State Budget Outline Becomes More Clear

With tentative agreement between the state and its largest union, another piece of the budget puzzle falls into place. The News Tribune notes that the Washington Federation of State Employees secured a more generous agreement than other groups had settled for. Joe Turner's blog provides the WFSE's account of the deal.

The WFSE/AFSCME 2009-2011 General Government agreement includes pay raises above what other unions have settled for so far, plus more time off, special pay adjustments for thousands in job classes facing disparities, an agreement to deal with other classes that may be facing disparities, plus innovative agreements on anti-bullying and workload relief.

In these tough economic times where some say state employees should get no pay raises, the WFSE/AFSCME team negotiated across-the-board raises of 2 percent in 2009 and 2 percent in 2010. This tops the 1.6 percent and 1.7 percent settlements agreed to by some other unions.

The contract also includes an agreement to create a new longevity step, Step M, but deferred it until state revenues recover. That new step would take effect July 1, 2012.

The contract includes two additional days off - one personal leave day in each year of the agreement.

The AP reports on the budget impact.

The Office of Financial Management pegged the cost at about $85 million. The deal is subject to ratification by union members in voting through Sept. 29 and the Legislature during the session that begins in January...

"State employees are looking at cost increases like everyone else, but we also had our eye on the bottom line for the state," budget director Victor Moore said. "With recent revenue collections (down) and future collections being tight, we had to be careful with what we agreed to."

Adam Wilson's reporting for the Olympian provides additional detail.

Earlier, Tracy Warner, Wenatchee World editorial page editor, wrote of the tough decisions ahead for lawmakers.

As the economic downturn increases the deficit, will the state be forced to increase taxes to keep the budget devastation to a minimum? And, will that tax increase magnify the state?s economic suffering?

This unfortunate decision, if it comes to be, will have fortunate political timing. It will come immediately following a general election. The most difficult decisions will be made by officials not soon facing the voters.

True. But that's all the more reason to press them now for how they'll handle the shortfall.

MORE Jason Mercier alerts me to page 116 of the WFSE contract, which the union says contains

more procedural protections and more rights for the union and employees as we battle against privatization.

So far, they seem to be doing pretty well in that battle, one front of which Mercier writes about here.