Catherwood LibraryILR School

The Governor of Washington State and public employee unions announced an agreement that includes health insurance cost increases for workers and a 3% pay cut in unpaid leave. The health insurance increase is for all state workers, and 90% of state employees will be covered by the pay cut, with those making under $30,000 a year exempt. The agreement will save the state $269 million over the next two years. Washington faces a projected budget shortfall of $4.6 billion. The Governor also asked that elected officials' salaries be reduced by the same amount that state employees will face. The Governor said that she was happy to work with the unions to help cut some costs, but said that she did not expect them to solve all of the state's problems. The agreement will have to be ratified by the unions and passed by the legislature before it goes into effect.