#72 November/December 2004
The Washington Free Press Washington's Independent Journal of News, Ideas & Culture
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FREE THOUGHTS

FIRST WORD by Doug Collins
What's Wrong With Us?

READER MAIL
Israel: not a charitable nonprofit, Bush's second big lie: social security, Good alternative to third runway was ignored, More guardianship abuses, Thanks for the Truth

NORTHWEST & BEYOND
Wild sky can't fly past Pembo, Oregon's Coos County pays in pipeline lawsuit, Poverty with a view, Roadless Rule revision postponed past election, Western Shoshone battle federal landgrab, Montana's Jewish communities embrace reform

"Just because..."
strange assertions observed by Styx Mundstock

CONTACTS

NORTHWEST NEIGHBORS
contact list for progressives

DO SOMETHING! CALENDAR
Northwest activist events

POLITICS AND ELECTIONS

9/11 Update: New York State Attorney General's office accepts 9/11 Complaint
by Rodger Herbst

Book Notice: Claiming the Mantle: How Presidential Nominations Are Won and Lost Before the Votes Are Cast
by R. Lawrence Butler

"Modern Poll Tax" is Challenged in WA: Ex-felons deserve the right to vote
from the ACLU of WA

Next Steps after the 2004 Elections
by Steven Hill

LAW

NutraSweet Hit by Lawsuits: Court action highlights health concerns about artificial sweeteners
by Doug Collins

Justice Department Manipulates Truth About Patriot Act Ruling
from the ACLU

After the Riot
anonymous account of prison conditions

WORKPLACE

Bon Macy's Fails Employees' Health-Care Needs
from SEIU Local 6

San Francisco hotel workers locked out
photos and story by David Bacon

Small Business Administration Fails in Commitment to Women-Owned Firms
from the US Women's Chamber of Commerce

IMMIGRATION AND MEXICAN LABOR

HOW U.S. CORPORATIONS WON THE DEBATE OVER IMMIGRATION
by David Bacon

Illegal Immigration: Another Way to Outsource Jobs?
opinion by Domenico Maceri

Salsa and Apple Pie
A U.S.-Mexican Union in the making
by Steven Hill

ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH

Existing Systems Do Not Protect Us
by Sarah Westervelt

Mercury on the mind: Want to avoid both autism and Alzheimers? Then forget the flu vaccine and avoid dental amalgams
by Donald W. Miller, Jr, MD

What Water to Drink? Tap water may be your healthiest option
by Seth Gordon

MEDIA

MEDIA BEAT by Normal Solomon
The Presidential pageant: "There he is, Mr. America..."

People Like This Paper! So why is it so small?
by Doug Collins

CULTURE

A New Yorker Trapped in Los Angeles
excerpt from Willaim Blum's book: "Freeing the World to Death"

Poetry by Robert Hosheit

Beatnik Books
poetic reviews by Robert Pavik

GOOD IDEAS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES by Doug Collins
Polish Jokes

BON MACY'S FAILS EMPLOYEES' HEALTH-CARE NEEDS

from SEIU Local 6

While Service Employees International Union Local 6 affirms the value of the The Bon Macy's "Charge for a Change" campaign to promote breast cancer awareness, we note the incredible irony that the store is failing to address the health-care needs of its own janitors.

After four rounds of contract negotiations with SEIU Local 6 janitors, The Bon is sending a message that the health of its janitors is not worth $2.41 per hour. That is the amount the store is balking at paying for full family health-care, including dental and short-term disability, even though over a dozen janitorial firms have already agreed to pay this rate.

"I've been cleaning nasty Bon toilets at 5:00am every work day for over 17 years," said Elaine Johnson, a Bon janitor at South Center who is a member of the union's negotiating team. "It's bad enough that the store only pays me $9.80 per hour, but their refusal to pay for my medical coverage makes me sick!"

Janitorial firms in the Seattle area who do pay for the family insurance for their janitors and their families include American Building Maintenance, Metropolitan Building, Dependable Building Maintenance, Diamond Janitorial, Dunn Janitorial, Pacific Building, Seattle Building Maintenance, and others.

All of these unionized contractors also pay wages for janitors at a much higher rate than The Bon does.

"The Bon tries to project a compassionate, responsible image to the community," said Sergio Salinas, President of SEIU Local 6, "Yet the reality of their internal practices harshly contradicts their public relations."

"The Bon can afford to purchase full-page color ads in the Sunday Seattle Times to promote breast cancer awareness like it did on October 3, yet it can't pay janitors' health costs of $2.41 per hour? For crying out loud!" added Sarah Luthens, lead negotiator for the union janitors.

As of this writing, the next round of contract negotiations has not been scheduled. A federal mediator, Andy Hall, has been called in for assistance.


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