Washington Public Sector Labor Negotiations Blog
Trends and Developments Concerning Washington Public Labor Contracts
By Jim Cline
This is the fifth in a series of articles on recent Interest Arbitration decisions. A summary of all recent arbitration decisions since 2008 is available on the Premium website. This is a decision by Arbitrator Ken Latsch concerning the Everett Firefighters.
By Jim Cline
This is the fourth in a series of articles on recent Interest Arbitration decisions. A summary of all recent arbitration decisions since 2008 is available on the Premium website. This is a decision by Arbitrator Gary Axon concerning Vancouver police officers.
By Jim Cline
This is the third in a series of articles on recent Interest Arbitration decisions. A summary of all recent arbitration decisions since 2008 is available on the Premium website. This is a decision by Howell Lankford concerning InterCity transit operators in Thurston County.
By: Jim Cline and Kate Kremer
This is the second in a series of articles on recent Interest Arbitration decisions. A summary of all recent arbitration decisions since 2008 is available on the Premium website. This is a decision by Katrina Boedeker concerning Island County Corrections Officers.
By: Jim Cline and Kate Kremer
This article is the first in a series summarizing recent Interest Arbitration decisions that have occurred over the past year. The series itself focuses on the extent to which arbitrators are, or are not, providing more expansive awards in the post-Great Recession era. A summary of the Economic Elements of Arbitration Awards from 2008 to the current time is posted and available on our premium website.
By Jim Cline and Kate Kremer
Last week’s BLS Report revealed a significant jump in the inflation rate. The April All Cities index was 2.0%, up from 1.0% in February. The Seattle index jumped from 1.3%, to 2.6% during the same two-month period. The numbers show CPI edging up over the past year:
By Jim Cline
Most of our recent blogs on economic developments have emphasized the modest nature of recent economic improvement, but a series of reports over the past few weeks have signaled that the economy may, at last, be gathering a bit of momentum as it heads into 2014. While the government shutdown and debt ceiling debate seemed to place a chill on the economy this fall, these new economic releases have often exceeded economists’ expectations and point to a possible improved economy in the year ahead. [Read more…]
By Jim Cline
Last week, we reported the sudden drop in the National and Seattle CPI numbers and also discussed the potential impact on 2014 and 2015 negotiations. In October, we had also written about the 2% inflation target established by the Federal Reserve Bank as they use monetary policy to attempt to control inflation. We explained how the Fed seems to be falling short on those 2% goals:
By Jim Cline, Kate Kremer and Chris Casillas
In our last blog, we reported the significant drop in inflation reported in the October CPI report. With current CPI standing at 0.8% and 0.6% for the “All-Cities” and Seattle index, respectively, how might this sudden drop affect bargaining?
BY Jim Cline and Kate Kremer
Just last month, we noted that inflation appeared to be “trending downward” at that inflation at 2% or less might be the “new normal.” This week’s CPI report further reflects that downward trend.
