Washington State's Governor has reopened contract negotiations with public employee unions, saying that further cuts will have to be made to reduce the state's budget deficit. The unions agreed to a two-year wage freeze in 2009, as well as unpaid furlough days and increased health care costs. The unions say that they have faced pension costs, layoffs and increased work because of the cuts and they are not willing to give up more. The Governor has already said that she wants the unions to pay greater health care costs when contracts are up in 2011.
See "State employee unions resist further cuts to offset revenue losses", The Seattle Times, December 1, 2010