February 4, 2010
Federation members pack hearing room on latest bill closing residential habilitation centers
A bill with good intentions but unintended consequences came under fire Wednesday in the Senate
SB 6780 would require DSHS to submit a plan by the end of the year on how to move RHC residents to the community and close RHCs. It requires specific plans on how to close Frances Haddon Morgan Center by Dec. 12, 2012, and the remaining RHCs by Dec. 31, 2014.
The intent is to make sure resources, including state-run State Operated Living Alternative (SOLA) facilities, exist before RHC residents are moved out.
But the bill’s underlying assumption that RHCs must go troubled family members, Federation members and even one prominent senator on the committee.
Sen. Chris Marr, D-6th Dist., questioned DSHS cost analyses showing that community options are cheaper.
He said there’s no real apples-to-apples cost comparison covering cost transfers, local transportation costs, Medicaid transportation costs, housing subsidies and community support services.
“At the end of the day, (the governor contends) this would be less costly in the long run, but if we don’t know what it’s costing us today, then how can we suggest that it will be less costly in the long run?” Marr asked.
“I can’t see anything in the analysis that addresses savings.”
The hearing came in the wake of the Seattle Times’ three-part expose of abuses in the adult family home program, which was set up to handle those moved from private nursing homes. The fear is the same model of abuse would arise if RHC residents were moved into a similar loosely overseen network of homes.
“People with developmental disabilities and an individual who resides at an RHC cannot be cared fro on the cheap,” said Maureen Durkan, whose sister lives at Fircrest School in Shoreline.
“I think there’s been a number of attempts to compare apples to apples between the community’s and the RHC costs,” said Federation Executive Director Greg Devereux. “I think it has fallen short in many instances but when you boil it down, if you provide the same level of acuity care in the RHC or in the community, that should be a fixed cost—if you’re providing the same care.
“The major difference is, I believe, the labor cost, and that would be in health care and in pensions. And that to us represents skills and experience over the years (and) you’ll stabilize a workforce by providing pensions and good health benefits.”
By the end of the hearing, even committee chair and prime sponsor Sen. Karen Keiser, D-33rd Dist., pressed DSHS for better data.
“I think what we need is more details, because what we have here seems to be very vague and not very specific,” Keiser said.
General Government bargaining team begins groundwork for 2011-2013 contract negotiations
The Federation’s General Government Bargaining Team gathered in SeaTac Wednesday to begin the groundwork to get ready for negotiations on the next contract – the two-year pact running from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013.
The team culled through some 300 proposed contract changes submitted by members. The team will then draft proposed contract language. Some of the proposals will be forwarded to agency-specific supplemental bargaining. No bargaining dates with management have been set yet.
The team also appointed several committees covering logistics, accountability, note-taking and communications.
The Higher Education Coalition of 12 Community Colleges, The Evergreen State College, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University and Western Washington University meets Feb. 10 to go over contract proposals submitted for their 2011-2013 collective bargaining agreement.
Formal demands to bargain the 2011-2013 contracts in General Government, Higher Education Coalition, University of Washington, UW Police Management and Washington State University were submitted to management last month.
All the teams gathered have already gathered for joint training on Jan. 28.
The team culled through some 300 proposed contract changes submitted by members. The team will then draft proposed contract language. Some of the proposals will be forwarded to agency-specific supplemental bargaining. No bargaining dates with management have been set yet.
The team also appointed several committees covering logistics, accountability, note-taking and communications.
The Higher Education Coalition of 12 Community Colleges, The Evergreen State College, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University and Western Washington University meets Feb. 10 to go over contract proposals submitted for their 2011-2013 collective bargaining agreement.
Formal demands to bargain the 2011-2013 contracts in General Government, Higher Education Coalition, University of Washington, UW Police Management and Washington State University were submitted to management last month.
All the teams gathered have already gathered for joint training on Jan. 28.
Speaking of supplemental negotiations - DOC negotiations wrap up
For a number of complicated reasons, some issues affecting Federation Department of Corrections members could not be bargained during the 2009 re-negotiation of the current, 2009-2011 contract. So they were deferred to supplemental negotiations that started in November and wrapped up this past Tuesday, Feb. 2.
The supplemental articles will now go to Corrections members for ratification. They should watch for details.
In summary, the DOC Supplemental Bargaining Team negotiated improvements in working conditions in nine articles and two memoranda of understanding. If ratified, these will be added to the current, 2009-2011 General Government contract.
The changes came in the following articles: Bid; Hiring and Appointments; Hours of Work; Overtime; Vacations (Scheduling); Safety and Health; Uniforms, Tools and Equipment; Meals; and Employee
In addition, a memorandum of understanding addresses a name change for Community Corrections officers. Under this MOU, a special work group, with direct participation by the DOC secretary, will convene no later than April 15 to address the name change issue.
Other issues raised at the table but not agreed to will be included in the next cycle of supplemental negotiations for DOC.
The supplemental articles will now go to Corrections members for ratification. They should watch for details.
In summary, the DOC Supplemental Bargaining Team negotiated improvements in working conditions in nine articles and two memoranda of understanding. If ratified, these will be added to the current, 2009-2011 General Government contract.
The changes came in the following articles: Bid; Hiring and Appointments; Hours of Work; Overtime; Vacations (Scheduling); Safety and Health; Uniforms, Tools and Equipment; Meals; and Employee
In addition, a memorandum of understanding addresses a name change for Community Corrections officers. Under this MOU, a special work group, with direct participation by the DOC secretary, will convene no later than April 15 to address the name change issue.
Other issues raised at the table but not agreed to will be included in the next cycle of supplemental negotiations for DOC.
Keep the pressure on against the furlough bill; Capitol nuggets you need to know; Feb. 15 Rally
SSB 6503, the anti-state employee bill on furloughs, could come to a vote of the full House Friday.
Continue to call the Legislature’s Hotline Message Center at 1-800-562-6000 and urge your two House members to oppose SSB 6503, the state employee furlough bill. Lawmakers should close tax loopholes before forcing state employees to sacrifice more on top of the $1 billion they’ve already given up to help rebuild our economy.
CAPITOL NUGGETS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Nugget No. 1: SB 6832, Sen. Jim Hargrove’s bad bill attempting to fix some of the problems in the privatization pilots in DSHS Child Welfare Services, was introduced Wednesday and comes up for a hearing today (Thursday, Feb. 4), at 3:30 p.m. in Hargrove’s Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee.
Nugget No. 2: The Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee is set to vote on their version of the interpreters’ collective bargaining bill (SB 6726) today (Thursday, Feb. 4).
FEB 15 IS GETTING CLOSER
Mark your calendars for the Public Employee/Revenue Rally and Lobby Day on the Presidents’ Day Holiday, Monday, Feb. 15. The rally will be at noon on the Capitol steps. But you can get a pre-rally briefing, lunch and lobbying appointments. Register now. Go to the Federation website at www.wfse.org and click on the RALLY icon in the upper right corner.
Continue to call the Legislature’s Hotline Message Center at 1-800-562-6000 and urge your two House members to oppose SSB 6503, the state employee furlough bill. Lawmakers should close tax loopholes before forcing state employees to sacrifice more on top of the $1 billion they’ve already given up to help rebuild our economy.
CAPITOL NUGGETS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Nugget No. 1: SB 6832, Sen. Jim Hargrove’s bad bill attempting to fix some of the problems in the privatization pilots in DSHS Child Welfare Services, was introduced Wednesday and comes up for a hearing today (Thursday, Feb. 4), at 3:30 p.m. in Hargrove’s Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee.
Nugget No. 2: The Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee is set to vote on their version of the interpreters’ collective bargaining bill (SB 6726) today (Thursday, Feb. 4).
FEB 15 IS GETTING CLOSER
Mark your calendars for the Public Employee/Revenue Rally and Lobby Day on the Presidents’ Day Holiday, Monday, Feb. 15. The rally will be at noon on the Capitol steps. But you can get a pre-rally briefing, lunch and lobbying appointments. Register now. Go to the Federation website at www.wfse.org and click on the RALLY icon in the upper right corner.
February 2, 2010
House committee passes Interpreters bill out of committee; Senate bill gets good hearing
The House version of the Federation-initiated bill extending collective bargaining rights to state interpreters cleared the House Commerce and Labor Committee Tuesday on a 5-3 vote.
Committee Chair Rep. Steve Conway, D-29th Dist., said collective bargaining “is a problem solver” in trying to fix a broken system.
HB 3062 now goes to the House Ways and Means Committee, where it has until Feb. 9 to pass.
Meanwhile, the Senate version, SB 6726, came before the Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.
Over the years, the interpreter program run by DSHS has gotten bogged down with a system of middlemen who siphon off mostly federal funding before it even reaches the interpreters doing the actual translation services for non-English speaking Medicaid clients visiting their doctors.
That’s the message the Federation’s Dennis Eagle delivered the committee.
SB 6726 not only extends collective bargaining rights to the interpreters, but reforms the delivery of services by ending the brokerage system of middlemen, he said.
The program has been targeted by the governor for elimination to save $4 million while forfeiting $12 million in federal funds.
“The best chance we think to save this program is if we can achieve some savings…,” Eagle said.
“We’re losing more money to middlemen than we’re actually spending on interpreters.”
Interpreter Cynthia Roat said technology exists that would allow online booking of interpreters, making the archaic system of brokers unnecessary. More money would go to interpreters, which would attract more interpreters and still save the state money, she said.
“I think we can do this more cheaply, we can do it more efficiently and we can do it in a simpler way,” Roat said.
The bill is about solutions, said interpreter Narscisa Hodges.
Right now, 40 percent of the funding is lost on overhead to the middlemen brokers, she said.
“Forty percent overhead is wrong,” Hodges said. “We have ideas. Pass this bill. Let us form a workgroup to find the answers. We must cut or limit middlemen and overhead costs. We must restore professional pay and fairness to improve quality. This will save money for the state.”
SB 6726 has until Friday to clear the Senate committee.
Committee Chair Rep. Steve Conway, D-29th Dist., said collective bargaining “is a problem solver” in trying to fix a broken system.
HB 3062 now goes to the House Ways and Means Committee, where it has until Feb. 9 to pass.
Meanwhile, the Senate version, SB 6726, came before the Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.
Over the years, the interpreter program run by DSHS has gotten bogged down with a system of middlemen who siphon off mostly federal funding before it even reaches the interpreters doing the actual translation services for non-English speaking Medicaid clients visiting their doctors.
That’s the message the Federation’s Dennis Eagle delivered the committee.
SB 6726 not only extends collective bargaining rights to the interpreters, but reforms the delivery of services by ending the brokerage system of middlemen, he said.
The program has been targeted by the governor for elimination to save $4 million while forfeiting $12 million in federal funds.
“The best chance we think to save this program is if we can achieve some savings…,” Eagle said.
“We’re losing more money to middlemen than we’re actually spending on interpreters.”
Interpreter Cynthia Roat said technology exists that would allow online booking of interpreters, making the archaic system of brokers unnecessary. More money would go to interpreters, which would attract more interpreters and still save the state money, she said.
“I think we can do this more cheaply, we can do it more efficiently and we can do it in a simpler way,” Roat said.
The bill is about solutions, said interpreter Narscisa Hodges.
Right now, 40 percent of the funding is lost on overhead to the middlemen brokers, she said.
“Forty percent overhead is wrong,” Hodges said. “We have ideas. Pass this bill. Let us form a workgroup to find the answers. We must cut or limit middlemen and overhead costs. We must restore professional pay and fairness to improve quality. This will save money for the state.”
SB 6726 has until Friday to clear the Senate committee.
Furlough bill passes committee, a little better, still bad
UPDATE: 2/3/10 2:00 PM
HOUSE PLACES BAD FURLOUGH BILL ON FAST TRACK FOR PASSAGE; KEEP GETTING CALLS IN
The House Rules Committee on Tuesday moved the bad state employee furlough bill closer to a final floor vote by putting it on the Second Reading Calendar, an important procedural step.
HOUSE PLACES BAD FURLOUGH BILL ON FAST TRACK FOR PASSAGE; KEEP GETTING CALLS IN
The House Rules Committee on Tuesday moved the bad state employee furlough bill closer to a final floor vote by putting it on the Second Reading Calendar, an important procedural step.
The full House meets Wednesday, but it’s believed the bill may come to a vote of the full House Friday. All 98 House members gather on the floor Friday morning at 10 for a scheduled three-and-a-half-hour session. Time is of the essence.
- SSB 6503 is still a bad bill.
- Closing some of the state’s $14.8 billion in eligible tax loopholes should come first before taking more from the same state employees who have already sacrificed $1 billion in pay, health care, pension funding and jobs.
- Continue calls to the Legislature’s Hotline Message Center at 1-800-562-6000 and urge your two House members to oppose SSB 6503, the state employee furlough bill.
The House Ways and Means Committee on Monday night passed out the state employee furlough bill, SSB 6503, somewhat better than it was but still a bad bill.
The bill as it passed the committee gives agencies more flexibility to reduce compensation costs that could include furloughs. The bill does not mandate furloughs, but if agencies don't come up with plans, then employees in that agency would have to take 11 days of temporary layoff or furlough. An earlier House draft had mandated furlough days whether an agency submitted a plan or not.
SSB 6503 as it passed the committee also calls for $50 million in state compensation savings, with $10 million coming from the Washington Management Service and the exempt service. The Senate version called for $69 million in savings, with no mandate in WMS and EMS.
Each General Government agency unit would bargain separately. For Higher Education, it appears that all but the University of Washington and Washington State University would bargain in one big coalition of all unions. UW and WSU would bargain separately.
On the final committee vote, Rep. Sam Hunt, D-22nd Dist., and Rep. Steve Conway, D-29th Dist., voted no.
Senate version of shared-leave cap bill heard in emotional testimony
The Federation-initiated bill to raise the cap on how much shared leave longtime seriously ill employees can leave came before the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee Monday.
SB 6695 would help longtime employees facing the need for more than the current limit of 261 total shared leave days. Under HB 3063, employees with between 10 and 20 years of service could receive 522 days of shared leave. Those with more than 20 years of service, 788 shared leave days.
"This is a bill that would cost extremely little and do so much for the affected state employees," Federation Lobbyist Alia Griffing told the panel.
The Department of Personnel estimated the bill would cost only $2,500.
"We're talking about dedicated state employees with a long history of service, long institutional memories, and expertise that they've developed over time," Griffing said.
Ecology manager Gordon White said the bill makes good business sense because it keeps employees off disability and on the job working for taxpayers.
"It's really a compassionate program where other employees can help their colleagues out," White said.
But it was Ecology employee Andy McMillan whose quiet dignity carried the hearing.
He apologized for wearing a facemask. Doctors ordered him to wear the mask because of the bone marrow cancer he has battled for five years.
"It's considered an incurable and fatal disease," McMillan said. "Fortunately, there are treatments that are available to keep one alive for several years.
"Since I was diagnosed, I've continued to work as much as I can, but I've had to cut back on my hours as my disease has progressed and the treatments have gotten more challenging."
McMillan, who's worked at Ecology for 24 years, had to interrupt his testimony to apologize as he was gripped by back pain, one of the side effects of his disease.
"Passage of this bill is just one small step that the state can take to help your employees at a time when sacrifice is being asked of us," McMillan said. "I believe it serves the interests of the state as well as being the compassionate thing to do."
The House version of the bill, HB 3063, was quickly heard and passed of committee Jan. 29.
SB 6695 would help longtime employees facing the need for more than the current limit of 261 total shared leave days. Under HB 3063, employees with between 10 and 20 years of service could receive 522 days of shared leave. Those with more than 20 years of service, 788 shared leave days.
"This is a bill that would cost extremely little and do so much for the affected state employees," Federation Lobbyist Alia Griffing told the panel.
The Department of Personnel estimated the bill would cost only $2,500.
"We're talking about dedicated state employees with a long history of service, long institutional memories, and expertise that they've developed over time," Griffing said.
Ecology manager Gordon White said the bill makes good business sense because it keeps employees off disability and on the job working for taxpayers.
"It's really a compassionate program where other employees can help their colleagues out," White said.
But it was Ecology employee Andy McMillan whose quiet dignity carried the hearing.
He apologized for wearing a facemask. Doctors ordered him to wear the mask because of the bone marrow cancer he has battled for five years.
"It's considered an incurable and fatal disease," McMillan said. "Fortunately, there are treatments that are available to keep one alive for several years.
"Since I was diagnosed, I've continued to work as much as I can, but I've had to cut back on my hours as my disease has progressed and the treatments have gotten more challenging."
McMillan, who's worked at Ecology for 24 years, had to interrupt his testimony to apologize as he was gripped by back pain, one of the side effects of his disease.
"Passage of this bill is just one small step that the state can take to help your employees at a time when sacrifice is being asked of us," McMillan said. "I believe it serves the interests of the state as well as being the compassionate thing to do."
The House version of the bill, HB 3063, was quickly heard and passed of committee Jan. 29.
February 1, 2010
Frances Haddon Morgan Center (FHMC) Rally February 13
Members at Frances Haddon Morgan Center in Bremerton will hold a rally to save their residential habilitation center from the budget chopping block.
The rally will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 13, in Bremerton. As we get more details, we will post them here. But if you can make plans to attend and show your solidarity, please mark your calendar.
The rally will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 13, in Bremerton. As we get more details, we will post them here. But if you can make plans to attend and show your solidarity, please mark your calendar.
Pine Lodge closure delayed
The announcement came quietly last Thursday, but the Department of Corrections has delayed the closure of Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women in Medical Lake.
DOC made the move now that Spokane County and the City of Spokane have shown interest in joint use of Pine Lodge.
This is good news, but it’s considered a temporary reprieve. We should not let our guard down. The community of Medical Lake certainly isn’t.
The Medical Lake mayor and city administrator on Friday told the state they were not consulted about the joint use possibility. And they want Pine Lodge to remain as it is—the only state corrections facility for women in Eastern Washington.
Mayor John Higgins and City Administrator Doug Ross vowed to take “every action available, including legal” to prevent Pine Lodge from closing or morphing to a city-county facility.
So stay tuned and stay vigilant.
Watch coverage on TV Q6, Spokane:
DOC made the move now that Spokane County and the City of Spokane have shown interest in joint use of Pine Lodge.
This is good news, but it’s considered a temporary reprieve. We should not let our guard down. The community of Medical Lake certainly isn’t.
The Medical Lake mayor and city administrator on Friday told the state they were not consulted about the joint use possibility. And they want Pine Lodge to remain as it is—the only state corrections facility for women in Eastern Washington.
Mayor John Higgins and City Administrator Doug Ross vowed to take “every action available, including legal” to prevent Pine Lodge from closing or morphing to a city-county facility.
So stay tuned and stay vigilant.
Watch coverage on TV Q6, Spokane:
Committee quickly hears, passes WFSE/AFSCME-initiated bill to raise shared leave cap
The House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee within 10 minutes held a public hearing and passed the Federation-initiated bill to raise the cap on how much shared leave longtime employees can receive.
The committee passed out HB 3063 after testimony of support from Ecology worker Andy McMillan and Federation Lobbyist Alia Griffing.
HB 3063 would help longtime employees facing the need for more than the current limit of 261 total shared leave days. Under HB 3063, employees with between 10 and 20 years of service could receive 522 days of shared leave. Those with more than 20 years of service, 788 shared leave days.
Committee chair Rep. Sam Hunt, D-22nd Dist., said he will likely amend the bill on the floor of the House to remove the cap entirely. He said concerns about overuse of shared leave contemplated when the law first passed in 1989 have never materialized.
The committee passed out HB 3063 after testimony of support from Ecology worker Andy McMillan and Federation Lobbyist Alia Griffing.
HB 3063 would help longtime employees facing the need for more than the current limit of 261 total shared leave days. Under HB 3063, employees with between 10 and 20 years of service could receive 522 days of shared leave. Those with more than 20 years of service, 788 shared leave days.
Committee chair Rep. Sam Hunt, D-22nd Dist., said he will likely amend the bill on the floor of the House to remove the cap entirely. He said concerns about overuse of shared leave contemplated when the law first passed in 1989 have never materialized.
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