WA State Workers' Contract Talks Include Workloads, Respect
Published on Wed, May 19, 2010 by Chris ThomasRead More County & State
LACEY, Wash. - Bargaining begins today for new contracts for 38,000
Washington state employees. State agencies have been ordered by the
Legislature to save $48 million through furloughs or pay cuts, while the
people who work in those agencies say they're already swamped because
of previous layoffs.
Sue Henricksen is one of about two dozen members of the state workers' bargaining team, and vice-president of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). In addition to wages and benefits, she says one of the issues on the table is what they term "workplace respect."
"Management is continuing to expect workers to produce a high volume of work and cover for those people who they've laid off, and there's been disciplinary action taken against many of our members for not being able to go 150 miles an hour, or not completing the work."
The most recent salary survey by the Washington Department of Personnel shows 82 percent of state workers earn below the market rate for what they do. Henricksen says the economic crisis has affected their members just as much as anyone.
"We're struggling like everyone else. We're trying to keep our jobs, trying to keep the businesses going. We're trying to keep the state working, and we're wanting what every other worker in this state wants."
These negotiations are on behalf of the General Government employees, the largest WFSE group. They work in the unemployment offices, parks, community service and corrections, the transportation department and other agencies.
State negotiators will most likely point out that the state pays 88 percent of health insurance premiums for its workers, although employees agreed to higher co-pays and deductibles and passed up cost-of-living raises in the current contracts.
In another money-saving move, the talks aren't being held in a hotel ballroom, as is the norm, but at the Thurston County Fairgrounds in Lacey. Henricksen says bargaining will continue in multiple, two-day sessions throughout the summer. The new, two-year contract has to be approved no later than October 1.
Sue Henricksen is one of about two dozen members of the state workers' bargaining team, and vice-president of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). In addition to wages and benefits, she says one of the issues on the table is what they term "workplace respect."
"Management is continuing to expect workers to produce a high volume of work and cover for those people who they've laid off, and there's been disciplinary action taken against many of our members for not being able to go 150 miles an hour, or not completing the work."
The most recent salary survey by the Washington Department of Personnel shows 82 percent of state workers earn below the market rate for what they do. Henricksen says the economic crisis has affected their members just as much as anyone.
"We're struggling like everyone else. We're trying to keep our jobs, trying to keep the businesses going. We're trying to keep the state working, and we're wanting what every other worker in this state wants."
These negotiations are on behalf of the General Government employees, the largest WFSE group. They work in the unemployment offices, parks, community service and corrections, the transportation department and other agencies.
State negotiators will most likely point out that the state pays 88 percent of health insurance premiums for its workers, although employees agreed to higher co-pays and deductibles and passed up cost-of-living raises in the current contracts.
In another money-saving move, the talks aren't being held in a hotel ballroom, as is the norm, but at the Thurston County Fairgrounds in Lacey. Henricksen says bargaining will continue in multiple, two-day sessions throughout the summer. The new, two-year contract has to be approved no later than October 1.
