Friday, December 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
AFSCME Constituency Caucuses
At the 41st International Convention in Los Angeles, a plan to hold constituency caucuses for AFSCME members who share interests and identities was announced. Unfortunately, most of those caucuses did not occur due to convention schedule changes.
AFSCME went high tech holding virtual caucuses through a series of conference calls.
Two caucuses are left to meet:
Please contact caucus@afscme.org with questions.
AFSCME went high tech holding virtual caucuses through a series of conference calls.
Two caucuses are left to meet:
- AFSCME Pride Caucus: Conference call on Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. Please RSVP here: http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4002/c/51/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=8827
- Conservative Caucus: Conference call on Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST. Please RSVP here: http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4002/c/51/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=8829
Please contact caucus@afscme.org with questions.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Employment Security members providing unique help to laid off state workers
Our members in the Employment Security Department are providing unique help for members and other employees laid off from the Department of Corrections, Employment Security Department, state Parks and Liquor Control Board.
It’s funded by the federal National Emergency Grant (NEG).
This is a special program customized to help laid-off Washington state employees get re-employed. This program is staffed by experienced employment specialists who will provide no-cost, intensive job placement services, including:
It’s funded by the federal National Emergency Grant (NEG).
This is a special program customized to help laid-off Washington state employees get re-employed. This program is staffed by experienced employment specialists who will provide no-cost, intensive job placement services, including:
- Job leads & connections to targeted employers
- Employer tips and strategies for job search success
- Resume customization and optimization
- Interviewing preparation, including mock interviews
- Networking development, including LinkedIn training
- Ongoing job search consultation
- Assistance with overcoming barriers such as ageism
- Assistance with emergencies and job search costs
- North Seattle – Denise Barbour (206) 728-8826 x307 or dbarbour@pacassoc.com
- Rainier – Lee Forshey (206) 721-7303 or lforshey@esd.wa.gov
- Redmond – Peggy O’Mear (425) 861-3778 or pomear@esd.wa.gov
- Renton – Catherine Fisher (206) 205-3547 or catherine.fisher@kingcounty.gov
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
AFL-CIO honors milestone "March on Washington 1963"
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Every year, the nation celebrates the contributions made by Dr. Martin Luther King. His words and actions supported the labor movement in its fight for respect and dignity for all workers. He gave his life supporting AFSCME sanitation workers carrying signs demanding union justice with the words, “I AM A MAN.” . He inspired a nation to change. In 2013, our country will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington that rallied hundreds of thousands of people to call for jobs and freedom.
The labor movement will celebrate this milestone at the 2013 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance. The theme is “We Are One: Worker’s Rights and Civil Rights”. You may join in the workshops, enjoy the speakers, and spend one day in community service at the conference.
The details and costs are as follows.
Date: January 17-21
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lodging: Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel, 201 North 17th Street
Costs: Conference registration $180 before December 17, 2012
Late Registration: $200 through January 2, 2013
On-site Registration: $210
Room: $109 plus 15.2% tax per night
Parking: $15 per day
Make your conference registration and hotel reservation at www.aflcio.org/kingevent.
Every year, the nation celebrates the contributions made by Dr. Martin Luther King. His words and actions supported the labor movement in its fight for respect and dignity for all workers. He gave his life supporting AFSCME sanitation workers carrying signs demanding union justice with the words, “I AM A MAN.” . He inspired a nation to change. In 2013, our country will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington that rallied hundreds of thousands of people to call for jobs and freedom.
The labor movement will celebrate this milestone at the 2013 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance. The theme is “We Are One: Worker’s Rights and Civil Rights”. You may join in the workshops, enjoy the speakers, and spend one day in community service at the conference.
The details and costs are as follows.
Date: January 17-21
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lodging: Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel, 201 North 17th Street
Costs: Conference registration $180 before December 17, 2012
Late Registration: $200 through January 2, 2013
On-site Registration: $210
Room: $109 plus 15.2% tax per night
Parking: $15 per day
Make your conference registration and hotel reservation at www.aflcio.org/kingevent.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
President's Report, October 2012
Fall has arrived and with it the elections are just around the corner. Thank you to all who have been working the phone banks and the labor walks. Our future, as always, will be seriously impacted by the outcome. Collective bargaining rights, budget decisions that strengthen or weaken agencies, whether healthcare is affordable or not, the funding of our negotiated contracts – all hang in the balance. It is up to us now to get out the vote. Our members don’t have to walk for miles, risk their lives, stand in long lines to vote as we have seen some do in other countries – at least not yet. Please make the time to encourage our membership to vote. It is the most important goal we can achieve right now.
In Washington, we have had a record breaking dry spell. The fires have impacted much of the state. Many thanks to our members who fought those fires and our members who supported those efforts. Very few have lost homes. A special thank you to the caring members of Local 443 who donated $25,000 to the Washington State Labor Council Foundation For Working Families Natural Disaster Fund. They took immediate action as soon as they knew working families were at risk. A WFSE family in Central Washington did lose a home. Husband and wife were our members. They were very grateful for the assistance they received.
The Green Caucus held a special breakfast event on the Sunday after the last Policy Committee meeting. They invited legislators and did an amazing job of highlighting the green jobs state employees do and pointing out the impact the budget cuts have had on those programs. They were able to draw the connection between those impacts and the impact on our citizens. Those conversations need to be happening all over the state. Telling our stories is the key to success. One could literally see the lights going on as legislators thought about what was being said. It was well presented in a very comfortable and non-pressured manner. We all wish more legislators had attended but it was a great beginning effort.
We must all be talking to legislators now before the session starts. There will again be heavy pressure on budget decisions no matter who wins election. A recent Supreme Court decision in Washington State will make K-12 education funding a priority issue. As the demand for more state dollars to be funneled that direction, the impact on social services, public safety, higher education and other programs may be significant. The Governor is already talking about how difficult the decisions will be for the legislature.
Funding for our contracts hangs in the balance. Negotiations continue on our healthcare package. Our members asked us to hold the line on healthcare. We are working hard to do that. The Governor is holding fast to her position and so are we. Bargaining has been a very rough road for some teams. Supplemental bargaining happened this time but was limited to what the parties would agree to discuss. Thank you to all the team members who served on the teams.
Our Executive Director, Greg Devereux, has been in the midst of the storm over healthcare and bargaining in general. Thank you Greg and staff for all the hours of hard work that was required to bring us to this place where we have ratified contracts and a strong stance on the healthcare issue.
At DOC, assets were purchased that our members are not being allowed to use. We met with the head of the agency this past week to see if we could get those tools released. Our DOC members represented themselves very well in the meeting. Greg and I attended to signal how serious we are about our member’s safety.
At DSHS, our members who work with Provider One are keeping a close eye on management’s plans. There is a serious concern about the potential impact of changes to the program on the number and quality of jobs there. Discussions will be held this month.
Sue Henricksen and Julianne Moore are serving on the DDD Taskforce trying to protect our interests as we brace for a renewed attack on our RHCs.
Local 1488, currently in administratorship, recently held interim elections. They will hold regular elections in March 2013. We are hopeful that the administratorship will be lifted very soon. Thank you to all the staff and members who put so much energy into this effort.
Congratulations to our Ecology members in Thurston County who have just established their new local!
On November 17th, members are invited to support our KTSS folks through a job action. We have heard the stories of their struggles with the employer at the last two Policy Committee meetings. Workers there are fired for trying to join our union and work under a union contract. Please contact Pam Carl in the Organizing Department for details.
Rosemary Sterling, our Treasurer, is doing a great job of monitoring our budget. Because of the pressures we will soon face, having a healthy balance of funds is critical to our success in the coming year.
Hats off to our Secretary, Judy Kuschel who was recently recognized by the Southwest Labor Council for her contributions to the labor movement.
Our Vice President, Sue Henricksen, has been working very hard, attending UMCCs, local membership meetings, Taskforce meetings, and her efforts have been non-stop. Her energy and drive to help our members achieve their goals is deeply appreciated.
Thanks to all our member activists, staff and leaders for the good work you do everyday!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Washington State Labor Council Women's Committee Breakfast
Members from many unions attended the Women's Committee breakfast this morning to hear Elaine Rose from Planned Parenthood talk about the nationwide assault on women's rights this morning. She took us on a verbal tour, state by state, of attempts to take away women's rights. These attacks have been relentless and ongoing. They take many legislative forms and would have devastating impacts on our families. We must be vigilant and aware and not allow these attacks to succeed.
Notice Of Intent To Contract Out
Sisters and Brothers,
Many members who do case management work with the developmentally disabled recently received letters from Mary Anne Lindeblad that were extremely upsetting. Management, in a move that some would label a sneak attack, sent letters announcing intent to contract out work that were worded in such a way that many who received it believed they needed to look for other work right away.
A number of members who currently work with Provider One will receive letters of intent as well. We were told about that just today.
Our union has filed demands to bargain on both contract out issues. The initial letter signed by Mary Anne Lindeblad will be rescinded. However, another will be sent to replace the first one. We had no knowledge that those letters were being sent. We were as shocked by the content as you were.
You deserve thanks and praise for the work that you do. You have provided quality services through mandatory furloughs, wage reductions, short staffing, and you never let our disabled citizens down. I am so proud of you. There is no workforce like the one that works for this state. Shame on these insensitive supposed to be managers who think that this is how human relations is supposed to work.
Your phone calls and messages to the Governor, the administration, and to us are justified and appreciated. Our staff and officers are taking action on these events. We will meet with management Monday to discuss the impact the initial letter and lack of communication has had on the workforce. The demands to bargain will move forward and we will assess what other actions may be taken.
Whether or not management ever apologizes to you - I will. I had no idea management would send such a piece to your homes. It hurt my heart to know how upset you have been and it angers me. An injury to one is an injury to all. This is injury.
Tim Welch will continue to do the great work he does with the hotline to keep you informed about what is happening so be sure to stay updated by reading it as it comes out. Please continue to communicate with us. We need eyes and ears to the ground.
Many members who do case management work with the developmentally disabled recently received letters from Mary Anne Lindeblad that were extremely upsetting. Management, in a move that some would label a sneak attack, sent letters announcing intent to contract out work that were worded in such a way that many who received it believed they needed to look for other work right away.
A number of members who currently work with Provider One will receive letters of intent as well. We were told about that just today.
Our union has filed demands to bargain on both contract out issues. The initial letter signed by Mary Anne Lindeblad will be rescinded. However, another will be sent to replace the first one. We had no knowledge that those letters were being sent. We were as shocked by the content as you were.
You deserve thanks and praise for the work that you do. You have provided quality services through mandatory furloughs, wage reductions, short staffing, and you never let our disabled citizens down. I am so proud of you. There is no workforce like the one that works for this state. Shame on these insensitive supposed to be managers who think that this is how human relations is supposed to work.
Your phone calls and messages to the Governor, the administration, and to us are justified and appreciated. Our staff and officers are taking action on these events. We will meet with management Monday to discuss the impact the initial letter and lack of communication has had on the workforce. The demands to bargain will move forward and we will assess what other actions may be taken.
Whether or not management ever apologizes to you - I will. I had no idea management would send such a piece to your homes. It hurt my heart to know how upset you have been and it angers me. An injury to one is an injury to all. This is injury.
Tim Welch will continue to do the great work he does with the hotline to keep you informed about what is happening so be sure to stay updated by reading it as it comes out. Please continue to communicate with us. We need eyes and ears to the ground.
DNR UPDATE
Sisters and Brothers,
I’ve had further conversation with Commissioner Peter Goldmark. He will attend your upcoming UMCC meeting in Olympia. He is acting on the discussions we’ve had about improved communications within the department. Let’s make the most of this opportunity to clearly communicate our needs. I would like to be with you at that meeting. I support you and thank you for the good work that you do everyday. Your success is important to all of us who live and work in this great state.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
WFSE Communications Conference
This weekend, April 21-22, WFSE members on the Communication Committee and the Public Affairs staff will present an exciting and important conference. Communications is one of the most important functions of the union. We communicate constantly - with our words - both oral and written, with our body language, even our clothing. Yet no matter how many ways we communicate, there will always be members of groups who will say "I don't know what's going on. Nobody communicates these things."
As we know, the hotline, the newsletter, text alerts, Facebook, Twitter, the websites at WFSE and AFSCME are available to members all the time. When there are opportunities to communicate through other media, such as the news programs, we do that too. Communication is a challenge. In today's world there is so much information coming at an individual member, it's sometimes hard to capture and keep that member's attention. It's a different world than it was even two years ago. The technology changes so rapidly and we change in response to it.
The Communication Conference promises to be an exciting and skill building experience for all. The Communication Committee and the Executive Board of WFSE support the communications efforts of the local unions and hope that this conference will bring new and exciting skills to the members attending that they can then share with the members in their locals or use to further communication within the locals. After all, the most effective communication is the sharing of information and skills one on one.
As we know, the hotline, the newsletter, text alerts, Facebook, Twitter, the websites at WFSE and AFSCME are available to members all the time. When there are opportunities to communicate through other media, such as the news programs, we do that too. Communication is a challenge. In today's world there is so much information coming at an individual member, it's sometimes hard to capture and keep that member's attention. It's a different world than it was even two years ago. The technology changes so rapidly and we change in response to it.
The Communication Conference promises to be an exciting and skill building experience for all. The Communication Committee and the Executive Board of WFSE support the communications efforts of the local unions and hope that this conference will bring new and exciting skills to the members attending that they can then share with the members in their locals or use to further communication within the locals. After all, the most effective communication is the sharing of information and skills one on one.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
DSHS Consolidation of Institution Business Services
The Union and Management met on March 7th to informally discuss the Consolidation Of Institution Business Services. Here follows a brief recap of the discussion.
Problems exist at all the facilities. This is no surprise to anyone. While the original reason management stated they were consolidating was to provide quality customer service and have a more efficient operation with fewer staff, at this meeting they seemed puzzled by their own statement when it was read back to them.
They had also stated that they needed consistency in operations and that they felt that training and oversight wasn't enough to insure consistency. The union had asked for ongoing monthly meetings in order to deal with problems as we all knew would crop up with this new scheme. Management refused and said they wanted to meet after it had been in effect for a few months. Well, here we are four months later. Hard not to be cynical at this point since so many of the issues we raised could have been addressed as we went along saving members a great deal of long term stress.
Vacancies have plagued the operation. Some of our members moved on rather than stay and go through the process of moving to a new worksite, changing duties, and dealing with the as yet unknown outcome. The workload burden on the remaining staff has brought some members to tears. Management assured the union that they are moving through the process of filling the vacancies. Training staff takes time. The hiring and subsequent training will bring some relief.
Our members told management there are problems with the system and the coding. Some workers do not have access to the screen information needed to do their jobs. IT has also been consolidated and that puts a new wrinkle on some of the problems. The union requested training for members on "Sharepoint".
Human Resources is supposed to be handling the employee benefits retirement and new employee information. That part is not entirely operational as of yet. Our members state that the PDFs they were given do not accurately reflect what they are doing.
Our members asked for and were told they would receive a document that spells out which staff are responsible for what duties. What is the Human Resources function and what is Timekeeping and Attendance responsibility? Right now, our members are just doing whatever they are told and sometimes they receive conflicting instructions from different parts of the management structure. Sometimes their own supervisors are bypassed in communication. Management agreed that it is not working the way it should in the field and agreed to work on the issue with Glen Christopherson, Wendy Long, and Sue Thomas.
Stacie Scott, speaking for management, stated she feels good about what is happening. She said they have had successes. Management pointed out that 5 positions filled were existing staff that received promotions. A position was moved from Rainier to Western State Hospital to do time and attendance because there was a need for additional staff. Part of the work time of the local funds worker will also do time and attendance.
The union requested copies of the service level agreements and the updated PDFs.
Management said they were still working on drafts of the service level agreements and want to meet with the CEOs of the facilities to get them to sign the agreements. (Service level agreements are how the institutions are billed by this new consolidated entity for the work that they do. They are no longer part of the institutions budget but act like a contractor.) Management agreed to provide any updated PDFs that they have.
The union asked for an e-mail or letter to go out to staff telling them how to get the help they need when they have questions about their benefits. Management said they would coordinate that with Human Resources. Management reiterated that the timekeepers were not expected to continue to carry that body of work.
Amy Achilles said, "The overall theme is communication and clarity. If we had that, the problems we face today wouldn’t exist."
The Union and Management discussed the problems arising from the use of the Purchase Card. CMO also is using a Purchase Card that they use and that has compounded the problems. The CIBS staff need the logbooks in order to work effectively. Management said they will make sure the logbooks needed related to the Purchase cards are provided to the staff who need them.
Amy Achilles, speaking for the union, told management that our members shouldn’t be held responsible for problems that exist in this system that are not worked out at this time. She restated our position that management should reconsider the consolidation. She expressed appreciation for the hiring effort that is ongoing.
Management said the problems identified with HRMS can be fixed by the next payroll period. They said the Sharepoint training can occur this month.
Management recognized that there will be ongoing issues.
The union asked for a document describing the separation of duties between home team and CIBS team. Management agreed.
The Union asked for relief at SCC where the staff have not had adequate training and proper access to the programs needed to function in the position. The workload burden is extreme. There was no concrete response to that request.
Problems exist at all the facilities. This is no surprise to anyone. While the original reason management stated they were consolidating was to provide quality customer service and have a more efficient operation with fewer staff, at this meeting they seemed puzzled by their own statement when it was read back to them.
They had also stated that they needed consistency in operations and that they felt that training and oversight wasn't enough to insure consistency. The union had asked for ongoing monthly meetings in order to deal with problems as we all knew would crop up with this new scheme. Management refused and said they wanted to meet after it had been in effect for a few months. Well, here we are four months later. Hard not to be cynical at this point since so many of the issues we raised could have been addressed as we went along saving members a great deal of long term stress.
Vacancies have plagued the operation. Some of our members moved on rather than stay and go through the process of moving to a new worksite, changing duties, and dealing with the as yet unknown outcome. The workload burden on the remaining staff has brought some members to tears. Management assured the union that they are moving through the process of filling the vacancies. Training staff takes time. The hiring and subsequent training will bring some relief.
Our members told management there are problems with the system and the coding. Some workers do not have access to the screen information needed to do their jobs. IT has also been consolidated and that puts a new wrinkle on some of the problems. The union requested training for members on "Sharepoint".
Human Resources is supposed to be handling the employee benefits retirement and new employee information. That part is not entirely operational as of yet. Our members state that the PDFs they were given do not accurately reflect what they are doing.
Our members asked for and were told they would receive a document that spells out which staff are responsible for what duties. What is the Human Resources function and what is Timekeeping and Attendance responsibility? Right now, our members are just doing whatever they are told and sometimes they receive conflicting instructions from different parts of the management structure. Sometimes their own supervisors are bypassed in communication. Management agreed that it is not working the way it should in the field and agreed to work on the issue with Glen Christopherson, Wendy Long, and Sue Thomas.
Stacie Scott, speaking for management, stated she feels good about what is happening. She said they have had successes. Management pointed out that 5 positions filled were existing staff that received promotions. A position was moved from Rainier to Western State Hospital to do time and attendance because there was a need for additional staff. Part of the work time of the local funds worker will also do time and attendance.
The union requested copies of the service level agreements and the updated PDFs.
Management said they were still working on drafts of the service level agreements and want to meet with the CEOs of the facilities to get them to sign the agreements. (Service level agreements are how the institutions are billed by this new consolidated entity for the work that they do. They are no longer part of the institutions budget but act like a contractor.) Management agreed to provide any updated PDFs that they have.
The union asked for an e-mail or letter to go out to staff telling them how to get the help they need when they have questions about their benefits. Management said they would coordinate that with Human Resources. Management reiterated that the timekeepers were not expected to continue to carry that body of work.
Amy Achilles said, "The overall theme is communication and clarity. If we had that, the problems we face today wouldn’t exist."
The Union and Management discussed the problems arising from the use of the Purchase Card. CMO also is using a Purchase Card that they use and that has compounded the problems. The CIBS staff need the logbooks in order to work effectively. Management said they will make sure the logbooks needed related to the Purchase cards are provided to the staff who need them.
Amy Achilles, speaking for the union, told management that our members shouldn’t be held responsible for problems that exist in this system that are not worked out at this time. She restated our position that management should reconsider the consolidation. She expressed appreciation for the hiring effort that is ongoing.
Management said the problems identified with HRMS can be fixed by the next payroll period. They said the Sharepoint training can occur this month.
Management recognized that there will be ongoing issues.
The union asked for a document describing the separation of duties between home team and CIBS team. Management agreed.
The Union asked for relief at SCC where the staff have not had adequate training and proper access to the programs needed to function in the position. The workload burden is extreme. There was no concrete response to that request.
Save Pension Benefits
Brothers and Sisters,
As we fight to save pension benefits, here's some good information from the Public Employees for Pension Responsibility (PEPR). Our own Matt Zuvich chairs PEPR.
Public Employees Oppose ESB 6378 It is Bad Policy
ESB 6378:
• Closes Plan 2 to any new members
• Skips the state’s payment towards the Plans 1 Unfunded Liabilities
• Will cost local Government up to $81 million over 25 years
• Eliminates the early retirement options for new hires who work at least 30 years, per fiscal note.
Skips the state’s 2011-13 payment towards the Plans 1 Unfunded Liabilities:
• One of the principal reasons the long closed Plans 1 (TRS and PERS) have unfunded liabilities is due to past legislature’s not making their payments.
• The current liability for these two plans is about $4.3 billion, per 6387 fiscal note.
• Missing pension payments could cause further reduction of the state’s credit rating due to increasing the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability (UAAL).
• Suspending this payment for the short-term savings results in employers experiencing significant long-term costs will be fully realized by employers. It increases pay-go* risk and the chance that the total system funded status will drop below 60 percent, per 6387 fiscal note.
Closes Plan 2 to new membership:
• Currently newly hired public employees can choose between a more secure, safe fully defined benefit plan (Plan 2) or one that is portable and provides the opportunity to receive returns on your investments (Plan 3) This bill removes choice.
• The cost for Plan 2 is shared equally between the employer and the employee.
• The State Actuary notes that closing Plan 2 to new members will make that plan more costly to the employer due to shifting the cost risk and because of the impact on the investment practices at the State Investment Board.
Eliminates the early retirement options for new hires who work at least 30 years:
• At a modest cost, the state has enacted two distinct early retirement options for career service employees who work at least 30 years in public employment:
o A reduction of 3% for each year of age below normal retirement age of 65 for those who are at least age 55 and have 30 years of service.
o A lower reduction for each year of age such that those age 62 with 30 years of service may retire at their normal retirement benefit level with no penalty.
o This latter benefit was granted in lieu of the eliminated gain sharing benefit in 2007. It has been the subject of litigation which is pending court action.
• The Actuarial Fiscal Note states that, according to current law, if the courts, through a final court action, reinstate gain-sharing benefits, the 2008 Early Retirement Factors and plan choice for TRS and SERS are removed prospectively by operation of law. Should this occur, then the expected net savings attributed to this bill would become a cost.
• • Continue to call your legislators at 1-800-562-6000 to urge them to reject the bad Senate Republican budget (ESB 5967) and the bad Zarelli pension bill (SB 6378) because they would gamble away your pension benefits.
•
As we fight to save pension benefits, here's some good information from the Public Employees for Pension Responsibility (PEPR). Our own Matt Zuvich chairs PEPR.
Public Employees Oppose ESB 6378 It is Bad Policy
ESB 6378:
• Closes Plan 2 to any new members
• Skips the state’s payment towards the Plans 1 Unfunded Liabilities
• Will cost local Government up to $81 million over 25 years
• Eliminates the early retirement options for new hires who work at least 30 years, per fiscal note.
Skips the state’s 2011-13 payment towards the Plans 1 Unfunded Liabilities:
• One of the principal reasons the long closed Plans 1 (TRS and PERS) have unfunded liabilities is due to past legislature’s not making their payments.
• The current liability for these two plans is about $4.3 billion, per 6387 fiscal note.
• Missing pension payments could cause further reduction of the state’s credit rating due to increasing the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability (UAAL).
• Suspending this payment for the short-term savings results in employers experiencing significant long-term costs will be fully realized by employers. It increases pay-go* risk and the chance that the total system funded status will drop below 60 percent, per 6387 fiscal note.
Closes Plan 2 to new membership:
• Currently newly hired public employees can choose between a more secure, safe fully defined benefit plan (Plan 2) or one that is portable and provides the opportunity to receive returns on your investments (Plan 3) This bill removes choice.
• The cost for Plan 2 is shared equally between the employer and the employee.
• The State Actuary notes that closing Plan 2 to new members will make that plan more costly to the employer due to shifting the cost risk and because of the impact on the investment practices at the State Investment Board.
Eliminates the early retirement options for new hires who work at least 30 years:
• At a modest cost, the state has enacted two distinct early retirement options for career service employees who work at least 30 years in public employment:
o A reduction of 3% for each year of age below normal retirement age of 65 for those who are at least age 55 and have 30 years of service.
o A lower reduction for each year of age such that those age 62 with 30 years of service may retire at their normal retirement benefit level with no penalty.
o This latter benefit was granted in lieu of the eliminated gain sharing benefit in 2007. It has been the subject of litigation which is pending court action.
• The Actuarial Fiscal Note states that, according to current law, if the courts, through a final court action, reinstate gain-sharing benefits, the 2008 Early Retirement Factors and plan choice for TRS and SERS are removed prospectively by operation of law. Should this occur, then the expected net savings attributed to this bill would become a cost.
• • Continue to call your legislators at 1-800-562-6000 to urge them to reject the bad Senate Republican budget (ESB 5967) and the bad Zarelli pension bill (SB 6378) because they would gamble away your pension benefits.
•
Monday, March 5, 2012
WFSE/AFSCME Members Make It Happen
Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you to those who were able to call, write or visit the legislators today. On the hill, we learned most of them are completely unaware of what Senator Zarelli's bill does to our pension plans. The Senate Republicans state their budget is a good one. It is NOT! The budget cuts the safety net and takes money from Higher Education with the deepest cuts to the community colleges. There was a lot of talk about it being a McKenna budget. We heard rumors that he was actually in the wings the night it passed.
If you were unable to participate today - tomorrow brings new opportunity. Continue the calls to your legislators. The message is simple. Support the House democratic budget and keep your hands off my pension! For those who can come to Olympia - there is a job action planned.
We will meet at 906 Columbia Street - the Olympia Field Office 3rd floor at 11 am.
Pension issues seem complex so a flyer is being developed to help explain it to our members and the legislators. That will be available in the next day or two. In the meantime, the message needs to be clear and simple. Hands Off!
To recap the day, members across the state called members of the legislature focussing on the House Ways and Means Committee members. Some members came to Olympia, distributed flyers to and talked with legislators. It is very clear that we need to keep the pressure on.
About 5:30 tonite, we joined other groups and filled the Senate gallery to standing room only. We had tape over our mouths symbolizing the lack of transparency and lack of debate over the Senate budget. When the Senate moved to change the constitution to reduce the state debt ceiling, everyone stood silently and turned backs to the Senators. Their backs were turned to us when they passed that budget in the dead of night with no public comment allowed.
The group filed silently out of the gallery and lined the walls outside the party that was given for Senator Margarita Prentiss. The legislators attending had to walk past the lines of silenced citizens with tape over their mouths to get into the room.
News crews were there and there was film of the event on the television news tonite.
Thank you to all for your good work. Warriors - Work it!
Thank you to those who were able to call, write or visit the legislators today. On the hill, we learned most of them are completely unaware of what Senator Zarelli's bill does to our pension plans. The Senate Republicans state their budget is a good one. It is NOT! The budget cuts the safety net and takes money from Higher Education with the deepest cuts to the community colleges. There was a lot of talk about it being a McKenna budget. We heard rumors that he was actually in the wings the night it passed.
If you were unable to participate today - tomorrow brings new opportunity. Continue the calls to your legislators. The message is simple. Support the House democratic budget and keep your hands off my pension! For those who can come to Olympia - there is a job action planned.
We will meet at 906 Columbia Street - the Olympia Field Office 3rd floor at 11 am.
Pension issues seem complex so a flyer is being developed to help explain it to our members and the legislators. That will be available in the next day or two. In the meantime, the message needs to be clear and simple. Hands Off!
To recap the day, members across the state called members of the legislature focussing on the House Ways and Means Committee members. Some members came to Olympia, distributed flyers to and talked with legislators. It is very clear that we need to keep the pressure on.
About 5:30 tonite, we joined other groups and filled the Senate gallery to standing room only. We had tape over our mouths symbolizing the lack of transparency and lack of debate over the Senate budget. When the Senate moved to change the constitution to reduce the state debt ceiling, everyone stood silently and turned backs to the Senators. Their backs were turned to us when they passed that budget in the dead of night with no public comment allowed.
The group filed silently out of the gallery and lined the walls outside the party that was given for Senator Margarita Prentiss. The legislators attending had to walk past the lines of silenced citizens with tape over their mouths to get into the room.
News crews were there and there was film of the event on the television news tonite.
Thank you to all for your good work. Warriors - Work it!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
WFSE Warriors Mobilize
WFSE Warriors are mobilizing for action in the wake of the Senate budget debacle. If you signed up to be a warrior, your team will soon be contacting you. Please respond to their request. If they are unable to contact you, please reach out to them or contact your Council Representative. The time for action is NOW!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Senate Budget Passed In The Dark By The Forces Of Dark
Brothers and Sisters,
Last night I watched in horror as the Senate passed their version of the budget in the dark of the night with no public hearings. The Republican Senators were joined by Democratic Senators Tom, Kastama, and Sheldon in a budgetary coup. The Senate Democrats could not amend it and could not stop the trainwreck that unfolded before our eyes.
Our pension plans are under attack. After the budget passed in the dead of night, another bill was put forward. That bill closes the PERS 2 plan. It passed too. The PERS 2 fund is stable and allows the state to invest funds over the long term which brings cash into the fund. PERS 2 provides a defined benefit. We know how much money we will receive at retirement. It is guaranteed. The budget forces all new state employees into PERS 3 - the plan that provides a 1% defined benefit and a 1% investing amount. PERS 3 requires members to be investment savvy. Since the funds are mobile and the member can move those funds, the state must maintain a liquidity in PERS 3 that doesn't allow for the same long term investment strategy that has made PERS 2 so successful. The result threatens the long term stability of the fund.
As I watched, Senator Lisa Brown and Senator Margarita Prentiss pleaded with the Senate to not pass this bill. Senator Brown held up the state actuary report and asked if they had even read the report. She said the state actuary report warned of the adverse financial consequences to the state if this idea went forward. It didn't register a blink. In addition, the state will skip the payment into the LEOFF retirement account.
It was a shameful event. There were no public hearings, no opportunity to discuss and debate the budget. It harms the elderly, the poor, the disabled, the mentally ill, our children and the safety net our communities depend upon. It is a continued attack on public sector workers who provide the services our citizens depend upon.
Having reduced our pay, increased our workload to the point where people can barely function, reduced the number of people who provide services at a time when the demand for service is high, they now come for our pension plans.
Brothers and Sisters - we must not let it happen.
Many of you have called me wanting to take on the turncoat democratic senators. The budget is out of the Senate now. Take them on if you like. I believe there is a better time to deal with them and that time is coming.
What we must do right now is join together and bolster those House Representatives who will be working on the final budget. We must make sure they understand the choices they will make. No one knows state services as well as you do. You can make a difference because you know the difference you make. Please contact these key legislators now.
The hotline number is 1-800-562-6000. The e-mail addresses are listed below. Use your personal phone or your personal computer on non-work time.
The House Ways and Means Committee is chaired by Representative Hunter of the 48th District ross.hunter@leg.wa.gov The Vice Chairs are Representative Darnielle of the 27th District jeannie.darnielle@leg.wa.gov and Representative Hasegawa of the 11th District bob.hasegawa@leg.wa.gov The other members are Representatives: Alexander - 20th District gary.alexander@leg.wa.gov, Bailey - 10th District barbara.bailey@leg.wa.gov, Dammeier - 25th District bruce.dammeier@leg.wa.gov, Orcutt - 18th District ed.orcutt@leg.wa.gov, Carlyle - 36th District reuven.carlyle@leg.wa.gov, Chandler - 15th district bruce.chandler@leg.wa.gov, Cody- 34th District eileen.cody@leg.wa.gov, Dickerson - 36th District marylou.dickerson@leg.wa.gov, Haigh - 35th District kathy.haigh@leg.wa.gov, Haler - 8th District larry.haler@leg.wa.gov, Hinkle - 13th District bill.hinkle@leg.wa.gov, Hudgins - 11th District zack.hudgins@leg.wa.gov, Hunt - 22nd District sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov, Kagi - 32nd District ruth.kagi@leg.wa.gov, Kenney - 46th district phyllis.kenney@leg.wa.gov, Ormsby - 3rd District timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov, Parker - 6th District kevin.parker@leg.wa.gov, Pettigrew - 37th District eric.pettigrew@leg.wa.gov, Ross - 14th District charles.ross@leg.wa.gov, Schmick - 9th District joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov, Seaquist - 26th District larry.seaquist@leg.wa.gov, Springer - 45th District larry.springer@leg.wa.gov, Sullivan - 47th District pat.sullivan@leg.wa.gov, Wilcox - 2nd District jt.wilcox@leg.wa.gov
Last night I watched in horror as the Senate passed their version of the budget in the dark of the night with no public hearings. The Republican Senators were joined by Democratic Senators Tom, Kastama, and Sheldon in a budgetary coup. The Senate Democrats could not amend it and could not stop the trainwreck that unfolded before our eyes.
Our pension plans are under attack. After the budget passed in the dead of night, another bill was put forward. That bill closes the PERS 2 plan. It passed too. The PERS 2 fund is stable and allows the state to invest funds over the long term which brings cash into the fund. PERS 2 provides a defined benefit. We know how much money we will receive at retirement. It is guaranteed. The budget forces all new state employees into PERS 3 - the plan that provides a 1% defined benefit and a 1% investing amount. PERS 3 requires members to be investment savvy. Since the funds are mobile and the member can move those funds, the state must maintain a liquidity in PERS 3 that doesn't allow for the same long term investment strategy that has made PERS 2 so successful. The result threatens the long term stability of the fund.
As I watched, Senator Lisa Brown and Senator Margarita Prentiss pleaded with the Senate to not pass this bill. Senator Brown held up the state actuary report and asked if they had even read the report. She said the state actuary report warned of the adverse financial consequences to the state if this idea went forward. It didn't register a blink. In addition, the state will skip the payment into the LEOFF retirement account.
It was a shameful event. There were no public hearings, no opportunity to discuss and debate the budget. It harms the elderly, the poor, the disabled, the mentally ill, our children and the safety net our communities depend upon. It is a continued attack on public sector workers who provide the services our citizens depend upon.
Having reduced our pay, increased our workload to the point where people can barely function, reduced the number of people who provide services at a time when the demand for service is high, they now come for our pension plans.
Brothers and Sisters - we must not let it happen.
Many of you have called me wanting to take on the turncoat democratic senators. The budget is out of the Senate now. Take them on if you like. I believe there is a better time to deal with them and that time is coming.
What we must do right now is join together and bolster those House Representatives who will be working on the final budget. We must make sure they understand the choices they will make. No one knows state services as well as you do. You can make a difference because you know the difference you make. Please contact these key legislators now.
The hotline number is 1-800-562-6000. The e-mail addresses are listed below. Use your personal phone or your personal computer on non-work time.
The House Ways and Means Committee is chaired by Representative Hunter of the 48th District ross.hunter@leg.wa.gov The Vice Chairs are Representative Darnielle of the 27th District jeannie.darnielle@leg.wa.gov and Representative Hasegawa of the 11th District bob.hasegawa@leg.wa.gov The other members are Representatives: Alexander - 20th District gary.alexander@leg.wa.gov, Bailey - 10th District barbara.bailey@leg.wa.gov, Dammeier - 25th District bruce.dammeier@leg.wa.gov, Orcutt - 18th District ed.orcutt@leg.wa.gov, Carlyle - 36th District reuven.carlyle@leg.wa.gov, Chandler - 15th district bruce.chandler@leg.wa.gov, Cody- 34th District eileen.cody@leg.wa.gov, Dickerson - 36th District marylou.dickerson@leg.wa.gov, Haigh - 35th District kathy.haigh@leg.wa.gov, Haler - 8th District larry.haler@leg.wa.gov, Hinkle - 13th District bill.hinkle@leg.wa.gov, Hudgins - 11th District zack.hudgins@leg.wa.gov, Hunt - 22nd District sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov, Kagi - 32nd District ruth.kagi@leg.wa.gov, Kenney - 46th district phyllis.kenney@leg.wa.gov, Ormsby - 3rd District timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov, Parker - 6th District kevin.parker@leg.wa.gov, Pettigrew - 37th District eric.pettigrew@leg.wa.gov, Ross - 14th District charles.ross@leg.wa.gov, Schmick - 9th District joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov, Seaquist - 26th District larry.seaquist@leg.wa.gov, Springer - 45th District larry.springer@leg.wa.gov, Sullivan - 47th District pat.sullivan@leg.wa.gov, Wilcox - 2nd District jt.wilcox@leg.wa.gov
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Call To Action November 2011
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The legislature will convene this coming Monday, November 28th. Some of us will be at the capitol that day to carry messages from our membership and to continue the fight for the working class. Many more of us will come on the days following and it is very important that members be here. It will not be enough.
The current economy is called “The Great Recession”. I call it “Depression”. The attacks on us as public servants and middle class families is more than depressing – it is outrageous.
The slash and burn done to the Washington state budget has led to thousands of layoffs, incapacitated us in educating our young people, placed our vulnerable citizens at risk and now threatens our very safety in our homes and communities as the state reduces supervision of felons.
We are left reeling in the face of what threatens our state and our families.
The Governor has already proposed huge cuts to public services, education, and public safety. Our healthcare, our pensions, our programs and our jobs are threatened in this upcoming legislative session. The future of our state hangs in the balance.
The continuing loss of family wage jobs only deepens our economic crisis. The loss of affordable seats in our colleges and universities threatens our economic future. Our consciences cannot cope with turning our backs on our elderly, our disabled, our veterans and our unemployed. Our beautiful parks and our natural resources, this environment we all enjoy, are threatened as well.
We know too well the fight to keep our top notch injured worker program and our facilities that house the mentally ill and the developmentally disabled. We have felt the loss of our juvenile facility, Maple Lane, the closure of our developmentally disabled homes at Frances Haddon Morgan Center, Ahtanum View prison, and the list of reductions and closures is too long to recount.
We, the public sector workers and the citizens we serve have paid the price for Wall Street excesses. One side of the aisle calls the hand outs and bail outs to big business “tax breaks”. The other side of the aisle calls them “tax incentives”. One side of the debate calls on big banks and corporations to pay their fair share during these tough times. The other side of the debate says don’t attack “job creators” . Well, here’s the real debate. Did the state’s public servants cause the economic crisis? NO! Does attacking the public safety net in the face of large scale unemployment make sense? NO! Will public sector employment lay offs solve the problem? NO! Do we want our parks to close? NO! Does deregulating industry to allow environmental damage make sense? NO! Does ending opportunity for young people to attend college make sense? NO!
So what can we do to make a difference? We all recently received a WFSE newspaper. In it, our legislators are listed with contact information. These elected representatives are accountable to us - the voters of this state. Please resolve today to find that newspaper and contact those legislators that are supposed to represent us and ask them to close outdated tax breaks and incentives that are not working and to support a strong economy that preserves the middle class, preserves the safety net, and protects our neighborhoods. We deserve no less.
Don’t delay – do it today! If they don’t hear from us – the silence will be devastating!
The legislature will convene this coming Monday, November 28th. Some of us will be at the capitol that day to carry messages from our membership and to continue the fight for the working class. Many more of us will come on the days following and it is very important that members be here. It will not be enough.
The current economy is called “The Great Recession”. I call it “Depression”. The attacks on us as public servants and middle class families is more than depressing – it is outrageous.
The slash and burn done to the Washington state budget has led to thousands of layoffs, incapacitated us in educating our young people, placed our vulnerable citizens at risk and now threatens our very safety in our homes and communities as the state reduces supervision of felons.
We are left reeling in the face of what threatens our state and our families.
The Governor has already proposed huge cuts to public services, education, and public safety. Our healthcare, our pensions, our programs and our jobs are threatened in this upcoming legislative session. The future of our state hangs in the balance.
The continuing loss of family wage jobs only deepens our economic crisis. The loss of affordable seats in our colleges and universities threatens our economic future. Our consciences cannot cope with turning our backs on our elderly, our disabled, our veterans and our unemployed. Our beautiful parks and our natural resources, this environment we all enjoy, are threatened as well.
We know too well the fight to keep our top notch injured worker program and our facilities that house the mentally ill and the developmentally disabled. We have felt the loss of our juvenile facility, Maple Lane, the closure of our developmentally disabled homes at Frances Haddon Morgan Center, Ahtanum View prison, and the list of reductions and closures is too long to recount.
We, the public sector workers and the citizens we serve have paid the price for Wall Street excesses. One side of the aisle calls the hand outs and bail outs to big business “tax breaks”. The other side of the aisle calls them “tax incentives”. One side of the debate calls on big banks and corporations to pay their fair share during these tough times. The other side of the debate says don’t attack “job creators” . Well, here’s the real debate. Did the state’s public servants cause the economic crisis? NO! Does attacking the public safety net in the face of large scale unemployment make sense? NO! Will public sector employment lay offs solve the problem? NO! Do we want our parks to close? NO! Does deregulating industry to allow environmental damage make sense? NO! Does ending opportunity for young people to attend college make sense? NO!
So what can we do to make a difference? We all recently received a WFSE newspaper. In it, our legislators are listed with contact information. These elected representatives are accountable to us - the voters of this state. Please resolve today to find that newspaper and contact those legislators that are supposed to represent us and ask them to close outdated tax breaks and incentives that are not working and to support a strong economy that preserves the middle class, preserves the safety net, and protects our neighborhoods. We deserve no less.
Don’t delay – do it today! If they don’t hear from us – the silence will be devastating!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thank You Convention Delegates
Thank you to the wonderful convention delegates, alternates and guests for a great gathering of activists in Spokane. People like you all over this nation are the reason the middle class exists. You make a difference everyday. When you speak out, when you stand up, when you vote, you decide the future of America. Will we remain a great democratic force in the world or will we become a third world country plagued by the ultimate struggle between the very very rich and the very very poor? It's up to us.
This convention marked the beginning of a very great battle - a battle we cannot lose. We face a special legislative session that threatens the very existence of state government. November 28th legislators will decide if they have enough fiber in their backbone to stand up and develop real revenue solutions or if they will take the coward's way out and allow our state and our neighborhoods to devolve into chaos. We must be the conscience of the state. We must say NO to cutting off the vulnerable from the services they need. We must say NO to releasing dangerous offenders into our communities without supervision. We must say NO to profiteers who plan to become rich sucking off taxpayer resources through contracts with the state. We must STAND for what is right and what is just.
At this convention, we decided as a body that we will fight back and we will say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
In Medical Lake, we all stood together to speak out against the cuts that threaten our children, our families and our neighborhoods. We talked about the devastating cuts being considered statewide in all agencies. We sang together with Anne Feeney and Evan Greer, great labor singers - who inspire and move us to action.
I know I speak for all the officers elected at this past convention, when I tell you how humbled and honored we are to serve you for the next two years. These may be the toughest we've ever faced. I know that Sue Henricksen, Vice President, Rosemary Sterling, Treasurer, Judy Kuschel, Secretary and I will make a strong, tough team. We will stand with you; we will fight for you; and we will be united in our focus and in our actions. Thank you for your votes and thank you for your service to this great union and to our country.
This convention marked the beginning of a very great battle - a battle we cannot lose. We face a special legislative session that threatens the very existence of state government. November 28th legislators will decide if they have enough fiber in their backbone to stand up and develop real revenue solutions or if they will take the coward's way out and allow our state and our neighborhoods to devolve into chaos. We must be the conscience of the state. We must say NO to cutting off the vulnerable from the services they need. We must say NO to releasing dangerous offenders into our communities without supervision. We must say NO to profiteers who plan to become rich sucking off taxpayer resources through contracts with the state. We must STAND for what is right and what is just.
At this convention, we decided as a body that we will fight back and we will say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
In Medical Lake, we all stood together to speak out against the cuts that threaten our children, our families and our neighborhoods. We talked about the devastating cuts being considered statewide in all agencies. We sang together with Anne Feeney and Evan Greer, great labor singers - who inspire and move us to action.
I know I speak for all the officers elected at this past convention, when I tell you how humbled and honored we are to serve you for the next two years. These may be the toughest we've ever faced. I know that Sue Henricksen, Vice President, Rosemary Sterling, Treasurer, Judy Kuschel, Secretary and I will make a strong, tough team. We will stand with you; we will fight for you; and we will be united in our focus and in our actions. Thank you for your votes and thank you for your service to this great union and to our country.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Job Actions Needed Now
Brothers and Sisters,
We have only until November 28th to make an impression on the public about what these cuts will do to our quality of life in Washington state. Banks and big business are raking money in hand over fist while the middle class and the vulnerable pay the price. Unless we can pressure the legislature and the governor into developing a real revenue package that saves state services, we will live in a state where our children are not safe, where our neighborhoods are not safe, a state where assaults and home robberies will overwhelm our public safety system. It will be a state where those who speak no English cannot get medical interpreter services, a state where emergency rooms are overcrowded and overwhelmed. The jobs we do will disappear and those we care for will be without state services.
I believe some of the cuts are cuts by design. The design is to contract out work to the private sector where the oversight and scrutiny to which government workers are subjected does not exist in the same way. Taxpayers will pay more, citizens will receive less. We need a real revenue solution. Without it we will all pay more for less. Job actions need to begin immediately. Please call Council 28 at 1-800-562-6002 and let us know how we can support your job action and get the word out.
Tomorrow morning at 10 am, members of Local 793 at Western State Hospital will be outside the kitchen on grounds in advance of an all staff meeting where they expect to hear about moving the mentally ill out of the hospital.
We have only until November 28th to make an impression on the public about what these cuts will do to our quality of life in Washington state. Banks and big business are raking money in hand over fist while the middle class and the vulnerable pay the price. Unless we can pressure the legislature and the governor into developing a real revenue package that saves state services, we will live in a state where our children are not safe, where our neighborhoods are not safe, a state where assaults and home robberies will overwhelm our public safety system. It will be a state where those who speak no English cannot get medical interpreter services, a state where emergency rooms are overcrowded and overwhelmed. The jobs we do will disappear and those we care for will be without state services.
I believe some of the cuts are cuts by design. The design is to contract out work to the private sector where the oversight and scrutiny to which government workers are subjected does not exist in the same way. Taxpayers will pay more, citizens will receive less. We need a real revenue solution. Without it we will all pay more for less. Job actions need to begin immediately. Please call Council 28 at 1-800-562-6002 and let us know how we can support your job action and get the word out.
Tomorrow morning at 10 am, members of Local 793 at Western State Hospital will be outside the kitchen on grounds in advance of an all staff meeting where they expect to hear about moving the mentally ill out of the hospital.
DSHS Budget Reduction Options Published
Executive Summary Department of Social and Health Services Budget Reduction Options
September 23, 2011
Current Fiscal Climate
The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released its most recent revenue forecast on September 15. It projects General Fund-State revenue for the 2011-13 biennium down by more than $1.4 billion. Since September 2008 state revenue forecasts have declined by more than $7.5 billion.
The 2011-13 budget that was signed into law last spring included about $4.6 billion in reductions. In anticipation of the September revenue forecast, Governor Gregoire asked all state agencies to prepare budget reduction options of up to 10 percent for the remainder of the 2011-13 biennium. For the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) this equates to more than $573 million General Fund-State, with an additional reduction of close to $300 million in other funds, primarily federal.
How is the Department of Social and Health Services Funded?
The total Department budget for the 2011-13 biennium is just over $11 billion dollars - $5.7 billion General Fund-State, $5.1 billion General Fund-Federal, and approximately $300 million other funds. Many reductions made to General Fund-State result in additional reductions to General Fund-Federal.
The Department’s budget is distributed as follows:
Cumulative Reduction Impacts
Since the beginning of the 2009-11 Biennium (July 1, 2009), the Department has reduced spending by $2.2 billion ($1.6 billion General Fund-State). Administrative expenses have been reduced by close to 30 percent. Service reductions total more than $2 billion. Services have been cut in programs throughout the Department.
Between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2011, the number of people (headcount) employed at the Department has been reduced by 2,902 (or more than 14 percent). Management positions have been reduced by almost 20 percent. While direct care positions have been reduced by eight percent, non-direct care positions have been reduced by 20 percent. Direct Care staff is defined as those positions exempt from the temporary layoff implemented through SB 6503, Sec. 3(4) in the 2010 legislative session.
Guiding Principles
As the Department deliberated on this next round of budget reduction options, we established the following principles to guide our decisions:
Strengthen and expand existing home and community based service delivery systems.
Continue with strategic program redesign.
In this economy, ask, “What is the role of the State? Should we continue with this program or service?”
Protect the most vulnerable
Maintain public safety.
Optimize efficiencies.
Be consistent with our Strategic Framework for the Future.
What Have We Preserved?
As we have implemented budget reductions since 2008, our guiding principles and strategic framework have enabled us to make decisions that continued to preserve services for the most vulnerable to the extent possible and to propose options which strive to continue to maintain and expand a system of home and community-based care. Programs were preserved, where possible, that encourage permanency for children in out of home situations, encourage independence for clients with functional or developmental disabilities, and provide assistance for families struggling in the current economic climate. Our Developmental Disabilities System of Care was enhanced by expansion of community services and supports to enable the closure and downsizing of Residential Habilitation Centers. Family Caregiver support was expanded in long term care to allow individuals to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. However, budget reductions of this magnitude cannot be accomplished solely through efficiencies and program redesign. Many of the reduction options listed below, if implemented, would eliminate services and impact our state’s most vulnerable citizens.
Budget Reduction Options
Following are decision packages that describe budget reduction options for the Department of Social and Health Services. These options total a 10 percent reduction in General Fund-state for the Department. While many of our proposed reductions are ones we believe are strategic, many others, if chosen, would have dramatic impact on the services and supports so many of our citizens depend on. Within these more drastic reduction options, we have provided alternative suggestions which closely align with our Strategic Framework for the Future, or at the very least are less painful to our most vulnerable clients. We did propose the most painful of options only in order to reduce the Department’s budget by the 10 percent target.
We have listed below several of our reduction options. This is not an exhaustive list. A complete list of reduction options will be posted at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/Budget/ .
Our budget reduction options can be seen in one of three ways:
Options that are strategic and aligned with our new Economic Realities.
(These reductions and program eliminations, if taken together, would reduce the Department’s budget by approximately three percent, or approximately $170 million gf-s. Many of these options are not feasible if options in the last category are taken. )
Program
Brief Description
CA
Continued payment integrity efforts, maximization of federal funding, and continuation of savings and efficiency measures implemented in previous budget cycles.
CA
Adjustments to Foster Care Funding which eliminates expenditures for programs no longer core to system performance, and prioritizes expenditures for areas that are consistent with the administration’s goals. Programs eliminated include Receiving Care Support Services and elimination of the Pediatric Interim Care Facility.
JRA
Phased closure of Naselle Youth Camp, consistent with the Department’s commitment to place youth close to families and community supports. (260 youths)
ADSA
Within the Major Eligibility and Program Reduction Package are alternative options which remain strategic and aligned with our new economic realities. These include:
Refinancing personal care under the Community-First Choice Option
Implementation of a public utility assessment on community residential providers and home care agencies
Additional investments in the home and community system of care for people with developmental disabilities resulting in continued consolidation of state-run Residential Habilitation Centers
Additional investments in the LTC Family Caregiver Support program
MH
Community redesign by reducing the number of existing Regional Support Networks to promote greater accountability and oversight, improved consistency in rate setting, and greater capacity to leverage limited resources.
MH/LTC
Closure of two decertified wards at Western State Hospital and increasing services in community Long Term Care settings for individuals with dementia or Traumatic Brain Injury. (82 clients).
MH
Delay in implementation of changes to the Involuntary Treatment Act from January 1, 2012 to July 1, 2015
DD/LTC
Increase Adult Family Home fees to cover 100 percent of the cost of critical oversight.
Options that are difficult but doable
(These reductions and program eliminations would reduce the Department’s budget by approximately 2.5 percent, or approximately $145 million gf-s)
Program
Brief Description
CA
Reduction and elimination of programs in support of children in out of home placements, which is achievable through successful efforts to reduce the number of children and length of stay for children in out of home placements. Programs eliminated included Foster Care Assessment Program, Comprehensive Assessment Program, Continuum of Care Program, Child Advocacy Centers, and research and training services.
JRA
Reduction to the JRA Residential Caseload, Institution Costs, and Juvenile Court Funding. (21 youths)
MH
Reduction to Medicaid capitation rates for RSNs, and elimination of funding for respite, clubhouses, and supported employment.
MH
Additional downsizing of the state hospitals by closure of four civil wards could be accomplished with investment in community capacity and supports.
DDD
Suspension of Individual and Family Services. (1,000 families)
LTC
Eliminate Adult Day Health Services. (1,000 clients)
ESA
Elimination of Refugee/Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Assistance for a number of clients, while preserving employment services for clients receiving LEP Pathway services. (4,900 clients received services in FY2011)
ESA
Elimination of Naturalization Services. (3,874 clients received services in FY2011)
ESA
Reducing the number of months families are eligible to receive TANF cash grants, eliminating the State Family Assistance monthly cash grant, and implementing a two percent ratable reduction to the monthly TANF cash grant. (58,580 families)
ESA
Elimination of the Aged, Blind, or Disabled and Pregnant Women Assistance Program monthly cash grants. (15,500 clients)
ESA
Elimination of the State Food Assistance program. (13,000 clients)
ASA
While the decision package to achieve a 10 percent reduction requires elimination of all alcohol and substance abuse services for adults, alternatives to consider include elimination of residential services, limiting detoxification services, and reductions in Parent Child Assistance Program.
DVR
Reduction of general fund-state dollars for the Basic Support Grant, which will eliminate these services for a number of clients. (14,000 clients served in FY2011)
Admin
Elimination of TeamChild and Washington Mentoring Program.
Options that are necessary to build to a 10 percent reduction, but in many cases will conflict with our guiding principles and our strategic framework for the future and create lasting consequences and long-term negative budget impacts.
(These reductions and program eliminations, if taken in total, would reduce the Department’s budget by approximately six percent, or approximately $340 million gf-s. However, if these reduction options are chosen, we will not be able to implement some of the options listed in the previous two sections.)
Program
Brief Description
ADSA
Major Eligibility and Program Changes – A reduction of this magnitude will have significant impact on our ability to maintain a balanced system of home and community based care. This decision package has alternative options, which are strategic and promote a more balanced system of care, listed in the options above. (more than 80,000 clients)
CA
Additional reductions to Behavioral Rehabilitation Services and Domestic Violence Services to children (more than 4,500 children)
ASA
Elimination of all alcohol and substance abuse services for adults, while retaining services for youth and pregnant and parenting woman. Alternatives to this option are described above. (more than 55,000 clients)
Admin
Elimination of Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative.
Next Steps
Secretary Dreyfus will meet with stakeholders and partners in the very near future to educate them about the cumulative reductions we have taken in recent years, to candidly discuss the impacts of the options presented here, and to invite them to join in the conversation and engage in the process.
September 23, 2011
Current Fiscal Climate
The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released its most recent revenue forecast on September 15. It projects General Fund-State revenue for the 2011-13 biennium down by more than $1.4 billion. Since September 2008 state revenue forecasts have declined by more than $7.5 billion.
The 2011-13 budget that was signed into law last spring included about $4.6 billion in reductions. In anticipation of the September revenue forecast, Governor Gregoire asked all state agencies to prepare budget reduction options of up to 10 percent for the remainder of the 2011-13 biennium. For the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) this equates to more than $573 million General Fund-State, with an additional reduction of close to $300 million in other funds, primarily federal.
How is the Department of Social and Health Services Funded?
The total Department budget for the 2011-13 biennium is just over $11 billion dollars - $5.7 billion General Fund-State, $5.1 billion General Fund-Federal, and approximately $300 million other funds. Many reductions made to General Fund-State result in additional reductions to General Fund-Federal.
The Department’s budget is distributed as follows:
Cumulative Reduction Impacts
Since the beginning of the 2009-11 Biennium (July 1, 2009), the Department has reduced spending by $2.2 billion ($1.6 billion General Fund-State). Administrative expenses have been reduced by close to 30 percent. Service reductions total more than $2 billion. Services have been cut in programs throughout the Department.
Between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2011, the number of people (headcount) employed at the Department has been reduced by 2,902 (or more than 14 percent). Management positions have been reduced by almost 20 percent. While direct care positions have been reduced by eight percent, non-direct care positions have been reduced by 20 percent. Direct Care staff is defined as those positions exempt from the temporary layoff implemented through SB 6503, Sec. 3(4) in the 2010 legislative session.
Guiding Principles
As the Department deliberated on this next round of budget reduction options, we established the following principles to guide our decisions:
Strengthen and expand existing home and community based service delivery systems.
Continue with strategic program redesign.
In this economy, ask, “What is the role of the State? Should we continue with this program or service?”
Protect the most vulnerable
Maintain public safety.
Optimize efficiencies.
Be consistent with our Strategic Framework for the Future.
What Have We Preserved?
As we have implemented budget reductions since 2008, our guiding principles and strategic framework have enabled us to make decisions that continued to preserve services for the most vulnerable to the extent possible and to propose options which strive to continue to maintain and expand a system of home and community-based care. Programs were preserved, where possible, that encourage permanency for children in out of home situations, encourage independence for clients with functional or developmental disabilities, and provide assistance for families struggling in the current economic climate. Our Developmental Disabilities System of Care was enhanced by expansion of community services and supports to enable the closure and downsizing of Residential Habilitation Centers. Family Caregiver support was expanded in long term care to allow individuals to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. However, budget reductions of this magnitude cannot be accomplished solely through efficiencies and program redesign. Many of the reduction options listed below, if implemented, would eliminate services and impact our state’s most vulnerable citizens.
Budget Reduction Options
Following are decision packages that describe budget reduction options for the Department of Social and Health Services. These options total a 10 percent reduction in General Fund-state for the Department. While many of our proposed reductions are ones we believe are strategic, many others, if chosen, would have dramatic impact on the services and supports so many of our citizens depend on. Within these more drastic reduction options, we have provided alternative suggestions which closely align with our Strategic Framework for the Future, or at the very least are less painful to our most vulnerable clients. We did propose the most painful of options only in order to reduce the Department’s budget by the 10 percent target.
We have listed below several of our reduction options. This is not an exhaustive list. A complete list of reduction options will be posted at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/Budget/ .
Our budget reduction options can be seen in one of three ways:
Options that are strategic and aligned with our new Economic Realities.
(These reductions and program eliminations, if taken together, would reduce the Department’s budget by approximately three percent, or approximately $170 million gf-s. Many of these options are not feasible if options in the last category are taken. )
Program
Brief Description
CA
Continued payment integrity efforts, maximization of federal funding, and continuation of savings and efficiency measures implemented in previous budget cycles.
CA
Adjustments to Foster Care Funding which eliminates expenditures for programs no longer core to system performance, and prioritizes expenditures for areas that are consistent with the administration’s goals. Programs eliminated include Receiving Care Support Services and elimination of the Pediatric Interim Care Facility.
JRA
Phased closure of Naselle Youth Camp, consistent with the Department’s commitment to place youth close to families and community supports. (260 youths)
ADSA
Within the Major Eligibility and Program Reduction Package are alternative options which remain strategic and aligned with our new economic realities. These include:
Refinancing personal care under the Community-First Choice Option
Implementation of a public utility assessment on community residential providers and home care agencies
Additional investments in the home and community system of care for people with developmental disabilities resulting in continued consolidation of state-run Residential Habilitation Centers
Additional investments in the LTC Family Caregiver Support program
MH
Community redesign by reducing the number of existing Regional Support Networks to promote greater accountability and oversight, improved consistency in rate setting, and greater capacity to leverage limited resources.
MH/LTC
Closure of two decertified wards at Western State Hospital and increasing services in community Long Term Care settings for individuals with dementia or Traumatic Brain Injury. (82 clients).
MH
Delay in implementation of changes to the Involuntary Treatment Act from January 1, 2012 to July 1, 2015
DD/LTC
Increase Adult Family Home fees to cover 100 percent of the cost of critical oversight.
Options that are difficult but doable
(These reductions and program eliminations would reduce the Department’s budget by approximately 2.5 percent, or approximately $145 million gf-s)
Program
Brief Description
CA
Reduction and elimination of programs in support of children in out of home placements, which is achievable through successful efforts to reduce the number of children and length of stay for children in out of home placements. Programs eliminated included Foster Care Assessment Program, Comprehensive Assessment Program, Continuum of Care Program, Child Advocacy Centers, and research and training services.
JRA
Reduction to the JRA Residential Caseload, Institution Costs, and Juvenile Court Funding. (21 youths)
MH
Reduction to Medicaid capitation rates for RSNs, and elimination of funding for respite, clubhouses, and supported employment.
MH
Additional downsizing of the state hospitals by closure of four civil wards could be accomplished with investment in community capacity and supports.
DDD
Suspension of Individual and Family Services. (1,000 families)
LTC
Eliminate Adult Day Health Services. (1,000 clients)
ESA
Elimination of Refugee/Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Assistance for a number of clients, while preserving employment services for clients receiving LEP Pathway services. (4,900 clients received services in FY2011)
ESA
Elimination of Naturalization Services. (3,874 clients received services in FY2011)
ESA
Reducing the number of months families are eligible to receive TANF cash grants, eliminating the State Family Assistance monthly cash grant, and implementing a two percent ratable reduction to the monthly TANF cash grant. (58,580 families)
ESA
Elimination of the Aged, Blind, or Disabled and Pregnant Women Assistance Program monthly cash grants. (15,500 clients)
ESA
Elimination of the State Food Assistance program. (13,000 clients)
ASA
While the decision package to achieve a 10 percent reduction requires elimination of all alcohol and substance abuse services for adults, alternatives to consider include elimination of residential services, limiting detoxification services, and reductions in Parent Child Assistance Program.
DVR
Reduction of general fund-state dollars for the Basic Support Grant, which will eliminate these services for a number of clients. (14,000 clients served in FY2011)
Admin
Elimination of TeamChild and Washington Mentoring Program.
Options that are necessary to build to a 10 percent reduction, but in many cases will conflict with our guiding principles and our strategic framework for the future and create lasting consequences and long-term negative budget impacts.
(These reductions and program eliminations, if taken in total, would reduce the Department’s budget by approximately six percent, or approximately $340 million gf-s. However, if these reduction options are chosen, we will not be able to implement some of the options listed in the previous two sections.)
Program
Brief Description
ADSA
Major Eligibility and Program Changes – A reduction of this magnitude will have significant impact on our ability to maintain a balanced system of home and community based care. This decision package has alternative options, which are strategic and promote a more balanced system of care, listed in the options above. (more than 80,000 clients)
CA
Additional reductions to Behavioral Rehabilitation Services and Domestic Violence Services to children (more than 4,500 children)
ASA
Elimination of all alcohol and substance abuse services for adults, while retaining services for youth and pregnant and parenting woman. Alternatives to this option are described above. (more than 55,000 clients)
Admin
Elimination of Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative.
Next Steps
Secretary Dreyfus will meet with stakeholders and partners in the very near future to educate them about the cumulative reductions we have taken in recent years, to candidly discuss the impacts of the options presented here, and to invite them to join in the conversation and engage in the process.
It's A War On The Workers
Brothers and Sisters,
Agencies across the state are being told to cut programs, cut services, lay off workers and just let the public deal with the impacts. It’s a war on the middle class, a war on working families, and a war on the citizens of Washington state. Those least able to fight back will pay the price and some of them the ultimate price. We must not let it happen!
As the legislature moves toward special session in November, the banks, the corporations like Boeing, and healthcare CEOs are raking money in. Our most vulnerable citizens are being abandoned and our middle class is disappearing. If these things matter to you – stand up and fight back! I want to hear from you the plans your local puts together. We have a very short time to respond. It’s a war on the workers and a war on those least able to fight back. Stand together! Stand strong! We are all in this together. Fight back!
In Corrections we may face the lay off of the very people who keep our neighborhoods safe. Do we really want prisoners released without supervision in order to keep the wealthy from paying their fair share of the cost of public services?
In Employment Security, the very workers who help the unemployed find work face lay off themselves.
The list of potential cuts go on and on.
Children, victims of domestic violence, may have nowhere to turn.
Healthcare for children – gone.
TANF for families ends at 48 months. These are the things I’m hearing. I know you are hearing even more detail.
Six full wards in mental health proposed for closure. That’s 120 mentally ill beds closed.
These cuts are devastating to the citizens we serve. They are a cruel and inhumane response to a budget crisis our children, our elderly, our mentally ill, our developmentally disabled, and our poverty stricken families did not cause.
As you receive information about the pending cuts, please that information to me.
Agencies across the state are being told to cut programs, cut services, lay off workers and just let the public deal with the impacts. It’s a war on the middle class, a war on working families, and a war on the citizens of Washington state. Those least able to fight back will pay the price and some of them the ultimate price. We must not let it happen!
As the legislature moves toward special session in November, the banks, the corporations like Boeing, and healthcare CEOs are raking money in. Our most vulnerable citizens are being abandoned and our middle class is disappearing. If these things matter to you – stand up and fight back! I want to hear from you the plans your local puts together. We have a very short time to respond. It’s a war on the workers and a war on those least able to fight back. Stand together! Stand strong! We are all in this together. Fight back!
In Corrections we may face the lay off of the very people who keep our neighborhoods safe. Do we really want prisoners released without supervision in order to keep the wealthy from paying their fair share of the cost of public services?
In Employment Security, the very workers who help the unemployed find work face lay off themselves.
The list of potential cuts go on and on.
Children, victims of domestic violence, may have nowhere to turn.
Healthcare for children – gone.
TANF for families ends at 48 months. These are the things I’m hearing. I know you are hearing even more detail.
Six full wards in mental health proposed for closure. That’s 120 mentally ill beds closed.
These cuts are devastating to the citizens we serve. They are a cruel and inhumane response to a budget crisis our children, our elderly, our mentally ill, our developmentally disabled, and our poverty stricken families did not cause.
As you receive information about the pending cuts, please that information to me.
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