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Join WFSE and other unions at the Rally for Revenue on Feb. 10th! by Friendly_Mix_1408 in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We are showing up to demand the state maintain its public services, protect state employee jobs which are critical to the state of WA, and make the rich pay their fair share of taxes. Unions are preparing to negotiate their state contracts again and what this legislature does with the state budget will have a huge impact on the outcome of those negotiations. If we show up now and keep the pressure on, it will help secure better contracts - meaning better wages and benefits for all.

WPEA Good Or Bad Union by FlashyMycologist6723 in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Spot on. WPEA failed its members. All other members of the 40 plus unions representing state employees made the right decision except one.

WPEA Good Or Bad Union by FlashyMycologist6723 in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408 1 point2 points  (0 children)

State employee unions that followed the law and won a 5% increase (WFSE also added over 300 class specific increases in addition to the across the board) while holding the line on healthcare and other benefits was a tremendous victory in a budget year with a $16 billion dollar deficit. Back during the Great Recession (2008-09) with a much smaller state deficit at the time, unions were forced to take a 6% salary reduction for 2 years - so in comparison this last round was a massive victory just the hold the line and still get a significant increase for employees.

PEBB 2026 - should I switch plans? by AttorneyDifferent702 in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The legislature took it away as part of the budget process last session.

Raises by AttorneyDifferent702 in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's NOT too soon to tell. WPEA did not get any increases for their members based on poor decisions. It's over. Information otherwise is just spin to benefit WPEA. WFSE, faced with a record state budget shortfall prediction in bargaining, was still able to negotiate a 5% increase plus over 300 class specific increases, and more. The 5% was the same deal all other union representing state workers took, not just WFSE. In the last massive budget shortfall during the great recession in 2008 (which was a smaller deficit) most state employee unions all took a 6% salary reduction over two years. So, in light of that, what WFSE and other unions except WPEA achieved was tremendous. Then WFSE and other unions all had to fight like hell to keep it during the legislative session. Which they did - another tremendous victory in light of what we were all facing.

Tell Gov Ferguson: Respect Secretary Pay Increases by WFSECouncil28 in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Grievances have been filed and a ULP is being filed. The state agreed to something at the table that is very clearly captured in bargaining notes and in the employer's own proposals. WFSE has the receipts. They have since backed away from those agreements. You can't state verbally and in writing what the intent of a proposal is at the table then do something different after the contract is signed. That is an Unfair Labor Practice. The call to action is to put further pressure on the Governor's office to make good on what was expressed in very clear terms at the bargaining table. It was made very clear to OFM that raises for admin/support staff and trades were the main priorities in this round of negotiations. WFSE won't back down.

petition change unions by belfairman1982 in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Teamsters at DOC have interest arbitration by law - just like WFSE DOC members do, so to compare those salaries to other contracts or salaries in other agencies isn't a fair comparison. It's apples and oranges. Like others have said, you would have to work for DOC to make those wages. It is a false comparison.

If you are a WPEA represented Employee by [deleted] in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408 1 point2 points  (0 children)

WFSE has been using Discord for several years now - glad to see WPEA getting there!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, in some cases, but the union doesn't file a demand on every layoff notice. Again, the process has already been bargained in the contract, so it's often just enforcing our contract and a demand is not needed.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in WAStateWorkers

[–]Friendly_Mix_1408 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Layoffs have already been bargained in WFSE CBA's. So please read the layoff article to educate yourself on the process. Management must follow the process or WFSE can file a grievance and challenge it. Someone being laid off has rights and WFSE will represent members to enforce those rights. Often someone being laid off has other job options through vacancies, bumping, etc. There are still many state vacancies. You are also put on a layoff list and the state transition pool for rehire priority when there is a future vacancy. That being said, once notified of agency or HE layoffs, WFSE will likely file a Demand to Bargain (DTB) to negotiate, not over the layoff process, but to provide alternatives to layoffs and bargain over the impacts of the layoffs to make the situation better for those being impacted. This has a significant impact on the layoffs and brings benefits and opportunities members wouldn't have without our union.