WSLC Political Education -- The Facts About Gov. Gregoire

WHAT UNION MEMBERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT...

GOV. CHRIS GREGOIRE
Democratic candidate for Governor

Delegates representing labor unions across the State of Washington voted UNANIMOUSLY in May to support the re-election of Gov. Chris Gregoire in 2008. Why?

Following is a list of some examples of pro-working family policies and legislation that Gov. Chris Gregoire has supported during her first term as Governor of Washington. Many other worker-friendly legislators share in the credit for these accomplishments, but Gov. Gregoire's support -- whether it was by signing legislation, by requesting legislation, or by implementing policies through state agencies in her administration -- was critical for each one of these accomplishments.

GREGOIRE'S ENDORSEMENTS

Here are just some of the newspaper endorsements supporting Gov. Chris Gregoire's re-election:

Re-elect Gov. Chris Gregoire -- THE (SPOKANE) SPOKESMAN-REVIEW -- In 2004, we concluded that Republican Dino Rossi was the more promising answer. Having now seen Gov. Chris Gregoire in action for four years, we think she has made a convincing case for re-election.

Re-elect Gov. Gregoire -- THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER -- Voters should re-elect Gregoire based on proven performance, capability and drive. Especially for uncertain times, she's a much more proven leader than Rossi.

This time around, Gregoire's our choice -- THE (TACOMA) NEWS-TRIBUNE -- Four years ago, we endorsed Rossi. This year, we are endorsing Gregoire because we’ve been impressed by her performance as governor.

Strong leader Gregoire deserves second term -- THE (EVERETT) HERALD -- Gregoire has proven to be a strong leader who's not afraid to take on entrenched interests... and she'll need to keep doing so in what will be a challenging second term.

Re-elect Gregoire -- THE (VANCOUVER) COLUMBIAN -- Gregoire's record as governor, reveals her to be a tough, no-nonsense, hard-working advocate, especially in the areas of public education and health care.

Gregoire deserves four more years -- THE OLYMPIAN -- Gregoire is a good negotiator, an innovator, a proven leader and a solid manager. She's an efficient policy wonk running against a slick carnival hawker.

Gregoire has earned another four years -- THE KITSAP SUN -- Gregoire has skillfully balanced economic and environmental needs during the past four years, and has responded effectively to the state's ongoing budget challenges.

GOV. GREGOIRE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR WASHINGTON'S WORKING FAMILIES

Created 222,000 new jobs
Washington ranked as the 3rd Best State to Do Business in Forbes Magazine.
Washington ranked 4th in union membership density, proving that creating a good climate for Washington’s working families also helps business.
Lowest unemployment in the country.
Highest minimum wage in the country.
On track to ensure every Washington child has health care insurance by 2010.
Named “Public Official of the Year” by Governing Magazine.
Washington State earned a prestigious A- ranking by The Pew Center on the States for its performance in managing public resources.
The Governor’s accountability effort, Government Management Accountability and Performance (GMAP), was selected as a Top 50 program by Harvard’s Kennedy School. This program holds state agencies responsible for their performance and is used to show citizens that their tax dollars are being wisely invested.

Union members can download fliers comparing labor-endorsed candidate Christine Gregoire and her Republican challenger, Dino Rossi, on important bread-and-butter issues to distribute to your fellow union members.

Also check out this video, "Building Trades workers support Chris Gregoire:"

2008 Legislative Session:

Laid the groundwork to create 25,000 family wage, green economy (collar) jobs in Washington State.
Signed a supplemental capital budget that authorizes $277 million in construction which will support more than 1,100 jobs a year over the next four years including nearly $1 B school construction.
Helped create and institute new heat stress rules to ensure that workers toiling in high temperature/humidity conditions are safe and protected from undue heat stress injuries.
Signed the Working Families Tax Credit giving 350,000 low-wage working families in Washington a 5% tax rebate to help deal with economic realities.
Signed a bill granting continuation of time-loss and medical benefits if an employer appeals those benefits ensuring that injured workers will not be forced to settle claims for less than they would have been entitled if an employer questions their claim.
Signed a $3 million initiative for a joint labor/management apprenticeship program for the IAM to train and educate workers in new composite technology and aerospace related fields.
Signed legislation authorizing construction for up to six new ferries for communities served by the Washington State Ferry system. The legislation also calls for the ferries to be built in Washington, with the goal of maintaining and growing the maritime building industry, providing local family-wage jobs and maintaining Washington’s shipbuilding infrastructure.
Approved loans totaling nearly $278 million to 52 Washington communities by the state Public Works Board. The loans will help local governments improve sanitary sewer, solid waste, road and domestic water infrastructure while creating good family wage jobs.
Granted collective bargaining rights for academic employees at Washington State University.
Signed a bill to begin financing the conversion of part-time to full-time faculty positions at community and technical colleges.
Signed agreement between Washington State hospitals and major nurse organizations to enhance patient safety by improving hospital staffing policies.
Increased salaries for Washington teachers.
Signed legislation to place a labor representative on the forest practices board.
Made sure Viaduct and 520 construction improvements keep rolling.

2007 Legislative Session:

Requested legislation that began “Running Start to the Trades” to return the industrial arts education as a high-wage, high-demand profession to better inform and prepare students to receive college level education and earn while they learn.
Placed $8 million in Safety Health and Innovative Programs grants to support Labor’s increased safety awareness and health on the job.
Negotiated and signed a state budget that includes $3.3 billion in capital expenditures, creating thousands of good paying jobs.
Negotiated and signed a transportation budget that creates $4.6 billion in new transportation projects, creating thousands of good paying jobs.
Signed collective bargaining agreements with over twenty state employee unions that provide significant overall salary increases and additional adjustments for many categories of state workers.
Created a Container Ports Initiative that invests significant dollars to help with freight mobility issues and to modernize our ports for the future.
Negotiated and signed an education budget that invests over $900 additional dollars per pupil in the K-12 system (the largest single investment in the history of the system) to lower class size and improve teacher salaries; adds 10,000 slots to our higher education institutions, including an additional 300 for apprenticeship programs at the community colleges; adds $85 million in scholarships and grants to be sure that all children, regardless of income, have an opportunity to get the education they deserve.
Signed legislation that corrects the hour bank problem for building and construction workers, investigates the underground economy, reforms the vocational rehabilitation system (Governor’s request legislation), corrects problems in the prevailing wage surveys, improves the benefits in the workers’ comp. system, protects workers in the self-insured system.
Signed legislation to promote crane safety and require better oversight of contractors.
Signed legislation to allow adult family home providers to collectively bargain.
Signed legislation to help unions clarify the use of non-members agency fees monies.
Helped negotiate and signed legislation that provides for family leave insurance to help working families care for a newborn or adopted child.
Signed legislation that requires a study and recommendations for dealing with employers that do not provide health benefits.
Signed legislation that requires 15% apprenticeship utilization requirement for school construction projects over a certain dollar amount.
Began twenty initiatives to address both cost and access to health care.

2005-06 Legislative Sessions:

Backed and signed a $3.3 billion construction budget that provides more than 24,000 jobs for Washington workers.
Negotiated and signed an $8.5 billion transportation package that will create thousands of good, family wage jobs across the state.
Approved legislation to require that 15 percent of workers on all state projects are apprentices, ensuring with each building we build, we are investing in the workforce for the next building.
Supported the “Helmets to Hardhats” program that provides returning service men and women with information and access to a training and education package to help them get started on a productive career in the building and construction trades.
Signed legislation to roll back four quarter averaging of unemployment insurance benefits in order to have time to produce a long-term solution that doesn’t disproportionably affect workers in seasonal industries.
Approved legislation to provide outside audits of the industrial insurance funds to ensure confidence and transparency in the workers’ compensation system.
Provided changes to Unemployment Insurance system to eliminate provisions that disproportionately reduced benefits for women, people of color, and low-income workers, and to protect the experience rated tax structure that many employers want to preserve.
Enacted Legislation to give full collective bargaining rights to the State Patrol.
Approved a budget that fully funded negotiated raises for state employees.
Signed seven master agreements with state employees negotiated through the collective bargaining process for the first time in Washington history.
Approved legislation to improve training programs for long-term care workers.
Chose to sign as her first bill apprenticeship utilization legislation that placed Washington as a leader in addressing the skills gap in the construction industry that has created double the opportunity for the next generation of building and construction trades professionals.
Called together Washington Learns to begin breaking down the transitional barriers between K-12 and higher education and to address serious funding inequities and to improve student outcomes.
Signed a proclamation supporting Veterans civilian reemployment and career opportunities in Helmets to Hardhats.

Also, check out What Union Members Should Know About Dino Rossi, Gov. Chris Gregoire's Republican challenger in the 2008 election. For more information, contact David Groves at 206-281-8901.