"Open the Books!" at Seattle Colleges, say WFSE Local 304

WFSE Local 304 members inside and outside the Seattle Colleges Board of Trustees Meeting on April 9th asked why they have their pay cut and go through rounds of layoffs rather than the folks who mismanaged the budget in the first place.

They want an explanation why despite aggressive cost-cutting measures the situation is now worse than last year, when the colleges had a $24m shortfall.

“These aren’t just our jobs they’re cutting,” said Johnny Dwyer, Chief WFSE shop steward at the Seattle Colleges. “It’s what our jobs are for the students every day.”

Sign the Petition: Demand Accountability from Seattle Colleges

Ongoing Financial Mismanagement

Since last year, classified staff at the Seattle Colleges have faced cuts, layoffs, and furloughs to rectify a budget deficit that we did not create. One year later we learned that despite these sacrifices, the deficit is worse than ever. 

How is it possible that the deficit grew after frontline staff took pay cuts, layoffs, and we were all forced to do more with less? 

Where did the money go?

Our union has asked this question for months. 

Since the February Board of Trustees meeting our union has repeatedly made our position clear: we demand financial transparency in the form of line-item accounting for how overspending occurred, and what the funds were used for.

Chancellor Rimando-Chareunsap responded with union-busting by chilling union speech with divide and conquer tactics and no real answers. It is impossible for the Washington Federation of State Employees to keep faith that this chancellor’s continued leadership will better our college system.