Gregoire throws a deflated life preserver to state workers
Posted by: Sonya Jones | 08/17/2008 9:13 AM
From The News Tribune:
Gov. Chris Gregoire is considering a proposal from state employees to move state government to a four-day workweek to save money on energy.Gregoire sent an e-mail to state workers Friday, saying the most popular suggestion from state employees for savings since she started a hiring freeze Aug. 4 has been to move to a shorter workweek with longer days.
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Utah this month became the first state to shut down most services on Fridays.
Oops! Utah is a right-to-work state. That means that state workers there are trusted to make sound decisions for themselves regarding work practices. Not so in Washington.
Public-sector unions will have the final say on this as they negotiate collective bargaining agreements for over 100,000 state workers, including work hours. Under Washington state law, it's all for one and one for all, regardless of what's best for the state or state workers.
It may be ill advised, but it is apparently not "fraudulent" and certainly not election fraud. Forbes has...
Help me connect the dots here....I'm not wise to ALL the corrupting influences of government unions (just some of them)!
How does Queen Christine's directive to the four day work week relate to the "Right to Work" issue?
Are you saying that if we were a RTW state, then each agency could devise their own energy saving plan instead of waiting for the Queen's directive?
This is such a great point!
Rightwingthinkingwoman -
Not necessarily. First of all, this was not a directive, just something she is considering (likely using it to appease state employees in light of recent hiring freezes and a budget deficit that makes any pay raises financially implausible). The Governor cannot skirt the collective bargaining agreements for represented employees. The unions would have to negotiate this with the Governor's office as part of the collective bargaining agreements because the CBAs cover work hours (that's total weekly hours and hours per day).
It's a nice thought, but the unions will have the final say. But, for the very few non-represented employees, this is a real option and already being used in some instances, such as non-unionized legislative staff during the interim.
The WFSE Union has a stronghold in Washington. I am a non-member 'forced' to be represented by the band of thugs (WSFE Union). The current Gov. and other Dems are getting HUGE contributions from the Unions along with the 527 groups.
Here's my prediction for the so-called contract negotiations:
1. No raise.
2. Status quo from last contract.
3. We may forfeit the right to request Non-Member status.
Oh, and for those of you interested, last year the AFSME (parent union of WSFE) raised about $97 Million dollars in dues. Of that $12 million went to collective bargaining activities and $30 Million went to POLITICAL ACTIVITIES!! Does that make sense to you?? Corruption in its Purest form.
ZACKC - you are probably right on the first two points, but the third is in statute and not subject to the collective bargaining agreements. That being said, if Gregoire gets re-elected and Dems maintain control in both houses, I wouldn't at all be surprised to see the third go down in flames under "card check" legislation mandating union membership upon a 50% +1 showing of interest on signature cards. The unions in this state enjoy unprecedented benefits when it comes to public employees. There is a growing statewide movement to decertify WFSE next year across agencies.