Schedules: GENERAL GOVERNMENT

General Gov-
ernment nego-
Bargaining Update
tiations (all dates
Sept. 10, 2010 www.wfse.org
tentative):
Sept. 28 & 29
Oct. 14 & 15
Bargaining continues as sides remain
Nov. 16 & 17
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 far apart on takeaways, health care
Meanwhile, progress made on
Health Care non-economic articles State’s proposed takeaways:
Coalition negotia- Here are just a few of the takeaways the
tions: state is proposing in bargaining:
It should be no heroes who make
On hold surprise to you
that the state late
up this union. They
deserve better. And
8 Suspend step increases from July
1, 2011, to June 30, 2013. Problem
on Sept. 8 finally the state ought to with their reasoning: Step increases
presented its know better.” are an established actuarial and
General Government accounting tool that saves the state
Contact the team: money. • When a veteran state em-
compensation article On health care, the
info@wfse.org that would freeze state has also gone ployee leaves, a new employee comes
Please put “Mes- pay and cut step silent after the last in at a lower salary, with the promise
sage for the General increases from July bargaining session that their full salary will be phased
Government Bar- 1, 2011 to June 30, Aug. 24. There, they in (in “steps”) over several years. •
gaining Team” in the 2013. proposed higher It’s believed the state’s plan to cut
subject line. step increases has nothing to do with
premiums or higher
Their Article 42 fees when you visit saving money, but everything to do
Online at: proposal had been the doctor’s office. with bowing down to the likes of Sen.
www.wfse.org > expected because They summarily Joe Zarelli and The Seattle Times’s
the governor and her rejected the WFSE/ owner Frank Blethen, who wants state
Bargaining Center employees to pay for the company’s
budget director had AFSCME-led
> General Govern- been discussing it in coalition’s creative tax breaks.
ment Bargaining the press for weeks ideas to help pay
Team Info & News but their negotiators
were silent on it at
for keeping benefits
current, including
8 Increase health insurance pre-
mium costs by 117% by raising
the bargaining table. using health fund our share of premiums from 12%
reserves and closing to 26%--meaning an estimated pay
This followed by tax loopholes. cut of $2,316 a year. Problem with
several weeks their their reasoning: The state has ignored
bargaining proposal “To date, we have union proposals to keep benefits costs
on health care. That not heard back level, including cost-neutral ideas; or
plan would more from the state
than double your on a realistic
share of health counterproposal 8 Triple costs you pay when you visit
the doctor. For example, family de-
premiums from that has some basis ductibles would go from $750 a year to
12 percent to 26 for negotiations $2,100 a year.
WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES percent. leading to a fair

FAIR
settlement,” said
“The compensation WFSE/AFSCME What you can do: Call 1-800-562-
article is an insult,” Executive Director 6000. Tell the governor to nix the
said WFSE/ Greg Devereux. 26% health plan and her proposed
CONTRACT AFSCME President step increase freeze. Or visit our
website at www.wfse.org.
Carol Dotlich. “An CONTINUED ON
NOW insult to the 40,000 NEXT SIDE
WFSE / AFSCME Council 28 • AFL-CIO
 NONPROFIT
US POSTAGE
PAID
OLYMPIA WA
PERMIT NO. 238

Where negotiations stand: “Your bargaining team

is working hard to win
•Bargaining is tentatively set to resume Sept. 28 and 29. a fair contract with no
• In the latest rounds of bargaining (two-day blocks every
takeaways.”
week from Aug. 18 to Sept. 9), the team reached tentative Marci Douglas-Bumgarner
agreement on 22 more non-economic articles, bringing to Human Services (DSHS)
31 the number of signed-off articles. But 23 articles remain Local 1060, Bellingham
open.

• Your bargaining team worked long hours to ship plenty “The state’s compensation article
of proposals to management’s side, but little came back, added insult to insult. It devalues
except the insulting pay and step increase freeze. state employees. Now, we fight-
• Tentative bargaining dates have been scheduled through -bargaining, the Legislature, job
early December. actions.”
Rob Harper
• The current contract expires June 30, 2011. Emergency Management (Military Dept.)
Local 53, Tacoma

CONTINUED FROM OTHER SIDE

Even if the state does answer, it
looks more and more like the path
to a fair contract with no takeaways
leads through the halls of the state
Capitol. Legislators ultimately will
have to make the policy decisions on
such things as use of reserve funds
and closing tax loopholes to keep
premiums and costs at current levels
in 2012 and 2013.
WFSE/AFSCME representatives on the Health Care Coalition caucus outside the General
(NOTE: The 2011 health program Administration Building in Olympia Aug. 24. From left: Craig Gibelyou (General Government),
has already been funded at current Gabe Hall (General Government), Liz Larsen (staff), Brett Clubbe (WSU), President Carol
levels, thanks to union action this Dotlich, Nicole Kennedy (UW), Vice President Sue Henricksen, Kirk Talmadge (TESC,
past legislative session and using the back to camera), Brandon Taylor (WWU), Don Hall (General Government), Rodolfo Franco
current contract.) (Community College Coalition), Chief Negotiator Steve Kreisberg, Cathy Green (EWU) and
WFSE/AFSCME Executive Director Greg Devereux.