Spokane7
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November 20, 2010 in City
Unions called back to table
‘Significant shortfall’ prompts new state contract talks
OLYMPIA – Washington wants to renegotiate its labor contracts with state workers in the wake of Thursday’s revenue projections that lopped $1.2 billion out of the budget over the next 30 months.
Gov. Chris Gregoire issued a proclamation Friday calling state negotiators and labor unions back to the bargaining table to discuss lower wages and benefits in the existing contracts and in the few contracts already reached for the 2011-’13 biennium.
The $1.2 billion gap, between the money the state expects to collect through taxes and fees and the amount it is scheduled to spend under the current budget, makes the current contracts unfeasible, Gregoire said.
The Washington Federation of State Employees told members on their website Friday they’d come back to the table. In fact, they are still negotiating many contracts for the upcoming biennium, so “we never left.”
But any changes to current contracts require agreement by both sides, the union said.
About 65,000 state workers, or 42 percent of all its employees, are covered by some union contract, according to Glenn Kuper of the Office of Financial Management. All of those workers have current contracts that are subject to collective bargaining under Gregoire’s proclamation that a “significant shortfall” has occurred.
“By law, the modifications made must be mutually agreed to,” Gregoire said in a prepared statement.
Only a few of the outstanding contracts for the next biennium have been settled and those would be reopened, Kuper said. Of the eight contracts to be reopened, four have increases, three have no increases and one has a small decrease.
Initiative filed to create public charter schools 
Dazzeetrader11 on November 20 at 2:19 a.m.
She spent too much. NOW…she’s got to get the money back.
Foolish on Gregoire’s part and more foolish on the unions part.
She and Marr are oafs. At least one was voted out. Lisa brown, who is a huge union supporter should go. She is the root of all this union overspending.
JBlim on November 20 at 6:23 a.m.
Washington State’s budget problems result from the Great Recession and falling sales tax revenues. The Great Recession is a product of the failure of the private economy, not government or unions.
dukkandpooh on November 20 at 6:45 a.m.
Yeah, JBlim, but it’s so much easier to demonize the union workers because, you know, they don’t do anything but sit around on their rears looking at porn all day. At least that’s what most of the commenters on this blog would have you believe.
DHF on November 20 at 6:53 a.m.
As a former 38 year State Employee I would offer a solution to save money. Dismantle and get rid of DSHS. This is a bureaucratic boondoggle that could be replaced by smaller effective run government. It is so layered with management and pencil pushers who draw down big salaries and really do nothing of benefit for the taxpayer. I worked there before DSHS was heard of and I will tell you it was more efficiently run .DHF
hawken on November 20 at 8:13 a.m.
Unions (Govt and non-Govt) Are Good For These Things:
1- Absurdly high wages compared to non-union
2- Absurdly high pensions compared to non-union
3- Running jobs out of the country, overseas
4- Significantly Increasing the cost of goods and services
5- Bankruptcy in some cases… ie: G.M.
“state retirement systems, for example, are currently underfunded by about a trillion dollars.”
“The aims of public sector unions conflict directly with the interests of taxpayers.”
“And because it has been exceedingly hard to fight public sector unions, the salaries and benefits of public employees have skyrocketed in recent years. Since the election of Barack Obama, the number of federal employees making over $150,000 a year has more than doubled to over 10,000.”
“In 2009 government salaries jumped 2.4%, approximately twice the increase earned by private sector employees. In fact, the average salary of a federal worker is now $71,000, about $22,000 more than the average private sector employee.”
“Worst of all, public sector unions have negotiated pension plans that are proving financially untenable. Many allow workers to retire at age 55 at around their full salary in their final years of employment. These pensions often include inflation adjustments as well as lifetime free health care.”
“The Democrats’ health care bill, the ‘Employee Free Choice Act’ and the $800+ billion stimulus bill all contained payoffs to public sector unions. In fact, while the private sector has shed 7,000,000 jobs since the recession began, the number of public sector jobs has risen every month.”
“Public sector unions are killing our economic system and the American taxpayer. The debt unleashed by their outrageous benefits plans simply cannot be paid. The union bosses have lied to their members about lifetime benefits and they have betrayed the American people. Public sector unions must be disbanded and outlawed before our country resembles Greece, Spain and other European countries that are teetering on the brink of destruction, thanks to unions just like ours.”
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/what039s-wrong-public-sector-unions-primer
A Hyatt says…..
“union workers because, you know, they don’t do anything but sit around on their rears looking at porn all day. At least that’s what most of the commenters on this blog would have you believe.”
Maybe he knows something about union members and porn that the rest of us don’t know.
schleufer on November 20 at 8:16 a.m.
http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/paywatch/index.cfm
hawken on November 20 at 8:27 a.m.
schleufer
Private companies and corporations can pay their executives whatever they like based upon the open market.
These companies don’t raise my taxes every year.
soccermomsusie on November 20 at 8:36 a.m.
As usual, Hawken is right on the money (a bit long winded to get there though, I must say).
I know this will sound inflammatory, but hear me out.
Hawken joins a guy, who had some bad ideas, but did make the trains run on time. When Adolph Hitler abolished the trade unions and collective bargaining, he probably didn’t know that his mellow voice would be echoed in the future by Hawken and the rest of us Conservatives!
I don’t know what Hawken’s voice really sounds like, but I had, up until now, always imagined Mike Fitzsimmon’s voice from KXLY - learned, exasperated at the dummies and always very, very willing to tow our political line, no matter how many facts he is hit over the head with. But now, I have to rethink what Hawken sounds like.
Again, I am not condoning the bad things Hitler did. People forget that he did make the trains run on time and abolish trade unions and collective bargaining. He also invented the Volkswagen. So, cut Hawken some slack too!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!!
schleufer on November 20 at 8:41 a.m.
hawken.
did you see the article in todays paper avista is raising rates? so are you ok with them jacking up prices at a time like this and handing out this sort of ceo pay?
soccermomsusie on November 20 at 8:45 a.m.
Yes, Hawken you are right again when it comes to corporations not raising taxes on you like government does!
Some might say that the doubling of insurance rates that an employer and employee have to pay for medical insurance is like raising taxes on an individual. BUT IT’S NOT! Why isn’t it? Because the money goes to a corporation and not our dumb government. Corporations have been set up on Earth to rule over us. IT’S IN THE BIBLE!!!
Also, some would argue that our military (which we spend more on than the rest of the world spends on theirs, and rightfully so) has a mission which basically feeds corporations, while at the same time creating a stable, secure atmosphere in the world for corporations. Why is this OK? See above!
Likewise, the tax breaks given to oil companies and other corporations which we ultimately have to pick up in our taxes. Is this OK? Yes it is! Why? See above, above!!!
I am with you Hawken!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!!
liarsinnews on November 20 at 8:53 a.m.
The idiots in Olympia are going to try and unscramble the eggs.
hawken on November 20 at 8:57 a.m.
schleufer
I’m not for “monopolies” of any kind…. AVISTA is a “monopoly.”
We have Inland Power in the county, which is a “co-op”… and much less expensive then AVISTA.
You’re issue is with AVISTA and Public Utilities Commission, or whatever they are called. Since I am not a victim of AVISTA, I’m not familiar with the name of the commission that approves the rate hikes.
As for CEO pay…. that’s a Red Herring. The salary of one person is not the cause for the higher rates.
hawken on November 20 at 9:14 a.m.
schleufer … here’s a pretty good article relating to monopolies..
“Public utilities and a problematic issue on the allowance of profits. We all know that if you are only allowed to make 15 percent profit as in the case of Utilities Companies, then why not spend more money so you can make 15 percent go up. For instance if you make $100 which are only allowed to keep 15, that you make two hundred dollars, then you get to keep 30. A utility is a quasi government agency in that it has no competition….”
http://ezinearticles.com/?Public-Utilities,-Monopolies-and-Problematic-Structures&id=33880
We have big government to thank for public utility monopolies.
While at the same time, they break up private sector monopolies…. ie; Microsoft…. ATT&T, etc..
I am not in favor of any monopoly. Maybe you should become a conservative.
schleufer on November 20 at 10:35 a.m.
become a conservative? are those not the ones in washington who are getting the most money from those same corporations?
misjustice on November 20 at 10:42 a.m.
@ schleufer; Conservative = bowing to corporate masters, and taking an oath of fealty to protect their master’s profits at all costs. Corporatism = New Feudalism. Instead of bowing to Lords, they bow to coporations and their profits.
oneanddone on November 20 at 10:57 a.m.
Ya right missypooh - Karl Marx uber alles. I’ve got no use for business which thinks their bottom line is the fundamental concern of America, but unions are just their yang.
Why do junk American cars cost $30k
U$N$I$O$N$S$
plain and simple
west on November 20 at 11:50 a.m.
The private workers in wa had to go back to the table also…and alot of them were issued an ultimatum, give back, more health care rises in premiums,reduce hours, etc or this place is closed. Trouble in state gov is the higher up administrators are entrenced in 50 years of me,me,me…they will never gove up their perks and salaries..and there are tens of thousands of these people in gov. I think its great they are sweating jobs..you can only pay state workers as much as the private sector is able to afford in taxes…no jobs in private sector..less jobs in government. Wa is kind of like a step child to Ca. massive gov and massive salaries..its got to end….
soccermomsusie on November 20 at 11:55 a.m.
I am very suspicious of “oneanddone.”
He puts forth that American cars are so expensive because of unions. I am OK with him saying that. However, I suspect his next statement will talk about how $5000 of that new car cost is because of union negotiated health care, and how other countries’ manufacturers don’t have to pay these costs because they have single-payer socialized healthcare in their country, so their cars are cheaper. Next, “oneanddone” will talk about how CEO pay in these other countries is a much smaller percentage of the car cost, as well. Grrrrrrrr…..
I can hear him now trying to ply us with his Socialistic reasoning! Trying to turn us away from God’s plan for our country. GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON US (NOT CANADA)!!
Be prepared for “oneanddone” to transform into “oneinLenin”!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!!
monarch on November 20 at 11:56 a.m.
The State of Washington is required to have a balanced budget, so in good years spending goes up, in bad years spending is cut. It’s that simple. All the right wingers look at the cuts as a way to bash government and the unions, but there is no mismanagement or corruption, just poor economic times caused by the blow up on wall street. The fatcats have trashed the economy and are laughing while we fight over the crumbs they left us.
Looks like some on this board would love to get rid of all unions and won’t be satisfied til we’re all making low wages and living in factory towns and partioned dormitories, eating only noodles every day with shared bathrooms and cooking areas like many of the workers in China, Vietnam, etc. That’s the future without unions. Also many of the posts I read here are totally false with no data to back them up. Someone said the Washington public employee pension system has trillions in obligations That’s totally false. Retirement money is allocated to an investment account the employee chooses with every paycheck. There is no future obligation by the state to pay anymore money. And where is the data on the bloated wages in the state of Washington?
nslopeofw on November 20 at 1:21 p.m.
How can Gregoire’s over spending on social programs be the fault of unions, or less tax return? If she didn’t spend on levels equal to the boom times, there would be no deficit.
Quit blaming ordinary people, who take a job to raise a family, and just be normal. The people to blame are the extraordinarily. You know, the ones who make all the claims, but never really come through. Yep, you guessed it, politicians. If Gregoire spent what she had, and no more, we’d have no deficit. Her problem is she likes to spend money we dont have.
Put the blame where it belongs, Christine Gregoire, and those who voted her in.
bdr on November 20 at 1:33 p.m.
oneanddone is a fool……Im an old UAW worker my factory was outsourced to Saltillio Mexico. The new class 8 rigs that come from Saltillio factory cost 50 thousand more than the USA Portland plants.
The huge expense for each vehicle is derived in the top 3 managers salary’s and POLITICAL donations to the Republicans who keep fleecing you even thou you’ve been reduced to slavery.
Our American plant was closed because it took 2 managers for each single worker. In 1940 it was one manager per 40 workers.
Unions are not the problem! The problem is questionable spending and political expenses from the top positions of each corporation. ((even goodwill’s 1/2 million dollar manager)).
you are young and DUMB my friend.
cryssT on November 20 at 2:03 p.m.
Let’s release all the prisoners who have not molested, raped or murdered. All those poor souls at Medical Lake can go home to their parents or siblings who can wipe their drool and change their adult diapers. Instead of paying to support children, the State can offer free tubal ligation and a cash bonus for having it. No Food Stamps, just let the Federal government hire employees (who would make more) to do handle that program. That leaves CPS (Children’s Protective Services (or whatever it’s called now) - hopefully residents of Washington are will willing pay for that. Up the cigarette and alcohol taxes except for counties that border Oregon and Idaho (why lose revenue). Cut the pay of the football coach of UW (who makes MORE than the Governor). Lots of solutions.
cryssT on November 20 at 2:13 p.m.
“Worst of all, public sector unions have negotiated pension plans that are proving financially untenable. Many allow workers to retire at age 55 at around their full salary in their final years of employment. These pensions often include inflation adjustments as well as lifetime free health care.”
This is not so with PERS2 and PERS3 retirement systems in WA State. PERS1 (30 years of service, any age = 60% of Salary Average) has been gone since 1977. PERS2 is age 65 unless you have 30 years of service at age 62. There is no inflation adjustment until after age 66 unless the employee pays for it by having a significantly reduced pension.
If it wasn’t for Unions, whether it’s State Employees, Miners, Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, or a Police Guild - we’d all be working 10 hour days 5.5 days a week and if you’re hurt on the job - tough luck.
Currently, Electricians and Plumbers in Spokane charge $85 an hour - the average State Worker makes far less than that even with benefits.
misjustice on November 20 at 2:20 p.m.
From the sqawk box;
“Worst of all, public sector unions have negotiated pension plans that are proving financially untenable. Many allow workers to retire at age 55 at around their full salary in their final years of employment. These pensions often include inflation adjustments as well as lifetime free health care.”
That’s funny. He has posted numerous times that he is a 59 year old, retired, ex-cop from Arizona. No doubt he’s drawing on one of those fancy schmancy pensions, bargained for by an entity which would, strangely, resemble a Union; much like our own beloved Guild. And yet, he gripes about OTHER people with Union representation. Yeah, that’s funny…
hawken on November 20 at 3:36 p.m.
Misjudgment….
One of the reasons you’re so ill-informed, is that you assume the first thing that pops into your feeble, liberal left mind.
No…. I do not draw a retirement from the state of Arizona, or any government for that matter.
My retirement is based solely upon my personal investments and savings from years of hard work. I’m doing quite well, thank you.
You set up a “straw man”… namely, I get a government pension…. and then you knock down the straw man, which you created in your own mind,,,,, and then say…. “see how smart I am?”
Like I said, the liberal left world view is rarely based upon facts. It is based primarily upon logical fallacies which you use to mislead others.
hawken on November 20 at 4:03 p.m.
Well all of you liberal left kiddies can now pat each other on the head, uninterrupted by me for a while.
I’m taking my only wife, of 40 yrs out to fine dinner.
We’re going to contribute to the local economy with the wealth we have accumulated over the years, in spite of the liberal left’s unending attempt’s to seize it all.
soccermomsusie on November 20 at 4:20 p.m.
Hawken, I hope you and your wife enjoy a good meal tonight! You deserve it.
I know sitting there waiting for your meal, you might lose your appetite a little thinking about the Socialists who made all the foodworkers wash their hands, and the government interfering with how much cow poop can be in your meat. Plus you had to drive on all the collectivist roads to get to the restaurant. Not to mention, if you started choking, some Libertard Demoncrat Dogooder would call 9-1-1 and the Commie Fire Brigade would be on its way, hymelicking you, whether or not you want them to. This is why I can’t eat out anymore. I don’t want to play their little game.
I see you are getting close, or perhaps have even reached, the age where they want you to take their Socialist Security and become a MedicareComrade. I hope you join me in saying NO THANKS to that, as well.
I hope you already ate before you read this because thinking of how the Socialists are encroaching in our lives can really make you unhungry - really fast!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
zelda on November 20 at 9:17 p.m.
All this fascist dictator name-dropping and nobody even mentioned Mussolini. He’s the one who made the trains run on time so give credit where credit is due. And let’s not forget other luminaries such as Franco and Juan Peron and his lovely illiterate wife, Eva. Come to think of it, if you liked Evita’s populist ideals, you’re gonna love Sarah Palin.
I nearly gagged reading her letter to the editor in the WSJ this week. Good thing she’s got a ghost writer to argue subjects such as Keynesian economics, QEII, Bernanke and the Federal Reserve. She, on the other hand, called the Department of Justice the “Law Department.”
gotcha on September 09 at 1:35 p.m.
Lets be honest now… Has anyone here ever seen anyone working in the publc sector work with a sense of Urgency????? I sure haven’t… They sure seem to think they are entitled to the wage and benifits, and retirement pensions that are bloted though.