Council Budget Team applauds action of County Labor Coalition

September 30, 2010

Summary

Members understand “what is at stake”

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council’s Budget Leadership Team – Budget Chair Julia Patterson, Kathy Lambert, Larry Gossett and Reagan Dunn – released this statement in response to today’s tentative agreement with the 6,000 County employees represented by the King County Labor Coalition to forego approximately $8 million in cost of living adjustments (COLAs) in 2011:

“Today’s announcement is a realization of just what is at stake. Jobs are going to be lost, services to the people of King County are going to be reduced. The willingness of these employees to sacrifice wages that the county agreed to pay them is to be applauded and is something we hope other county bargaining units will emulate.

“County employees are the ‘face’ we present to the public, and the agreement covers a wide range of services and agencies. Some of units that are part of this agreement are security screeners in the County Courthouse and dental nurses in our public health clinics. They’re in daily contact with the taxpayers who pay their salaries, taxpayers who are also making sacrifices in this difficult economy.

“The County Executive and the leadership of the labor coalition are to be commended for working out this agreement. It is a step to ensure that when these services are needed, skilled, trained employees will be available to serve the people of King County.”