All About WFSE

Washington Federation of State Employees AFSCME Council 28
A Member Orientation Guide
All About WFSE

v. 1/2015
Connect with Council 28

UNION COMMUNICATIONS
Federation HOTLINE
WFSE/AFSCME News Service
Join us on Facebook
Facebook.com/wfsec28
Sign-up at
www.wfse.org/news/
DELIVERY OPTIONS
Follow us on Twitter
Twitter.com/wfsec28
HOTLINE BREAKING NEWS

Get the news when it breaks.
Tag us on Instagram
EMAIL | Text NEWS to 69866 | Twitter
#wfsec28
HOTLINE WEEKLY SUMMARY

Get a weekly summary of the news on Friday
EMAIL | AUDIO at 800-562-6102
Watch us on YouTube
YouTube.com/wfsec28
Action Alerts
Text wfsec28 to 69866
Table of Contents
Vision, Mission, Core Values..................................2
Welcome Letter.......................................................3
Unions Build a Strong Middle Class .....................4
Income Inequality...................................................5
Workers Rights and Union Representation............6
Building a Strong Union.........................................8
Union Membership Matters....................................9
Collective Bargaining...........................................10
Members are Our Strength - Get Involved........... 11
Union Membership Difference.............................14
Community Involvement......................................16
Member Benefits...................................................18
WFSE/AFSCME Locals.......................................20
Office Locations....................................................21
WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES (WFSE) www.wfse.org Page 1
Vision
Mission
WFSE is an efficient, dynamic, memberdriven and diverse organization that supports

and empowers public service employees.
We achieve this through organization, training
and education in all public forums and political
levels with activism, integrity, pride and
coalition-building. We build public support
and trust. Our membership is inclusive in
nature, seeking uniform fairness with strong
ethical standards to protect public interests.
WFSEs purpose is to organize and empower

individuals to create a powerful collective
voice, respond to the needs and directions
of the membership, achieve and maintain
excellent wages, benefits and working
conditions, ensure the union is a positive force
in workers lives, families and communities
and unite the locals of WFSE/AFSCME for
mutual protection and advancement of
workers.
Core Values
DEMOCRATIC: Membership-driven, members connected and essential to the process.

RESPECT: Ideas, diversity, perspectives, public respect, dignity, compassion.
INTEGRITY: Honest, ethical, courageous, doing whats right, mean what you say, trust but
verify.
FAIRNESS AND EQUITY: Representation without bias including
political action. Diversity in ideas, behavior and differences.
PROFESSIONALISM: Mentoring, responsiveness, accountability,
continuous improvement, education and training.
BETTERMENT OF WORKERS LIVES AND FAMILIES: Wages, benefits, working conditions,
healthcare and safety.
Strategic Goals
Improve state employee and community image.
Increase member participation.
Build a new contract campaign.
Organize and engage private-sector public service employees to fight privatization
and continue a Volunteer Member Organizer (VMO) program.
Page 2 AFSCME Council 28 Public Service Makes Washington Better
WELCOME
Public service makes Washington better

Dear Colleague,
If you are new to state government or the public service sector, congratulations
on your new job. If youre considering joining or if youre getting reacquainted
with your union, welcome to the Washington Federation of State Employees,
AFSCME Council 28, the most powerful and democratic union in Washington
State.
We represent state employees who work in General Government, Higher Education
and public service groups like Independent Provider Interpreters, American
Behavioral Health Systems and American Friends Service Committee.
As you learn more about the union, I am certain you will have numerous questions.
This booklet will provide some initial information to get you started.
Sue Henricksen
WFSE/AFSCME President
Local 53
DSHS DD Field Services
Find me on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/
sue.henricksen
Stay informed. Connect with
Council 28. Learn how at
www.wfse.org or on the inside
front cover page.
Our contracts contain important information about basic working conditions,

workers rights and responsibilities. Your employer will provide you with a
copy; keep it handy. You can also download one from our website at
http://www.wfse.org/contracts/.
Together we all make up the union. We elect representatives to policy committees

to represent worker issues and we elect member representatives to negotiate our
contracts, that may include wages, cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA), step increases, health care coverage, pension coverage, vacation time, holiday options
and more.
In addition, we advocate for safe and respectful work environments.
To join and become a member, complete the enclosed membership card. There
is a big difference between choosing to be a full member and the non-member
fee payer. If you support fair wages and strong benefits, we encourage you to
become a full member. Being a member entitles you to voting rights during all
union elections, the right to participate in union activities, surveys, functions and
to members-only union benefits.
WFSE/AFSCME members wrote the Vision, Mission and Core Values statement on the opposite page. Everything we do and all actions we take are directly
related to them. Together we make a difference.
We are the union and together we strengthen our voice.
I am honored to serve you as your president. I hope this booklet helps you begin
your journey as a member of WFSE/AFSCME.
Sincerely,
Sue Henricksen
President, AFSCME Council 28
About Unions
Unions build a strong

middle class
By joining together, working people gain strength in numbers and create a
voice at work and in our communities about matters we care about.
Working together, we can negotiate a contract with our employer that may
include better pay, protect our health insurance, and create a fair and safe
workplace with worker-friendly policies like schedule flexibility, commute
trip reduction and leave to care for family members.
No matter what type of job workers are in, strong unions

allow workers to speak out for fairness for all working
people in their communities and create better standards
and a strong middle class across the country.
AFSCME, the AFL-CIO and all unions envision a future in which work
and all people who work are valued, respected and rewarded.
We achieve that first through traditional representation and bargaining for
strong contracts but then we go beyond that by participating in lobbying
and working in coalition with other organizations to achieve the same
goal:
Building a strong Middle Class community.
We accomplish this by building a broad coalition to advance a workerfriendly political and economic agenda.
We are WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 AFL-CIO
INCOME
INEQUALITY
This is a movement that matters

to our states economy
When you join this union, you
become part of the solution we hope
closes the gap between the rich and
the middle class in the United States
and in our communities here in
Washington.
Simply, the state of Washington is
this states largest employer. So if
state employees and public service
sector employees cant make a living wage, they cant buy the goods
and services that drive the economy.
Washingtons economy then suffers
because this large pool of workers
isnt earning enough to keep our
economy strong.
growth. Thats a recipe for economic

catastrophe.
The men and women of our union,

the Washington Federation of State
Employees, have done much to reduce income inequality. Thirty years
ago, the unions pioneering comparable worth settlement addressed
gender-based wage disparities. More
recently, Medical Interpreters negotiated a first-ever contract that boosted
pay but also saved the state millions
of taxpayer dollars. Many contracts
negotiated in 2014 (effective July 1,
2015) help those earning less than
$15 an hour. The Community College Coalition even won first-time

salary increases for part-time hourly
workers.
Income inequality is a national issue

that we can help solve here with
strong contracts and a commitment
to workplace rights.
This is a union committed to reversing income inequality. You can help
because your voice matters.
When you join WFSE/AFSCME,

your voice joins with other members
engaged in this effort.
The real job creators are not CEOs

or corporations or wealthy investors, former U.S. Labor Secretary
Robert Reich says (robertreich.org).
The job creators are members of
Americas vast middle class and the
poor, whose purchases cause businesses to expand and invest.
Income inequality affects us all.

There are many reasons for this
alarming gap between the vast
Middle Class and the few very rich.
The chart (right) shows that after
World War II, the economy boomed
because 90% of Americas wage
earners those on the lower end of
the pay scale benefited the most
from income growth. But during
recent economic expansions, its
been the very few at the very top
who have captured all the income
Workers Rights
Represented workers have a voice

Workers Rights
Workers have the right to organize a union to negotiate wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of
employment.
Union members have the right to bargain collectively through representatives of employees own
choosing for a contract that covers wages, benefits,
hours, and other working conditions.
Union members have the right to discuss terms and

conditions of employment or union organizing with
co-workers to help solve problems and come up with
solutions that work.
Union members have the right to take action with
one or more co-workers to improve working conditions by, among other means, raising work-related
complaints directly with your employer or with a
government agency, and seeking help from a union.
Union members have the right to go public (demonstrate, rally, sign-wave, wear issue-related buttons,
shirts). There are some locational restrictions. Check
with your Shop Steward.
Union members have the right to receive all the
benefits achieved by the union in negotiating employment benefits with your employer.
Representation
With WFSE/AFSCME, youre empowered with
the most effective representation available for state
employees and workers in the public service.
WFSE/AFSCME provides representation on individual concerns and on concerns shared by you

and your co-workers. WFSE/AFSCME represents
employees:
In negotiations and enforcement of contracts
(collective bargaining agreements);
With the heads of individual agencies, institutions of higher education and private owners;
Before the state Legislature;
Before the states personnel-related boards and

other regulatory bodies;
On grievance actions;
The union helps members with day-to-day problems, as well as reallocation requests, classification
and pay issues, and monitoring attempts to outsource
public services.
WFSE/AFSCME is the leader in representing state

employees and workers in the public service.
REPRESENTATION
Union representation protects your rights

A U.S. Supreme Court decision
called Weingarten extends to
unionized workers federal rights
to union representation during a
management investigation.
The Washington Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) is charged with

determining bargaining units* in state
government and public service positions.
The National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) defines private sector bargaining
units.
If youre not sure if your position is part of
a bargaining unit, contact us at 800-5626002 or via email: contactus@wfse.org.
*Bargaining Unit: A bargaining unit in
labor relations is a group of employees with
a clear and identifiable community of interests who are represented by a single labor
union in collective bargaining and other
dealings with management.
When you accept a paycheck

for your hard work, you dont
give up your rights.
Weingarten Rights
If you are called into a meeting with a management representative
and you have reason to believe that disciplinary action against you
may result, you have the right to have a union representative present
during this meeting. Read the statement below to the management
representative, and contact your steward immediately:
If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or
terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I request that
my union representative, officer, or steward be present at the meeting. Without representation, I choose not to answer any questions.
The following guidelines apply:
The employee must make a clear request for union representation
before or during the interview.
The employer must grant the request and delay questioning until
the union representative arrives and has a chance to consult privately with the employee; deny the request and end the interview
immediately; or give the employee a choice of having the interview without representation or ending the interview.
If the employer denies the request for union representation and
continues to ask questions, it commits an unfair labor practice
and the employee has the right to refuse to answer. The employer
may not discipline the employee for such a refusal.
Weingarten Rights do not apply to coaching meetings, giving instructions or handing out discipline. Check with your shop steward or staff
representative if you need more information.
Building a strong union

As Washingtons most powerful advocate for public service employees, working families, and strong communities, WFSE/AFSCME members speak with a proud and strong collective voice.
Union membership is key to building pride and strength.
Members make important decisions, from setting priorities for contract negotiations and endorsing
legislative candidates to planning job actions and changing the way the union itself is organized.
Thats why union membership is the most critical first step you can take.
Union membership is personally empowering and gives you the opportunity to take part in the
democratic decision-making that steers our union.
Union memberships connects you to the historical and growing movement of working people standing up for their right to negotiate for fair
wages and working conditions.
In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. died while defending AFSCME sanitation workers in
Memphis who were fighting for their dignity and the right to collectively bargain.
JOIN
Union membership matters

When you sign a union membership card, you become a member of the largest union for state, higher
education and public service employees in the state of Washington!
We are 40,000 members strong and together we have a powerful voice to stand up for workers rights
and to protect jobs, pay, benefits, working conditions and public services.
Union membership helps us build a strong and united voice for public
service and the services we provide.
Joining is easy. Complete and sign a membership card and return it to a shop steward or HR representative at your workplace or simply fold, seal and drop in the mail.
Participation leads to concrete gains.
Union membership gives you the right to participate in decisions

that impact you at your job. Union membership gives you a voice
and the opportunity to participate in the democratic governance
of the union. Union membership gives you access to members-only
benefits.
Recently, member bargaining teams negotiated wage increases of at
least 4.8% for the 2015-17 contract and maintained health care
premiums and co-pays at affordable levels for all our members
despite an effort to raise out-of-pocket costs. Member participation
at worksite solidarity-events and via social media amplified our
position and empowered our negotiators. Together we stand strong.
Unity is a strong defense.
Are you concerned about what has happened to state and public employees over the past few years?
Coordinated attacks on unions and workers rights across the country could soon impact us right here in
Washington. We are at a crossroads. Either we unite and use our voice - and rights - like never before to
strengthen our union or we may lose all weve gained:
Living wages
Basic union rights
Affordable health care
Real pensions
Bottom line: Union membership matters.
We cannot take our rights and benefits for granted any longer. The most important way you can help
grow this movement of working people is by becoming a union member today.
SIGN A UNION MEMBERSHIP CARD TODAY
Find a membership card between pages XX and XX. Reach us at 800-562-6002 or contactus@wfse.org.
Collective Bargaining
Collective bargaining is the American way

Collective bargaining is the process
we use to negotiate contracts that
determine terms of employment
such as pay, benefits, hours, leave,
job health and safety policies, ways
to balance work and family and
more. Collective bargaining is one
way we solve workplace problems.
The first step in negotiating our
contracts - also called collective
bargaining agreements (CBAs) is identifying the rules that apply.
State Employees (RCW 41.80)
Most state employees negotiate
under the Personnel System Reform
Act (PSRA) of 2002. Our first contract went into effect on 7/1/05.
Members in General Government
and the Community College Coalition negotiate with the governors
Labor Relations Section (LRS) of
OFM. Members in our four-year
Higher Education institutions bargain
with their respective administrations.
Refer to
to RCW
RCW 41.80
41.80 (State
(State Collective
Collective Bargaining)
Bargaining)
Refer
Public Employees (RCW 41.56)

Some WFSE/AFSCME members
bargain under the Public Employees
Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA).
This includes our Renton Technical
College, Independent Provider Interpreters and Higher Education exempt
employee members.
Public employee teams may bargain with LRS or directly with their
employer. Refer RCW 41.56 (Public Employ-
ees Collective Bargaining)
Private Sector Public Service Employees (NLRA)

WFSE/AFSCME also represents
members from the private sector who perform public services.
These members fall under the federal National Labor Relations Act
(NLRA). This includes American
Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
and American Behavioral Health
Systems (ABHS), and Kitsap Tenant Support Services (KTSS).
Refer to NLRA Collective Bargaining (Section 8(d)
& 8(b)(3).
Negotiations
During negotiations, the input and
support of members is key to winning strong contracts.
Bargaining teams for each contract

are elected from and by union members covered by that contract. Union
staff assist as negotiators.
Members consider proposed changes to the contract as well as which
articles theyd like to preserve.
The bargaining teams then produce

a final package of proposals that are
presented to management as initial
contract proposals.
Negotiations continue through multiple rounds with each side offering

proposals and counter proposals until a tentative agreement is reached.
Watch for information about

ways you can get involved
during negotiations through
rallies, lunch-n-learns, unity
breaks, and more.
Once a tentative agreement is
reached, the ratification process
begins.
Members vote to accept or reject the

tentative agreement offered by the
bargaining team.
Ratified agreements that require
state funding (all except our NLRB
contracts) are then forwarded to
the governors Office of Financial
Management for funding through
the legislature.
www.wfse.org/contracts
GET INVOLVED
Members are our strength

Members are the key to WFSEs strength.
Members choose the unions leaders and leaders are accountable to them.
WA S H I N G TO N F E D E R AT I O N O F S TAT E E M P L O Y E E S ( W F S E ) A F S C M E C O U N C I L 2 8 A F L - C I O
Council 28
We often refer to our union WFSE/AFSCME - as Council 28.

Council 28 is the district designation given to us by our national
union, AFSCME - the American
Federation of state, county and
municipal employees.
Members run WFSE/AFSCME
electing officers at all levels and
participate in the day-to-day affairs
of their local unions. Members set
priorities for contracts and are the
key to the unions growth and success.
Only union members have the right
to participate in our union democracy.
Local elections determine local
officers and local executive board
members. Elections are also held
at the local level to select delegates
and alternates to council-level
policy committees, our councils
biennial convention, and to the
AFSCME International convention.
Council 28 Policy Committees
Council 28 Convention
Our policy committees are: Corrections, Employment Security, Human Services, Institutions, Higher
Education, Labor and Industries,
Miscellaneous, Natural Resources,
Public Service and Transportation.
At Convention, the delegates elect

the councils four officers (president, vice president, secretary and
treasurer), formulate policies for
the next biennium, and consider
any amendments to the Council 28
constitution.
Policy Committee members define

and work through issues unique to
their area of work before forwarding requests for action (in the form
of resolutions) to the Council 28
executive board.
Council 28 policy committee members also elect representatives from

their committee to the councils
executive board.
Council 28 Executive Board
The Council Executive Board is the

body that is charged with carrying
forward the resolutions approved
at the convention and conducting
the business of the membership
between conventions.
WFSE/AFSCMEs highest governing body is the convention of the

membership held in odd-numbered
years. Locals elect union members as
delegates and alternates to attend and
represent them at the convention.
AFSCME International Convention
The highest governing body of AFSCME International is the convention of the membership. This convention is held in even-numbered
years. Locals elect delegates and
alternates and convene with other
AFSCME members from across the
country to conduct business.
www.wfse.org/leaders
Member Activities
There are so many ways you can be involved

Local Meetings
Union members belong to a local

union. Attend your local meeting
and meet your leadership. Get
informed and volunteer to support
activites in your community.
www.wfse.org > Our Locals
Council 28
WFSE/AFSCME members can

participate in running the union.
WFSE Bargaining Teams
Council Policy Committees
Council Executive Board
Committees of the E-Board
(see page 13 for more info)
Green Caucus
Public Safety Caucus
Conservative Caucus
Skilled Labor & Trades
LGBTQI
www.wfse.org/get-involved/
GET INVOLVED
Find details on www.wfse.org/get-involved/
Lunch-n-Learns
Dont have time for another thing

in your busy schedule? Attend
lunch-time union meetings to stay
informed and connect with your
Council Representative.
Take Action
Contact your local field office to

request a lunch-n-learn (page 21)
Actions can be something simple

like wearing a button or posting a
sign related to a worksite or statewide issue. Sometimes its sharing
photos on social media. At times
actions are elevated to emails,
phone calls or public sign-waving.
Political Activists
Member Lobbying
Political Activists are members

who engage in political campaigns
by participating in phone banks,
neighborhood walks, and the candidate endorsements process.
www.wfse.org/people-power/
http://www.wfse.org/take-action/
During the Legislative Session,

members hit the hill to lobby
lawmakers about funding our
contracts and a variety of issues
important to the people we serve.
www.wfse.org/come-to-olympia/
Union-Management
Union-Management Communication Committees allow union

members and employer representatives to meet and discuss issues
that matter - a right under our
contracts.
www.wfse.org/news
Member Organizers
Member Organizers reach out to

co-workers to inform them about
the issues, actions and negotiations. They may serve as Shop
Stewards or as Field Organizing
Committee (FOX) activists.
www.wfse.org/get-involved/
Membership difference
Union membership makes a difference: just four of many stories
Part-time Hourly Community College

employees air issues at landmark
union-management meeting
Its about the American Dream
Maria Buan (left) with mother Margarita Buan, a

Local 793 member who provides food services to
patients at Western State Hospital in Lakewood.
Thanks to her mothers union membership, Maria
qualified for $6,000 in union scholarships to advance
her education. The Buan family came to America from
The Philippines about 10 years ago. Theyre grateful
for the value WFSE/AFSCME places on education
for members and their families. Here, everyone has a
chance, Margarita Buan said.
The unions Community College Coalition Bargaining

Team never gave up its fight to support members in
part-time hourly positions.
When management rebuffed several bargaining proposals last year, the union won a special union-management meeting to begin airing their issues.
Part-time hourly workers gained even more rights in

the 2015-17 Community College Coalition contract.
UW Custodian Wins
UW Local 1488 member Marvin Choi was accused of

stealing $1 worth of soft drinks from a faculty refrigerator. He faced the ultimate nightmare as someone
who was falsely accused: He was fired. But he used his
contract rights and the expertise of union staff to prove
the UW wrong. Hed actually been given permission
to put his own soda in the faculty fridge after the UW
told all custodians they couldnt have mini-fridges in
their work areas. A neutral arbitrator sided with Choi
and chided the university for not trying to understand
the original responses from Choi, a native of Korea.
Workers win victory against outsourcing
Employment Security warehouse members in

Olympia got two weekends of overtime after discovering a moving job they should have done was
about to be outsourced.
PROUD HISTORY
CIVIL RIGHTS
Did you know that long before the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 and the Memphis Strike, WFSE/AFSCME
already had a CIVIL RIGHTS committee. Today,
were on the front lines against discrimination, workplace bullying and pay inequity.
CIVIL SERVICE
Did you know that state employees once got their

jobs based on which political party they belonged
to? Thats right. But in 1960 WFSE/AFSCME
members mounted a campaign to ask voters to create a CIVIL SERVICE system where employees are
hired based on what they know, not who they know.
COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING
PAY EQUITY
Before collective bargaining, state employees had
to beg politicians for pay raises. This system of
begging not bargaining ended in 2002 with the
passage of the WFSE/AFSCME-initiated full-scope
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING law that allows state
employees to negotiate pay and benefits.
Nearly 40,000 WFSE represented workers are now
covered by strong contract protections.
Prior to 1985, employees who worked in job classes

historically made up of women were paid 59% of
what male-dominated classes did. That ended in 1985
when after years of pursuing court action, WFSE/
AFSCME and the State of Washington reached a
settlement in the pioneering COMPARABLE WORTH
lawsuit that brought a half-billion dollars to remedy
gender-based wage inequity.
ww.wfse.
org/cont
ract-sol
idarity-ro
und-up/
Childre
ns Adm
in
postcar
d camp istration work
aign to
protect ers start
at-risk c
hildren
Community Involvement
IN SOLIDARITY
Seth Cr
aw
Contract ford, an electricia
Solidarity
n
event on at Western Was
hington
the Bellin
Un
gham ca
mpus. M iversity, at Aug.
13
ore, page
4.
PEBB
Committed to our communities
Public service doesnt stop at the end of the workday for this
unions members. Were there for our neighbors, communities
and good causes. enda 2008
A delega
tio
Governo n of Childrens Ad
rs
m
postcard Office Aug. 4 sh inistration mem
bers met
ortly befo
campaig
n
wi
re
oads, an
d underfu to address crushi kicking off a stat th the
ng worklo
nding fo
ewide
From le
r childre
ft: Joyc
ad
and case
ns service
eM
Local 12
ls.
21, Spok urphy, Local 31
3, Vancou
ane; An
Hetzel, Lo
na Bake
ver; Terr
cal 843,
r, Lo
i Jo
Walla W
Seattle;
alla.
and Vero cal 843, Kent; M nes,
iche
nica Sand
au, Loca lle
l 396,
of the
newspaper
TE
The official
TION OF STA
TON FEDERA ncil 28AFL-CIO
WASHING
Cou
S/AFSCME
EMPLOYEE
yee
o
l
p
WFSE
m
E
State
. 10
VOL. 35 NO
DECEMBER
Action Ag
2007
See 2,3,6,7.
Help wi
th scho
TON
G
WASHIN
LP
YOU CAN HE
After
the
flood
WFSE/
Give to the d
oo
Fl
E
M
C
AFS
Relief Fund
t memto assis
ll be used s trying to
Funds wi
ilie
their fam
bers and
disaster.
from the
recover
d to
ers can ad tions
d memb
Locals an sending contribu
by
WFSE/AF
the fund
SCME m
other de
embers
to:
le
lp WFSE/
ch in to he
ted by
Members pit
ilies devasta
AFSCME fam ods. See 4 & 5.
flo
s
this month
We wan
Union members are both

workers and citizens.
lies in w
The Fe
stepping deration is
up to he
of this
lp victim
su
s
wildfir mmer s deva
es
stating
Washing in Central
ton.
The W
FSE/A
Women
FSCME
s
Comm /Equal Partne
itte
rs
effort to e has started
an
help sc
burned
hools in
-out ar
th
e
ea with
supplie
school
s.
Membe
rs
an
send ch
d locals
ecks to
can
:
make do
nations
WFSE
membe
/AFSC
ME Wild
rs who to help
Schoo
lo
posses
fir
lS
sions in st homes or
c/o 1212 upplies Fund e
th
Send ca
Je
sh dona e wildfires.
Suite 30 fferson St. S.
tions to
0
E.,
:
Olympi
WFSE
a, WA
W
98501
c/o 1212 ildfire Relief
Fund
Jefferso
You ca
Su
n
it
St. S.E.
e 300
n still al
,
so
Olympi
a, WA
98501
IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY
Seattle CC
rs
Local 304
co-worke
Longtime
team with
custodians to higher job class
ost
to win bo
been
rrison has
David Mo
Comat Seattle
a custodian es Central
lleg
l for 32
munity Co
Hil
itol
Cap
campus on
ior cusyears.
most sen
Hes the
campus.
todian on s been a custodian
he
d
An
e.
tim
t
e
1 all tha
on and nin
Yet Morris ed as the
s watch
colleague
l new
ed severa them
college hir
ced
s and pla
custodian ian 2 level.
tod
to
at the cus
seem right
That didnt longtime cusother
Morrison,
custodiand other ported
todian 1s.
todian 1s
sup
o
longtime cus
beginning
ff wh
upgrade for
from the
ans and sta
them.
You start
ty to win an
ry.
d in solidari
success sto the
The
orkers stoo
and get a
?
e we got
al 304 co-w
The result has agreed
This tim
College Loc
erve
Local 304
ity
e
mun
leg
uyNg
se guys des
1s
tral Com
The col
said Hoat
members
Seattle Cen
custodian
money. The
e,
the
totim
g
ate
cus
lon
d
to realloc
ian,
of custoon camthe affecte
it.
per class
lead custod
en, one of
a
ian 2 level.
24
to the pro
The Le, a
pus form
k pay of
the custod a Solidarity
gues.
to
bac
lea
1s.
h
n
col
wit
dia
his
d
dian 2s
They hel
tight-knit
supported
n on the
with
Hill said.
us attentio
ians, along
months,
g, said
group.
page 6
Day to foc
S,
The custod rd, Milton
great thin
a
IAN
s
OD
y
It
rd.
The
wa
s
p stewa
See CUST
issue.
ir shop ste
SCME
their sho
ned sticker
Smith, the
p steward.
WFSE/AF
They don
pushed the
for
Im a sho
Smith, and entative Gary
Equal Pay
Its why
adminisres
demanding
ement.
Field Rep
rk.
tration to
with manag
Equal Wo that we deserve
Hill, met
a
e
I think
bump the
n her
e weve bee
er -- 8
longtime
it becaus
t of hung 5
1s
e bite ou
-custodian
Locals tak ily providers win
Morrison
ts -- 6
Adult fam
ve reques
Shared lea
dont
you
and
er
, ea fee pay
If youre
publication te:
eive this
wri
wish to rec e@wfse.org, or
St.
wfs
2 Jefferson
mail us at
SCME, 121 ia, WA 98501
WFSE/AF
mp
Oly
,
300
S.E., Suite
Preamble, AFSCME Constitution
The Pu
blic Em
Benefit
ployee
s Board
s
Ju
proved
change ly 31 aps
mium
rate an to 2015 pred other
change
bene
s,
genera including wha fit
lly
t
gender referred to as are
benefit
transs.
(These
af
fe
ct state
and high
agency
employ er education
state
ees; they
to our
dont ap
Public
ply
Service
membe
Sect
rs, like
medical or
inter-
Health
care
matters
See PEB
ildfire a
B, page
rea
Wildfire
bears
down on
Alta Lake
State Pa
rk
(Photo
courtesy
Don Hall)
WFSE/
AFS
forwar
d those CME will
checks
Founda
to
ti
Families on for Working the
,
and ha the natural di
rdship
sa
50
fund ad
1(c)(3) ster
m
Washing inistered by
the
ton Stat
Counc
e
Labor
il.
IN TIMES OF NEED
INSIDE:
Locals and members team with area churches

and businesses for holiday dinners for those in
need of a hand up. They donate food, clothing,
personal hygiene items and money for local
charities.
preters.
)
Starting Jan.
1,
premiu
m
will go s
down fo
r
the larg
est Gro
up
Health
plan bu
t
will inall othe
crease
r pl
slight in ans, includin for
cr
g
form M eases in the
Uniedical
WFSE/ Plan.
AFSCM
tive Dir
E
Execuec
and Ret tor Greg Dev
er
ir
ees Cou ed Public Em eux
ployncil Pres
Rench
id
en
t Gwen
were th
e only
board
Devastating floods. Wildfires. Catastrophic landslides. Natural

disasters dont discriminate. They hit the citizens we serve and
the very state employees dedicated to public service. Time and
again, union members have fulfilled their mandate to be good
citizens. That includes the Foundation for Working Families, an alllabor union fund that grew out of WFSE/AFSCMEs flood relief in
2007.
al work!
for equ
t equal pay
jo
Stat
de Labogates to the Washi ined
ME Floo
ng
July when r Council Conven ton
WFSE/AFSC
tion in
they
nd
Fu
ra
f
ise
lie
d $1
Re
, ,900 fopassed the hat and
E.
S.
.
St
r
on
wildfire re
rs
lief.
1212 Jeffe
Suite 300
98501
A
W
a,
pi
Olym
ol supp
Benefits
B
OKs pre oard
m
rates fo ium
r
adds s 2015,
om
benefits e
IN SOLIDARITY
WFSE/AFSCME works with advocates on efforts for living wage, fair treatment, worker rights,
non-discrimination and collective bargaining for all. Working together, we make change happen.
EXERCISING OUR MIDDLE CLASS VALUES

We use our
voice for
quality services,
public safety
and natural
resources . . .
. . . Everything from a carnival in Ferndale to

celebrate dedicated foster parents to saving clinics
that lower-income citizens depend on in Seattle to
saving fish hatcheries and state parks, to handing
out school supplies in Central Seattle.
Member Benefits
Gain more power with Members Only Benefits

WFSE/AFSCME COUNCIL 28
MEMBERS ONLY BENEFITS
PROGRAM
When you become a full duespaying member of WFSE/AFSCME Council 28, you can save
thousands of dollars on goods
and services through the Members Only Benefits Program.
Representation feepayers get the

protection of strong contract;
but by taking the step to become
full dues-paying members of
the union, they gain much more
economic power by qualifying
for the discounts and consumer
information offered by the Members Only Benefits Program.
www.wfse.org/member-benefits/
WFSE/AFSCME Members Only Benefits Program
(includes links to AFSCME Advantage and UnionPlus at the national level)
www.afscme.org/members/advantage
AFSCME Advantage
www.unionplus.org
Union Plus
HOUSE & HOME

MORTGAGES A mortgage program to help members and their children buy a home. Special WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 contacts.
REAL ESTATE PROGRAM To help members and their families
buy or sell a home. Union Home Services just for WFSE/AFSCME

Council 28 members.
ALSO Save My Home Hotline: provided through the non-profit
Money Management International (MMI) - is accredited to provide
counseling for labor union members facing foreclosure.
BENEFITS
LEGAL
LEGAL SERVICES Speak to a lawyer free about
any legal question. Free document review and 30%

off additional services. Additional option for members in the South Sound.
LEGAL DEFENSE PROGRAM Just for WFSE/
AFSCME Council 28 Law Enforcement members.
AUTO ADVANTAGE
CAR RENTALS Save up to 25% on car rentals
with discounts from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Dollar and Thrifty.
MOTOR CLUB Get emergency roadside assistance
and locksmith services.
AUTO BUYING SERVICE Save time and money
when you buy a new or used car or truck.
TIRES AND CAR SERVICE Save 10% off all
Goodyear tires and 5% off all sales tires. Save up
to 10% off all car service.
ALSO Auto Insurance; A Guide to Union-Made
Vehicles; more.
SHOPPING & TRAVEL

AT&T WIRELESS DISCOUNTS Save 15% off
select monthly wireless service plans from AT&T,

the only nationwide unionized wireless company,.
COMPUTER DISCOUNTS Save up to 30% on
Dell and HP laptops and desktops.
CLOTHING DISCOUNTS Buy union-made apparel
and save 5%-10% on everything you buy.
PET SERVICES Pet insurance, veterinary services; save 10% on pet food, toys and supplies.
ALSO Checks and Address Labels; Entertainment;
Flowers and Gift Baskets; Travel Center; Super
Shuttle Discount; Vacation Tours; more.
MONEY & CREDIT
FINANCIAL WELLNESS & PLANNING
Just for WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 members:

Washington State Employees Credit Union Program
Modern Woodmen of America (retirement savings)
Money Management Educators (financial education)
AFLAC (supplemental insurance)
Colonial Life (supplemental insurance)
ALSO AFSCME Advantage Credit Card; debt
help; credit counseling; layoff hotline; Consumer
Reports; Retirement Planning Center
DISASTER/HARDSHIP RELIEF GRANTS
Foundation for Working Families, a program underwritten in part by WFSE/AFSCME Council 28

with the Washington State Labor Council.
ALSO UnionPlus Hardship Grants.
DENTAL HEALTH
Just for WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 members and
their families Free and discounted dental benefits
with Bright Now! Dental, Pacific Dental Alliance,

Sunrise Dental and Frontier Family Dental. For
members in the Uniform Dental Plan.
ALSO Special discounts for Local 1671 members
(interpreters independent providers).
RECREATION
FAMILY CAMPOUTS Just for WFSE/AFSCME
Council 28 members and their families: Annual

Howard Ocobock Memorial Family Campouts at
state parks for family fun and solidarity.
UNION SPORTSMENS ALLIANCE Union community for improved hunting and fishing access and
preservation of wildlife habitat.
WFSE/AFSCME Locals
Our Locals
Locals are the first level of governance

in the union.
Please attend a local meeting
and get to know your local l
eadership.
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
Olympia Field Office
(360) 786-1303 | (800) 624-0256
Local 443 - Oly/Thu/Mason
Local 872 - Ecology (ThuCo)
Local 970 - GH/Pacific
Local 1463 - Pt Angeles
Local 1466 - Parks
Local 1556 - Pt Angeles DOT
Local 2753 - FishHat 1,2
Local 2964 - FishHat 3,4
Tacoma Field Office
(253) 581-4402 | (800) 924-5753
Local 53 - Tacoma
Local 482 - Retsil
Local 491 - Buckley
Local 793 - Lakewood
Local 1181 - Kitsap
Local 1466 - Parks
Vancouver Satellite Office
(360) 735-1115 | (800) 967-9356
NORTHWEST WASHINGTON
Seattle Field Office
(206) 525-5363 | (800) 924-5754
Local 304 -Seattle
Local 308 - Sea DOC
Local 341-Fircrest/EchoGlen/SOLA
Local 378 - Sea DOT
Local 843 - King HumSrv
Local 976 - King L&I
Local 1466 - Parks
Local 1488 - UW/HMC
Smokey Point Satellite Office
(360) 659-4333 | (800) 967-3816
Local 476 - SedroWoolley
Local 948 - Sno HumSrv
Local 1020 - Everett
Local 1060 - Skagit/Whatcom
Local 1381 - WWU/WCC
Local 1466 - Parks
Local 313 - Vancouver

Local 716 - Skamania/Klickitat
Local 862 - Chehalis + ABHS
Local 1225 - CCDHL/WSSB
HEADQUARTERS
Local 1290 - Chehalis DOT
Olympia (800) 562-6002
Local 1400 - Longview/Kelso
Local 1466 - Parks
Local 1671 - Interpreters
Local 1984 - Raymond DOT
Local 2263 - Naselle
Local 2559 - Van DOT
EASTERN WASHINGTON
Spokane Field Office
(509) 326-4422 | (800) 442-8618
Local 504 - Spokane DOT
Local 573 - Lakeland Vlg
Local 782 - Medical Lake
Local 931 - Cheney
Local 1054 - Colville
Local 1066 - Pullman
Local 1208 - Davenport DOT
Local 1221 - Spokane + ABHS
Local 1299 - Wenatchee
Local 1300 - Colfax
Local 1466 - Parks
Yakima Field Office
(509) 452-9855
(800) 439-9855
Local 330 - Ellensburg
Local 396 - Walla Walla
Local 1253 - Tri-Cities
Local 1291 - Pasco DOT
Local 1301- Ellensburg
Local 1326 - Yakima
Local 1466 - Parks
WFSE/AFSCME Office Locations

HEADQUARTERS OFFICE (800) 562-6002
1212 Jefferson Street SE, #300. Olympia WA 98501
(360) 352-7603 | (360) 352-7608 fax | info@wfse.org
www.wfse.org
Federation HOTLINE: (800) 562-6102 | WFSE.org
Legislative and Political Action Department

906 Columbia Street SW, 5th Floor, Olympia WA 98501
External Organizing Department

906 Columbia Street SW, 4th Floor, Olympia WA 98501
(800) 820-2291 | (360) 943-9160 | (360) 352-4730 fax | organize@wfse.org
SPOKANE FIELD OFFICE (509) 326-4422

Garden Court, 222 W Mission Avenue, Suite 201, Spokane WA 99201-2301
(800) 442-8618 | (509) 326-4424 fax
YAKIMA FIELD OFFICE (509) 452-9855

3804 Kern Road, Suite B, Yakima WA 98902-7801
(800) 439-9855 | (509) 457-1939 fax
SEATTLE FIELD OFFICE (206) 525-5363

6363 7th Avenue S, Suite 220, Seattle WA 98108-3407
(800) 924-5754 | (206) 525-5366 fax
SMOKEY POINT SATELLITE OFFICE
(360) 659-4333
Medallion Office Suites, 16710 Smokey Point Blvd, #308, Arlington WA 98223-8435
(800) 967-3816 | (360) 657-3336 fax
OLYMPIA FIELD OFFICE (360) 786-1303

906 Columbia Street SW #500, Olympia WA 98501-1216
(800) 624-0256 | (360) 786-1338 fax | olympia@wfse.org
TACOMA FIELD OFFICE (253) 581-4402

6003 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma WA 98409-6826
VANCOUVER SATELLITE OFFICE (360) 735-1115

Crestwood Business Park, 11818 SE Mill Plain Blvd #202, Vancouver WA 98684-5090
WFSE/AFSCME STAFF
HEADQUARTERS
800-562-6002
Jefferson Street Offices
Executive Offices
Administration
Accounting
Human Resources
In-House Counsel
PERC Activities
Public Affairs
Field Services
Labor Advocates
Strategic Campaigns
Associate Staff
Columbia Street Offices
Legislative and Political Action
External Organizing
FIELD OFFICES
Field Supervisors
Council Representatives
Associate Staff
STAFF ROSTER
View our staff roster online at
http://www.wfse.org/contact-us/
1212 Jefferson Street SE #300, Olympia WA 98501
Washington Federation of State Employees AFSCME Council 28

Headquarters: 1212 Jefferson Street SE, Suite 300, Olympia WA 98501
(360) 352-7603 fax (360) 352-7608
www.wfse.org
(800) 562-6002
Seattle Field Office
(206) 525-5363
Spokane Field Office
(800) 624-0256
(800) 924-5754
Smokey Point Satellite Office

(360) 659-4333
Olympia Field Office

(360) 786-1303
(509) 326- 4422
Tacoma Field Office

(253) 581-4402
Yakima Field Office
(800) 924-5753
(800) 967-3816
(800) 442-8618
(509) 452-9855
(800) 439-9855
Vancouver Satellite Office

(360) 735-1115
(800) 967-9356
Connect with Council 28

Facebook.com/WFSEc28
Federation HOTLINE
WFSE/AFSCME News Service
www.wfse.org/news/
Sign-up for weekly summaries (email, audio)
or breaking news (email, text, twitter)
DETAILS ON INSIDE FRONT COVER
Twitter.com/WFSEc28
#wfsec28
Action Alerts:
Text WFSEc28 to 69866

All About WFSE

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

All About WFSE

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Washington Federation of State Employees AFSCME Council 28

A Member Orientation Guide

All About WFSE

Connect with Council 28

HOTLINE BREAKING NEWS

EMAIL | Text NEWS to 69866 | Twitter

HOTLINE WEEKLY SUMMARY

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES (WFSE) www.wfse.org Page 1

WFSE is an efficient, dynamic, memberdriven and diverse organization that supports

WFSEs purpose is to organize and empower

DEMOCRATIC: Membership-driven, members connected and essential to the process.

Public service makes Washington better

Our contracts contain important information about basic working conditions,

Together we all make up the union. We elect representatives to policy committees

Unions build a strong

No matter what type of job workers are in, strong unions

We are WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 AFL-CIO

Page 4 AFSCME Council 28 Public Service Makes Washington Better

This is a movement that matters

growth. Thats a recipe for economic

The men and women of our union,

$15 an hour. The Community College Coalition even won first-time

Income inequality is a national issue

When you join WFSE/AFSCME,

The real job creators are not CEOs

Income inequality affects us all.

Represented workers have a voice

Union members have the right to discuss terms and

WFSE/AFSCME provides representation on individual concerns and on concerns shared by you

Before the states personnel-related boards and

WFSE/AFSCME is the leader in representing state

Union representation protects your rights

The Washington Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) is charged with

When you accept a paycheck

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES (WFSE) www.wfse.org Page 7

Building a strong union

Page 8 AFSCME Council 28 Public Service Makes Washington Better

Union membership matters

Participation leads to concrete gains.

Union membership gives you the right to participate in decisions

Unity is a strong defense.

Bottom line: Union membership matters.

SIGN A UNION MEMBERSHIP CARD TODAY

Collective bargaining is the American way

Public Employees (RCW 41.56)

ees Collective Bargaining)

Private Sector Public Service Employees (NLRA)

Bargaining teams for each contract

The bargaining teams then produce

Negotiations continue through multiple rounds with each side offering

Watch for information about

Members vote to accept or reject the

Members are our strength

We often refer to our union WFSE/AFSCME - as Council 28.

Council 28 Policy Committees

At Convention, the delegates elect

Policy Committee members define

Council 28 policy committee members also elect representatives from

The Council Executive Board is the

WFSE/AFSCMEs highest governing body is the convention of the

AFSCME International Convention

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES (WFSE) www.wfse.org Page 11

There are so many ways you can be involved

Union members belong to a local