[TCDPCO] Calls needed to the Governor, 1-800-562-6000, on Important Issue

[NWMJPMM at aol.com]

Fellow Democratic Party Activists,
 State employees are currently negotiating their 7/1/07 - 6/30/09 Collective 
Bargaining Agreements with the Governor's negotiators.  Calls to the 
legislative hotline asking the Governor to support COLA's that keep up with inflation, 
full funding of the State Salary Survey, and provision of compensatory time 
for overtime exempt employees would be greatly appreciated and needed.  The 
number is 1-800-562-6000.  Phone lines are open Monday thru Friday, during 
business hours.  I would ask that you call and that you ask any fellow Democratic 
activists you can contact to call.  
 I'd like to provide some context and background.
 The Governor's negotiators opened wage discussions with a meager 1.6 percent 
COLA for each of the contract years and a position that they would "catch up" 
state employees so that none are more than 27.5 percent behind their private 
sector peers doing the same type of work.  Her negotiators have only come up 
to 2.5 percent for the first year, 2 percent for the second year, and within 25 
percent of private sector peers for the contract period.
 To be direct, the current offers are, in my opinion and the opinions of 
many, insulting and demeaning. With regard to the so called "catch-up pay," under 
what circumstances is it appropriate to pay someone that much less than the 
value of their work? Indeed, the enabling legislation for conducting the State 
Salary Survey categorizes any employee more than 7.5 percent behind their peers 
as harmed.  I work with state employees who are 35 percent behind.  This 
situation is shameful and in direct opposition to the values we share as 
Democrats.  We need you to call about that.  1-800-562-6000.
 With regard to COLA's, the last time I checked the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics data for inflation, it was running at about 5 percent.  This was before the 
latest flair up in the Middle East.  Does anyone seriously think inflation 
will turn around until we get Bush out of office? I certainly don't.  In that 
context, The Governor's current offer of 2.5 and 2 percent is inappropriate and 
wrong.  We need you to call about that. 1-800-562-6000.
 With regard to compensatory time for overtime exempt employees, thousands of 
our members, notably information services staff and the majority of the 
Department of Ecology's staff, are categorized as overtime exempt, even though they 
are front-line employees.  They are essentially being told you need to work 
over 40 hours a week but we will only pay you for 40 hours are week.  That's 
wrong.  They should at least receive compensatory time for hours worked over 40 
hours per week.  We need you to call about that.  1-800-562-6000.
 Please help the Governor understand the importance of directing her 
negotiators to do the right thing by negotiating COLAs that keep up with inflation, 
full funding of the salary survey (or something far closer that within 25%), and 
compensatory time for front-line workers who are classified as overtime 
exempt.  
 As the Legislative and Political Action Co-Chair for the Union that 
represents 38,000 of 60,000 represented employees and a former Officer of the 
Washington State Democratic Party, I want to see Christine enjoy a good relationship 
with Labor.  I think she has it within her to be a tremendous Governor and I am 
glad she finally ran and won, if only by 133 votes.
 My personal Observation is that fair contracts for state employees are 
crucial to that relationship with Labor remaining solid.  Mustering a two-thirds 
majority for endorsement of any statewide candidate is never easy to achieve in 
the Washington Federation of State Employees, in my experience.  We are very 
diverse in our makeup.
 Taking into consideration all that I have shared, I urge each of you to call 
1-800-562-6000 and ask the Governor to support COLA's that keep up with 
inflation, full funding of the State Salary Survey, and provision of compensatory 
time for overtime exempt employees.  
 A Strong Democrat and Dedicated Unionist,
Joe Nilsson
Past Treasurer, Washington State Democratic Party
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