We have nothing for you - Community Colleges Bargaining Update #6

Yesterday, we heard the usual line: The state is broke. Public employees? We have nothing for you.

We heard OFM’s budget presentation. We knew this was going to be a tough cycle, but what OFM is proposing is past disappointing. It's insulting.

So we're walking out statewide on August 31st, and asking all of our members to send a message to the governor's team and community college leadership.

Download the Teams/Zoom virtual background here and read on for the rest of the details.

Their presentation was filled with contradiction: on the one hand, they pay lip service to acknowledging and praising the value we bring to what we do and the many Washingtonians we help. On the other hand they’re making it clear we’re not a priority in the budget and we don’t matter in terms of fair pay or cost of living increases.

OFM acknowledges that given the current economic downturn, they anticipate more demand for the services workers at all the community colleges provide. Our services are instrumental in turning around the economic forecast of Washington. When times are tough, working people turn to high quality, accessible education to help them enter or retrain for sustainable careers. We’re training nurses, medical assistants, and other crucial roles. We’re scaling up the workforce for the next generation, and many Washingtonians get their starts in our colleges.

Shoreline CC supporting their bargaining team
 

“With the rise in unemployment and the federal restrictions on eligibility for food benefits and Medicaid, it is pushing people into school AND caseloads for public services are going to keep growing. Both of those impact the workloads of frontline state workers.” —Emily Rodriguez, Customer Service Specialist at Seattle Colleges

So demand for our work is projected to increase. At the same time, OFM is not willing to give us anything extra. They expect us to produce same or better results with pay cuts, without even taking inflation into account.

Low pay limits our ability to recruit and retain skilled trades workers and other positions like  high level accounting. They’re even putting out of state contractors above employing Washingtonians by paying double or triple to contractors instead of relying on the experience and skill we bring to our work.

Watch the video update with Seattle Colleges member Emily Rodriguez.
 

It's true we're facing a shortfall. But the truth is, a budget is a statement of priorities. They need to prioritize us and our communities.

Ultimately, this was a conversation about what the employer values, and the hard truth is that we’re not on that list.

OFM and our employer are telling us something else important, too. They’re signaling that they’re not concerned about what we can do. They don’t think we can take any meaningful action or make an impact in this process.

This is supposed to be bargaining, but they’re bringing “take it or leave it.” They don’t think there’s anything we can do about their rock-bottom compensation proposal inside or outside the bargaining room.

They're wrong about that.

 

We’re Walking Out WITH Washington on August 31

We are not going to sit back and watch public services be run into the ground. We are launching a massive, coordinated escalation campaign to take our message directly to the decision-makers.

Starting immediately, we’re launching a digital letter campaign to the public and all 52,000 WFSE members across all contracts to tell the governor and his team, OFM, and community college and university leadership to come to the table to work out a fair deal.

We’re also going to build on the success of our 2024 walkouts with a statewide walkout – this time inviting the hundreds of small businesses who stand behind us to take part. Stay tuned for details and RSVP links in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, please help us mobilize our coworkers by taking the actions on our landing page and on wfse.org/fair-contract. Join us in highlighting and supporting the local businesses who are standing behind our campaign.

Our next bargaining session is July 30th. Let’s see if we can get their attention before then.

Now's the time for us to signal to the employer that we are unified in our demands. No green shirt? Connect with your coworkers, your shop steward, your elected bargaining team members, or your council reps to make sure you have a one to wear to bargaining days.

As we reflected on yesterday's insulting proposal, several of us shared stories about our own struggles to make ends meet, to care for our aging parents and to support our children. We know you face the same challenges. Thank you for your support. This isn't over yet.

Find more on the Community College Coalition landing page.

In solidarity,

AFSCME Council 28/WFSE
Speaking Up for Our Jobs, Families & Communities
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