By Bill Lucia | Editor
Hundreds of Washington state employees walked off the job for an hour Monday as they demand higher wages in new labor contracts now under negotiation. “We’re not going to agree to furloughs. We’re not going to agree to cuts,” said Ashley Fueston, vice president of the Washington Federation of State Employees. “We’re not going to agree to takeaways. That’s not acceptable.” State law sets an Oct. 1 deadline for unions to ratify agreements to be considered for funding in the next budget.
Also in today’s edition…
A hand recount confirms a four-vote margin in a state Senate race.
Washington joins other states and the federal government suing Amazon over alleged deceptive pricing for advertising.
And, a Christian education program grows in popularity and stirs controversy in Washington public schools.
News tips, feedback, questions? Email us: [email protected]
Washington state employees walked out of their worksites Monday to protest for higher wages in their next two-year contract. (Photo by Aspen Ford/Washington State Standard)
By Jerry Cornfield and Aspen Ford
The Washington Federation of State Employees, which represents about 52,000 state government, higher education and public service workers, organized Monday’s walkouts to show their unhappiness with the progress of contract negotiations and the state’s failure to propose adequate pay hikes.
The talks are taking place with negotiators from Gov. Bob Ferguson’s administration. And union members are increasingly voicing frustration with the governor, with some suggesting he’s not living up to commitments he made to workers while campaigning.
“As he develops his budget, the governor is focused on preserving core services for the most vulnerable people in our state,” Brionna Aho, Ferguson’s communications director, said in a statement. “In working to accomplish that goal, the governor will face many difficult choices, and understands not everyone will be happy with his decisions.”
By Jake Goldstein-Street
Michael Shepard will be the Democratic candidate in November for the Bellingham-area state Senate seat in the 42nd Legislative District. A hand recount confirmed that he edged out fellow Democrat Eamonn Collins by four votes in the August primary. Sen. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham, isn’t running for reelection, opening up the legislative seat. Shepard, a Bellingham port commissioner, will face Republican Erika Creydt, a psychologist and Blaine school board member, in the general election. Following the recount, Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn called the voting system “very accurate, very transparent.”
By Alex Brown
The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from 22 states, including Washington, sued Amazon Monday, claiming the online retail company used artificial bids to inflate costs for advertisers, bringing in tens of billions of dollars.
The complaint alleges that Amazon used an “invented auction participant” to drive up prices for advertising placements and sponsored product spots on its online store. The lawsuit quotes a former company employee who said the system allowed the company to charge prices “beyond what [can] be achieved through advertiser competition.”
“As alleged, this is a textbook example of illegal behavior by a corporation which places profits above all else,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, a Democrat, said in a statement. “The ubiquity of Amazon in American society pushes small- and medium-sized businesses to engage with the Company in order to stay afloat.”
By Emma Maple, FāVS
A Christian education program for public school students is gaining traction around the Pacific Northwest and also creating tension over the separation between church and state.
The national program, known as LifeWise Academy, is growing especially fast in Washington, where people have expressed interest in establishing a program in about 83% of the state’s school districts, according to the LifeWise state director, Alise Morrisey. The Bible-based program, which officials said is open to all regardless of religious affiliation, takes children out of class during the school day for religious education. It is said to incentivize children to recruit others in their classes.
Proponents argue that the Supreme Court has made it possible for programs like LifeWise to exist through a 1952 ruling.
ICYMI
Developmental disabilities program for WA families to be cut, but not ended | by Jake Goldstein-Street
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