Our gains in 2007

In 2007, we won big in the Legislature and then translated that win into successful contract negotiations. Overall, we:

• Won Pay Raises in 2007 and 2008 totaling between 8% and 14.5% --plus annual step increases.
  
• Maintained our Health Care everywhere, and improved at some agencies: 100% employer-paid health care for workers at CPC, West Seattle, BHR, Compass, and Whatcom; improvements in family coverage at Kitsap and West Seattle Psychiatric.
  
• Gained a Stronger Voice on safe staffing.
  
• Won Paid Mental Health Advocacy Days --a total of 326 days, so we can advocate effectively for improvements to community mental health.
  
• Created Common Expiration Dates --all of our contracts will expire on March 31, 2009 --so we can lobby effectively in Olympia for significant change in mental health. 

These gains will help recruit and retain staff at our agencies. We congratulate the providers and allies who worked with us this past year to improve funding and services in community mental healt