The News Tribune (Lite) - Economy may stifle state raises

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Section: Government/Politics

Economy may stifle state raises

ADAM WILSON; The Olympian
The first state workers union to agree to a new contract with the governor settled on a 1.6 percent raise in 2009 and a 1.7 percent boost the following year.

Those levels are likely to be repeated, possibly spread to all state employees.

The figures are lower than the last two contracts, but a slowing economy has opened a possible $2.7 billion shortfall in the next state budget.

“Anytime you’re talking economics, it’s a tough time. But the parties are working together to reach agreement,” said Diane Leigh, chief negotiator for Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Most general government unions are still at the bargaining table. The only agreement is with the Washington Public Employees Association, which represents workers in several agencies, including the Liquor Control Board. Workers must ratify the contract before it is final.

Union President Greg Parker could not be reached for comment.

The Office of Financial Management pegged the cost of the contract, including health care benefits that all unions previously agreed to, at $7.7 million.

It includes a provision featured in the last round of contracts, which brings the salary of all jobs to within 25 percent of the profession’s average pay in the private sector or other government fields.

There has been almost no difference in the pay packages earned by the various unions in the last two rounds of negotiations. The most recent contracts called for 3.2 percent and 2 percent raises last year and this year.

Contract raises also have been consistently applied to nonunion workers, with a later starting date.

The exception is Teamsters Local 117, which represents workers inside prisons and other correctional institutions. That union has won higher pay raises.

The Washington Federation of State Employees could be in talks for another two weeks, executive director Greg Devereux said. The federation is the largest of general government unions, representing 30,000 workers, as well as 10,000 state college employees.

“As long as it’s finished by early September, I think we have plenty of time to ratify the contract,” Devereux said. “They’re trying to figure out how to deal with the shortfall … and we’re trying to deal with our members concerns with the gas pump, things like that.”

According to bargaining law, the contracts must be settled by Oct. 1 and turned into the governor’s budget office.

Several union locals have entered arbitration, in which a third party will consider the arguments and decide upon a fair contract. Those groups include the Washington State Patrol troopers and ferry workers unions, Leigh said.

Locals of the Service Employees International Union, which represent state-paid home care and child care employees, are also in arbitration, she added. Those workers are not hired or fired by the state, but do negotiate for reimbursement rates.