SEIU

SEIU 925 issued a news release today, which said in part:
“In failing to fund the arbitrator’s decision, this budget reduces opportunities for vulnerable children and struggling parents,” said SEIU 925 Family Child Care Chapter President Nancy Gerber, who cares for special needs children in Spokane. “In a time of economic crisis, we need more support for working parents and the child care providers, not less.” Family child care providers care for 1 to 12 children in their own homes. When last surveyed, most reported earning less than two-thirds of the hourly minimum wage after expenses for food, curriculum, supplies, equipment, insurance, and utilities.

The 40,000-member Washington Federation of State Employees already has sued Gov. Chris Gregoire for not forwarding their negotiated contract and pay raises to the Legislature.

So has Service Employees International Union 775NW, which wants the 47-cent hourly pay increase over two years that was approved by an arbitrator.

This latest lawsuit is from another SEIU local, the one that represents about 10,000 day care workers that are paid with state money to take care of kids for moms who are on welfare.

Family Child Care Providers Ask Court to
Compel Funding for Quality Day Care

Family child care providers today filed suit in Washington State Supreme Court to compel funding of their arbitration decision and collective bargaining agreement in the Governor’s 2009-2011 budget, SEIU Local 925 President Kim Cook announced.

As I reported last week, the Service Employees International Union 775NW joined the 40,000-member Federation of State Employees in suing Gov. Chris Gregoire for not forwarding the contract with its members' pay raises to the Legislature. They filed the suit today.

The SEIU seems to be on more solid footing than the Federation. The collective bargaining law for them flatly says any contract approved by an arbitrator must be sent to the Legislature.

And Victor Moore, the governor's budget director, said last week he would need several changes in state law to implement the governor's budget.

Her budget proposal would freeze salaries for state workers, quasi-workers like the 23,000 home care workers and public school employees (the state portion of their pay.

Here's the rationale for Gov. Chris Gregoire's decision not to include a request for money to give raises and fringe benefits to state agency, college and other quasi-state employees in the budget she sent to the Legislature last week.

She doesn't have to make them part of her budget if her budget director, Victor Moore, says it isn't feasible. And that's exactly what Moore did in a letter to his boss, dated the day before she unveiled her 2009-11 budgets.

"Given the projected deficit of $5.7 billion, funding the increases for compensation and fringe benefits provisions contained in the collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards at the expense of other vital governmental services is not feasible financially for the state," Moore wrote.

Initiatives are the essence of democracy because they let regular people make laws on issues that a legislature wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole (or poll).

Tim EymanTwo of the three initiatives that seem to be headed for this November's ballot could bring, in addition to the will of the people, nearly $300 million in deficit spending. Chris Mulick at the Tri-City Herald reports Sunday that preliminary estimates from the state department of revenue show that Tim Eyman and company's I-985 and the SEIU-backed I-1029 would combine for $313 million in extra spending between now and the end of the next two-year budget cycle. This comes in addition to a projected deficit of $2.7 billion.

I-985 would do the brunt of the damage. The proposed legislation to change Department of Transportation priorities to include faster accident clearing and broader access to HOV lanes in order to reduce congestion would take $290 million out of the state's general fund.

The deadline for turning in signatures to place an initiative on the November ballot is July 3, and three big campaigns are gearing up to take their “oughta be a law” ideas directly to the people.

The weekend is over and, despite the summery Monday weather, it is time to get back to work.

The same goes for Gov. Chris Gregoire who is participating in the Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) "walk a day in my shoes" program today, where candidates and elected officials follow a union worker for a day on their job.

State Sen. Dino Rossi: Campaign photoThe long wait is over. Washingtonians can now see just what kind of issue ads that the 527 group Evergreen Progress will be running. Today they launched a half million dollar ad buy consisting of three television ads discussing Dino Rossi's record as a state Senator.

The ads, seen here, touch on the topics of children's health care, prescription drugs and a patient's bill of rights

The Washington State Service Employees International Union Local 925, one of the largest and most politically active unions in the nation that represents childcare and health care workers, has announced it will endorse Gov. Chris Gregoire for governor in 2008.

TNT's Political Buzz reports that the official endorsement will occur tomorrow morning at 9:30 in Tacoma at Community Montessori Day Care.

The Washington state SEIU endorsed Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this year.

UPDATE: TNT has coverage here.