Washington Free Press - #86 Mar/Apr 2007

#86 Mar/Apr 2007

REGULARS

NORTHWEST & BEYOND
Watada case, Spokane abuse, Gates Foundation, Jailed journalists, Mumia, etc.
compiled by Sharlynn Cobaugh

READER MAIL
Home inspectors; Real ID; Bush criminal gang
with cartoons by Ham Khan and David Logan

DO SOMETHING! CALENDAR

WAR

Dozens Arrested at Port of Tacoma Anti-War Protests
by Mark Jensen & Linda Frank
photos by Carrie Lybecker

Killing for a Second Chance
ex-convicts & the military
opinion by Jesse Lancaster

MEDIA BEAT
The Headless Horseman of the Apocalypse
The Pragmatism of Prolonged War
two articles by Norman Solomon
cartoon by David Logan

POLITICS

America's Increasing Democracy Deficit
by Steven Hill
cartoon by David Logan

Real ID Becoming a Real Nightmare
opinion from the ACLU
cartoon by Andrew Wahl

WORKPLACE

Guest Workers Fired After Protesting Slavelike Conditions
By David Bacon

REAL LABOR
Fired for Volunteer Overtime
anonymous

"Five years at MIT, for this?"
cartoon by George Jartos

HEALTH

Weird Flu Deaths in King County
Instead of vaccination rhetoric, a thorough look is needed from public health officials
opinion by Doug Collins

Cheaper, Better Healthcare for the US
Americans are getting much less life for the money, according to a recent international comparison
opinion by Domenico Maceri
cartoon by John Jonik

MISC. NEWS AND IDEAS

University of Washington on Probation
by Mike McCormick, Labwatch

GOOD IDEAS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Romania and Morocco
by Joel Hanson

BOOK REVIEW
America's National Park Roads and Parkways
review by Robert Pavlik

RIGHT BRAIN

'Tanks' for the Memories
photos of memorable water tanks, by Robert Pavlik

THE WANDERINGS & THOUGHTS OF KIP KELLOGG, #9
by Vincent Spada

PUMPKIN EDDIE'S LIGHTNING POEMS
by Vincent Spada

A Night Out
poem by Bob Markey

Controlled Chaos
poem by Jesse Lancaster
cartoon by David Logan

Ode to the Democratic Party Leaders
poem by Bruce K. Gagnon
cartoon by Andrew Wahl

TOON-O-PHOBIA
Assorted cartoons
(see main page, left column)

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Doug Collins, coordinating editor

Real Labor

Fired for Volunteer Overtime

Stephanie wrote:

"I was employed by a company that I loved working for. We were told no overtime, we must clock out. Sometimes we were not done, so we clocked out and stayed another 10 to 30 minutes. Doing files, or the deposits or just taking out the trash. We were committed to doing our job. When my district manager found out I had done this, he demanded I turn in any time I worked and when. At this point, the unofficial and voluntary overtime had already been going on for three months. He informed me it was against company policy (he said it was not the labor law), so the situation would be dealt with. I turned in a time that was much less than what I really had worked, so as not to cause them too much expense. That Friday I was asked to check my pay stub to be sure I was paid for it. It was correct according to the time I had turned in. I emailed my district manager and said yes I was paid. He said to print my pay stub and scan it into the computer with my signature and my manager's. I did. The next work day, I was fired for having worked off the clock. The manager lead me to believe the problem was finished after I turned in my time. Now I am told it is a federal law, that I broke it, that the company takes it seriously, and that I should have known the law and the policy. The ironic thing is that I was volunteering my overtime partly to help prepare the company to pass an audit."*

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