Events this week to honor, fund our public employees

OLYMPIA (May 4, 2015) — This week is the national Public Service Recognition Week honoring the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county and local government employees. In Washington, it coincides with the campaign to remind state legislators that Public Service Matters with events in support of fully funding the negotiated state employees contracts — which would offer them their first general wage increases in seven years — and efforts to ensure that our state has sufficient revenue to maintain the essential public services our state’s citizens are demanding.

State legislators are in the midst of a 30-day special extended legislative session as negotiations continue between state House and Senate leaders on an operating budget. Gov. Jay Inslee, the House and a bipartisan majority of senators have all voted to fully fund state employee contracts, but until the final budget agreement is announced, it’s still not clear whether promises will be kept to the people who provide Washington’s essential public services.

So this week, building on the Public Service Matters events that have already occurred across the state, more events are planned on this Public Service Recognition Week to honor the people who keep our communities safe, care for the elderly and disabled, teach and protect our children, maintain our roads, and provide other essential services.

MONDAY in Olympia — Frustrated with the Senate leadership’s unwillingness to limit corporate tax breaks and ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share, people from each and every legislative district in Washington are holding their own “49 for Fairness” people’s hearing and delivering thousands of petitions signed by members of the public. The hearing will be at 11 a.m. in Hearing Room A of the J.L. O’Brien Building on the Capitol campus.

WEDNESDAY in Olympia — Local 443 of the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME will have Public Service Recognition Week booths set up on the East Plaza of the Capitol campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Click here to RSVP.

THURSDAY in Olympia — There will be sign-waving and the delivery of petitions from Washington citizens in support of fully funding the state employee contracts. Sign the petition! Join us at the Tivoli Fountain for this event from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Click here to RSVP.

THURSDAY in Kirkland and Auburn — Sign-waving from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in support of public employees and funding their contracts at the intersections of Central Way & 6th Street in Kirkland (RSVP) and Harvey Road & Auburn Way in Auburn. (RSVP)

THURSDAY in Kennewick — Local 1253 of the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME will have a Public Service Recognition Week booth at the Southridge Sports Complex from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to in Kennewick. (RSVP)

More events may be added this week. Click here for the latest information.

Please support state employees by attending these events, stopping by (or honking) to show your support, and by signing the petition to legislators in support of fully funding the negotiated state employee contracts.