April 27, 2009

Session Ends With "All-Cuts, Could've Been Worse" Budget; Several Legislative Victories

The state Legislature adjourned about 1 a.m. Monday morning after having passed the "All-Cuts, but Could've Been Worse" budget the night before.

The governor this morning announced she'd call a special session soon to deal with a handful of bills needed to implement the budget. She is recommending a session of only a day or two. But the budget itself has been approved.

Now, if you've been following these hotlines and our website over the weekend, you know the major details of the budget. We'll recap everything in a moment.

But first, here are some updates we had first on our website that happened since the budget passed the Senate Saturday night:
  • The Senate and then the House on Sunday passed SB 6162, correcting a flaw in ESSB 5288, the Community Corrections supervision bill, which got final approval Saturday night (details below). SB 6162 adds back the requirement that offenders who have a current conviction for a serious violent offense must be supervised by the Department of Corrections regardless of the offender's risk to re-offend; this represents another big victory for Federation Community Corrections members in their session-long campaign for public safety. The Senate vote on SB 6162 was 42-1. The House vote was 95-0.
  • The House late Saturday passed SB 6157, 94-0, the "No Harm, No Foul" pension calculation bill (see below for details). That sent it to the governor.
  • The Senate OK'd an amendment to SHB 2341 that creates a voluntary opt-in donation program for public employees to help offset enrollment cuts in the state Basic Health Plan. That bill went to the governor.
  • The Senate early Sunday approved and sent to the governor the PEBB health insurance eligibility bill, SHB 2245, on a vote of 43-0; they defeated an amendment from Sen. Cheryl Plug that would have removed the requirement that benefits be substantially equivalent to 1993 levels. That bill went to the governor as well.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Here's a wrap-up of the 2009 session and its effect on WFSE/AFSCME members.

Compared to where we started out way back in the snowy days of December when the governor rolled out her budget proposal, thanks to your daily, full-court press, many of your messages got through.

Given what Sen. Rosa Franklin called the "global economic meltdown," the final budget (ESHB 1244) could have been worse.

STATE EMPLOYEE SACRIFICES

And when the final chapter is written on this horrific $9 billion budget deficit saga, the record will show that it was your sacrifice of more than $1 billion in pay, pension contributions, health care funding and layoffs that helped balance the budget:
Economics (pay raises, adjustments, etc.) - $140,000,000
Pension Contributions - $448,633,000
Health Insurance - $200,000,000
Layoffs (4,000 FTEs) - $240,000,000

TOTAL LOST: -$1,028,633,000
LAYOFFS COMING; FURLOUGHS, OTHER WORK HOUR REDUCTIONS ENCOURAGED BUT NOT REQUIRED TO AVOID LAYOFFS

The final budget encourages but does not require agencies to consider furloughs, reduced work hours and voluntary leave without pay to trim their budgets. All those impacts are subject to bargaining to meet the wishes of our members in each agency or institution.

In addition, the final budget also allows agencies to offer voluntary retirement or "downshifting" incentives to save money and cut the number of layoffs. Those have to be cost-neutral or have to save money.

And on layoffs, the number tossed around is about 7,000 public employees, but that includes K-12 teachers, higher education faculty and others not represented by the Federation. So the actual impact on Federation members won't be as high-but it's still too high. Bargaining over the impacts of layoffs on an agency-by-agency, institution-by-institution basis holds the potential of finding additional alternatives to further cut the number of job losses. That is the value of having a contract. More on that later.

STEP INCREASES SAVED

All of your economic benefits negotiated in the 2009-2011 contracts bargained last fall were taken out. That's why we had to re-negotiate the contracts this spring.

But your ongoing step increases remain. The Senate on Saturday night defeated an amendment proposed by Sen. Joseph Zarelli that would have blocked step increases. So if you're eligible for step increases, you will continue to get them.

HEALTH INSURANCE

The final budget cuts funding for health care by about $200 million. Lawmakers assumed a lower medical cost inflation rate of about 4 percent. If costs come in higher, the Public Employees Benefits Board will consider raising office visit co-pays and other point-of-service costs. Also, in this topsy-turvy year, now that the Legislature has acted on health care funding, the Federation-led Super Coalition of all unions will now head back to the table. They'll negotiate to keep the current premium share split where the state picks up 88 percent of the premium and employees pay 12 percent.

The Senate on Saturday defeated an amendment proposed by Zarelli that would have added even more potential costs to your health benefits by another 2 percent.

MUCH SAVED-FOR NOW

The final budget OK'd over the weekend saves institutions, hatcheries, parks and GA-U. But it funds studies that could lead to closure of institutions. Lack of revenue could still close six hatcheries.

This is a big victory given the initial push to close Yakima Valley School, Naselle Youth Camp, Green Hill School, seven hatcheries and 50 state parks and eliminate the General Assistance-Unemployable program.
  • The budget directs the Office of Financial Management to study the possible closure or downsizing of several institutions, specifically in Corrections, Green Hill School and Maple Lane School in Juvenile Rehabilitation and all residential habilitation centers, like Yakima Valley School. The study is due Nov. 1. It must have a recommendation to eliminate 1,580 beds in DOC, 235 beds in Juvenile Rehabilitation and 250 beds in the RHCs. SB 6182 paving the way to close all RHCs never got out of committee.
  • An amendment to take the target off Green Hill School and Maple Lane School in Juvenile Rehabilitation failed in the Senate Saturday night. The amendment by Sen. Dan Swecker of the 20th District would have expanded the study of possible JRA closures to not just focus on Maple Lane and Green Hill; merging the two different populations would have "catastrophic results," Swecker said.
  • No fish hatcheries would be closed, with a big IF. If there aren't sufficient new revenues, the Department of Fish and Wildlife may close or convert six hatcheries: McKernan, Colville, Omak, Bellingham, Arlington and Mossyrock.
  • State parks would all remain open with funding from the $5 "opt out" plan when drivers renew their license tabs. However, a budget proviso directs the state Parks Commission to pursue transferring ownership of state parks where local governments, tribes or others have expressed interest in taking them over.
  • The General Assistance-Unemployable program remains, with more focus on getting the right services to people.
So we got some breathing room, but have to work in the interim to make the case against closures.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

Thanks to a full-court press by Federation Community Corrections members to save jobs and public safety, the number of positions that could be lost has gone from the nearly 490 the governor requested now down to 265. That's because of the still troubling but much improved ESSB 5288 lowering supervision of offenders and cutting the length of sentences. That bill was mitigated by the 11th-hour passage of SB 6162 over the weekend that adds back the requirement that offenders who have a current conviction for a serious violent offense must be supervised by the Department of Corrections regardless of the offender's risk to re-offend. A proviso directs the Department of Corrections to make these reductions with the least possible impact on staff-leaving the door open to fewer job cuts.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Huge staff cuts across the line, but it's unclear how many Federation members would be affected. But the overall job cuts are as follows: University of Washington-637; Washington State University-362; Eastern Washington University-96; Central Washington University-100.5; The Evergreen State College-57; Western Washington University-130.5; the Community and Technical College system-835.1.

CHILD WELFARE SERVICES

2SHB 2106 and budget language sets up pilot projects to privatize Child Welfare Services. Federation members worked and mitigated the damage by cutting the privatized services from 100 percent to 30 percent. If the governor signs this into law, a committee will decide where the pilots will be. So this is another case where we have our work cut out for us.

ALSO:
  • In the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, enhanced parole would be eliminated. Two contracted group homes, Griffin and Touchstone, would be closed.
  • In Mental Health, staffing at state hospitals is cut by about 16 positions.
  • At the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island, 32 residential rehabilitation counselors would be cut.
  • In Fish and Wildlife, seven enforcement officer positions would be cut.
LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

In a session that focused on the horrendous $9 billion deficit, Federation members did score some major legislative victories-and made some bad bills not as bad:

WASHINGTON MANAGEMENT SERVICE

ESHB 2049, initiated by the Federation, will bring transparency to the Washington Management Service and exempt service. It requires the Director of the Department of Personnel to report to the governor and Legislature annually on the number of classified, Washington Management Service, and exempt employees; the number of bonuses and performance-based incentives awarded to agency staff; and the cost of each bonus or incentive awarded. It also makes it easier to appeal attempts to exempt vacant positions.

PARKS

SHB 2339 allows the state to start collecting a $5 fee from drivers when renewing license tabs to fund state parks. They can opt out of the fee. This is the funding plan that will keep all state parks open when some 50 had been on the chopping block.

PENSION CALCULATIONS

SB 6157 provides that average final salary calculations for Public Employees' Retirement System members not be affected by salary reductions due to reduced hours, leave without pay, or furloughs taken as part of an employer's expenditure reduction effort during the 2009-11 biennium.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

It was a mixed bag, but Federation Community Corrections members won one major bill and greatly mitigated another.

ESSB 1792 Authorizes the Department of Corrections (DOC) staff to require an offender under the supervision of a community corrections officer (CCO) to submit to pat searches or other limited security searches without reasonable cause when the offender is on or preparing to enter the DOC's premises, grounds, facilities, or in its vehicles. It requires that staff of the same gender as the offender shall conduct pat searches, except in cases of emergency. Authorizes the DOC hearing officers, in addition to the court, to make determinations regarding whether an offender's arrest for a violation of a probation condition was appropriate. Requires the CCO to report circumstances and facts of arrest of offender, with recommendations, to a court or a DOC hearing officer. Authorizes a DOC staff member, in addition to a court, to approve release of an offender from detention on bail or personal recognizance after arrest by a CCO.

ESSB 5288 lowers supervision of low- and moderate-risk offenders. But Federation Community Corrections members succeeded in winning amendments to preserve several important parts of supervision of sex offenders and in cases of domestic violence. And a study will determine if it is effective. SB 6162 corrects ESSB 5288 and adds back the requirement that offenders who have a current conviction for a serious violent offense must be supervised by the Department of Corrections regardless of the offender's risk to re-offend.

FISH AND WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT SERVICE TRANSFER

SHB 1953, signed by the governor into law April 21, allows Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers to transfer retirement service credit from PERS 2 and PERS 3 to LEOFF 2.

HEALTH CARE BILLS

ESSB 2245 preserves your health insurance eligibility rights and maintains the standard that benefits must remain substantially equivalent to 1993 levels.

ESSB 5892, the generic drug bill, ensures that those taking anti-psychotic and anti-depression medication can continue to get brand-name drugs rather than generics.

FISH HATCHERY TRANSFERS

2SHB 1951 is an example of a bad bill made better but not ideal. It allows privatization of any fish hatchery that closes in the next two years. But under pressure from Federation members, the bill requires these private "partners" to run the hatcheries with staff who are at least as qualified as current state staff. State funded maintenance or improvements must be done by bargaining unit employees; if not, bargaining unit employees get to compete for the work. However, with luck, we hope this becomes moot because of the proviso in the final state budget keeping hatcheries open if there is enough revenue coming in.

...AND THEN THERE'S THE CONTRACT

And in the end, it comes back to the contract. One of the biggest victories is maintaining a contract. Without rehashing the long trip that got us here, you set the precedent that saved the contract and sparked re-negotiation in the face of the tough economic times. You're having to sacrifice, but you have a contract to protect your rights on layoffs, furloughs and other possible reductions.

Health care now goes to negotiations by the Federation-led coalition. We expect those talks within a couple of weeks. Then you will ratify the re-negotiated contract.

April 26, 2009

Senate Adopts Budget

SENATE ADOPTS BUDGET

The budget battle is over and the best that can be said is it could have been worse.

The Senate on Saturday night OK'd the tough-economic state budget on a vote of 29-20. The Senate added no amendments, so the budget now goes to the governor. The Legislature adjourns tomorrow after wrapping up other business.

Thus ends one of the most horrific budget battles in state history, as everyone suffered through a $9 billion budget deficit brought on by what Sen. Rosa Franklin called the "global economic meltdown."

The budget OK'd by the Senate saves institutions, hatcheries, parks and GA-U. But it funds studies that could lead to closure of institutions. Lack of revenue could still close six hatcheries. An amendment to take the target off Green Hill School and Maple Lane School in Juvenile Rehabilitation failed. The amendment by Sen. Dan Swecker of the 20th District would have expanded the study of possible JRA closures to not just focus on Maple Lane and Green Hill; merging the two different populations would have "catastrophic results," Swecker said.

This is a budget you heavily contributed to with more than $1 billion in sacrifices:

Economics (pay raises, adjustments, etc.) - $140,000,000

Pension Contributions - $448,633,000

Health Insurance - $200,000,000

Layoffs (4,000 FTEs) - $240,000,000

TOTAL LOST: -$1,028,633,000

Health insurance would go to bargaining by the Federation-led Super Coalition of all state employee unions to preserve the 88/12 premium share split.

The Senate defeated an amendment proposed by Sen. Joseph Zarelli of the 18th District that would have added even more potential costs to your health benefits by another 2 percent.

Sen. Karen Fraser of the 22nd District said it wasn't fair to add further costs when state employees on average lag 13 percent behind prevailing rates.

(The Public Employees Benefits Board will determine what point-of-service costs, such as office visit co-pays, will increase.)

The Senate also rejected Zarelli's proposed amendment that would block your step increases.

And the budget will bring up to 7,000 layoffs-meaning agency-by-agency, institution-by-institution negotiations on the effect of those layoffs to try to cut the number of our members who have to lose their jobs. The budget encourages agencies to implement furloughs and other reductions to fill their quota of budget cuts. That will trigger more negotiations on that effect.

So, it could have been worse. Now we roll up our sleeves and keep fighting.

Community Corrections Supervision Bill Narrowly Passes Senate

UPDATES 9 A.M. SUNDAY, 4/26: The Senate early today passed 42-1 and sent to the House SB 6162, correcting a flaw in ESSB 5288 (see below); SB 6162 adds back the requirement that offenders who have a current conviction for a serious violent offense must be supervised by the Department of Corrections regardless of the offender's risk to reoffend; this represents another big victory for Federation Community Corrections members in their session-long campaign for public safety....

UPDATE:
The House Sunday morning also passed SB 6162, on a vote of 95-0, and sent it to the governor....
The Senate on Saturday narrowly concurred with the House amendments to the much improved but still troubling ESSB 5288 that lowers supervision of low- and moderate-risk offenders.

The Senate vote to go along with the House came on a slim, 26-23 majority.

The bill now goes to the governor for her signature into law.

The bill had been amended to preserve several important parts of supervision of sex offenders and in cases of domestic violence. And a study will determine if it is effective, if it becomes law.

Federation Supports "No Harm, No Foul" Pension Bill

FEDERATION SUPPORTS "NO HARM, NO FOUL" PENSION BILL

The Federation's Dennis Eagle early Saturday morning testified in support of SB 6157 calculating compensation for public retirement purposes during the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium.

SB 6157 had a hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee.

The bill provides that average final salary calculations for Public Employees' Retirement System members not be affected by salary reductions due to reduced hours, leave without pay, or furloughs taken as part of an employer's expenditure reduction effort during the 2009-11 biennium.

The committee OK'd the bill. It now goes to the House Rules Committee to be scheduled for a vote of the full House.

April 25, 2009

House Passes Budget, Sends it to Senate

The House late Friday night passed the harsh budget to bridge a $9 billion budget gap on a vote of 54-42.

It now goes to the Senate, which must pass it and resolve any differences by the scheduled end of session on Sunday. The Senate Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a hearing for 8 a.m., tomorrow, Saturday, April 25.

The budget passed by the House tonight is pretty much as we outlined in our first message earlier this morning. You can review that message at www.wfse.org.

This is the budget that’s balanced with more than $1 billion in sacrifices you’ve made in terms of lost pay, reduced health insurance funding, lower pension contributions and projected layoffs. Health insurance would go to bargaining by the Federation-led Super Coalition of all state employee unions to preserve the 88/12 premium share split.

The budget saves several institutions, but mandates studies to close several come next year.

The budget directs the Office of Financial Management to study the possible closure or downsizing of several institutions, specifically in Corrections, Green Hill School and Maple Lane School in Juvenile Rehabilitation and all residential habilitation centers, like Yakima Valley School. The study is due Nov. 1. It must have a recommendation to eliminate 1,580 beds in DOC, 235 beds in Juvenile Rehabilitation and 250 beds in the RHCs.

So we have our work cut out for us if this proviso sticks. You can help now. Call the Legislature’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and urge your senator to reject the proviso in ESHB 1244 studying institutions closures. Lines will be open until 1 p.m. Saturday.

A few other budget provisos we’ve discovered:

• Sec. 907 requires the governor to create a work group to "identify consolidation opportunities" in natural resource agencies.

• Sec. 912 provides language allowing a voluntary retirement, separation, and downshifting incentive program that "is cost neutral or results in cost savings..."

• Sec. 913 provides for administrative reduction strategies "that will minimize impacts on employees..."

• Sec. 914 provides for state employee health care benefits.

April 24, 2009

Final Budget Compromise Spares Institutions, Parks, Hatcheries, GA-U -- At Least for Now

The final budget compromise released this morning appears to spare Yakima Valley School, Green Hill School, Naselle Youth Camp, state parks, fish hatcheries and the General Assistance-Unemployable program. But beware: Some of these are conditional saves and the best that can be said is they’ll live to fight another day.

We’re scouring the budget bill the House will consider today to make sure we haven’t missed anything. But the budget is in line with a summary released last night.

Agencies and higher education institutions will still be encouraged to cut work hours and impose furloughs to cut the budget. But the budget includes a “no-harm, no-foul” proviso so affected employees would keep permanent employee status, full insurance benefits, full accrual of retirement service credit and a living wage.

There also will be about 7,000 job cuts, although it’s not clear how many are K-12, higher ed faculty and classified state agency and higher education employees.

On health care, the budget assumes a lower inflation rate. That means the Federation-led Super Coalition of all state employee unions will return to the bargaining table in May to bargain to keep the current premium share structure where the state (employer) pays 88 percent and employees pay 12 percent. Higher point-of-service costs, such as office visit co-pays, could come, effective Jan. 1, but the Public Employees Benefits Board will have to meet and decide any such increases.

And as you already know from the contract re-negotiation process, no pay raises or other economics. Employer contributions to the pension system are reduced to reflect changes to actuarial assumptions and methods. This will not impact retirement benefits; the state is just putting off some of its contributions until several decades in the future.

Back to what’s been saved—or saved for now.

• Yakima Valley School is saved. However, we had heard there would be a proviso to study future closures of any residential habilitation center, so we’ll continue to look for that.

• Green Hill School and Naselle Youth Camp. No specific institution is mentioned, but the budget assumes one institution will close. Which institution will be decided by a study to be conducted by the Office of Financial Management.

• State parks would all remain open with funding from the $5 “opt out” plan when drivers renew their license tabs. However, a budget proviso directs the state Parks Commission to pursue transferring ownership of state parks where local governments, tribes or others have expressed interest in taking them over.

• No fish hatcheries would be closed, with a big IF. If there aren’t sufficient new revenues, the Department of Fish and Wildlife may close or convert six hatcheries: McKernan, Colville, Omak, Bellingham, Arlington and Mossyrock.

• The General Assistance-Unemployable program remains, with more focus on getting the right services to people.

So our work is still cut out for us. We have a little breathing space, but we have to roll up our sleeves and keep fighting.

Here are a few other cuts that stand out in the budget:

• Higher Education—Huge staff cuts across the line, but it’s unclear how many Federation members would be affected. But the overall job cuts are as follows: University of Washington—637; Washington State University—362; Eastern Washington University—96; Central Washington University—100.5; The Evergreen State College—57; Western Washington University—130.5; the Community and Technical College system—835.1.

• Corrections—Thanks to a full-court press by Federation Community Corrections members to save jobs and public safety, the number of positions that could be lost has gone from the nearly 490 the governor requested now down to 265. That’s because of the still troubling but much improved ESSB 5288 lowering supervision of offenders and cutting the length of sentences. A proviso directs the Department of Corrections to make these reductions with the least possible impact on staff—leaving the door open to fewer job cuts.

• We’re still scouring the budget to see the impact of any privatization of Child Welfare Services.

• In the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, enhanced parole would be eliminated. Two contracted group homes, Griffin and Touchstone, would be closed.

• In Mental Health, staffing at state hospitals is cut by about 16 positions.

• At the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island, 32 residential rehabilitation counselors would be cut.

• In Fish and Wildlife, seven enforcement officer positions would be cut.

That’s it for now. As the final budget debate continues, we will have regular updates. Keep checking back.

Agency Detail

Senate Democrats outline budget to be released at 9 a.m. Friday

Senate Democrats released an outline of the budget to be released at 9 a.m., Friday, April 24. It appears to spare Yakima Valley School, Naselle Youth Camp, Green Hill School, state parks and fish hatcheries. Check back here when full details are released.

Here is the Senate Democrats' budget summary:

2009-2011 Operating Budget “Cuts with a conscience”

Total Budget: $ 31.4 billion Ending fund balance: $830 million

K-12:
• Total spending: $13.4 billion
• Net cut after federal stimulus dollars are included: $794 million
• I-732 suspended for two years: $353 million
• I-728 reduced by $600 million
• K-4 class-size reduction fully funded
• Average per school district cut: 2.6%
• One Learning Improvement Day (LID) is eliminated: $35.7 million
• School district levy capacity increased by 4% (capping at 35%)

Higher Education:
• Reductions, after tuition increase, are: 7% at UW/WSU; 6.5% at regional universities; and 6% at community colleges
• Tuition raised 14%/year at four year schools; 7%/year at community colleges
• Number of enrollments eliminated: 9,028
• State Need Grant is fully funded
• Total financial aid increase: $52 million

Health Care:
• Basic Health Plan – attrition of 40,000 enrollees, saving $255 million
• No reductions to Medicare Part D premium support or to Adult Vision

Human Services:
• General Assistance program is preserved – more focus on getting the right services to people
• Long-term care programs – rate reductions approximately 4%
• Adult day health – in-home services is preserved

Corrections/Juvenile Rehabilitation/Institutions:
• Public safety concerns were tantamount in making savings – public defenders and law enforcement in support
• No specific institutions are closed

Natural Resources:
• No parks closed: all revenues from opt-in fee go solely for maintenance and operation of parks
• No hatcheries closed unless not enough revenue from fees

Compensation/Employment:
• Agencies are encouraged to use strategies such as reduced work scheduled, use of voluntary leave without pay, and temporary furloughs that enable employees to maintain permanent employee status, full insurance benefits, full accrual of retirement service credit, and a living wage.
• Administrative cuts totaling roughly $250 million.

April 23, 2009

Budget Deal Agreed to, but Details Not Yet Released

Several news blogs are reporting that House and Senate budget negotiators last night reached an agreement on a final state budget for these tough times.

As is usual, no details are available until the formal unveiling, which some say will be Friday.

The Tacoma News Tribune reports that House Democratic budget writers will brief the House Democratic Caucus today on the budget deal.

The Olympian reports the House may vote on the final budget as soon as Friday, leaving the Senate just two days to hold a hearing and a floor vote.

The Olympian also reports the deal softens the blow to higher education.

The Seattle Times reports the budget numbers have been agreed to, but not all the details.

And a source we trust close to RHCs reports that as of now in the budget, Yakima Valley School will remain open. If that pans out when the final details are released, that will be a big victory for our Local 1326 members who’ve waged a full-court press all session long. However, don’t get too excited. The same source says the final budget may fund studies on the residential habilitation centers, which we take to mean we’ll see future proposals to close one or more RHC.

This is an unusual final stretch run for the budget. Normally, each house adopts a budget and then both sides work out the differences. This year, that didn’t happen and House and Senate budget writers immediately started negotiations on what amounts to one, joint budget.

The session ends Sunday.

As we know more, we’ll let you know. But that’s what we know as of now.

Parks Opt-Out Bill Gets Another Good Hearing

The "opt out" funding plan to keep all state parks open had another good hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee Wednesday.

The committee OK'd SHB 2339 and moved it to the Senate Rules Committee, which schedules bills for votes of the full Senate.

The funding plan would raise $26 million.

"Without it, we face the devastating closure of up to 50 state parks...," Federation Statewide Parks Local 1466 President Brian Yearout testified.

"The people's parks are crown jewels that the public will continue to support."

April 22, 2009

House Passes Community Corrections Supervision Bill on Narrow 51-45 Margin

The House tonight passed a much improved but still troubling ESSB 5288 that lowers supervision of low- and moderate-risk offenders.

The bill passed on a narrow, 51-45 vote.

The bill had been amended to preserve several important parts of supervision of sex offenders and in cases of domestic violence. And a study will determine if it is effective, if it becomes law.

ESSB 5288 now goes back to the Senate for concurrence on the House amendments, so it’s not a done deal yet.

In floor debate, supporters and opponents alike praised Community Corrections officers.

But opponents said ESSB 5288 would harm public safety—exactly what the Federation and Community Corrections members have said all along.

“Let’s not balance the budget on the backs of victims,” said Rep. Kirk Pearson of the 39th District. He cited the plea made by Maranda Hannah, the mother of a recent murder victim, who last month held a press conference at Federation headquarters to publicly oppose the bill.

Rep. Ed Orcutt of the 18th District debunked claims that ESSB 5288 will save money. It will simply shift costs to local governments who will have to deal with the unsupervised low- and moderate-risk offenders reoffending, he said.

ALSO:

• The governor on Tuesday signed into law SHB 1953, the bill allowing Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers to transfer retirement service credit from PERS 2 and PERS 3 to LEOFF 2. On hand were Federation Local 881 Secretary Alan Thomas and Federation lobbyists Matt Zuvich, Alia Griffing and Dennis Eagle.

• The generic drug bill, ESHB 5892, passed the House Tuesday, 54-43. It now goes back to the Senate for concurrence on amendments.

April 21, 2009

WMS Bill Headed for Governor's Desk

The Federation-initiated bill bringing transparency to the Washington Management Service is headed to the governor’s desk.

The House on Monday night concurred, or agreed to, the amendments tacked on by the Senate. The vote was 95-0.

The bill, ESHB 2049, now goes to the governor for her signature into law. Call the governor at 1-800-562-6000 and urge her to sign ESHB 2049.

The bill requires the Director of the Department of Personnel to report to the governor annually on the number of classified, Washington Management Service, and exempt employees; the number of bonuses and performance-based incentives awarded to agency staff; and the cost of each bonus or incentive awarded.

Key Bills Move as Legislature Enters Last Scheduled Week of Session

Several key bills of interest to you moved in committee over the weekend as the Legislature enters its final week of the scheduled 105-day session.

Whether lawmakers can wrap up work on the crisis budget and other legislation remains to be seen. If not, they’re headed for a special session (or series of special sessions).

One bill that did not move is the measure allowing closure of all residential habilitation centers, including Yakima Valley School, Frances Haddon Morgan Center, Rainier School, Fircrest School and Lakeland Village.

The fact that SB 6182 did not move out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee may be an indication that legislative leaders of both parties are having second thoughts.

As you recall, the House budget keeps Yakima Valley School open, but the Senate budget would close it as well as fund a study closing Frances Haddon Morgan Center.

At Saturday’s hearing on SB 6182, Federation Lobbyist Matt Zuvich said giving DSHS sole discretion to keep RHCs open or not goes too far.

“We believe in the continuum of care, we believe that people need to be in the community as well as in more structured and a more helpful place and we believe that RHCs certainly have a place in that continuum of care and that if we eliminate them, we believe we’re hurting that continuum,” Zuvich testified.

Community Corrections Supervision Bill

ESSB 5288, the bill reducing post-release supervision of dangerous offenders, moved out of the House Ways and Means Committee with some amendments.

Among other things, the amendments:

• remove the provision related to supervision of low and moderate risk offenders and adds supervision of two groups of misdemeanants, domestic violence offenders who have a prior conviction, misdemeanant sex offenders, including misdemeanant offenses for failure to register.

• gives the Department of Corrections authority to issue arrest warrants and pursue sanctions for misdemeanants under its supervision.

• adds supervision for low and moderate level felony sex offenders whose sole offense is failure to register.

• increases the term of community custody for violent offenses that are not considered a serious violent offense from one year to 18 months.

• and a study provision evaluating the effectiveness of this bill, if it becomes law, no later than Dec. 1, 2011.

The amendments mitigating the original SB 5288 came because of the tenacious full-court press and constant presence at the Capitol of Federation Community Corrections members.

"Opt-Out" Bill to Keep Parks Open Passes House; On to Senate

The “opt out” funding bill to head off closure of 50 state parks passed the House Monday night on vote of 56-42. It now goes to the Senate.

Call your senator at 1-800-562-6000 to urge a quick vote and support for HB 2339, the parks opt-out funding bill.



HB 2339, the good bill funding state parks through a voluntary $5 fee drivers would pay when renewing license tabs, passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee with amendments.

Drivers could “opt out” of the fee. But it’s expected enough would participate to raise the $28 million or so needed to avoid closure of 50 state parks—a tragedy in these tough economic times.

The amendments delay the effective date of the “opt out” program until Sept. 1, 2009, to give the Department of Licensing more time to gear up. And DOL is directed to make it clear how drivers can opt out of the fee.

Health Care Bills

• ESSB 2245 passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and preserves your health insurance eligibility rights and maintains the standard that benefits must remain substantially equivalent to 1993 levels.

• ESSB 5892 passed the House Ways and Means Committee and now ensures that those taking anti-psychotic and anti-depression medication can continue to get brand-name drugs rather than generics.

CALLS STILL NEEDED ON HEALTH CARE FUNDING


We still need calls to your legislators with a basic message on your health care funding:

Call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your legislators to fund state employee health care and benefits. State employees have already given up more than $1 billion in economics during this economic crisis and on average remain underpaid compared to other public- and private-sector workers.

April 18, 2009

KEY BILLS UP FOR ACTION THIS WEEKEND

The House Ways and Means Committee on Saturday is set to vote on: ESSB 5288, the Community Corrections supervision bill that may get some good amendments; HB 2339, the "opt-out" funding bill to keep state parks open; and ESSB 5892, the generic drug bill.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Saturday holds a public hearing on SB 6182, the bill removing the statutory authority for Yakima Valley School, Frances Haddon Morgan Center, Fircrest School, Rainier School and Lakeland Village. Yes, it's a way to make it easier to close any or all of these valuable residential habilitation centers. Call 1-800-562-6000 to oppose SB 6182 and the Senate language in SB 5600 funding a study to close Frances Haddon Morgan Center and also urge legislators to support the House budget language in HB 1244, which keeps Yakima Valley School open.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee is also set to vote on ESHB 2245, the bill authorizing lowered standards for your health benefits.

We have also received news about the first juvenile rehabilitation group home that would be closed under Gov. Gregoire's recommendation. Canyon View Community Facility in East Wenatchee is the only Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA) certified recovery house and long-term care facility for JRA youth in the state. The staff there includes five chemical dependency professionals, a rare and valued resource in this state. Can JRA really afford to lose these chemical dependency professionals after all the unsuccessful collaborations with DASA to keep and maintain these professionals because of a lack of these professionals? Call 1-800-562-6000 to save Canyon View Community Facility.

April 16, 2009

URGENT! CALLS NEEDED TO STOP STUDY CLOSING FRANCES HADDON MORGAN CENTER

We need calls to legislators to oppose Senate budget language creating a study to close Frances Haddon Morgan Center, a vital residential habilitation center in Bremerton.

The language was in the Senate budget, SB 5600, that passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee late Wednesday night.

This is ominous language. It comes the same day as legislation abolishing the statutory authorization for all RHCs was introduced in the Senate. That bill, SB 6182, is sponsored by Sen. Darlene Fairley of the 32nd District, but also by the Senate’s top two budget writers, Sen. Margarita Prentice of the 11th District and Sen. Rodney Tom of the 48th District.

So call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your legislators to oppose the budget language in SB 5600 funding a study to close Frances Haddon Morgan Center.

AMENDMENTS FLYING FAST AND FURIOUS

A number of amendments are flying back and forth in both legislative budget committees.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee late Wednesday night OK’d its version of the budget.

The committee rejected three bad amendments that would have forced you to pay more for health insurance under the guise of restoring cut programs in other areas. But state employees have already sacrificed more than $1 billion in economics to help bridge the budget gap, and these grandstanding amendments on health care were rightly defeated. But they may arise again on the floor of the Senate.

The committee did approve one bad amendment that would abolish the Select Committee on Pension Policy to save $250,000. If this sticks, it means state employees will have no seat at the table on any of their pension issues because the law prohibits bargaining on retirement issues.

Meanwhile, over in the House Ways and Means Committee, that panel today unveiled a number of amendments to bills, including some good ones to ESSB 5288, the Community Corrections supervision bill. But the committee did not vote on them.

The House panel is also considering bad amendments that would take out the “opt out” funding plan to keep parks open. Amendment sponsors instead want the Parks Commission and Department of Licensing to better market the existing “opt in” program, which has not raised anywhere near the funds needed to head off closure of some 50 state parks. The amendment is proposed to HB 2339

The House committee will also consider amendments to the generic drug bill that would require a generic drug alternative that is not only cheaper but equally effective to brand-name drugs. That would be an amendment to ESSB 5892.

We’ll keep you updated.

BARGAINING UPDATE: WSU

Washington State University Bargaining Team returned to the table April 10. Proposals were passed back and forth. Their negotiations resume Friday, April 17. Because of ground rules, we can’t get into much detail. The team is working hard to stop takeaways. But it’s safe to say, the WSU team has several goals in these re-negotiations, including retaining the non-economic gains made in the first round of bargaining last fall. Also, protecting WSU members and their rights in any layoff.

April 15, 2009

GOVERNOR PROPOSES KEEPING BOTH GREEN HILL SCHOOL AND NASELLE YOUTH CAMP OPEN

Gov. Chris Gregoire has weighed in on the House and Senate budget proposals and now asks that Green Hill School and Naselle Youth Camp stay open.

In a seven-page critique of the two legislative budget plans sent April 10, the governor through her budget director said DSHS has identified an alternative to closing either Green Hill or Naselle.

But the $7.3 million would come from closing four unspecified Juvenile Rehabilitation community facilities, eliminating two cottages from unspecified institutions and moving the basic training camp to another JRA institution. Savings would also come from administrative, support and contracted services.

So this is mostly good news, but we need to find out which group homes and which cottages.

The governor also weighed in on parks closures and the Washington Management Service.

On Parks, the governor appears to oppose the House amendment prohibiting parks closures because of the "opt out" funding plan. She said even with the $28 million raised by that plan, the House budget makes a net cut of $12.3 million. So, she wants the Parks Commission to have the power to close parks "that are no longer consistent with its mission."

On WMS, she also appears to oppose the House plan to cut WMS by 8 percent in each of the next two years. She wants agencies to have more discretion on where to make all cuts.


Green Hill School. The House budget and the Governor’s budget both proposed closure of Naselle Youth Camp. The Senate’s proposed closure of Green Hill School on July 1, 2010, was predicated on an estimated savings of $14 million. The timeframe for closing Green Hill is not feasible, and capital funding of $7 million is insufficient compared to the estimated need of $19 million this biennium (or a total of $31 million over the next four years). DSHS has identified an alternative to closing either Green Hill School or Naselle. This proposal would save $7.3 million by closing four state community facilities, eliminating two cottages from institutions, and moving the basic training camp to another Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration institution. This alternative also assumes additional reductions in administrative, support and contracted services.

Park Closures. The House budget assumes $28 million of new revenue from the “opt-out” vehicle license renewal plan and reduces state general funds by this same amount. In addition to this $28 million reduction in general fund dollars, the House also reduces the Parks budget by $12.3 million. However, an amendment was passed in committee that directed no park closures during the 2009-11 Biennium. It is unknown how the Commission would not be forced to close parks, given the net general fund reduction of $12.3 million in the House budget. The Governor believes the Commission should be given the latitude to close parks that are no longer consistent with its mission.

Administrative Reductions. While the Senate budget includes over $260 million (Near General Fund) in non-specific agency and administrative reductions, the House budget elevates this total to $322 million. This higher reduction is unachievable as an administration-only cut.

Although administrative reductions and efficiencies are undeniably necessary in this budget, it would be misleading to the public to imply that across-the-board cuts at this level will affect only administrative overhead and not direct services. We believe that the House administrative reduction should be smaller, and that there should be an explicit statement that the cuts in these budgets will affect both administration and services.

The House also assumes that there will be an overall reduction in Washington Management Service and Exempt Management Service positions of 8 percent statewide during FY 2010 and an additional 8 percent during FY 2011 to eliminate at least 800 of these positions. Rather than dictating how agencies will achieve their savings, we need to provide agencies management tools and flexibility to implement the degree of change this budget will require.

We recommend that language be added to Section 912 of the Senate budget to make it clear that both administrative and program service reductions are expected. Additionally, we urge your passage of existing legislative proposals that allow emergency rule-making when necessary to implement budget reductions.

EWU COMPLETES BARGAINING ON RE-NEGOTIATED CONTRACT

The Eastern Washington University Bargaining Team on Tuesday (April 14) reached a settlement on its re-negotiated contract for these tough economic times.

As with the other re-negotiated contracts, there are no economics. But the EWU team won a provision to re-visit economics if the economy improves. Management also withdrew its furlough concept. And the team held on to the non-economic gains made in the first round of negotiations last fall.

Ratification when EWU members vote on the re-negotiated contract will come next month after coalition negotiations on the health care article.

WSU TALKS RESUME APRIL 17

Meanwhile, the Washington State University Bargaining Team returned to the table April 10. Proposals were passed back and forth. Their negotiations resume Friday, April 17. Because of ground rules, we can’t get into much detail. The team is working hard to stop takeaways. But it’s safe to say, the WSU team has several goals in these re-negotiations, including retaining the non-economic gains made in the first round of bargaining last fall. Also, protecting WSU members and their rights in any layoff.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS MAKE AN IMPACT ON THEIR LOBBY DAY AS BAD SUPERVISION BILL UNEXPECTEDLY STALLS



PHOTO: Local 970 Community Corrections member Linda Tolliver discusses her concerns about ESSB 5288 with Rep. Dean Takko during WFSE/AFSCME's Corrections Lobby Day Tuesday in Olympia.


Tuesday was the day that the House Ways and Means Committee was supposed to vote out the bill lowering Community Corrections supervision of offenders.

But ESSB 5288 unexpectedly stalled and did not come up for a vote.

It came the day that a corps of Federation Community Corrections members swarmed the Capitol with their message: Don’t balance the budget on the backs of public safety.

One Federation Community Corrections member who spent the day was Linda Tolliver, a Community Corrections officer in South Bend. She knows first-hand the potential harm of ESSB 5288—her nephew’s murderer is about to be released from prison. It’s possible the man, John Bussanich, could be classified as low risk and escape post-release supervision if ESSB 5288 becomes law.

According to a Sept. 27, 1999 Seattle Times article, Bussanich was convicted of second-degree murder for the 1995 murder of Tolliver’s nephew, Tyrone Tieden. For year’s, the family suffered not knowing what had happened to the missing 20-year-old.

“Before being sentenced, Bussanich apologized for giving Tieden’s relatives ‘false hope’ by telling them he was missing, rather than dead,” the Times reported.

Now, Bussanich is set for release later this month. Linda Tolliver, a member of Local 970, met with her legislators – and even buttonholed the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Jim Hargrove, who invited her into the Senate wings to discuss her concerns with the bill.

With Tuesday’s momentum by Federation Community Corrections members, it’s time to keep the pressure on.

Call 1-800-562-6000 and tell your legislators to either stop ESSB 5288 or support amendments that: add the requirement of reassessment of all offenders prior to cutting them from supervision to better limit public risk; include behavior factors in reassessment, not just static factors; and include a “sunset clause” so if passed ESSB 5288 expires.

PARKS OPT-OUT BILL GETS GOOD HEARING, BUT OPPOSITION ARISES

The “opt-out” funding bill to keep state parks open had a good hearing Tuesday morning, but several speakers spoke against it for various reasons.

So we vitally need to keep calls in to support HB 2339.

Federation Statewide Parks Local 1466 President Brian Yearout said now is not the time to close our state’s “crown jewels.”

“Without it (HB 2339), we face the devastating closure of up to 50 state parks,” Yearout told the House Ways and Means Committee.

Opponents said the $5 fee on license tab renewals that drivers could “opt out” of paying amounted to a tax. Some said the Parks Commission hadn’t marketed the current “opt-in” plan enough.

With this opposition, we need to keep the calls coming in on HB 2339.

So call your two House members at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to support the parks funding “opt out” bill, HB 2339.

April 13, 2009

PLEASE CALL ON YAKIMA VALLEY SCHOOL

The Senate still wants to close Yakima Valley School in Selah. The House keeps it open. We need all members across the state to call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your legislators to support the House position in HB 1244 keeping Yakima Valley School open and take the closure out of the Senate budget (SB 5600).

CALL TO ACTION FOR PARKS FUNDING, HB 2339

The House Ways and Means Committee also holds a public hearing on HB 2339, the bill allowing the “opt out” funding mechanism to keep state parks open.

The bill would fund our state parks through a voluntary $5 fee collected when drivers renew their license tabs. Drivers could “opt out” of paying the fee.

This formalizes budget language. But because 50 votes are needed in the House, you can see that the concept needs votes.

So call your two House members at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to support the parks funding “opt out” bill, HB 2339.

Again, if any members of the House Ways and Means Committee are from your district, make sure to give them a call:

• Members of the House Ways and Means Committee are:

Rep. Kelli Linville of the 42nd Dist. (chair)
Rep. Mark Ericks of the 1st Dist. (vice chair)
Rep. Gary Alexander of the 20th Dist. (ranking minority member)
Rep. Barbara Bailey of the 10th Dist. (assistant ranking minority member)
Rep. Bruce Dammeier of the 25th Dist.
Rep. Bruce Chandler of the 15th Dist.
Rep. Eileen Cody of the 35th Dist.
Rep. Steve Conway of the 29th Dist.
Rep. Jeannie Darneille of the 27th Dist.
Rep. Kathy Haigh of the 35th Dist.
Rep. Bill Hinkle of the 13th Dist.
Rep. Sam Hunt of the 22nd Dist.
Rep. Ross Hunter of the 48th Dist.
Rep. Ruth Kagi of the 32nd Dist.
Rep. Phyllis Kenney of the 46th Dist.
Rep. Lynn Kessler of the 24th Dist.
Rep. Eric Pettigrew of the 37th Dist.
Rep. Skip Priest of the 30th Dist.
Rep. Charles Ross of the 14th Dist.
Rep. Joe Schmick of the 9th Dist.
Rep. Larry Seaquist of the 26th Dist.
and
Rep. Pat Sullivan of the 47th Dist.

CALLS NEEDED AS ESSB 5288, THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS SUPERVISION BILL, COMES UP FOR COMMITTEE VOTE

The House Ways and Means Committee tomorrow (Tuesday) is set to vote on ESSB 5288, the bill reducing post-release supervision of some 12,000 dangerous criminals. So, the call to action remains the same: Call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your legislators to support amendments to ESSB 5288 that: add the requirement of reassessment of all offenders prior to cutting them from supervision to better limit public risk; include behavior factors in reassessment, not just static factors; and include a “sunset clause” so if passed ESSB 5288 expires.

If any of the members of the House Ways and Means Committee are from you district, make sure to leave them a message:

• Members of the House Ways and Means Committee are:

Rep. Kelli Linville of the 42nd Dist. (chair)
Rep. Mark Ericks of the 1st Dist. (vice chair)
Rep. Gary Alexander of the 20th Dist. (ranking minority member)
Rep. Barbara Bailey of the 10th Dist. (assistant ranking minority member)
Rep. Bruce Dammeier of the 25th Dist.
Rep. Bruce Chandler of the 15th Dist.
Rep. Eileen Cody of the 35th Dist.
Rep. Steve Conway of the 29th Dist.
Rep. Jeannie Darneille of the 27th Dist.
Rep. Kathy Haigh of the 35th Dist.
Rep. Bill Hinkle of the 13th Dist.
Rep. Sam Hunt of the 22nd Dist.
Rep. Ross Hunter of the 48th Dist.
Rep. Ruth Kagi of the 32nd Dist.
Rep. Phyllis Kenney of the 46th Dist.
Rep. Lynn Kessler of the 24th Dist.
Rep. Eric Pettigrew of the 37th Dist.
Rep. Skip Priest of the 30th Dist.
Rep. Charles Ross of the 14th Dist.
Rep. Joe Schmick of the 9th Dist.
Rep. Larry Seaquist of the 26th Dist.
and
Rep. Pat Sullivan of the 47th Dist.

April 10, 2009

SPOKANE MEMBERS URGED TO CALL SEN. BROWN ON YAKIMA VALLEY SCHOOL

We have a special call to action for our members in Spokane because that’s home to the Senate majority leader, Sen. Lisa Brown of the 3rd District.

If you live in the 3rd District in Spokane, please call Sen. Brown at 1-800-562-6000 and urge her to support the House position keeping Yakima Valley School open and take the closure out of the Senate budget (SB 5600).

CALL TO ACTION FOR PARKS FUNDING

Some 46 legislators on Friday introduced legislation to fund our state parks through a voluntary $5 fee collected when drivers renew their license tabs.

This formalizes budget language. But because 50 votes are needed in the House, you can see that the concept needs votes.

So call your two House members at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to support the parks funding “opt out” bill, HB 2339.

April 9, 2009

MORE THAN 200 TURN OUT FOR EVENT TO STOP SENATE PLAN TO CLOSE GREEN HILL SCHOOL, HOUSE PLAN TO CLOSE NASELLE YOUTH CAMP


About 200 Federation members and members of the community turned out at Centralia College Wednesday night (April 8) to urge legislators to oppose the closure of Green Hill School and Naselle Youth Camp, and reductions to parole and group homes.


Their main message: Capacity lost cannot be regained easily and without expense.

The panel and speakers urged continued calls to legislators.

“If just everyone in this room called, it would make a difference – things would change,” Federation Executive Director Greg Devereux said. “You need to talk to your legislators.

“Everyone, stand up and say something – and there wouldn’t be any closings.”

Four legislators lent their support.

“Populations do continue to decline, but at a slower rate and leveling off and will start to go back up,” said 20th District Rep. Gary Alexander, ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee.

“I would be very cautious about not having the capacity to deal with it. This is a passionate issue and you’ve presented it with empirical data. Let’s look somewhere else (for cuts).”

Also on hand were Sen. Dan Swecker of the 20th District, Rep. Sam Hunt of the 22nd District and Sen. Karen Fraser of the 22nd District.

Speakers said that Green Hill School specifically is a functioning, deliberate model that will be changed and no longer exist if residents are shuffled.

Members and community speakers voiced concern over the potential shift from focusing on treatment and skill building to managing outbursts and acting out.

UW RE-NEGOTIATIONS HEADED FOR MEDIATION

A mediator will be asked to step in after bargaining on the re-negotiated University of Washington contract broke down today with management leaving the table.

The management exodus came after about 50 Local 1488 members staged a job action outside the bargaining site over the loss of their shift differential and assignment to new work shifts.

Management told the union team before they left they would call on a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission to step in.

Here is the report from our UW Bargaining Team:


The University of Washington Negotiation Team returned to meet with management for the first time since September 2008 in the hope of making some non-economic gains in the contract.

Management at this time is unwilling to sign off on any contract articles including those articles that were tentatively agreed to last year with no changes.

At around noon about 50 members and family members stormed the bargaining session and surrounded the negotiations table wearing red T-shirts that read "TOP- HEAVY MANAGEMENT = OVERWORKED STAFF + HIGHER TUITION." This statement of force was very visible and it showed management that the members are upset and want changes, not only in the contract, but in management personnel as well.

Management has requested that we get a PERC mediator to deal with the contract negotiations. At this time it is uncertain when negotiations will resume, or if it will or will not be with a mediator.

A special thanks to those members, and the spouses and children, who were able to take the time and come and show their support for the Bargaining Team.

We will keep you posted, so continue to check the WFSE HOTLINE for updates.

CALLS NEEDED ON “OPT OUT” FUNDING TO SAVE STATE PARKS, CUTS TO DSHS FRS, AND WMS BILL

We have gotten word that the proviso to save state parks in both the House and Senate budgets may be in trouble.

The proviso creates a new “opt out” funding option where drivers renewing license tabs would voluntarily pay $5 to the parks fund unless they checked a box to opt out of the payment.

That would raise the $23 million necessary to keep all parks open. Without it, up to 50 state parks would close.

So, call your legislators at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to support the “opt out” funding plan in both SB 5600 and HB 1244 to keep state parks open.

OTHER CALLS TO ACTION

With so many cuts, there’s another one we want to make you aware of.

The House budget cuts half the staff in the DSHS Family Reconciliation Services (FRS). That means the loss of some 29 jobs. Staff there provides voluntary services to youth ages 13 to 17 who are in crisis.

So, call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your two House members to oppose the cuts in Family Reconciliation Services in the House budget, HB 1244.

ALSO:

• ESHB 2049, the Federation-initiated bill bringing accountability and transparency to the Washington Management Service, has moved from the Senate Rules Committee to the full Senate. Continue to get your calls into your senator at 1-800-562-6000 urging him or her to support ESHB 2049.

• Also moving out of Senate Rules was SHB 1953, the Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers service credit transfer bill.

• Still in Senate Rules: ESHB 1792, the Community Corrections search and arrest authority bill.

BARGAINING UPDATE

• The Eastern Washington University Bargaining Team on Tuesday (April 7) had a frustrating day of negotiations with management. The upshot: They will return to the table April 14 on the re-negotiation of their contract for these tough economic times.

• The UW bargains today, WSU tomorrow.

April 7, 2009

HOUSE BUDGET CLEARS COMMITTEE; GET CALLS IN ON BUDGET PLANS

The House Ways and Means Committee today voted out its version of the budget for these tough economic times, SHB 1244.

There are still cuts that we need to mitigate. But the budget has a number of good parts we need to support when budget negotiators work out a final, compromise budget.

The biggest plus: The House committee OK’d an amendment to control Washington Management Service and the Exempt Management Service.

Under the amendment sponsored by Rep. Larry Seaquist from the 26th District, when agencies make administrative reductions, there will be statewide reduction in WMS and EMS positions of 8 percent in each year of the 2009-2011 biennium. No fewer than 800 positions must go under this amendment.

The committee also adopted amendments funding crisis residential centers important to our Children’s Services social workers.

And in a big victory, the House Ways and Means Committee OK’d $200,000 in funding to save the Labor Education and Research Center at The Evergreen State College.

Also adopted:

• an amendment taking the Voight Creek, fish hatchery off the closure list.
• a study of the disability benefits in PERS 2 and PERS 3, with a report back to the Select Committee on Pension Policy by Nov. 1, 2009.
• increasing Department of Natural Resources funding by $3.8 million to partially restore the fire suppression program, corrections camp, recreation sites program and administrative reductions.
• in the Department of Ecology, reducing the transfer of the Waste Reduction/Recycling/Litter Control account to the state general fund by $3.1 million and increases the expenditure authority from that account by $3.1 million.
• clarifying that the transfers from the natural resources funds are intended to support natural resource agencies.
• removing the state support enrollment targets for the four-year universities and colleges and community and technical colleges.
• shifting the federal child care stimulus funds in the Department of Early Learning from fiscal year 2009 to fiscal years 2010 and 2011.

The House budget now goes to the floor for a vote of all representatives. The Senate Ways and Means Committee has not yet acted on its version of the budget, SB 5600.

CALL TO ACTION ON THE BUDGET:

Call 1-800-562-6000 and urge legislators to support these parts of the House budget (SHB 1244):
• Funding for state employee health care—the House plan has more to head off any point-of-service cuts.
• The amendment reducing the Washington Management Service and exempt positions.
• The amendment on crisis residential centers and Voight Creek.
• Keeping Yakima Valley School and Green Hill School open.

And urge legislators to support these parts of the Senate budget (SB 5600):
• Funding for Community Corrections—the Senate plan saves more jobs than the House ‘s or governor’s budget proposals.
• Keeping Naselle Youth Camp open.

BARGAINING UPDATE

• The Eastern Washington University Bargaining Team returned to the table today, April 7.
• UW goes back Thursday, April 9.
• WSU re-negotiates starting Friday, April 10.
• Coalition re-negotiation of the health care article that goes in all contracts will take place sometime in May after the Legislature adopts a budget. Ratification when you’ll vote on your contract will follow that.
• Three teams have already reached settlements on re-negotiated contracts: General Government, Higher Education Coalition and UW Police Management.

April 6, 2009

CHILD WELFARE BILL RAISES FUNDING, OTHER CONCERNS

The Federation also told the House Ways and Means Committee the amended bill on Child Welfare privatization is still an “alarming gamble.”

Federation Lobbyist Alia Griffing said even though the bill has been scaled back from the original Senate version—it now calls for two pilot projects to privatize—E2SSB 5943 still has fiscal problems.

It’s hard to fix the costs when the bill doesn’t specify the size of the demonstration projects, she said.

The bill also jeopardizes an unknown amount of federal dollars and an oversight committee also adds costs, she said.

LOWERING SUPERVISION OF CRIMINALS COST MORE THAN JUST DOLLARS AND CENTS, BUDGET WRITERS TOLD

AT RIGHT: Ginger Richardson, Local 308, and Federation Lobbyist Matt Zuvich testifying April 4 against ESSB 5288.

House budget writers got a dose of reality Saturday as the Federation continued its session-long fight against ESSB 5288, the bill to cut Community Corrections supervision of 12,000 dangerous criminals.

The hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee came a day before the Tacoma News Tribune verified what the Federation had been telling legislators all session long: Budget plans and ESSB 5288 would cut more than half of all Community Corrections officers and endanger community safety.

“I think when you start cutting half the forces that are protecting the public with offenders getting out of prison, you’re flirting with disaster in that area,” Federation Lobbyist Matt Zuvich told the committee.

Zuvich said the bill and the House budget would take more than 300 Community Corrections officers off the street.

“That in effect is half the public safety component workforce of Community Corrections,” Zuvich said. “I ask you, if you had a bill before you today that took half the State Patrol troopers off the street, would you do it?

Ginger Richardson, president of King County State Corrections Local 308, told the committee the bill and the budget assumptions are based on a faulty assessment tool that misclassifies high-risk offenders as low- and moderate-risk offenders who would no longer have supervision.

“So, are you putting the community at risk in passing this legislation?” Richardson asked. “You bet, without a doubt.”

The Federation is fighting to save Community Corrections officers’ jobs because what they do makes a difference.

“Community supervision does work,” Richardson said. “I know because I work there on the front line. And it takes that human intervention to be able to sit down with an offender and make the cognitive thought process and change happen and make that person change.”

April 4, 2009

TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED ON RE-NEGOTIATED HIGHER EDUCATION COALITION CONTRACT

The Federation’s Higher Education Coalition Bargaining Team Friday night reached tentative agreement on a re-negotiated contract brought on by these tough economic times.

It has a few provisions similar to the General Government contract agreement reached Thursday. But it has several gains. And it retains all the non-economic gains negotiated the first time around and ratified by those members last fall.

The Higher Education Coalition covers about 3,000 workers at 12 Community Colleges, Central Washington University, The Evergreen State College and Western Washington University.

We will summarize the agreement here. The detailed articles and FAQs are being prepared and will be available as soon as possible.

A health care article will wait until the Legislature approves language in the budget. If the Legislature adjourns as scheduled April 26, then the Super Coalition of all state employee unions led by the Federation will convene, probably sometime in May, to negotiate the health care article.

Ratification, when Higher Education Coalition members get to vote on all the changes, will take place after that. If ratified, the contract will take effect July 1.

As with General Government, the re-negotiated Higher Education Coalition contract has no economics. But it preserves important protections negotiated and ratified last fall, makes some important gains in non-economic articles and provides a process for re-visiting economic issues if the economy improves during the term of the 2009-2011 contract.

Here then is a summary of the Higher Education Coalition agreement reached at 8:05 p.m., Friday, April 3:

• PRESERVED GAINS MADE LAST FALL

The Higher Education Coalition Bargaining Team preserved important gains made in the first round of negotiations that ended Sept. 16, 2008, including: one new personal leave day, with the caveat that it has to be cost-neutral for positions requiring backfill; and the new article on Workplace Behavior that came from your campaign against bullying.

• ECONOMIC PROCESS

The parties acknowledged that the economic terms agreed to in September 2008, including across-the-board raises and salary survey adjustments, are not funded based upon the state budget director’s December 2008 finding that those terms were not economically feasible. However, under a memorandum of understanding, if the economy improves during the 2009-2011 biennium, the Federation and state can re-visit the economic terms of the Higher Education Coalition contract agreed to in September 2008.

• HEALTH CARE

As with General Government, health care is now in the Legislature’s court. Once lawmakers approve a budget, the Super Coalition of state employee unions led by the Federation will negotiate a health care article. Right now, the current split where the state picks up 88 percent of health premium costs and employees pay 12 percent looks good in the budget deliberations. And we have to keep it that way. So call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your legislators to support the 88/12 split in employer-employee premium share costs in the two budget proposals, SB 5600 and HB 1244.

GAINS:

• LAYOFF AND RECALL

• A three-year layoff list for Community Colleges and The Evergreen State College.
• Enhanced outplacement services for Western Washington University and Central Washington University.
• Seattle and Spokane community college districts added district-wide options.
• Widens the layoff unit for supervisors at many colleges.

• WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR

The re-negotiated Higher Education Coalition agreement includes new language adding additional people an employee can complain to about inappropriate behavior. Specifically, a manager in the employee’s chain of command.

• TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

This article enhanced the grievance procedure for hourly employees by allowing access outside a college or university, namely the pre-arbitration review meeting (PARM) overseen by the state Labor Relations Office.

• WORK RELATED INJURY OR ILLNESS

This article was changed to reflect a 2007 law allowing use of sick leave and time-loss benefits at the same time without a buy-back requirement.

• SHARED SERVICES

Under a new article, the union can suggest ways that one agency may expand operations to provide services to other state agencies, colleges and universities—a way to mitigate budgetary constraints.

• ALSO:

• For TESC employees, allows employee-requested schedule changes to participate in wellness activities.
• A memorandum of understanding for WWU to work out police services 7(k) schedule issues by May 1.


AND AT THE END OF THE DAY…

…After months of controversy—and pending ratification—those covered by the Higher Education Coalition contract will have a contract come July 1. That is vitally important, especially when it comes to the contract provisions on layoffs and grievance procedure. That ultimately is the best outcome of these negotiations.

April 3, 2009

TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED ON RE-NEGOTIATED GENERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

The Federation’s General Government Bargaining Team late this afternoon reached tentative agreement on a re-negotiated contract brought on by these tough economic times.

We will summarize the agreement here. The detailed articles and FAQs are being prepared and will be available as soon as possible.

A health care article will wait until the Legislature approves language in the budget. If the Legislature adjourns as scheduled April 26, then the Super Coalition of all state employee unions led by the Federation will convene, probably sometime in May, to negotiate the health care article.

Ratification, when you get to vote on all the changes, will take place after that. If ratified, the contract will take effect July 1.

You have seen the worldwide headlines and the news from other states and public employers. So you know the contract has no economics. But it preserves important protections negotiated and ratified by you last fall, makes some important gains in non-economic articles and provides a process for re-visiting economic issues if the economy improves during the term of the 2009-2011 contract.

Here then is a summary of the General Government agreement reached shortly before 5 p.m., today, Thursday, April 2:

• PRESERVED GAINS MADE LAST FALL

The bargaining team preserved important gains you made in the first round of negotiations that ended in September 2008, including: one new personal leave day in each year of the agreement; overtime after 8 for those in the Department of Transportation Highway Maintenance Bargaining Unit and employees who do inspections in the Fruit/Vegetable Inspection Bargaining Unit within the state Department of Agriculture; and the new article on Workplace Behavior that came from your campaign against bullying.

• ECONOMIC PROCESS

The global economic crisis transcended the economic package the state and union agreed on last fall. The parties acknowledged that the economic terms agreed to in September 2008, including across-the-board raises, salary survey adjustments, classification adjustments and workers’ comp payment allowances for high-risk jobs, are not funded based upon the state budget director’s December 2008 finding that those terms were not economically feasible. However, under a memorandum of understanding agreed to today, if the economy improves during the 2009-2011 biennium, the Federation and state can re-visit the economic terms of the contract agreed to in September 2008.

• HEALTH CARE

As we said earlier, health care is now in the Legislature’s court. Once lawmakers approve a budget, the Super Coalition of state employee unions led by the Federation will negotiate a health care article. Right now, the current split where the state picks up 88 percent of health premium costs and employees pay 12 percent looks good in the budget deliberations. And we have to keep it that way. So call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your legislators to support the 88/12 split in employer-employee premium share costs in the two budget proposals, SB 5600 and HB 1244.

GAINS:

• HOURS OF WORK

Under Article 6.3A2, the employer will consider an employee’s preference when adjusting the employee’s work schedule.

• VACATION LEAVE


Under Article 11.4, accrual in the fifth, sixth and seventh years of service will e based on TOTAL years of employment, not the current continuous language. This brings the contract in line with work rules for unrepresented employees.

• WORK RELATED INJURY OR ILLNESS

Article 19 was changed to reflect a 2007 law change allowing injured workers to take both sick leave and timeloss at the same time.

• UNION-MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION COMMITTEES

Under Article 37.4, the Federation and agencies can document mutual understandings reached at the UMCC table, a move that puts some teeth into this article.

• SHARED SERVICES

Under a new Article 45.5, the union can suggest ways that one agency may expand operations to provide services to other state agencies—a way to mitigate budgetary constraints.

• WORKLOAD

The memorandum of understanding dealing with workload concerns was extended to June 30, 2010.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY…

…After months of controversy—and pending ratification—you will have a contract come July 1. That is vitally important, especially when it comes to the contract provisions on layoffs and grievance procedure. That ultimately is the best outcome of these negotiations.

COMING UP:

The Higher Education Coalition Bargaining Team returns to the table tomorrow (Friday, April 3) and the University of Washington Bargaining Team negotiates April 9.

April 2, 2009

Call NOW!

Continue to get your calls in against the worst parts of the Senate and House budgets, respectively. Here is a quick list of some but not all of the target areas:

GREEN HILL SCHOOL AND NASELLE YOUTH CAMP

Call 1-800-562-6000 and urge senators to oppose the closure of Green Hill School in Chehalis in the Senate budget (SB 5600) and representatives to oppose the closure of Naselle Youth Camp in the House budget (HB 1244). Also oppose the cuts to juvenile rehabilitation probation and parole and any projected cuts to state employee-staffed group homes. All the cuts harm the continuum of care in JRA.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

Call 1-800-562-6000 to oppose the cuts to community supervision of 12,000 dangerous offenders in both budgets. They harm public safety and will mean the loss of hundreds of jobs.

YAKIMA VALLEY SCHOOL


Call 1-800-562-6000 and urge senators to oppose the closure of Yakima Valley School in the Senate budget (SB 5600). The House budget keeps it open.

FISH HATCHERIES

Call 1-800-562-6000 and urge legislators to oppose the closure of seven fish hatcheries in both budgets. They squander our natural resources.

PARKS

Call 1-800-562-6000 and urge legislators to support the funding plan to keep all parks open.

HOUSE, SENATE BUDGETS BIG GAMBLE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, OTHER ISSUES, UNION TELLS BUDGET WRITERS

Both the House and Senate budgets are big gambles on public safety in a number of areas, the Federation’s Dennis Eagle told the House Ways and Means Committee this week.

The Senate released its budget Monday and the House on Tuesday. Public hearings in both chambers took place both days.

“We are in a global economic crisis and we understand that,” Eagle, the Federation’s director of legislative and political action, told the House committee March 31.

“But the cuts that we’re contemplating here at this time really are going to undermine our quality of life in Washington state. We really don’t want to be the Alabama of the West. We urge you to find another path and alternative to the all-cuts budget.”

Both budgets hit public safety across the board, he said.

They both “gamble greatly with our public safety,” Eagle said. “And clearly we think that this is going to result in increased risk to people in the community eliminating hundreds of people from post-release supervision.”

He said closure of Naselle and Green Hill would cause “significant harm to the continuum of care in JRA.

“Eliminating much of JRA parole services and significant cuts to the Special Commitment Center all mean that there will be more offenders on the streets without any restrictions on what they’re doing.

“And it all means that there will be greater risk to our families and our communities.”

Eagle also questioned the cuts in natural resources programs, including the closure of hatcheries.

“We’re walking away from millions of dollars in economic activity and we’re abandoning our state’s cultural heritage with the cuts we’re doing in the natural resources programs this year in both budgets,” he said.

He praised both budgets for “looking for creative solutions to avert park closures.”

The cuts in higher education, Eagle said, “really are mortgaging the future of this state. All I can do is say, ‘Wow!’”