Letter: Pay for state workers lags behind private sector

In its May 22 editorial, the Herald implies the 4.8 percent cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) in the state’s current two-year employee contract were too costly at $58.4 million.

Those modest raises were the first in seven years. During two of those seven years, state employees took a 3 percent pay cut, on top of layoffs, higher caseloads and other sacrifices that saved our state during recession.

The state’s latest salary survey, conducted by a private company, found pay for 99 percent of state job classifications lag behind counterparts in the private and public sector. The state of Washington is this state’s largest employer. To remain an “employer of choice,” it must do better.

As a state employee, I often see people leave for higher-paying jobs outside civil service.

I ask you, who will keep your water clean enough to drink? Who will keep neglected and abused children safe? Who will rescue you if you wreck on the interstate? Who will keep criminals behind bars? Would the Herald’s editorial staff, and their pro-business puppeteers, like to be responsible for getting drunk drivers off the 240, or spend a night at Coyote Ridge minding the store?

I doubt it.

This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 1:12 AM with the headline "Letter: Pay for state workers lags behind private sector."