The way we do it in Washington! (state) This sentence was repeated again and again by my governor Christine Gregoire, in her announcement of a collective bargaining agreement with union workers, in the state ferry system. (Friday March 4th) Unions came at the bargaining table to talk about, salary reduction, organizing management, and operational costs. This agreement saved $10,000,000; and all with respecting collective bargaining. Unions are not money grubbing, they are helping the state fix its budget crisis. “It was a very difficult and tough negotiation,” said Capt. Tim Saffle, but we came to an agreement. This if anything is a slap in the face towards governors taking away rights. We in the state of Washington can be civil and respectful towards our employees.
“Since 2000, we’ve transferred over $850 million to ferries from other accounts,” she said, and those accounts are now gone. Over the next decade, she says, they’ll need another $900 million, she said. Although it is a band-aid fix, it was a necessary one. (this is, possibly, a direct quote from the governor or, a paraphrase)Yes, this is true and we need to fund our aging ferry system, with new taxes. (or if they cut from other programs) The genius of this agreement is not the monetary value, but the process. Since this was peaceful and civil; this has my support. We in the state of Washington are an example, but we should not remain an example, but the norm.
She ticked off a list of several agreements they’ve come to, then said: “To be frank, there is a limit to how much we can ask the 1,600 people who ensure our ferries are safe,” at least our state knows this. We know that taking away rights, then checks, is the wrong way to approach our budget. We also know that we should have proud workers. (unless they strike eg: 2008 teachers strike Bellevue, opinion only for this parenthesis)In the state of Washington we stand by our workers, what about Wisconsin.
For more information about Washington state politics, or want to know where these quotes are from go to tvw.org, or their blog http://www.tvw.org/capitolrecord/.
