The Democrats in Olympia are giving preferential treatment to government workers who happen to be union members:
the budget just passed by the Legislature is the first to include union contracts for pay and benefits, which go into effect July 1.It gets worse:Workers without a union contract have to wait two months, until Sept. 1, for the same 3.2 percent across-the-board pay increase, the first since 2001.
The Legislature appears to have opened the state up for an allegation of unfair labor practices, too. That's because the unions face several decertification votes in the near future, and the Legislature could be accused of influencing that vote by creating one pay increase for union members and a different pay increase schedule for nonunion members.The article quotes a Democrat legislator who defends the practice of penalizing state employees who refuse to pay dues to the folks who bankroll the Democrats' campaigns -- Rep. Sam Hunt, go figure. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 28, 2005 11:26 PM | Email This
I say throw all the bums that voted for 10 billion in new taxes out next chance and if the last session doesn't tick off the voters and get them initiative happy next year I will be surprised!
Posted by: GS on April 28, 2005 11:48 PMAt first, I thought these people were thirsty, and then I realized they meant COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.
Try working with a bunch of complainers all the time, and see why Washington State Government is so messed up. Most of these people openly admit they are in state government for one reason, "JOB SECURITY". They DEMAND all sorts of extra benefits and PAY INCREASES, yet they make no bones about saying how crappy their work product is.
It really is terrifying, and Gregoire doesn't seem to want to change anything about her precious little "culture".
Posted by: Patrick E. Bell on April 28, 2005 11:50 PMAAaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Joy on April 29, 2005 12:06 AMI didn't see the quote by Marxist Hunt.
Posted by: Andy on April 29, 2005 12:33 AMNice to see that GreGore isn't the only one who can cost the state millions in lawsuits.
Posted by: Andy on April 29, 2005 12:37 AMSo I'll repost a little gem from comrade Hunt:
"Hunt said pay for nonunion employees is at the "whim of the Legislature," and the lure of saving $10 million by delaying the salary increases was too much for lawmakers to resist in a tight budget year."
Apparently according to him a rising tide only floats union boats.
Whatta drube......
Posted by: alphabet soup on April 29, 2005 07:15 AMPeople that continue to vote for Democrats in this state are
voting for Socialism whether they know it or not.
As long as they get their "piece of the pie," they just don't care
or refuse to believe that the Democrats and their corruption
are destroying this state.
Having said that, there seems to be some tax-happy Washington State
Republican politicians that also need to be replaced.
"Nonunion workers should be glad they will get the full increases, Hunt said. There was a push within the Legislature to give them less money, he said."
Got that? You should be glad you got anything, 'cause if it were up to me, you non-union scabs would've been shut out.
While it's easy to point fingers at Gregoire, lay the blame at the feet of the Legislature - Frank Chopp, Lisa Brown, Sam Hunt ... oh, and don't forget State Sen. Karen Keiser - who when not raising taxes and screwing business - doubles as a flack for the State Labor Council.
Just another version of the class warfare Democrats like to peddle. Good thing it's the Republicans who are devisive, huh.
Posted by: jimg on April 29, 2005 08:46 AMTeachers and Boeing workers complain the same way.
Posted by: swatter on April 29, 2005 08:53 AMI work for a state agency...
Patrick E. Bell,
My condolences.
Posted by: Editor on April 29, 2005 10:19 AM=======================
Sent: Tue 4/26/2005 4:46 PM
To: Hunt, Rep. Sam
Subject: Union vs. non union employees
I'd be interested in your thoughts about what effect today's Court of Appeals ruling will have on the legislature's delayed pay raise for non-union state employees.
WA Public Employees Assoc. v. State of WA, Court of Appeals Division II
http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/?fa=opinions.opindisp&docid=318245MAJ
The case reads, in part: "no rational basis exists to set different base salary schedules for state workers doing essentially the same work. We hold that the State has denied the Employees equal protection by failing to provide equal pay for essentially equal work."
There seems to be no legitimate justification for differentiating between government employees based solely on their membership in an employee organization.
=======================
Here is Hunt's non-response:
"The state civil service laws were changed with adoption of the civil service reform act. Employees were given the opportunity to collective bargaining. Not all employees chose to form a bargaining unit and be covered by the agreement. It was their choice; employees in each agency took an affiliation vote. The legislature agreed to fund the collective bargaining agreement for those employees who chose, by majority vote, to be covered under the law."
=======================
And Williams?
"Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the decision is that it reveals that there is a judge named Marywave."
Representative Brendan W. Williams
Vice Chair, House Judiciary Committee
22nd Legislative District
P.O. Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7940
Many state employees, even union members, are upset at how the union has performed since it won the vote to bargain on behalf of government workers.
Three things are driving the decertification effort.
First, the union told state employees that a vote on having a closed shop would be held after they delivered on the first contract.
Second, the deal that union got (3.2% in 2005 and 1.6% in 2006) does not equal what state employees have lost to inflation and reduced benefits since their last raise in 2001.
Third, the union apparently doesn't understand the first and second reasons. It just arrogantly boasts about what a good job it did and ignores the compaints, or blames the all the fuss on the EFF (It's just those EVIL right-wing wackos trying to steal your hard won unions rights).
The final straw for some is the union using its legislative toadies to punish those who oppose it.
The mob bosses demand payment or they will breaka the Democrat's legs.
Posted by: VCRW on April 29, 2005 11:03 AMIt's an article AND an editorial. Newspapers have been known to do that.
Try to keep up, would ya?
Posted by: jimg on April 29, 2005 11:38 AM