What's wrong with the Governor's proposed budget?

 Governor Gregoire’s proposed state budget harms our state’s most vulnerable citizens, fails to protect public safety, and violates our collective bargaining rights.

• We believe the Governor has violated her legal duty and the integrity of our contract by not including bargained contractual improvements in her proposed state budget.
• The governor proposes to close the Yakima Valley School and Naselle Youth Camp. Closing these facilities won’t improve patient care and will devastate local communities.
• The governor also proposes significant cuts to the Basic Health Plan, community mental health, chemical dependency, and hospital reimbursements. She also proposes to eliminate medical coupons and housing assistance to very poor vulnerable citizens in the General Assistance-Unemployable (GAU) program. These short-sighted cuts mean more people will go without healthcare and needed services.
• Now the Legislature reviews the Governor’s proposed budget and can make changes, and that’s why it’s up to members like us to email legislators, testify, and work to protect funding for our programs. The Legislature must pass a final 2009-2011 state budget by the end of April.

What is SEIU Healthcare 1199NW doing?

1. Protect the integrity of collective bargaining

We’re advocating for our pay raises, and we also want to ensure that the state respects the collective bargaining agreements that we signed. The integrity of our contract is on the line.
WFSE, SEIU 775 (homecare workers) and SEIU 925 (child care workers) have filed suit against the Governor. 
 
2. Advocate for a fair state budget

We have begun working with the state Legislature to win funding for pay raises and programs, and to stop closure of the Yakima Valley School and Naselle Youth Camp. Members like us will testify and be advocates in Olympia for our programs, clients and patients.

We’ll also work with legislators to find additional state solutions, close tax loopholes, and advocate for federal solutions, like President-elect Obama’s proposed stimulus package.

3. Speak out for quality care and public safety

We’ll need every member’s involvement to write letters and make phone calls to our legislators. We also will need to reach out to patient/client families, allies in the community, other state employees, and health care advocates.

Mark your calendars for our first advocacy day in Olympia on Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 16  RSVP here.

4. Work with allies to find solutions

The state’s budget crisis is real and significant. We’ll continue to work with other state employees, health care and community advocates, and elected leaders to find the right budget solutions that protect our values of quality care and public safety.

Take Action and Stay Informed!

• Don’t forget to sign up for the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW lobby day on Monday, Feb. 16 (Presidents Day).
• Visit our state nurses’ blog. We’ll post regular updates on our blog and give you opportunities to take action. We’ll also have a regular Q&A feature where you can ask questions about the state budget and what we’re doing about it.
• Sign our workplace petition for quality patient care and a fair state budget.