UNION, DSHS OPEN DIALOGUE ON CUTS

The Federation and DSHS agreed Thursday to keep talking about the impact of cuts that could close institutions, disrupt clients’ lives and throw 1,000 employees onto the unemployment rolls.

The union asked for and the agency agreed to provide more detailed information so both sides can get a clear idea of the breadth and depth of the cuts.

DSHS actually called the union-management communications committee meeting to share the information on the overall cuts being proposed, between now and the end of the current budget cycle in June and the 2009-2011 biennium. The union thanked Interim Secretary Stan Marshburn for taking that initiative.

Marshburn told the union DSHS is open to ideas to help avoid or lessen the impacts of the cuts. The proposed cuts range from closure of Yakima Valley School and Naselle Youth Camp, to elimination of the General Assistance-Unemployable program to staff cuts at the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island.

The union also told Marshburn and DSHS that before it can consider some cost-saving alternatives suggested by the agency, more information is needed.

“We understand the magnitude of the crisis…but we don’t want to take a disproportionate share of the cuts,” Federation Executive Director Greg Devereux told Marshburn and his team.

Federation President Carol Dotlich said the detailed information is needed so members at all levels can talk to their managers to “get a voice in decisions” that could lead to program and job cuts.

“We should be partnering in this process and I feel like the door has been shut,” Dotlich said.

Marshburn agreed the involvement of union members is key and pledged to fill the union’s information requests as soon as possible and then reconvene. He asked the union’s patience because he just moved into his position, but set a good tone that the union team appreciated.

Some of the information Dotlich and the Federation team asked for included: The level of cuts down to the division level, and, if possible, to the region and office level; and the number of vacant positions that have been eliminated.