No Pink Slips for State Employees!

Last spring, Governor Gregoire promised to make needed budget cuts by trimming management fat - not by cutting frontline public service jobs. She promised to cut a thousand positions from the bloated Washington Management Service. But agency bosses don't seem to think her promise applies to them. They're cutting frontline jobs like there's no tomorrow, while leaving management untouched.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Cut management waste, not public services!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Last spring, you promised to cut a thousand Washington Management Services positions, saying that you wanted to protect the real services that benefit the citizens of Washington state. But management at DSHS and other agencies don't seem to have gotten the message - they're cutting front line service jobs like there's no tomorrow.

Please keep your promise! Tell agency management to cut management waste, not public service jobs.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 24, 2005

Background Information

In March, Governor Gregoire promised to change the culture of state government, saving $50 million by cutting 1000 middle-management WMS positions. She said:

"We have too many people pushing paper in our state government. Instead, we need to push people out of management and into delivering real services to the citizens of the state of Washington."

Now, management at DSHS Fircrest, Rainier School, residential habilitation centers and agencies across the state have created their own plan to save money by cutting jobs. But instead of delivering on the Governor's promise of cutting waste at the bloated middle management level, they're cutting jobs on the front lines - endangering our ability to deliver the real services Washington counts on.

At Fircrest alone, management has announced plans to cut dozens of full time positions on October 1, including attendant counselors, doctors, nurses and support staff. Some have gotten their walking papers already. But despite Governor Gregoire's stated priorities, not a single manager will lose their job. They've done what management often does - insulating their jobs and passing the pain down to those of us on the front lines. The problem isn't an isolated one, either.

Management in every institution and every department should honor Governor Gregoire's promise--make cuts in their own ranks before making any front line staff cuts.