Middle Class Heroes For a Fair Contract

Heroes like: Kathy Hatcher Patrick McDonough Maria Blackburn

Working to keep our highways safe -all just inches from speeding drivers.

Severely injured by a mental patient while trying to keep others safe.

Mother of the Year for caring for at-risk children during the day while caring for son Derryck (center) offshift and putting two children through college, including Bryan.

Working hard for strong families, a secure middle class and a better world for our children. Now its time to invest in fair contracts that preserve vital services and bring economic growth.

Washington Federation of State Employees AFSCME Council 28 WFSE.org

Middle Class Heroes for a Fair Contract

SAFEGUARDING DIGNITY FOR VULNERABLE CITIZENS

Brad Samples is a state worker who keeps disabled citizens safe, sound and productive members of society. I didnt get into this work to get rich. I got into it to make a difference. But I get angry when the selfish and privileged few attack honest, hardworking middle class state workers. We provide vital services. Yet the state protects big oil companies like BP with generous tax giveaways.1 Ive made tremendous sacrifices economically. Yet in recent years, the state could still afford to give away more than $3 billion when they created more than 150 new tax loopholes.2

SOURCES: 1. Revenues to Rebuild Washingtons Economy: A Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Washington, Economic Opportunity Institute, October 2011; 2. Washington State Department of Revenue

Middle Class Heroes for a Fair Contract

STANDING UP FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN

Joyce Murphy is a state worker who protects vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. She sees things most of us could never imagine. Weve sacrificed our fair share and taken on additional workload when the state cut 10,000 positions.1 I want to leave behind a better world for the at-risk children Ive dedicated my life to. But cuts to vital services and attacks on state workers have harmed the entire states middle class and cost the loss of 45,000 jobs in our economy.2

SOURCES: 1. Shared Sacrifices of State Employees, Office of the Governor, November 2011; 2. Washington News Service, Nov. 21, 2011

Middle Class Heroes for a Fair Contract

PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY

Judy Kuschel is a state worker who protects the public from domestic violence offenders and other dangerous offenders released from our prisons. Were the first line of defense keeping our communities safe for hard-working middle class families. Middle class state workers didnt cause the states economic crisis. Yet state workers like me have given up more than 10 percent of our pay to save the state.1 We need to pull together, not tear down middle class workers.

SOURCE: 1. Shared Sacrifice: Overall Compensation for Average State Employee is Falling, OFM, March 2011

Middle Class Heroes for a Fair Contract

HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED

Kelly Grayson is a state worker who helps college students get the services they need to succeed in school. Our pay has taken many hits over the last four years. A lot of people dont know that. Our health insurance costs and pensions costs have gone up while our pay has gone down.1 We provide vital services every day. Those vital services fuel economic growth.2 The public needs to know we make a difference. Lets stop the attacks on middle class state workers.

SOURCES: 1. Shared Sacrifice: Overall Compensation for Average State Employee is Falling, OFM, March 2011; 2. Three years into recovery, just how much has state and local austerity hurt job growth? Economic Policy Institute, July 6, 2012, http://www.epi.org/ blog/years-recovery-state-local-austerity-hurt/

Middle Class Heroes for a Fair Contract

SACRIFICING FOR OUR FUTURE

Wendy Irish is a state worker providing services at one of our quality state colleges. Tuition for students our kids is going up 12 percent. State workers have taken a 3 percent cut in pay alone. Yet at our college, the president is getting a 12 percent pay hike and other administrators and managers are getting $3,000 in raises.1 The rest of us are falling behind. Eighty-two percent of state workers make less than market rate. So were not getting rich.2 Weve saved the state with our sacrifices. Its time to invest in our

SOURCES: 1. College pay always low for select few, Spokane Spokesman-Review, July 20, 2012; 2. 2010 Salary Survey Summary, Washington State Department of Personnel (now Washington State Human Resources), June 4, 2010, http://www.dop.wa.gov/ CompClass/Compensation/Pages/TotalCompensationSurvey.aspx