The Washington State Federation of Employees notified members late Thursday that Gov. Chris Gregoire wants them back at the bargaining table as a result of the latest bad budget news. (A Gregoire spokeswoman said a formal proclamation is in the works.)
Union leaders, in a statement posted on its web site, wrote:
We have told the administration that we have never left the table – we bargained Tuesday and Wednesday and have four more dates before Christmas – so there’s no need to order us back to the table.
The governor apparently is triggering the part of the collective bargaining law that calls for negotiations to modify an agreement: “If, after the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of an agreement are approved by the legislature, a significant revenue shortfall occurs resulting in reduced appropriations, as declared by proclamation of the Governor or by resolution of the legislature, both parties shall immediately enter into collective bargaining for a mutually agreed upon modification of the agreement.” So she can call us back to the table – even though we never left — but both parties have to agree to any modification of the contract.
Meanwhile, on the matter of special session, at least two Democrats are saying it’s a good idea.
On Thursday, Rep. Brendan Williams, D-Olympia), said in a statement that ” The “lame-duck” Legislature must meet to address this crisis.”
He also said:
“For months I have called for a special session. We cannot evade our responsibility to address a revenue shortfall of $898.8 million for the current biennium alone. In balancing the next budget, the next Legislature’s task is impossible enough without inheriting the Augean stables of the current budget. The pomp-and-circumstance alone of the 2011 session’s beginning would delay any quick resolution. Time is money.”
“While billions of dollars in new cuts, on top of $5 billion in cuts already made, may be inevitable, their severity can only be mitigated through quick action, values-based triage, and, yes, leadership that speaks truth to our citizens – including revenue needs – and brings out the best in them.”
And four days ago, Rep. Reuven Carlyle wrote on his blog of his support of an emergency session.
“For the past few months Governor Gregoire’s efforts to reduce spending using across the board tools have been close to heroic. Now, almost regardless of the coming revenue forecast, the Governor has likely reached the end of her logistical ability to perform the remaining required cuts for the 2010 budget–the current fiscal year–without the help of the Legislature.
My hope is that the Administration and legislative leadership can agree upon a series of responsible reductions in spending to enable us to execute upon a responsible plan during the already-scheduled committee days in early December.”
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