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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Afternoon Fizz: Two More County Unions Agree to 2011 Wage Freeze

Politics   October 25, 2010 at 4:27 pm Erica C. Barnett

In a statement this afternoon, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that another 48 county employees (members of the Puget Sound Police Officers Association and the King County Court Protection Guild) have agreed to give up cost-of-living raises for 2011.

Today’s statement was the latest in a series of announcements by Constantine about unions that have agreed to wage concessions in an effort to save jobs and close a $60 million 2011 budget gap.

The barrage of announcements comes at a time when Constantine is struggling to convince two large county unions, the Metro union and the sheriff’s deputies’ union, to accept wage concessions. Because both have access to interest arbitration if negotiations with the county fail, county sources say it’s unlikely that either will agree to wage or benefit concessions (arbitration is a process that tends to favor union interests).


  • http://pstransitoperators.wordpress.com/ Jeff Welch

    Funny how people earning over $100,000.00 a year agreeing to forgo an increase next year keeps making news. Must make a real dent in their ability to have a housekeeper in 5 days a week instead of 6.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/6SAQ6R2ZBGQQNNBXVJZG66K6KY Mickymse

    Funny how Metro drivers would make less money if they worked in virtually any other city in North America…

  • LNault

    Re: $ 100,000.00 / yr. it is a small percentage of drivers’ that have their _ _ _ in a seat that long to make that kind of $. Many work 2.5 hrs / wk. no o.t., no benefits, requiring another source of income to live in King County.
    Re: less $. Wages are lower, so is cost of living in (some) other cities.
    You want to make $100,000.00 / yr. Metro hires part-time drivers every two weeks. If you pass the tests, and want to work between 3-6:30 M-F for 2.5 hrs/wk for 2-5yrs. & then work weeknds & nites for 2-20 yrs (yes 20yrs to get weekends off for some) you too can work 16hrs/ day 7 days /wk no vacations, no sick leave.