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Council 28 strikers emerge winners — against the odds

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By CHRIS DUGOVICH

Chris Dugovich
Council 2 President/Executive Director

The Strikes, walkouts or any job action are always a case of playing against the odds. In a lot of ways the employer has the marbles and the Union is attempting to take just a few. In the case of the recent rolling walkouts by the members of Council 28 that’s exactly what they did and they came out the winners.

The rolling walkouts by Council 28 membership were the creation of years of neglect of state government’s most important asset, its employees. While the legislature year after year short-changed its employees and failed miserably to take the necessary steps to maintain a quality work environment with reasonable levels of compensation and benefits, the employees suffered. Not only is the legislature responsible but also every voter or non-voter who accesses government services and continually takes them for granted.

Chris Dugovich with Howard Ocobock, Council 28 Executive Board, on May 24 during Yakima State Employees Strike

It’s the mentality started by Reagan and in our state continued by Eyman. It’s the belief that government is inherently bad and that it literally throws money away through its inefficiencies. It never recognizes the hard work of those in government and continually presses the case that government can continue to provide basic services with less. In some cases they must believe we can do it for free.

The State employees took the only action they could in the face of this continued onslaught. Faced with a terrible system that provided no real dialogue with their employer, they took the stand they had to! They walked out, brought their issues in a forthright manner before the public and not only came out better for it, but were truly the victors. The 2.2 percent wage offer made prior to the strike action became 3.7-percent, medical-premium contributions were increased and prescription drug costs capped.

It was a win and Council 28’s membership deserves a hearty round of congratulations.