 |
Thursday, September 9, 2004
Keep talking, carefully
State workers and the governor's office should keep talking. They already are making progress in a pioneering effort to negotiate a pay and benefits package.
Gov. Gary Locke's representatives and an employee union team have reached agreement on the tough issue of health care costs. The Associated Press reports that the plan will keep workers paying 12 percent of their health insurance costs, the same as now.
What workers hope to change is the amount of their wages. State workers' pay has been frozen for three years. As a result of a 2002 law, however, unions are negotiating directly with the governor's representatives over their salaries and benefits.
Under the law, the two sides have until Oct. 1 to reach agreement. The governor must then send the deal to the Legislature for final approval or rejection after the start of the year.
According to The Olympian, discussions this week are regarded as critical, and workers have tried to drive home the point with rallies in the capital and much of Western Washington.
The state's financial position has driven the wage freezes. Even with the economy recovering from a recession, both sides have to negotiate carefully. A possible $1 billion budget shortfall looms.
The key, though, is to talk seriously. Both the governor and the unions know that there are real limitations and genuine worker needs that must be addressed.
My web site
My Yahoo!
Google
· Sound Transit: Let the debate begin
· Food banks: Lines are growing as economy shrinks
· Hamdan case: Let court do its job
· 'McBama' is the right position on Iraq
· Al Gore, T. Boone Pickens are unlikely allies
· 'High incomes' tax more fair
· Go native to help save the Sound
· The 'fix' for homeless animals
· Is 'The One' cocky or commander in chief?
· Adulation for Obama needs to be tempered with realism
· Refighting the surge gets McCain nowhere against Obama
· W: 'Wall Street got drunk and now it's got a hangover'
more
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
