anderson, Angel, Armstrong, Asay, Bailey, Blake, Buys, Carlyle, Chandler, Chopp, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, Crouse, Dahlquist, Dammeier, Darneille, DeBolt, Dunshee, Eddy, Fagan, Finn, Frockt, Green, Haigh, Haler, Hargrove, Hinkle, Hope, Hunter, Hurst, Jinkins, Johnson, Kagi, Kelley, Klippert, Kretz, Kristiansen, Maxwell, McCoy, Moeller, Morris, Nealey, Orcutt, Overstreet, Parker, Pearson, Pedersen, Rivers, Rodne, Rolfes, Ross, Seaquist, Shea, Schmick, Short, Smith, Springer, Sullivan, Takko, Taylor, Tharinger, Van De Wege, Walsh, Warnick, Wilcox, and Zeiger.

VOTING NO: Representatives Billig, Dickerson, Fitzgibbon, Goodman, Harris, Hasegawa, Hudgins, Hunt, Kenney, Kirby, Ladenburg, Liias, Lytton, Miloscia, Moscoso, Ormsby, Orwall, Probst, Reykdal, Roberts, Ryu, Santos, Sells, Stanford, Upthegrove, and Wylie.

EXCUSED: Representatives Appleton, McCune, and Pettigrew.

Here is the Senate roll call:

VOTING YES: Senators Baumgartner, Baxter, Becker, Brown, Carrell, Delvin, Eide, Ericksen, Fain, Hargrove, Hatfield, Haugen, Hewitt, Hill, Hobbs, Holmquist Newbry, Honeyford, Kastama, Kilmer, King, Kohl-Welles, Litzow, Morton, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler, Sheldon, Stevens, Swecker, Tom, and Zarelli

VOTING NAY: Senators Benton, Chase, Conway, Fraser, Harper, Keiser, Kline, McAuliffe, Murray, Nelson, Ranker, and White

EXCUSED: Senators Prentice and Shin.

Read the entire source story here.

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OPPOSE Wisconsin-style attacks that erode collective bargaining & competitive contracting rights!
Posted May 24, 2011
Source: WSLC
Gov. Chris Gregoire has reportedly asked the Legislature to pass an agency consolidation bill (ESSB 5931) with weakened collective bargaining rights so more state services can be privatized. The only difference from this attack on state employees and what happened in Wisconsin is scale, the philosophy is the same: blame the impact of recession and the failures of management on the public employees and solve the "problem" by taking away their rights.

Under current law, state agencies have the option of contracting out work IF it can be demonstrated it will result in savings AND state employees have had the opportunity to present alternatives or bid to retain the work. ESSB 5931 consolidates several state agencies, but in the process, it abandons those bidding safeguards for taxpayers and state employees. It requires the state to solicit bids every biennium for contracting out services at this new consolidated agency, shuts public employees out of the bidding process, and permits the agency to proceed with privatization if its chief financial officer thinks its cheaper or more efficient.

Like the workers' compensation bill that was rammed through on Monday, ESSB 5931 is expected to be acted upon at any time as the Legislature rushes to pass a budget and adjourn by Wednesday's deadline. CLICK HERE to contact your legislators right now and tell them to protect collective bargaining rights of our stte employees!

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WA leaders reach key deal on workers' comp changes
Posted May 24, 2011
Source: The Longview Daily News
Washington lawmakers ended days of contentious negotiations Sunday night with a plan to overhaul the state's workers' compensation system and potentially save hundreds of millions of dollars in the years to come.

The proposal announced by Gov. Chris Gregoire and leaders from both parties seeks to improve the long-term health of the system by offering financial settlements to older workers who get injured. Labor groups immediately panned the deal as unacceptable while business advocates gave lukewarm approval.

Gregoire called it one of the most contentious, complex and difficult issues that she and the Legislature have tackled.

"There's no one here who won. There's no one here who lost," Gregoire said while looking around at Democratic and Republican leaders from both chambers.

Pressed for time with the end of the special session looming on Wednesday, lawmakers hope to pass the bill as early as Monday. They do not plan to have a public hearing. State leaders believe the bill is necessary in order to clear passage of the state's operating budget.   Read the source story here.

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Murray, Dems to labor board: Don't cave to political pressure in Boeing case
Posted May 23, 2011
Source: The Everett Herald
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., joined nine other U.S. senators in telling the National Labor Relations Board to ignore political pressure in its complaint against the Boeing Co.

Last month, the labor board's general counsel accused Boeing of illegally retaliating against its Machinists union for strikes in Washington when it picked South Carolina for a second 787 production line. Boeing has denied the allegation. A hearing on the complaint is set for June 14 in Seattle.

The complaint against Boeing has drawn attention across the nation. Several members of Congress, state governors and state attorneys general have weighed in on the complaint.   Read the source story here.

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174 and 117 Members Form Regional Black Caucus
Posted May 20, 2011
Source: JC 28.org
Black Teamsters United is still in its infancy as a Joint Council wide entity but has already taken root in Local 117. Members of Local 117′s Black Teamsters United joined thousands of community members, including some 75 Teamsters, for the May Day March and Rally on Sunday, May 1, 2011. This was the first time the group unfurled and marched under its own banner.

Click here to read more about Black Teamsters United and to learn about what they have been doing in the community.

Representatives of both Local 117 and Local 174 presented their vision of a Joint Council-wide Caucus to the Local Union staff and delegates attending the May 14, 2011 Joint Council Semi-Annual meetings Educational Seminar.

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Hoffa letter urges Gregoire to preserve protections for injured workers
Posted May 20, 2011
Source: teamsters117.org
Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa has sent a letter to Governor Gregoire urging her to oppose proposals that would undermine the injured workers' safety net.

The letter specifically addresses proposals that would authorize lump-sum buyouts for workers with long-term disabilities.

The letter states:

"Many Teamsters in Washington are injured on the job each year. Luckily, almost all are able to see a doctor and get right back to work.  Those few workers who are seriously injured on the job rely on the current long-term disability system to support them and their familes."

TAKE ACTION! Call the Governor's office now at 360-902-4111 and tell her to oppose lump-sum buyouts for disabled workers!

To read the Hoffa letter in full, click here. 

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$3 Million Training Grant Means Aerospace Jobs for Washington Workers
Boeing video graphic linkPosted May 19, 2011
Source: AFL-CIO Now Blog
Standing over the production line in Renton, Wash., where members of  the Machinists (IAM) District 751 build Boeing Co.’s 737s, Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) yesterday announced that the state is investing $3 million to train hundreds of Washington workers to get the skills and certificates they need to work in the aerospace industry.

(Thanks to Kathy Cummings, communications director for the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC), for sending along the video.)

The IAM and Boeing worked together, Cummings said, to secure the funding to maintain the high-skilled workforce that makes Washington the best place in the world to build and maintain airplanes. Gregoire said the money will help:

those individuals negatively impacted by the national recession receive training to move toward a stable and good-paying career. And it ensures our aerospace workers have the cutting-edge skills needed to design, build and maintain the aircraft of tomorrow—helping our 650 aerospace companies grow and create new jobs.

IAM District 751 President Tom Wroblewski said:

We at the Machinists union know that workforce training and education are key to maintaining and growing our industry. This complex industry of aerospace requires these kinds of investment. Source story here.

Read the source story here.

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Helping Veterans Find Jobs
Posted: May 17, 2011
Source: The News Tribune
For the first time, U.S. troops would be required to enroll in a federal job-training program before they're allowed to leave the military under a bill introduced in the Senate on Wednesday, May 11.

Called the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, it's aimed at reducing an unemployment rate of 27 percent for veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We are taking a huge step forward in rethinking the way we treat our men and women in uniform after they leave the military," said Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state, the chief sponsor of the bill.

Too many returning troops are suffering from "the invisible wounds of war" and need more help finding jobs, said Murray, chairwoman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

"We read about it in the skyrocketing suicide statistics, problems at home, substance abuse and even in the rising homelessness among our returning veterans," she said at a news conference on the U.S. Capitol lawn.

There's no cost estimate for the bill, but Murray said it would be "incomparable" to what the government pays now. She noted that in 2010, the Department of Defense paid out $500 million in unemployment benefits for Army veterans.   Read the source story here.

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Hoffa: The Public Opposes Illegal, Unsafe Mexican Truck Program
Posted: May 17, 2011
Source: Teamsters.org
Mexican Truck graphicTeamsters General President Jim Hoffa today said the U.S. Department of Transportation should listen to the American public and not open the border to dangerous Mexican trucks because of concerns about job loss, border security, highway safety and the legality of the program itself.

Teamsters and other Americans submitted more than a thousand comments opposing the DOT plan to open the border during the 30-day comment period in the Federal Register, which ended Friday. The comments posted were overwhelmingly against letting Mexican trucks travel freely on U.S. highways. Only groups representing multinational corporations and agribusiness supported DOT’s proposal.

“I urge Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to listen to his conscience and to the vast majority of Americans, not to corporate interests that have no loyalty to the United States,” Hoffa said. “He should show that the democratic process works by pulling the plug on this program.

The Teamsters Union also formally submitted comments Friday. Hoffa said DOT’s proposal to open the border “fails to adequately protect our members, their families and the traveling public from the potential danger of unsafe Mexican trucks and drivers, who do not meet or will not adhere to all U.S. safety standards.”   View source story here.

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Gregoire gives Thurston chamber hopeful message
Posted May 13, 2011
Source: The Olympian
In the thick of a budget-balancing, extended legislative session, Gov. Chris Gregoire delivered a hopeful message to South Sound businesspeople Wednesday as part of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting.

The message was that the state has a bright future, partly because of international trade and growth at regional port districts, the state’s aerospace industry and the potential for more business, and recent bills signed into law that should aid businesses.

“We are in tough times now, but we have to look out through the lens of tomorrow and ask ourselves what does it bring for us, and I’m very confident,” she told a lunchtime audience of about 200 people at the Saint Martin’s University Worthington Center.

Gregoire said international trade likely the is state’s “ticket out of the recession” and that regional port districts did record business last year and are poised to do it again this year.

The Port of Olympia generated $8 million in overall revenue in 2010, largely helped by exporting Weyerhaeuser and Pacific Lumber and Shipping logs to Japan and China.

China is now the state’s largest trading partner, Gregoire said.   Read the source story here.

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Missile defense radar to enter strait Monday, sound Tuesday
Missle Defense photo from Seattle PIPosted May 10, 2011
Source: Seattle PI
Posted May 10, 2011
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Sea-Based X-band Radar vessel will enter the Strait of Juan de Fuca late Monday and the Puget Sound on Tuesday, according to the agency.

“The first view of the SBX for some residents in the Pacific Northwest will likely be when the vessel is just off shore before entering the Strait of Juan de Fuca tonight,” the agency said Monday. “It should be visible from Port Angeles on Tuesday morning. The vessel can be seen from various points as it makes its way through Puget Sound to Elliott Bay and to Vigor Shipyards Seattle, arriving late Tuesday night.”

Boeing won a $27.1 million contract to perform maintenance and upgrades on the huge system. The work is set to take about three months at Seattle’s Vigor Shipyards.

People are not allowed within 100 yards of SBX while it is in navigable U.S. waters and moored at Vigor Shipyard.    

Read the source story here.
Download a fact sheet about the Sea-Based X-Band Radar here.

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Teamsters Denounce Florida Legislature Vote To Privatize State Prisons
Posted May 9, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
Posted May 10, 2011
The Florida legislature passed the General Appropriations Act for 2011-2012 late Friday evening pushing through language within the bill that will allow the state to privatize prisons in Region 4 of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) system. Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign this attack on FDOC officers into law.

With the passage of this bill, correctional officers at facilities in 18 counties in the state will face an uncertain future as their livelihoods and families’ future will be sold to the lowest bidder.

“This legislation is an attack on dedicated public employees in the state of Florida,” said Ken Wood, International Vice President and President of Teamsters Joint Council 75. “By voting to privatize a significant number of state prisons, these elected representatives will add more people to the unemployment rolls, create significant disruption to many families and adversely impact economic recovery in the southern part of the state.”

More than 4,300 correctional officers will be impacted by the move to privatize prisons in Region 4.   Read the source story here.

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Report: Wage and Hour Law Enforcement Is Lax
Posted May 7, 2011
Source: AFL-CIO Now Blog
While 45 states and the District of Columbia have minimum wage laws, that does not mean they are followed or enforced, according to a new report released by the National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia University Law School.

The first-of-its-kind nationwide study found that enforcement is lax in many states, in part because of a lack of funds and also an unwillingness to use every available weapon to ensure compliance. 

 

 Among the study’s key findings:

Read the source story here.

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Ken Hall's Mother Passes
Posted May 6, 2011
We are saddened to announce the passing of Ann Hall on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. She was the mother of Ken Hall, International Vice President, Package Division Director, President of Local Union 175, and a wonderful friend to Local 174. Arrangements are as follows:

Viewing:

Services: Donations in her memory can be made to:

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AFL-CIO to withdraw funds from M&I Bank
Posted May 6, 2011
Source: Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO announced Wednesday that it would withdraw more than $105,000 from M&I Bank as part of its "Move Your Money" campaign.

The bank used $1.7 billion in TARP money. "Instead of repaying their debt to taxpayers M&I executives spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on political contributions to Gov. Scott Walker and politicians who are now attacking the middle class," the union said in a statement. Read the source story here.

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Profits At Largest 500 Corporations Grew By 81 Percent In 2010
Posted May 6, 2011
Source: Think Progress
One of the dominating justifications that the right uses for its economic policies is that lowering taxes and regulations on society’s wealthiest members and big businesses will cause an explosion of wealth that will eventually “trickle down” to the vast majority of Americans. Yet while a record number of Americans are receiving some form of government assistance as unemployment remains high and the economy is in shambles, one group is doing very well: corporate America. The 2011 Fortune 500 list was unveiled today, surveying the growth and profits of the nation’s largest 500 corporations. It found that the profits of these companies “soared 81″ percent over the past year, causing the editors of Fortune to say that “we’ve rarely seen such a stark gulf between the fortunes of the 500 and those of ordinary Americans”:

All told, the Fortune 500 generated nearly $10.8 trillion in total revenues last year, up 10.5%. Total profits soared 81%. But guess who didn’t benefit much from this giant wave of cash? Millions of U.S. workers stuck mired in a stagnant job market. [...] Nevertheless, we’ve rarely seen such a stark gulf between the fortunes of the 500 and those of ordinary Americans.
At the same time, corporate tax revenue as a percentage of GDP is lower than it has been in years, meaning that not only is the wealth not trickling down, but that these big firms are also becoming less and less likely to pay their fair share.   Read the source story here.

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Carrier Formerly Based in Bremerton Disposed of bin Laden's Remains
Posted May 2, 2011
Source: The Kitsap Sun
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, formerly based in Bremerton, was the ship from which Osama bin Laden was buried at sea, according to a Navy news release.

Muslim religious rites were performed aboard the ship in the North Arabian Sea within 24 hours of the terrorist leader's death, the Navy said. Following traditional Muslim burial customs, bin Laden's body was washed and placed in a white sheet. It was placed in a weighted bag. A military officer read prepared religious remarks, which were translated into Arabic by a native speaker. Bin Laden was placed on a flat board. It was tipped up and the body slid into the sea.

Bin Laden was buried at sea because no country would accept his remains, according to the Navy.

On Oct. 7, 2001, USS Carl Vinson's planes became the first to bomb Afghanistan in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. During the next 72 days, it conducted more than 4,200 combat sorties.

The carrier was based in Bremerton from January 1997 to January 2005. It now is homeported in San Diego.

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Associated General Contractors Vote Tally
Posted May 2, 2011
Received from: Darren O'Neil, Teamsters Local #252 Secretary-Treasurer

With all Locals now reporting the final tally for the AGC contract ratification is:

YES - 55

NO - 48
Therefore I will report to the Employer that the offer has been ratified and will prepare documents for signature.

Thank you all for your assistance.

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