Teamsters agree to 2-plus-2 raises, with reopener

• Published September 17, 2008

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UPDATE: Need to correct my orignial language. This isn't a tentative agreement, as Smith just pointed out to me.

"We don't have an agreement with the state. We didn't tentatively agree to anything. This is the state's last, best and final offer," he explained.

Since the union's team couldn't endorse the offer, it's being voted on by the membership. And now back to our story.

Teamsters Local 117 is voting on a contract with the state, using the same basic outline found in the federation's contract. As in its last contract, however, the union representing prison workers included a "wage reopener" allowing them to come back to the bargaining table in a year.

It may be tough to get back to the table, said Leonard Smith, organizing director for the Teamsters. He said the union will have to show that the revenue collections have turned around, and there are problems with recruitment of specific job classes.

And the 2 percent annual raises?

"Believe me nobody is happy about that one," Smith said.

He pointed to a recent contract with King County Police Officers Guild that included 5 –percent raises for four years.

"Our biggest issue with the state is the state’s inability to recognize that these jobs are unlike any other job the state is paying. Whether it’s a nurse, a custodian, anything, working that job inside in a prison is no the same as working in the Capitol," Smith said. "Every person in a prison is a dangerous work environment."