Metropolitan King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert has introduced a motion that would change labor policy regarding cost-of-living increases and changes in contracts when the county is facing revenue shortfalls.
Metropolitan King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert has introduced a motion that would change labor policy regarding cost-of-living increases and changes in contracts when the county is facing revenue shortfalls.
The motion, referred Monday to the council’s Committee of the Whole, would, when revenues are expected to be stagnant or decline, direct the county executive to negotiate labor contracts that reduce the minimum annual cost-of-living increase from 2 percent to zero and that contain a reopener clause. when revenues are expected to be stagnant or decline.
When revenues are in decline, the executive would be expected to bargain possible suspension of cost-of-living adjustments, higher payments by employees for health care, suspension of step increases, reductions of wages, and unpaid furloughs.
“I think that somebody had to say we’ve got to look at more options other than closing down government” on negotiated furlough days, Lambert said Monday. ervin