State worker briefs - Aug. 25

The Olympian • Published August 25, 2008

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Union talks may continue into Sept.

Bargaining continues for the largest state government employee's union, with talks possibly going into early September.

Washington Federation of State Employees executive director Greg Devereux said a new round of talks has not been scheduled, but would talk place in the next two weeks.

All unions negotiating with the governor for pay and benefits face an Oct. 1 deadline to approve two-year contracts.

"As long as it's finished by early September, I think we have plenty of time to ratify the contract," Devereux said. "They're trying to figure out how to deal with the (budget) shortfall … and we're trying to deal with our members concerns with the gas pump, things like that."

State divers to join Army for tire cleanup

As part of a joint cleanup effort, 20 members of the U.S. Army Dive Company took to the water of Puget Sound to remove hundreds of old tires offshore at Saltwater State Park near Des Moines.

Sponsored by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the tire removal involved the U.S. Army Reserve, the Department of Ecology, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Washington Scuba Alliance — a group of recreational divers that first recommended the project at the park.

Fish and Wildlife estimates that more than 500 tires are sunk in 50 to 60 feet of water throughout about 55 acres offshore. The tires were placed there in the 1970s when it was common to use tires as artificial reefs. They are now considered environmental hazards, and projects are in place nationwide to remove them, the agency said.

The State Parks and Recreation Commission is planning to construct a replacement reef, which will be made of rocks, precast concrete posts and artificial kelp.

Saltwater State Park is an 88-acre marine camping park with 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. The park is located between Tacoma and Seattle.