State Employees to KOMO TV's Ken Schram: "You put a cork in it!

By now you may know that KOMO TV (Channel 4, Seattle) commentator Ken Schram awarded his "Schrammie Award" to Federation Executive Director Greg Devereux for his passionate defense of state employees when the Public Employees Benefits Board recently raised 2010 health care costs because the Legislature cut funding - when they really didn't have to.

Schram accused Devereux of "whining," that he "got his BVD's all bunched up" and that he "just doesn't have a clue."

"So put a cork in it Greg, and for your 'screw you, gimme mine' attitude, take a bow, because this 'Schrammie' is for you," Schram said in his July 15 broadcast.

Here's how Federation Director of Public Affairs Tim Welch responded:

Thank you, Ken, for awarding the coveted "Schrammie" to Mr. Devereux.

Mr. Devereux, my boss, considers it a badge of honor because it shows you totally understand that the debate in the 2009 Legislature was not about the deficit.

It was not about protecting public safety. It was not about protecting the vulnerable. It was not about how to save quality services. It was about how to stick it to state employees, whether they deserve it or not.

In that regard, you show great promise as a potential legislative candidate we would encourage to run in 2010. You show a commendable knack for going along with the crowd, scratching the surface of an issue, and showing lack of spine and guts.

In fact, we invite you to our offices in Olympia to personally present the "Schrammie" to Mr. Devereux and to meet some of the "greedy" Community Corrections officers, DOT workers, safety inspectors, children's workers, custodians, gardeners, cooks and support staff you have tried to malign with the "Schrammie." They would like to enlighten you about what it is exactly they do and what it is from their perspective they find objectionable about the Legislature's actions.

Within a half hour, Schram shot back to Welch:

"It's comforting to know that your boss, Mr. Devereux, is aware that his myopic view of how to best position himself as a stalwart union leader at the expense of children's services, domestic violence victims and all the people who were kicked off the state's basic health plan, to mention but a few services that have endured dramatic cuts." He added that several state employees had e-mailed him supporting his commentary against Devereux.

Schram ignored the union's gracious invitation for him to present the award to Devereux in person and to meet real, live state employees. But Welch told Schram the invitation still stands.

Funny thing is, by Friday, Schram was publicly singing a different tune. Turns out, state employees weren't supporting his view but basically telling him to put a cork in it.

Schram devoted his weekly piece featuring reader responses to the reaction to his anti-Devereux piece:

Needless to say, some folks took umbrage at my giving Greg grief about that.

Heather Lum writes: "I'm a state worker and work among people who are passionate about supporting people with disabilities to live successfully in their communities. ... There's a lot of state worker bashing lately and frankly, I'm sick of it."

Chris Turner: "State workers have not received a raise in 3 years, you jackass! The raises they were promised - 6 percent - turned out to be (to be around 1 percent)."

Charles Mitchell: "I know we're in a bad (way) right now. ... I don't want a giant raise ... but I would like the public and the people in Olympia to see that we do a good job and should be paid accordingly."

Amber Moore: "Many (state) workers are taking unpaid days to help save the jobs of co-workers. To depict us as greedy is wrong."

And finally from Jason Tribley: "You just don't get it, Schram. Never have. Never will."

Luckily, Federation members and all state employees get it. Now if only the Ken Schrams of the world and legislators got it, too.