Local 17 continues to meet with all agencies that employ Local 17 members regarding furloughs.
On June 10, 2010, IFPTE Local 17 met with representatives from the State Labor Relations Office, the Department of Licensing, and Washington State Patrol to bargain the impacts of ESSB 6503, the “Furlough Bill”.
The Department of Licensing (DOL) did not submit an alternate compensation reduction plan for the compensation reduction called for by ESSB 6503. According to DOL, after reviewing the law and the correlating budget reductions, no plan was necessary in order to be in compliance with ESSB 6503; therefore, they will move forward with furloughs as dictated under the law. The DOL does not anticipate that they will have to take the full ten days required in the law; however, they will closely monitor the budget and work with OFM. In the meantime, DOL has announced that they will close for five (5) furlough days through the end of 2010 and then reassess for 2011.
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) had submitted an alternate compensation reduction plan; however, it was withdrawn. Therefore a list of positions that are subject to temporary layoffs have been published and is being updated as needed. The Local 17 Vehicle Identification Number Officers at the WSP are subject to the temporary layoffs. In addition to the VIN Officers, any Local 17 member in an exempted position as provided for in ESSB 6503 (CVO 1&2, CVEO 1&2, CO 1&2, COA and ITS 1&2) who is on a light duty assignment will be subject to the mandatory furlough days. The WSP anticipates that only two (2) furlough days will be needed to meet their compensation reduction mandate.
The Department of Licensing and the Washington State Patrol have indicated that they plan on providing notice to employees in accordance with Article 36.5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Washington State Department of Transportation submitted an alternate compensation reduction plan outlining exempt categories and furlough days that have been approved by The Office of Financial Management (OFM). Local 17 has sent a formal request to bargain the impacts of ESSB 6503 for the affected DOT Local 17 members.
The DOT anticipates that only two (2) furlough days will be needed to meet the cost savings. The days that have been identified are October 11, 2010 and March 11, 2011. Negotiations dates are being scheduled.
We anticipate that our negotiations with WSDOT will include many discussion topics including alternate work schedules, impact to management and consultants, the determination of exempt positions, etc.
Lastly, you may have read that a lawsuit was filed on June 25 to block the state furloughs that are set to start on July 12, 2010. The union filing the lawsuit has asked for a preliminary injunction to stop the furlough days until a number of legal issues can be sorted out. In the meantime, Local 17 continues to monitor the situation and has continued discussions with the State Labor Relations Office regarding the impact on the Local 17 members.
We will continue to update members as this situation progresses.
State agencies are beginning to unfurl plans in response to Senate Bill 6503 created by the 2010 State Legislature. The law required 10 temporary furlough days during the remainder of the biennium. It imposed on every state agency, a targeted cost-savings specific to each individual agency of state government. The targeted cost-savings were required to come exclusively from employee compensation costs.
The law did give agencies the option of developing an alternate compensation reduction plan to meet the targeted cost-savings. The law provided that any such plan had to be approved by OFM.
IFPTE Local 17 has received notices from Marty Brown, Director of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) notifying us which agencies had submitted compensation reduction plans to meet the requirements of ESSB 6503, the “furlough bill” and which agencies had not.
The Department of Licensing (DOL) did not submit a compensation reduction plan for the compensation reduction called for by ESSB 6503. According to the DOL after reviewing the law and the correlating budget reductions no plan was necessary in order to be in compliance with ESSB 6503. Impact bargaining began on June 10, and will continue.
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) had submitted a compensation reduction plan however it was withdrawn. Therefore a list of positions that are subject to temporary layoffs has been published. The Local 17 Vehicle Identification Number Officers at the WSP are subject to the temporary layoffs. Impact bargaining began on June 10, and will continue.
OFM has approved a plan that was submitted by WSDOT outlining exempt categories and furlough days. A copy has been sent to all WSDOT stewards. Local 17 will file a demand to bargain the impacts of the plan immediately.
