Opening Day Of The Legislature

Opening day of the legislature is January 10th and we are looking forward to a solid turnout of membership to carry our message to the new legislature. It will be an exciting day and the beginning of our intense fight to save state services to the public, save family wage jobs, stop closures, protect our pensions, and protect the contracts we have negotiated. Much will be required of the leaders and the membership this session. We need a steady presence at the capitol as well as phone and e-mail support. The Internal Organizing Committee has been working hard to mobilize the membership. Thank you to all who are participating in this effort. If you wish to join us, please confirm that you are coming by contacting the legislative department at 1-800-562-6002. We will have lunch for you and give you directions to the WSLC building in Olympia.

This legislative session we will fight to preserve state services and state jobs. We currently face closures of Francis Haddon Morgan Center, Maple Lane School, Yakima Valley School, and significant reductions in staff and programs throughout the state. Many programs face merger and some wholesale elimination. Every Higher Education campus faces significant reductions in state fund dollars. Due to the current economy, the Governor reported in the press that the state can no longer be the safety net. All of our leaders must be involved in mobilization efforts. We can only succeed if our membership is active and determined to win.

The good news, if there is good news, is that the Governor did a press conference following the conclusion of negotiations. She included WFSE represented by me and SEIU represented by Jonathan Rosenblum. That press conference can be seen on TVW website December 18th. In it she defended state employees and the work that they do. She said we had sacrificed enough financially. She said she would fight for the contract we negotiated, including our health plan. Although some of the press and certain legislators have continued their unpleasant comments, Governor Gregoire has remained steadfast in the press interviews we have seen subsequently.

Sisters and Brothers we are in it to win it. Just as our bargaining teams have had the courage and fortitude to stand in the face of the storm, our leaders and our members must do the same. We are in it to win it.