As the budget shortfall continues to grow, so do the attacks on public employees

We hope you’re making plans to attend the big rally coordinated by the Federation and our labor allies at 12 noon next Friday, April 8.

As April Sims, the Federation’s legislative and political action field coordinator put it:

As the budget shortfall continues to grow, so do the attacks on public employees and Washington families. Legislators are scapegoating workers while giving away billions in tax breaks to out of state corporations.

• Did you know state Senator Zarelli is fighting to reject your contract because he thinks the 3% pay cut you agreed to isn't enough (SB 5870)? 

• Or that he wants to create a PERS 4 retirement system that will eliminate your guaranteed pension (SB 5908)? 

It doesn't matter that your sacrifices will save the state more than $330 million or that you've sacrificed more than $1.5 billion in the past 2 years. It doesn't matter that these bills won't save the state money and that they'll actually hurt our recovering economy. 

They want to bust the Unions. 

It's time to take a stand in Olympia! Join me and the thousands of other union members from across the state on Friday, April 8. Let's send a message to lawmakers that the workers didn't cause this budget crisis and they can't solve the problem on our backs.

For details on the big April 8 rally and all the week’s events, go to http:takeaction.wfse.org.

• Labor to Legislators: Close Loopholes

Other Week-of-Action events starting tomorrow

• Saturday, April 2: International Solidarity Rally, Peace Arch State Park, Blaine, 2 p.m.

• Monday, April 4: “Stand Up for Working Families” Rally in conjunction with the national day of action on the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King as he stood with striking AFSCME workers, 5:30-7 p.m., next Monday, April 4, Martin Luther King Park, Seattle.

• Tuesday, April 5: “Deadline Event,” Olympia.

• Wednesday, April 6: “Community Action Day at the Capitol,” 12 Noon, Capitol Theater, Olympia.

• Thursday, April 7: “SEIU Health Care Workers’ Day at the Capitol.”

• Friday, April 8: The big, “We Are One: Put People First” rally coordinated by the Federation and our other union allies, 12 noon, Capitol, Olympia. There are other events before and after the rally. You won’t want to miss this. Some special features are being confirmed, so watch for details.