2nd Annual USA Puget Sound Shoot in Puyallup
The Union Sportsmen's Alliance invites all Puget Sound-area union organizations, members and their families to participate in the 2nd Annual Puget Sound Shoot on Thursday, Oct. 21 at Sumner Sportsmen?s Association in Puyallup. The event will benefit the Union Sportsmen?s Alliance (USA), a one-of-a-kind hunting and fishing club by and for conservation-minded union members, retirees and their families that hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors.

Rally for Sen. Murray this Tuesday in Seattle
Make plans to attend the Workers Rally for Senator Patty Murray starting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at the Machinists 751 Hall, 9125 15th Place S. in Seattle. Murray has been unanimously endorsed for re-election by the affiliated unions of the Washington State Labor Council because she is a champion for job creation and working families in our state.

Dino Rossi fights for MORE tax cuts for the rich
Even if Congress lets Bush's tax cuts for the rich expire as scheduled, but preserves the "middle-class" tax cuts -- as President Obama and Sen. Patty Murray propose -- wealthy households will STILL receive a substantial tax cut, significantly larger in dollar terms that what middle-class Americans will get. But that's not enough for Sen. Murray's Republican challenger Dino Rossi, who has quickly cast aside his stated concern about rising federal deficits to demand that the richest Americans pay even lower taxes, despite the fact that the Bush tax cuts for the rich are the single biggest contributor to the federal deficit.

Don't believe the lies about Social Security
Reports indicate that the federal budget deficit commission is likely to recommend raising the retirement age and making other cuts in Social Security when it makes its recommendations after the November elections. Now, conservative media pundits are attempting to make the case for those cuts by spreading lies about the Social Security system. Check out the "Top 5 Myths About Social Security" and the evidence that debunks them.

State employees fight attacks on health care
It's back to the bargaining table this week for the State of Washington and union representatives, who are negotiating for a contract that will cover more than 100,000 state workers. At issue is who pays, and how much, for health insurance premiums and deductibles. The Washington Federation of State Employees, AFSCME Council 28 contends the state is one of the largest employers in Washington and should pay its share of health care benefits accordingly. Instead, state negotiators have suggested raising workers' share premiums by 67% and doubling their out-of-pocket deductibles.

Join new state coalition to protect Social Security
"Social Security Works / Washington" is a new statewide coalition determined to defend and improve Social Security in the face of the gravest threat to its integrity in the 75 years since it was signed into law. Initiated by a nucleus of labor, women's and retiree groups -- including the Washington State Labor Council -- the coalition is reaching out to the many organizations that recognize the unique role of Social Security in preventing poverty and in uniting our people across the generations.

Wenatchee council votes to oust union contractor at convention center
The Wenatchee City Council has voted 4-3 to proceed with replacing the Wenatchee Convention Center's unionized food service with a cheaper nonunion contractor. But there is still a chance for the city to do the right thing. Any final agreement has to be brought back to the council for approval, which may happen Thursday, Aug. 26.

Sen. Murray champions strong Social Security; Rossi silent
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray joined with hundreds of local seniors Monday at the Greenwood Senior Center in Seattle to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Social Security being signed into law. She talked to the group about the importance of Social Security to seniors and her commitment to protect it from cuts and privatization. In contrast to Sen. Murray's strong outspoken advocacy for preserving Social Security without benefits cuts, her opponent, Republican Dino Rossi, has evaded the question of whether he would support his party's agenda to privatize Social Security or cut its benefits.

State's tax burden drops to 30th in U.S.
Washingtonians pay a lower percentage of their income in state and local taxes than do residents of 29 other states, according to a report issued this week by the Washington State Department of Revenue. Washington taxpayers paid $105.49 per $1,000 of personal income in state and local taxes in Fiscal Year 2008 while the national average was $111.99. Washington's 30th place ranking is an improvement over its 26th place ranking in 2007.

Will illegal subsidies affect Airbus tanker bid?
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray leads a group of bipartisan senators in sending a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asking how the Pentagon intends to account for the unfair advantages that illegal subsidies provide in the competition to replace the U.S. military?s next generation of aerial refueling tankers. This letter follows the WTO's release of their final ruling that European governments have been providing Airbus with illegal subsidies that have undercut U.S. workers for the last 40 years.