Spokane7
49°
August 6, 2010 in City
In brief: State workers will be furloughed today
Many Washington state workers will take today off without pay for the second scheduled furlough day forced by budget problems.
The Legislature passed a bill in April requiring many state agencies, boards and commissions to have workers take 10 days off without pay through June 2011 to help ease a projected budget shortfall. Certain jobs that support public safety or public health, or generate revenue for the state, are exempt.
That means that while State Patrol offices will be closed, troopers will still be on the roads. Department of Corrections offices will be closed, but corrections officers will be on duty at state institutions. Child protective workers will be on the job, although many Department of Social and Health Services offices will be closed. The Liquor Control Board offices are closed; state liquor stores are open regular hours.
The next furlough is Sept. 7.
Romney/Paul split weighing on county GOP 
liarsinnews on August 06 at 7:21 a.m.
Its high time to cut out the bloat and reduce the size of government.
philipgregory on August 06 at 10:13 a.m.
It’s such a privilege to be a Washington State employee.
We’ve sacrificed our employee benefits in the past, now we get to directly contribute to the state’s over-spending.
I wonder if Canada would accept Washington employees as economic refugees?
MrDavis on August 06 at 10:25 a.m.
Observing the highway contract work that appears to be on schedule, it appears that the emplyees bear the brunt of cutbacks while third party contractors continue business as usual. I suppose it could be because of the state’s pre-existing contractual obligations. It could also be because of the power that private interests and lobbyists wield in Olympia.
gotcha on August 11 at 2:33 p.m.
Unions do not belong in goverment and goverment does not belong in Unions…
Patty Murray is a prime example….When she says it is for the children, she means it is a reward to the Unions…If she was concerned about the children she would not have voted in 3 Trillion dollars of debt to them just since Obama has taken office….Patty has no idea what a Trillion even is.
Vote her out this November.