Washington union sues Gregoire over pay raises

Washington union sues Gregoire over pay raises

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Story Published: Dec 23, 2008 at 3:09 PM PDT

Story Updated: Dec 23, 2008 at 6:23 PM PDT

By Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The state's largest employee's union has sued Gov. Chris Gregoire for suggesting that state workers' pay raises be dropped as part of addressing the looming state budget deficit.

Gregoire wants to drop the raises for the workers, who recently wrapped up contract negotiations calling for average yearly raises of about 2 percent.

The Washington Federation of State Employees sued Tuesday in Thurston County Superior Court. The union represents 40,000 workers in state agencies and colleges.

The lawsuit asks the court to compel Gregoire to submit a request to the Legislature to pay for the raises.

Gregoire's budget director, Victor Moore, said that the contracts were "concluded prior to the global financial market crisis in October and the November revenue forecast reducing state income by $1.9 billion."

Moore cited the projected $5.7 billion deficit as a reason why the contract couldn't be certified, because the pay raises and other benefits "were not feasible financially for the state."

The lawsuit states that the state was aware of the downturn of the economy and worsening economic conditions, which is why the final contracts "were the lowest ever negotiated by the parties."

Moore said that the Office of Financial Management was working with the state attorney general's office to respond to the lawsuit.

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