SEIU

Unionization push by PLU faculty could have national implications

Gabriel Spitzer — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:23:33 +0000

Disclosure: Pacific Lutheran University holds the license for KPLU. KPLU’s programming staffers are the university’s only unionized employees.

Pacific Lutheran University is trying to fend off attempts by members of its faculty to unionize, and the outcome could have national implications.

The push is coming from “contingent faculty,” the non-tenure track professors, lecturers and instructors who teach about a third of PLU’s course credits. Those people get paid significantly less than regular faculty, and their employment status is much shakier.

Sea-Tac baggage handlers and cabin cleaners unionize

Ashley Gross — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:36:00 +0000

After a year of agitating over working conditions, more than 1,000 workers at Sea-Tac Airport say they have now joined unions.

Long-term care initiative is back up for a vote

Vanessa Romo — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:54:19 +0000

The Long-term Care Initiative would require the state to boost training for home healthcare workers and implement more rigorous background checks. That’s pretty similar to what was passed but never enacted back in 2008.

Health care union files initiative to soften budget cuts

Bryan Buckalew — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:53:00 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-970754.mp3

The Washington state budget plan released Tuesday will cut funding for in-home health care workers. In reaction, one health care workers' union has already filed an initiative aiming to mitigate the effects of some of those reductions.

Audit on K-12 health benefits runs afoul of unions

Austin Jenkins and KPLU News Staff — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:15:48 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-955850.mp3

Majority Democrats in the Washington Legislature are working to close a multi-billion dollar budget gap. But they're not likely to implement a change the State Auditor says could save $180 million over the two-year budget cycle, as the idea runs afoul of the powerful teacher's union.

Governor Gregoire cancels union contracts; SEIU responds angrily

Austin Jenkins — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:31:15 +0000

The union which represents home health workers in Washington is reacting angrily to a move by Governor Chris Gregoire on Friday to cancel several collective bargaining agreements and ordered state employees back to the negotiating table.