Bill aims to raise state pay

State employees seek same raises as teachers

PATRICK CONDON, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Legislation to give state employees the same yearly raises as those guaranteed teachers was introduced Wednesday in the House and Senate.

Demands for raises have been the centerpiece of the state employee union agenda this session in wake of the passage of Initiative 732, which ensured the teacher raises.

State workers had a major rally on the day the Legislature convened, and some have begun preparations for a possible strike.

Now, union officials say the companion bills signal the beginning of their final push.

"This is the piece that we've been building to all session long," said Lynn McKinnon, governmental relations director for the Washington Public Employees Association. "This gives both our members and legislators a focal point. This puts it on the line."

The bills enjoy bipartisan sponsorship in the House and Senate, from liberal Democrats such as Sen. Karen Fraser of Olympia to conservative Republicans such as Sen. Dan Swecker of Rochester.

Statewide support

Additionally, the bill was requested by every statewide elected official, Democrats and Republicans, except for Gov. Gary Locke, who first proposed cost-of-living raises for state employees that are lower than those for teachers.

"We think this is the first time that any legislation has been officially asked for by this many statewide officials," said Tim Welch, spokesman for the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Union officials first approached Attorney General Christine Gregoire to request the bill; her support was so deep, Welch said, that she approached the other statewide officers to get them on board.

Gregoire's office did not return a call seeking confirmation of Welch's account.

In his proposed 2001-03 budget, Locke proposed cost-of-living raises for state employees of 2.2 percent in 2002 and 2.5 percent the year after that. His budget adheres to Initiative 732 by proposing increases of 3.7 percent and 2.6 percent for teachers in those same years.

"I agree with state employees completely, that they should get the same consideration as teachers," said Fraser, the chief Senate sponsor of the bill. "It's just a matter of fairness."

McKinnon said that many legislators, even some who didn't sign on to the bill, said they are sympathetic to state employee demands for salary equity.

"I have the strong sense that they don't like being in a position where they're forced to favor one group of public employees over another," McKinnon said.

The unions have estimated it would cost the state another $58 million above Locke's proposal to match state employee salaries to teachers in the coming biennium. For the same period, the cost to the state of complying with I-732 is estimated at $325 million.

State employees will begin another series of rallies, the first to be in Spokane next week, McKinnon said. The final one is set for April 21 in Olympia, the day before the Legislature is to adjourn.

WFSE is staying with its decision to have a strike vote in the spring, Welch said. WFSE leaders have started talking with leaders of other state employee unions, raising the possibility of a more widespread strike. All together, state employee unions represent about 44,000 employees.

"Nobody wants to go on strike," said McKinnon, whose union has not committed to any sort of strike vote. "It's not a decision to be made lightly. But there are extremely strong feelings about this issue."

Patrick Condon covers the Legislature for The Olympian. He can be reached at 753-1688 or at A HREF="condonpatrick@ hotmail.com">condonpatrick@ hotmail.com

The Olympian Copyright 2000

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