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County, union fined for campaign deductions
Thursday, October 25, 2001
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF
Accused of illegally taking paycheck deductions from transit workers for a political campaign, King County and the Amalgamated Transit Union reached a deal with the state attorney general to pay thousands in fines and put in protections to avoid problems in the future.
The settlement, announced yesterday, came seven months after transit workers complained that the county, with approval of union leadership, illegally deducted $10 monthly from their paychecks last year for a campaign against Initiative 745.
The ballot measure, which failed, would have earmarked 90 percent of transportation funds for road maintenance and construction.
"Essentially what they did was create a political committee with the money," said Vicki Rippie, executive director of the Public Disclosure Commission, where the complaint originally was lodged. "That's not illegal, but you need permission from every union member."
King County will pay a $20,000 fine, with more than half deferred if the county meets certain conditions, including better staff training to prevent similar problems. County officials believe the county will pay only $7,500.
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