by Doug Collins

Voters Nix Insurance Companies

Voters in two Massachussetts legislative districts voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution which calls for universal coverage for comprehensive healthcare. The resolution further "eliminates the role of insurance companies in healthcare," and "stops the buying, selling, managing and closing down of healthcare facilities by for-profit corporations." The resolution was sponsored by the Labor Party and was held in one racially mixed neighborhood and one predominantly white neighborhood (both neighborhoods had similar results). A total of 14,242 voted in favor, and 5,755 against. Under Massachussetts law, nonbinding resolutions can be introduced on a district's ballot by garnering 200 signatures of registered voters. (Labor Party Press)

Nurses Beat "Homewrecker Schedules"

Despite protests by nurses, management at the DSHS state mental health hospital near Spokane implemented a plan for nurses to work both days of the weekend. Previously nurses had either Saturday or Sunday off. Nurses in the Service Employees union (SEIU) dubbed the new arrangements "the Homewrecker Schedule" and engaged in a "work-to-rule" campaign, refusing any voluntary overtime. They also boarded a bus to Olympia and met with the governor's office. The result was a new agreement which allowed nurses to have every other weekend off. (The 1199 Voice)

"Full-Scope" Bargaining Rights

Under current Washington state law, state employees do not have "full-scope" bargaining, which means that state workers must bargain for contracts at each institution rather than at the statewide (full-scope) level. Employees in full-scope states tend to get better pay, according to the publication Washington State Employee. Washington was one of only four states last year in which state employees received no across-the-board raises. Three of these four states have no full-scope bargaining. A bill currently supported by the governor's office (HB-1239) would instate full-scope bargaining for most state agency and state government workers, but would exempt higher-education workers, who would still have a comparatively weaker status bargaining at each institution. An Australian book, Unions in a Contrary World, also documents how overall union membership--both for public and private employees--has declined more quickly in occupations which do not have full-scope bargaining. The reason? Full-scope bargaining creates a simple "prevailing wage" which provides an immediate incentive both for unions to organize lower-wage nonunion worksites, and for unorganized workers to join.

Us West Execs Get Fat Pay Raise

Employees at US West went on prolonged strike last year and got a 3.9 percent pay raise. In January, US West reported that CEO Sol Trujillo's pay package will increase by 62 percent. All top executives combined will receive roughly a 35 percent pay increase in 1999. The Oregon Public Utilities Commission chair Ron Eachus stated that "These raises are absurd, abhorrent, and insulting to the ratepayers." (The Portland Alliance)

Oregon Minimum Wage Attacked

The Oregon Restaurant Association (ORA) is lobbying with some success to roll back the $6.50 minimum wage approved by Oregon voters in 1996. The ORA is asking for a "tip credit" and a "training wage", enabling employers to pay one dollar less than the minimum wage. Last year, similar legislation failed by a narrow margin. (NW Labor Press)

Kudos To Metro Drivers Union

At the Free Press, we get a fair number of union newsletters sent to us. Of special interest lately was the February issue of the Amalgamated Transit Union's Local 587 News Review, which contains a whopping six letters to the editor. Most union newsletters unfortunately contain no letters to the editor, and by so doing prove to their membership that either 1) the union is not open to a variety of opinion--including critical opinions--from the membership, or 2) the union is largely boring to its membership. Thanks, Metro drivers, for proving definitively that your union is not an autocratic holdback like some locals are!