The People win a tremendous victory: Washington State wins lawsuit over union contracts

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There have been a few unions in that actually get it. Who can forget the local firefighter's decision to at least temporarily fore go pay raises as a result of our doddering economy and reduced government revenues.

Others have been much more moronic in their political tonedeafness and their greed-at-all-cost approach to our state's economic situation.

Among those more self-centered and selfish are the Washington Federation of State Employees. Cementing the idea into the hearts and minds of the people of this state (not to mention their rank and file, who, in the face of forced pay raises would suffer massive layoffs) that those who are SUPPOSED to serve US, instead believe that WE are SUPPOSED to serve THEM is a terrible strategy that is going to cost them in the long run.

Joining with the WFSE in the Gang of the Moron Four, are the SEIU and two of its locals, SEIU Local 1199 and SEIU 925.

These groups have a brain-damaged strategic view. It's a nightmare for the rank and file to see their jobs put at risk in this economy over the issue of pay raises.

The question for the union worker is this: Is it better for SOME to get huge payraises? Or is it better to keep a job with NO pay raise?

Seems simple to me, but unions have never been about the worker as much as they've been about power and thuggery.

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Adam Wilson Blog

Adam Wilson expounds on Washington state government, workers and politics. Wilson began covering those issues for the Olympian in 2004. He can be reached at: awilson@theolympian.com.

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Judge: Gregoire errs, but union lawsuit falters (UPDATED)

• Published February 11, 2009

Gov. Chris Gregoire should have done things differently in negotiating with state employee unions, but her decision to cancel their contracts stands, said Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch.

Gregoire clearly muddied the process when she had her budget director serve both as negotiator and the person who later declared contracts for raises and health benefits financially unreasonable, the judge said today.

But the governor does have the power to back out of contracts after the Oct. 1 deadline to finish talks, Hirsch said, noting the law requires them to be certified by the budget office as feasible.

"The judge punted; we're appealing; stand by," said Greg Devereux, executive director of the Washington Federation of State Employees.

See background here.

UPDATE: Here's an update from Glenn Kuper, of the Office of Financial Management:

It is important to note that the statute on collective bargaining establishes the Labor Relations Office in the Office of Financial Management (41.80.140) and also establishes that the OFM director certifies whether the contracts are financially feasible (41.80.010), so it is misleading to say the Governor “erred” in how she conducted the negotiation process. She simply followed what is dictated in law.