Spring 2013
Organizing should be a civil right, economist says
by County and City Employee Writer on July 12, 2013It’s a good time to rebuild the middle class, says John Burbank executive director of the Seattle-based Economic Opportunity Institute.One way to achieve that, he says, is to strengthen unions.
Burbank, who spoke at Council 2’s Legislative Weekend, said that since 1980 workers’ productivity has risen, but wages and salaries have remained...
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Contribute to the scholarship fund!
by Chris Dugovich, Council 2 President and Executive Director on June 28, 2013This year Council 2 will go over the half-million mark in dollars awarded to our deserving kids who are seeking a college education.
In 2013 alone your union through its Scholarship Committee...
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Golf tournament to be held July 12
by anonymous on March 30, 2013Sign up now for the Council 2 golf tournament, in aid of scholarship funds, to be held at the Chambers Bay Golf Course on July 12. The tournament fills up fast, so avoid disappointment by...
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New PERC director aims at more efficiency
by County and City Employee Writer on March 21, 2013Mike Sellars is on a mission. As the new executive director of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC), he wants to make the organization more efficient and more transparent.
In that...
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Capitol Tour
by County and City Employee Writer on February 25, 2013Council 2 members met in Olympia for the Legislative Weekend in late January. Part of the weekend was a tour of the Capitol. Here are pictures from the...
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Pension plans face threats
by County and City Employee Writer on February 11, 2013Council 2 saw several improvements passed into law when Christine Gregoire was governor. A major gain was the lowering of the retirement age for Plan 2 from 65 to 62 for 30-year employees.
Now...
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Wages up, layoffs down as economy improves
by County and City Employee Writer on February 11, 2013City and county employees are starting to climb out of the deep hole into which the Great Recession plunged them.
Wages are increasing, layoffs have decreased significantly, and some jurisdictions...
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When disaster comes calling, the cry goes out...'CALL FROSTY'
by County and City Employee Writer on February 11, 2013It’s just after 8 o’clock on a cold January morning. The telephone on Kimberly Frost’s desk rings.
“There’s been a water break in downtown Vancouver,” the caller says. “It’s the main line. Water...
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