Sifting through public records...
Posted by Mike Reitz - October 08, 2007
Last November, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation filed a public document request with the Office of Financial Management for the proposals and notes generated during negotiations for the 2007-08 state collective bargaining agreements.
The state agreed to release the documents, but a coalition of unions sued to prevent disclosure.
The unions punctuated the ensuing litigation with highly entertaining arguments and quotes from union members. Many of the best were picked up by newspapers and bloggers: What public right to know?, Unions want negotiating notes kept secret, Open shutters on labor negotiations, Our View: Closed-Door Union.
On August 24, 2007, Judge Christopher Washington ruled in favor of public disclosure and permitted the release of the documents.
We've been analyzing the negotiation notes and proposals. Over the next few days annd weeks we'll post our findings.
First up: the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
Thoughts? Add Comment -
Arthur Miller said on Oct 14 2007 at 8:55am
At one time it was illegal for civil service employees to form a union. Though cival service employees were not paid as much as workers in the private sector but they had job security and better benefits. Now they not only have job security they get paid more and still have better benefits. Their employer, the government, is not restricted in its ability to raise thei salaries or increase their benefits by profits. The government simply raises taxes.
Maverick said on Oct 18 2007 at 11:13am
Your blog posting has been selected for the Carnival of Open Records. Take a look here: http://wikifoia.pbwiki.com/7th+Carnival+Edition