State, union wade into negotiations

By Adam Wilson | The Olympian • Published April 17, 2008

"I think both parties have gotten used to the new system, how it works, what the parameters are. The first couple rounds it was all brand new. I think we're through that and starting to hit our stride now."

The first round of contracts generally included a 3.2 percent raise for workers in 2005, and 1.6 percent the following year. But they also began mandatory union fees, which sparked a wave of unrest in agencies.

The last round was less controversial and a bigger boost for workers: the raises of 3.2 percent in 2007 and 2 percent this year were less important for many employees than a new pay step for longtime employees and moves to put most occupations within 25 percent of private sector pay.

Unions held the employees' average share of health care costs to 12 percent of their premiums in the past two contracts.

The deals come at a price to the state. The most recent two-year contract cost $600 million for unionized workers, $100 million to nonunion employees and $340 million for state college employees.

Gregoire's top negotiator, Diane Leigh, was unavailable for comment. Neither side has offered specifics for raises, at least publicly.

All indications are that there is less money to go around. Expected revenues dropped by $423 million through June 2009 in the last economic forecast.

And Gregoire faces Republican Dino Rossi in a rematch of their 2004 gubernatorial race. Rossi is hammering on a projected budget deficit of $2.4 billion next year, saying Gregoire has overspent.

Whatever the political pressures, unions say they aren't going to take lowered expectations to the negotiation table.

Teamsters Local 117, which represents prisons and corrections workers, has won higher pay raises than most unions. It also has been willing to push talks close to the Oct. 1 deadline to reach agreement with the governor.

"We know we'll be treated fairly," Teamsters organizer Leonard Smith said. "Do they have any choice? In the end these are their employees, and they want to be treated fairly."