Washblog

WHEREAS, the unions representing state employees in higher education, community colleges, and general government are currently engaged in contract negotiations with representatives of the Governor's office and the state universities; and

WHEREAS, the outcome of the negotiations will not only impact the lives and well-being of the affected state employees, but also their abilities to provide quality services to working and poor people throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, the strength of the labor movement is undermined whenever union jobs are contracted out to non-union employers, whether this occurs in the public or private sector; and

WHEREAS, management insists on playing hardball on the issue of contracting out protections and has refused to bargain in good faith; and

WHEREAS, since 1999, raises for state employees have been few and far between, and have not kept up with inflation and the dramatic increase in the cost of their health insurance, and have left some employees' pay more than 25% below prevailing wages; and

WHEREAS, support from the Washington State Labor Council and its affiliates played an instrumental role in winning full collective bargaining rights for state employees, and is crucial to the success of state workers in winning strong contracts that raise the bar for everyone in the labor movement; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council supports the demands of state employees for fair compensation, affordable health care, and protection against contracting out of state jobs, and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council will urge its affiliates to actively participate in efforts by state employee unions to win a fair contract through lobbying efforts, informational picketing, community outreach or, if necessary, sanctioned strikes; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council and its affiliates make it clear to state officials and our legislators that the state's hardball negotiating tactics are completely unacceptable and that support for state employee collective bargaining must be shown not only in words at election time, but in deeds at the bargaining table and the floor of the legislature, supporting a fair contract for state employees and strong protections against contracting our state jobs.