Washington's Governor Sued By A Second Union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/10204

A second union has filed suit against the Governor of Washington over plans to cap pay raises in the biennial budget. Jesse Russell reports:

A second lawsuit against Washington state Governor Cristine Gregoire (GREG-war, like memoir) has been filed over a decision to use a loophole in the state’s collective bargaining law to cancel contracted pay raises for state workers. The Service Employees International Union has filed the suit on behalf home care workers in the state. The original suit was filed by the Washington Federation of State Employees last week. SEIU is asking the state Supreme Court to withdraw the budget proposal as it violates an agreement to a pay raise in the union contract. The Governor is out of town and could not respond personally, but the Governor’s office said in a statement that while the workers deserve the pay raise, due to the global financial market crisis the state’s income has been reduced by $1.9 billion leaving few options. In a statement SEIU said it sympathizes with the difficult position the Governor is in, “but breaking the law and undermining the collective bargaining statute isn’t the right way to get there.”

[oldnslo]

1. Fine. They will be laid off instead. Some big win.

just what IS the way to "get there"? I'm sure the governor will listen if someone has a viable plan.

[Belial]

2. So how does this work?

The union wants to block and attempt to block pay raises. In doing so.. they might get the raises while others get laid off.. who does this help? sigh