State Budget Logjam May Have Broken In Olympia

[Kennah]

Source: KUOW

Governor Jay Inslee’s budget director said Friday that negotiators have reached preliminary agreement on a key issue that’s been hanging them up.

This issue was over how much to spend over the next two years.

“The size of the box” is what they call it in the capitol. How big will the state’s next two-year operating budget be. Budget director David Schumacher said nailing down that number is key to finding bipartisan agreement on the details of a spending plan.

After a meeting with the governor and House and Senate budget chairs, Schumacher said it appears that “structural impasse” has been cleared.

Read more: http://kuow.org/post/state-budget-logjam-may-have-broken-olympia

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They still have to the end of the month to pass a budget before the shutdown ensues. WFSE organized Unity Breaks back on May 20th, and apparently it had an effect. There's another Unity Break planned for June 18.

Even though the Reich Wing crazies have infected the State Senate of Blue Washington State, it appears to be backfiring. Union state workers are scared and concerned, but we're also pissed. Lots of conversations about what to do. I spent some time talking with a Council Rep this week at lunch. There was a petition signing asking for signatures on whether one was prepared to strike. In talking with him, 90% of those who stopped to sign are in favor of a strike.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to strike AFTER we've been laid off on July 1, so the plan being discussed is whether to strike BEFORE July 1 showing people what it will look like. Given that our contract, in the opinion of some, doesn't give us the legal right to strike, it could get very interesting in Olympia in the next week or two.

Being one of only about 20 Shop Stewards in an agency of 2,800 is a bit disappointing. However, there are those who are starting to take an interest in the Union, getting involving, attending locals, becoming Stewards, joining committees, etc.

[Suich]

1. At least it's a start.

Is Unity Break another term for a strike?

[Kennah]

2. Something of a mini-strike, but technically a job action

30 minutes at 12 Noon. Had friendly legislators and press show up at our agency. Big rotunda. Woulda liked to have seen more people show up, but as you say it's a start. There were about 100 different sites around the state, so the effect was actually much bigger than expected.

[Suich]

3. Thanks!

I'll start paying closer attention!

[freshwest]

4. I do NOT want to see state workers abused as during last year and other years.

They provide essential services and keep communities functioning.

A pox on the radical GOP for using the Cruz, Rand, etc. gambit to extort more from those who already give so much. Some essentials are already degraded from the actions of the RWNJs.

Thanks for your work and being a shop stewart and keeping us infomred.

[KT2000]

5. same here

they have gone without cost of living increases for years and have had to be furloughed 12 days last year.
My niece works IT for the state and earns much less than what private is paying. They hire contractors for IT and pay them more than the state does!

[Kennah]

6. I refer to them as FTCs--Full Time Contractors