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How serious in the WEA about it’s COLA?

• Published February 28, 2008

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Very, according to teachers union president Mary Lindquist.

“I don’t have any questions this is the priority for educators in this state,” she said today, just a few minutes after the Senate passed a budget with a 3.9 percent cost of living increase for teachers, but without the additional 1 percent the House included in it’s budget.

That 1 percent is intended to make up for suspending a teacher pay initiative in the 03-05 budget. Sometimes Dino Rossi takes a lot of credit for that one, and the WEA has been happy to give him credit in this radio ad blasting him.

But Rossi points out that Gov. Gary Locke suggested the suspension in his rebuttal video. “Kind of sad and sorry,” he says.

Our question was “or what?” The Legislature gives the COLA or what? (Rally? Strike? Vote Republican?) Lindquist said there are no plans to ratchet up the noise right now, that members will continue to call and write their lawmakers.

“We continue to work both the House and the Senate and the governor. We’re hopeful they’ll come around to see things the way the House does,” she said.