The legislatively mandated study of possible closures and cuts is due out any day, but delegates to last weekend's 2009 Federation State Convention wasted no time in giving visiting Gov. Chris Gregoire an earful.
News reports say institutions that could be closed include: Green Hill School and Maple Lane School (both juvenile rehabilitation); Pine Lodge and Ahtanum View (Corrections institutions whose employees are represented by the Federation); and, possibly, all or parts of an as-yet-unidentified residential habilitation center or centers (RHCs).
The report is due from the Office of Financial Management. Over the past few months, consultants writing the report have met with Federation members to hear why institutions should not be closed. But some of the possible recommendations leaked out to the Seattle Times.
Meanwhile, Federation members used last weekend's convention to mobilize against current and future cuts, closures and consolidations.
Groups of members and delegates held a number of caucuses to continue the "boots on the ground" strategy of fighting the cuts. Those caucuses included: The member steering committee watchdogging the plan to start two pilot privatization projects in DSHS Child Welfare Services; juvenile rehabilitation; residential habilitation centers; and DSHS Community Services Division and call centers.
Delegates also unanimously passed a resolution to use "any and all remedies" to stop the closure of Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women and other state institution.
Members of Local 573 at Lakeland Village, an RHC in Medical Lake, announced plans for a major job action Oct. 19 in Spokane.
With all this going on, the governor herself heard first-hand the folly of the institutions closures and other cuts.
Seven delegates from targeted programs escorted the governor to the floor of the convention hall at a SeaTac hotel, then individually welcomed her with pleas for her to stop the bleeding.
Greeting the governor were: Julianne Moore from DD/RHCs; Ursula Petters from Child Welfare Services; Alice Rogers from Corrections; Greg Davis from Mental Health; Pam Carl from Higher Education; Gabe Hall from Juvenile Rehabilitation; and Scott Mallery from Natural Resources.
They politely welcomed the governor and asked Gregoire, "with all due" respect, to recognize the harm of cuts, consolidation and contracting out.
WFSE/AFSCME President Carol Dotlich presented the governor with hundreds of letters from members and delegates respectfully pleading with her to find alternatives to an "all cuts" approach to filling another $1 billion deficit.
"Please find another way to preserve these vital, quality services for the public," Moore told the governor in her Oct. 3 welcome.
"Please join us in restoring these cuts before a tragedy occurs," Rogers said.
"The cuts are a recipe for disaster," Hall said.
Gregoire responded, "I get it," but added, "You'll have to tell me where to cut."
Delegates quickly shouted, "Administration!" and "WMS!"
She still praised WFSE/AFSCME members. Delegates sought her out to shake her hand at the end of the cordial exchange.
"I know I am proud to have you as my partners," she said.
Gregoire said the past legislative session was "ugly, ugly, ugly....It was the worst legislative session I'd ever seen."
"We're going to get through these tough times, but it isn't going to be easy," Gregoire added.
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