Legislative Update 12: News on Furloughs, Call to Save Lives
Have you Taken Action to Fight Furloughs?
Text STAND to 237-263 to take action, or send an email to your elected officials here.
Our members have been calling, emailing, rallying at the capitol, writing postcards, and more to fight back against the worst proposals to balance the state's budget deficit.
We fought back a proposal that would have permanently raised our healthcare costs and attacked our ability to negotiate what we pay for healthcare. (though it could reemerge, so we need to keep the pressure on!)
We've made progress on furloughs, which would cut our pay and cancel out our raises.
Multiple elected officials have committed to us that they would NOT vote on a budget that includes furloughs.
But every time the House and Senate seem to have reached a compromise on the budget, Governor Ferguson has weighed in and told them to cut deeper — bringing the threat of healthcare cuts, furloughs, DOC reentry facility closures, and steep cuts to higher education back onto the table.
Text STAND to 237-263 to take action, or send an email to your elected officials here.You'll receive a short script for making a phone call to your elected officials.
This is the final stretch. Make your voice heard.
#EmptyChairsWA: WFSE Local 889 has started a campaign to explain to our legislators what furloughs will actually mean for the Washingtonians who depend on our work.
Post directly to Instagram using the Hashtag #EmptyChairsWA and #WashingtonForAll or send your pictures to @wfselocal889.
Senate Votes to Close Rainier School, Bill Moves to House
This weekend, Washington State Senators chose "saving money" over the lives of disabled Washingtonians.
Senate Bill 5393 passed the Senate 26-22, with an amendment to remove Yakima Valley School from the bill. As it stands, 5393 only includes the closure of Rainier School, home to adults with profound mental and intellectual disabilities, often complicated by severe medical conditions.
Is Yakima Valley School safe? There's no way to know what amendments the House will make. The House Budget targeted YVS for closure, so YVS could be added back in. We need to keep the pressure on. Scroll down to take action.
Here's the good news: YOUR State Representatives will have the opportunity to vote to reject these closures.
Call 888-258-4588 to tell your state representatives NO to closing Rainier School and Yakima Valley School.
Tell them: "I'm a member of the Washington Federation of State Employees who works at ________. I am calling to urge you not to close Rainier School or Yakima Valley School. Closing these facilities would be short-sighted and cruel to residents and families. Vulnerable Washingtonians deserve care and dignity. Please don't move forward with these closures."
You can also send an email to your state reps here with a few clicks.
Residents at Rainier School and Yakima Valley School receive specialized 24/7 care from 600 dedicated WFSE members who understand their physical and mental needs.
They have the support to work, go on field trips, and build relationships with other people. These options aren't available to them outside RHCs, where many would be stuck in hospital, jails or homeless.
Don't have time to make a phone call? Send your state reps a message here with a few clicks:
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/speak-out-for-yakima-valley-school-and-rainier-school/