The Number on Your Paycheck...General Government Compensation Proposal Review
That number on your paycheck isn’t just dollars and cents.
It represents decades of organizing, job actions, and negotiating by state employees like us since our union won full-scope collective bargaining in 2002.
A lot goes into that number: base pay, step increases, shift differentials, overtime, standby and callback pay, specialty premiums.
Whether it’s to address hazardous or high-risk work or higher pay for less desirable shifts, all the different kinds of compensation our members have negotiated over the years were to make services more dependable and ensure we can take care of ourselves and our families.
But still, that number isn’t high enough. Why?
Given our heavy reliance on the sales tax, funding for our jobs depends primarily on the spending habits of poor and working families.In an age of record income inequality, budget shortfalls and cuts to services are baked in.
The state operating budget is smaller today than it was 30 years ago, when adjusted for inflation and economic growth.
We’re now heading into our third consecutive year with a state budget shortfall. The upcoming deficit is expected to be the worst yet.
Reviewing your compensation proposals
Governor Ferguson advised agencies to prepare for significant reductions and likely cuts.
This is the environment in which your General Government bargaining team met and reviewed over 100 proposals from WFSE members to improve our compensation in our next contract.
Governor Ferguson has directed agencies that this is no time for “business as usual.” We agree.
How we Fight Back
Public workers understand the stakes and are joining our union in big numbers.
WFSE volunteer member organizers from the Olympic Peninsula to Spokane have signed up 300 new members at four member drives in the last month and a half.
On May 30, our members hit business districts statewide and got dozens of small business owners engaged in our contract fight. We need to keep pushing.
- Membership = Power
If you’re not a member, join our union today. It is the most important thing you can do to help us protect what we have and keep pushing the ball forward. Become a Union Member
- Get Your Community on Board!
Download signs and materials here, print them out, and take them to your favorite local businesses and ask them to sign on as supporters and put up a sign or window cling.
What’s Next?
We’ll be passing our compensation proposal to the employer on June 22nd. Remember to wear your WFSE green and use our digital background in our toolkit!
Thank you to everyone who has filled out the bargaining survey. We have referenced it multiple times during bargaining and use it to guide our decision-making.
Stay united and get loud. We’ll get through this like we have gotten through every challenge – together!