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  • select-fire
    Just on FOX,, NON UNION Washington state Government workers FORCED to pay union Dues, EXACT WORDS

    State employees resist union representation

    By Michael Reitz
    Is it right to force an individual to pay money to an employee organization for the "privilege" of working in Washington state? Union officials are asking state workers to do just that.

    Hundreds of state employees in at least 12 bargaining units are working to decertify the unions representing them in order to avoid paying mandatory union dues. Representatives from several of these groups staged a rally on the Capitol lawn in Olympia on March 22. These employees are fed up with union representation before it has even started.

    The Personnel System Reform Act of 2002 allows public-sector unions to negotiate wage and hour guidelines for employees. The governor's office and representatives of nearly twenty public-sector unions negotiated the first collective bargaining agreements in 2004. Governor Gregoire's newly-released budget funds these agreements. Pending final approval by the Legislature, the contracts will take effect on July 1, 2005.

    The contracts include a mechanism known as a "union security clause," which requires all employees of a bargaining unit to pay for union representation, regardless of whether they actually become members. Dues are set at 1.37 percent of an employee's salary, up to about $55 dollars a month. Those who do not wish to join the union will still be required to pay a "fair share" fee equal to the normal dues amount.

    Employees who refuse to authorize the dues deduction from their paycheck will face termination, as indicated in the contract negotiated by the union.

    The Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) downplays the reality of the mandatory dues scheme. In a flyer passed out to state employees, the WFSE insists that employees who do not pay union dues will be "asked to contribute" the fair share fee. The flyer fails to mention that employees who decline will be terminated at the union's demand.

    State workers trying to decertify the union believe individuals should have the choice of whether to join a union and pay dues: they do not want the decision imposed on them.

    Other public employees object to the new collective bargaining agreement because they were never given a chance to approve it. The agreement went to a vote by state employees, and of the approximately 30,000 general government employees covered by the WFSE contract, only 6,133 voted.

    State employees trying to decertify their union also object to being forced to support the political agendas of union officials. The WFSE admits that 17 percent of its expenditures go toward activities that have nothing to do with collective bargaining. The Federation made more than $280,000 in cash contributions in the 2004 elections, and many state workers do not want to be forced to support a particular political agenda in order to keep their jobs.



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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    [:(][:(][V][V]
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  • Idahobound
    Can they just go across a boarder and buy one in Idaho?
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  • 35 Whelen
    Obvious troll is obvious.
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  • Idahobound
    I guess it is not obvious to me. Who are you calling a troll.
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    quote:Originally posted by Idahobound
    Can they just go across a boarder and buy one in Idaho?
    Had the same thought. There's that nice,big cabelas right at state line.
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  • grumpygy
    Got a Cabelas right across the Border in Oregon to.
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  • JimmyJack
    What you are saying is that you cant purchase one there, but you can own one? No problem taking my grandson to the range and shooting one?
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  • 35 Whelen
    quote:Originally posted by Idahobound
    I guess it is not obvious to me. Who are you calling a troll.


    Not you.[;)]
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  • US Military Guy
    Did those same 18 - 20 year olds vote?

    Will they next time?
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  • EVILDR235
    They are just shoving it in slow so we get use to it.

    Jose
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  • jddd48
    I was born and raised in Seattle. What a wonderful place to grow up. It was a republican state back then. My public education was second to none. Things changed when the democrats started taking over. Excessive taxes and regulations wiped out a comfortable life. 7 years ago the gun laws started to get bad. Wife and I sold out and moved to the free state of Arizona and we love it. We still have to return for visits for a few weeks in the summer, I go reluctanly,. We Still have a Wn CPLs so we can feel safer. What a rat hole
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  • ruger41
    It?s getting worse by the year. The Seattle side controls the voting because of population just like California. Our Attorney General has the Governor?s seat in his sights for 2020 and has already stated he will be pushing for even more gun control this year. He may get it too because our legislature is 100% Democrat controlled and we have a Democrat Governor. I?ve already told the wife that we may be leaving Washington which is sad as I love living where I do. Sadly no State is now immune from this anti gun bs...just look at Florida this last year.
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  • Don McManus
    quote:Originally posted by US Military Guy
    Did those same 18 - 20 year olds vote?

    Will they next time?


    This was a voter initiative sponsored by Bloomberg and funded by an number of in-state and out-of-state billionaires, including the late Paul Allen.

    The initiative was voted for by over 59% state-wide, and it would not surprise me that the 18-20 year old demographic supported it.
    I tried a quick check to see if there was any exit poll data about this but did not find anything.
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  • Sam06
    Thats too bad.

    I was stationed at Ft Lewis for 10 years and I loved that area.
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  • Smitty500mag
    Is it still ok for 18 to 20 year old's in the military from Washington to kill people in the war with a semi auto rifle or are they going to have to be issued bolt action rifles now?
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