Washington state workers oppose furlough plan as betrayal

Hundreds of workers protested at the Washington state Capitol on Monday. They are upset with Governor Bob Ferguson's plan to furlough state workers for one day a month to address a projected budget deficit. Many believe this decision feels like a betrayal since they supported Ferguson during his campaign. Ferguson announced the furlough plan without warning public employee unions. He also proposed cutting bonuses for teachers. Workers, including union leaders, voiced their frustration and called for the state to tax the wealthy and large businesses instead. Mike Yestramski, president of the Washington Federation of State Employees, criticized Ferguson, saying workers feel deceived. He emphasized that budgets reflect moral values and urged lawmakers to avoid placing the burden of budget cuts on employees. The governor's proposal suggests furloughs could save about $300 million over the next two years. Some lawmakers, including Democrats, believe new taxes on large corporations could be a solution rather than furloughs. They plan to reveal their budget proposals soon, aiming for a balance that protects workers. Ferguson initially planned to honor collective bargaining agreements that grant pay raises for state employees. Nonetheless, his furlough proposal could effectively reduce workers' earnings by 5%. Union leaders argue that past attempts at furloughs in previous economic downturns did not work as intended. Ferguson's team stated that the final budget decisions lie with the Legislature, but if they agree to furloughs, management will negotiate with the unions.