WFSE/AFSCME’S BILL TO ELIMINATE WASHINGTON MANAGEMENT SERVICE TO BE INTRODUCED SOON

The Federation-initiated bill to eliminate the Washington Management Service will be introduced in the next day or so.

The bill would end WMS because it has never worked as intended. It’s been used by agencies to circumvent normal personnel rules. The bill would not mean any positions would be lost, but that they’d be subject to the same set of personnel rules as everyone else.

The bill would also make it a little harder for agencies to convert classified positions to non-classified positions by allowing a union to appeal the reclassification even if the position is vacant.

It would also bring transparency by requiring agencies to report to the governor and the public twice a year on the number of classified and non-classified employees. It would also report on the number and cost of performance-based incentives awarded to agency staff.

We’ll keep you updated when the bill is formally introduced.