We Say, ‘Fight Back!’

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON

When Washington state employees learned that proposed budgets would have provided only a 2.2 percent pay raise — not even covering the projected increases in health care costs — they were fighting mad.

Across the state, members of the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28, took action (see July/August Public Employee). They called, wrote, e-mailed and visited their legislators, explaining the impact of the planned budget, and held rolling strikes.

Members told stories of pay so low that they were eligible for public assistance, food stamps, food banks, housing support and medical assistance. Others with chronic illnesses outlined the effects of health insurance cuts: For one family, the cost of a needed medicine would jump from $30 for a three-month supply to $394.35 per month.

The statewide mobilization paid off. Legislators — and Gov. Gary Locke (D) — finally got the message and enacted a fair budget.

What did the state employees win? The planned 2.2 percent increase went up to 3.7 percent, with a wage re-opener for next year. Office visit co-pays and prescription drug co-pays were not increased. The state’s Public Employee Benefit Board, on which AFSCME has a seat, can look for innovative ways to stretch the state’s benefit dollars. To help with recruitment and retention, eight groups of state workers whose compensation has fallen farthest behind will receive additional increases. The threat of layoffs and service cuts was reduced, creating greater job security.

On June 25, Council 28’s officers declared an official end to the 10-week strike. State workers didn’t win everything they wanted, but they made a major dent in the legislative logjam that would have put them even farther behind their private-sector counterparts. AFSCME members across the state had learned that they have power. All they need to do is use it.