Meet our new bargaining teams.

See page 6.

VOL. 43 NO. 8

State Employee

OCTOBER 2015

The official newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE
EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO

WASHINGTON

EVERY VOICE COUNTS FOR

THE COMMON GOOD
(Its being) united for the
same purpose and focus,
partnering with everyone in the
community, in your workplace,
within your faith-base and
-- Delegate Sandra
staying focused on the
common good of everybody. Womack, Local 53

Ecology members after winning the Job

Action of the Year Award at the WFSE/
AFSCME State Convention Oct. 4.

Hundreds of conversations =
AFSCME Strong resolve

Nearly 400 Convention 2015 delegates committed to the challenge by

stepping up the program of one-on-one conversations that makes sure all
ideas, suggestions and concerns are heard. See pages 3-5.

United for our future, our families & To schedule your EVERY VOICE COUNTS Interview please contact your Union Rep, call
(800) 562-6002 or email Irenes@wfse.org. See special Poster of the Month on page 8.
the future of public services.

Every voice counts: Dignity for all

$15 now real for UW members

Every voice counts as Local 1488 members win Seattles $15
minimum wage on campuses outside the city

he voices of lowerpaid members at

all University of
Washington campuses
got through to management Oct. 8 as their
bargaining team won an
agreement extending the
$15 minimum wage to
members at campuses
outside Seattle.

The union on Sept. 28

won agreement for all UW Seattle members. But the WFSE
Local 1488 bargaining team
insisted it would be unfair to
leave out the other campuses.
The Oct. 8 agreement
means that workers at all UW
campuses including Seattle,
Harborview, Bothell, Tacoma
and Friday Harbor will all
get the $15 minimum wage
enacted in Seattle.
The raise needs to apply to everyone who works
for the UW, regardless of job
or work location, Local 1488

President Paula Lukaszek

said at the time.
Lukaszek joined her two
other bargaining team members Alan Presley and Denzell
Deloney-Whiten and WFSE/
AFSCME Labor Advocate Jennifer Dixon in hammering out
the all-campus agreement.
Under the Sept. 28 and
Oct. 8 agreements, the minimum wage on all UW campuses will go to $13 an hour
on Jan. 1, 2016 and to $15 an
hour on Jan. 1, 2017 a year
ahead of the Seattle ordinance.

Harborview challenge
Union, King County Council challenge
for change at UW-run Harborview
Medical Center
WFSE/AFSCME members and the King County
Council once again said
the University of Washington needs to clean up
its act and end decades of
disrespect for workers -- or
the UW risks losing the
contract to run Harborview

Medical Center.
The people of King
County own Harborview -this regions major trauma
center located on Seattles
First Hill. But since the late
1960s, the county has contracted with the UW to run
the hospital in a series of

Local 1488 members at the UW Laundry, along

with custodians, make up 69 percent of Local
1488 members earning less than $13 an hour.
That changes Jan. 1 thanks to our union.
Both sides go back to
the table Oct. 20 to negotiate
other issues related to the extension of the minimum wage
to all UW campuses.

The victory was another

milestone as Local 1488 members stand up for the $15
minimum wage for all UW
employees.

15-year
agreements.
But
this
time
around,
WFSE/
AFSCME
Hamilton
and Local 1488 members pushed a
sympathetic King County
Council and County Executive Dow Constantine
to for the first time drill
down and insist on changes

before
renewing the
agreement
with the
UW.
Negotiations
Dembowski
continue and were the main topic
Oct. 7 before the councils
Committee of the Whole
consisting of all nine coun-

See HMC, page 7

EVERY VOICE COUNTS : WFSE/AFSCME VOTERS GUIDE 2015

Vote in the General Election by Nov. 3!

Ballots for the 2015 election hit mailboxes by Oct.
16. You have until General Election Day Nov. 3 to fill
them out and return.

Our union has taken positions in two key races in

what many call an off-year election

How you vote is your personal decision. So when

you vote, consider this....

Tim Eyman is at it again!

Heres how Eymans I-1366 would let a small group
of politicians slash the public services you provide:

I-1366 would allow just 17 of 49 State Senators to block any attempt to eliminate
tax loopholes and fund vital services. SOURCE: www.no1366.org

Tim Eyman is at it again with another

misleading intiative designed to create
even worse legislative gridlock with
state government shutdowns more
and more likely. Eymans I-1366 would
let a few politicians stand in the way of
the public services Washingtons growing population wants and needs.

BEFORE

I-1366

AFTER

Photo: Stephen
Schwartz, reprod
uced
under a Creativ
e Commons lice
nse

Tim Eyman doesnt share our values

I-1366

What you need to know before you vote:

www.no1366.org

Provided by WFSE/AFSCME for members voter education.

Washington Federation of State Employees | AFSCME Council 28 | 1212 Jefferson Street SE #300, Olympia WA 98501

Tim Eymans I-1366 is a false choice that takes Washington backward.

Massive cuts to schools and services
I-1366 will cause more partisan gridlock and
blow an $8 billion hole in the states budget
over the next 6 years, leading to devastating
cuts to our schools, colleges and other
programs.

An unfair hurdle to tax reform

I-1366 would block changes to our
regressive tax system and allow extremists
from either party to block efforts to make
taxes more equitable for middle- and lowincome families, or to help small businesses
by replacing outdated B&O taxes.

Constitutionally flawed and costly

Tim Eymans latest idea is so flawed that it
will likely be found unconstitutional; costing
state taxpayers millions of dollars.

Rep. Carol Gregory is the best choice for state employees in the 30th Dist.
30th DIST. HOUSE, POS. 2

Rep. Carol Gregory

State Employee
WASHINGTON

Washington State Employee (USPS 981200) is published monthly, except February

and July, for $5.08 per year by the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME
Council 28 AFL-CIO, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E.
Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501. Affiliated with
the American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Periodicals postage paid at Olympia, WA
and at additional offices. Circulation:
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Washington State Employee, 1212 Jefferson
St SE Suite 300 Olympia WA 98501-7501
Sue Henricksen, President
Greg Devereux, Executive Director
Editor Tim Welch
e-mail: tim@wfse.org Internet: www.wfse.org
Member, ILCA

Page 2

Rep. Gregory is
running to finish
the term she was
appointed to fill
after the death
of Rep. Roger
Freeman.

Rep. Gregory is a voice for

working families and our
community.
Why Rep. Carol Gregory?
She has served as president of the Federal
Way School Board, as a public school teacher
and as president of her union.
1 WSLC 2015 Legislative Report; 2 Final State Operating Budget ESSB 6052, 2015

She voted for state employees and working families 100% of

the time in the 2015 legislative session.1
She stood behind us -- and stood up to powerful senators -and won a budget2 that funded our negotiated contracts with no
conditions, our first pay raises in 7 years and saved health care
coverage for 20,000 state employee spouses with no additional
surcharges.
Rep. Gregory had our backs and fought for jobs and public
services. She stood with us for a final budget that added funding,
staff and resources for Childrens Services, mental health, state
parks and infrastructure.
YOU DECIDE.
Just make sure to VOTE. When your ballot
arrives, fill it out and send it in!

3
v.

No

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OPTION. If youd like to save paper and postage, you can receive this newspaper electronically. Go to www.wfse.org and hover
over NEWS & INFO, located in the top menu bar. Select from the drop-down list: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYEE - Newspaper. Use the form
on this page to register for the electronic version. Or e-mail us at info@wfse.org, or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300,
Olympia, WA 98501. If youre a represented non-member fee payer and you dont wish to receive this publication in any format, e-mail us at contactus@wfse.org, or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

October 2015

EVERY VOICE COUNTS : CONVENTION 2015 REPORT

Why Every Voice
Counts in the AFSCME
Strong program:

Convention 2015
delegates use the voice
that a U.S. Supreme
Court ruling may silence

Delegates unite for our

future and families

Enthusiastic delegates at AFSCME President Lee Saunders Oct. 2 speech.

It means together we
can fight for what we
believe in.
Jeannie Cornell, Local
970

It means we have a
united coalition...that is
working together in the
public sector to support
the populace.
Hiram Gray, Local 491

WFSE/AFSCME Community Organizer Brandon Anderson (left) sits down for

one-on-one conversation with Local 304 delegate Orson Williamson (right) -with a little help from Local 1488 delegate Claude Theard (center). It was one
of hundreds of conversations at the convention -- among thousands now going
on with members statewide.

y the time WFSE/

AFSCMEs 2015
Convention
adjourned Oct. 4
in Seatac, nearly
all delegates had
engaged in a oneon-one conversation
to show that Every
Voice Counts in the
months leading up to
a corporate-backed
Supreme Court case
that aims to take away
the voice at work that

sustains our families.

The nearly 400 delegates

committed to the challenge
by stepping up the program
of one-on-one conversations
that makes sure all ideas,
suggestions and concerns are
heard.
The 2015 edition of the
convention set the course of
the union for the next two
years and beyond with two
days of debate and votes on
resolutions brought forward
by members across the state.
And delegates Oct. 4 elected
the four officers who will

Elected officers take oath of office from Executive Director Greg Devereux.
From left: Henricksen, Hall, Stanley and Kuschel.
spend their two-year term
making sure all voices are
heard.
They are:
President Sue
Henricksen, Local 53, DD
Field Services, Tacoma (reelected).
Vice President Judy

Kuschel, Local 313,

Corrections, Vancouver.
Secretary Tracy
Stanley, Local 1400, Lower
Columbia College, Longview.
Treasurer Don Hall,
Local 1466, Parks, Wenatchee
Confluence State Park (reelected).

More details and images at: http://wfse.org/convention/

and on Facebook: Facebook.com/WFSEcon46

Convention honors

Wounded DOC officer

credits colleagues
Lisa Tavarez, the Community Corrections specialist wounded in the line of
duty Sept. 3 in Yakima, was
awarded the unions Medal of
Valor Committees Meritorious
Service Award at the convention banquet Oct. 2.
The Local 1326 member
humbly accepted the award
on behalf of her Department
of Corrections and task force
colleagues.
She echoed sentiments in
the room when she said she
chose public service to make
a difference that goes unrecognized on a daily basis. We
didnt find public service, it
found us.

To be a strong foundation to work hard and

to work for others.
Addy Rodriquez, Local 1326

It will help my family.

Dioscora Page, Local
443

Lisa Tavarez, Local 1326, 2015 Meritorious Service Award honoree

It means democracy within

democracy.
Adam Draude,
Local 443

October 2015

Tavarez never knows what

shell face when shes on the

We are all standing

together in unity for
the working people
and fighting for
equality and safety.
Andrea Warren,
Local 573
WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

hunt for suspects. Shes had

many close calls over the
years. But on Sept. 3, she had
the closest call of her 14-year
career.
That day, Tavarez was
part of the Pacific Northwest
Violent Offender Task Force
that went to a Yakima house
looking for a drive-by shooting suspect. They were at
the door when the suspect
opened fire. Tavarez was shot
as the suspect holed up in the
house.
Lisa was grazed on the
hip. Luckily she was treated
at a local hospital and released.
The shooting provoked a
90-minute standoff that even-

See VALOR, page 5

See more of
these AFSCME
Strong conversations
on our YouTube channel:
https://www.
youtube.com/

Page 3

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EVERY VOICE COUNTS : CONVENTION 2015 POSTER

Miloscia, Habib address caucus breakfasts

AT NEAR RIGHT: Sen. Mark Miloscia from the 30th District addressed the Oct. 3 Conservative Caucus Breakfast and told how he advocated for WFSE/AFSCME members in the
Senate Republican Caucus.
AT FAR RIGHT: Sen. Cyrus Habib of the 48th District talked to the Progressive Caucus
about the importance of standing up for public service.

Page 4

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

October 2015

EVERY VOICE COUNTS : CONVENTION 2015 REPORT

Inslee: Collective bargaining fundamental human right

Saunders (at podium) and Lucy (far right) inspired delegates.

Saunders: Court wont

silence our voice

Gov. Jay Inslee in

his convention speech
Oct. 2 stood behind
the collective bargaining rights that brought
us our first raises in
seven years and against
the Senates political
game-playing that came
within hours of forcing
a July 1 shutdown of
services the public depends on.
He rejected the
Wisconsin-style attacks
of Scott Walker.
We are not going

of our state employees

and the backs of the
people we serve.
I am so pleased
to have stood with you
year after year, Inslee
said, including successful efforts this year to
add resources in mental
health, Childrens services and state parks.

Proud to have stood

with us on COLAS, Inslee said he wants the
next state budget to be
one that has the backs

See Inslees full speech

on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=KxaFr9o4j24

Lucy inspires not once, but twice

AFSCME President Lee Saunders praised WFSE/

AFSCME members for leading the way in reshaping the
union in the face of a possible U.S. Supreme Court decision
in 2016 that could silence our voice at work.
The unions program of one-on-one conversations
with members to find new ideas and address concerns will
truly make the union AFSCME Strong, he said in his Oct.
2 keynote address.
Weve got to accept the challenges that confront all of
us, Saunders said.
See Saunders full speech on our YouTube channel: https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=19MQHMlOR_A

Former AFSCME
Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy, founder of
the Coalition of Black
Trade Unionists, held
an informal two-hour
conversation with delegates Oct. 1 and then
addressed them in the
convention hall the next
afternoon.
Lucy, who stood
alongside the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
in civil rights struggles

Delegates use voice--and vote

Delegates debated and voted
on constitutional amendments and
resolutions.
Among the measures passing:

to let that happen in the

state of Washington,
Inslee said.
Collective bargaining is a fundamental
human right, he said.
It is a right that Im going to work with you to
make sure is protected
in the state of Washington.

Reaffirming WFSE/AFSCMEs commitment as a champion of equal rights

and civil liberties.
Build on existing contract language

and Nelson Mandela

in ending apartheid,
quietly and passionately
boosted the delegates.
He called on them
to challenge folks who
dont want or need public service.
Lucys Thursday
night conversation was
the first-ever WFSE/
AFSCME event to be
streamed live on Periscope, courtesy of the
WFSE/AFSCME Com-

Inslee

Lucy (right, with WFSE/

AFSCME Exec. Dir.
Greg Devereux) at Oct.
1 conversation.

munications Committee.
See Lucys Friday speech
to the full convention:

to strengthen anti-bullying laws.

Supporting legislation and policy
initiatives regarding energy generation
and consumption, and sustainable development to lessen our contribution
to the effects of climate change.
Opposing an early endorsement in
the 2016 presidential race.

https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=H2oJWW5aMU8

Developing a strategy to help state

employees in high-cost areas of the
state.
More details on all convention resolutions and constitutional amendments
online: http://wfse.org/convention-resolutions-amendments/

Convention honors
VALOR, from page 3
tually involved the Yakima
SWAT team. The suspect surrendered and is in jail with
bail set at $5 million.
The team I was with,
their bravery outweighs anything I could have imagined,
Tavarez said. When people
hear Officer down, regardless of what has happened,
they have to stay in the fight,
they cant leave their positions. My team did just that,
and they are heroes to me. Of
course Ive had a few tears,
but at the end of the day,
were all safe and the guys
behind bars.
The shootout and the bravery shown by you and your
colleagues brought a happy
ending to a scary incident
that generated the concern of
the entire union nationwide,
WFSE/AFSCME President
Sue Henricksen said in presenting the award to Tavarez.
And it was another alltoo-often reminder of the
risks Department of Corrections members and all Federation members and all public
employees take every day to
keep us safe.

October 2015

Howard Jorgenson Organizing Award

Interpreters United Local 1671 member Leroy Mould (left

and above with Local 1671 delegates), was honored for
his efforts growing his bargaining units membership by 25
percent when a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court reversed the long
practice of collecting representation fees from non-member
independent providers. These efforts were the prelude to the
current one-on-one outreach efforts in the months leading to
the high courts ruling on the so-called Friedrichs case that
would extend that challenge to all public sector workers.

Howard Ocobock PEOPLE Award

David Middlekauf accepts the award given to Rainier School Local 491 for
being the local with the highest percentage of PEOPLE contributors at the
MVP level. AFSCME President Lee Saunders (fourth from the right) presented
the award.

Rosella
Charvet
Leadership Awards
The convention honored three members in recognition of their dedication
and contributions to the members of
their locals. Receiving the Rosella
Charvet Leadership Awards: Paula
Lukaszek, Local 1488; Scott Mallery,
Local 1221; and Tracy Stanley, Local
1400.

Job Action of the Year Award.

Department of Ecology members
statewide. The 2014 Its COLA
time slogan came from Ecology
members who went one-on-one
across the state in support of locality
pay during the last contract negotiations. They also united in support of
the bargaining team. Photo, page 1.

Leadership Award recipients with selection committee (from left): Lukaszek;

Katie Nelson; Stanley; Mallery; Jeff Paulsen; Pres. Sue Henricksen; and Gabe
Hall.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

Special Award. To April

Sims in appreciation of
her years to service as
the legislative and political
action coordinator. Sims moved to a
job with the WSLC.

Page 5

EVERY VOICE COUNTS: NEW BARGAINING TEAMS ELECTED

Here are results of bargaining team elections

The ballots have been counted for bargaining
teams for the next, 2017-2019 contracts. Negotiations
begin early next year.
Appointments to fill vacant positions may still be
made.
Here are the elected members of our 2017-2019
WFSE/AFSCME Bargaining Teams (as of Oct. 9):
GENERAL GOVERNMENT (elected from General
Governments eight policy groups)
Corrections:
Bill Copland, Local 1253, Department of Corrections, Kennewick
Employment Security:
Ginger Bernethy, Local 443, Employment Security
Department, Olympia
Human Services:
Childrens Administration Romy Garcia, Local 843,
Seattle
Community Services Division Shay Kaushagen,
Local 313, Vancouver
Division of Child Support Steve Fossum, Local
443, Olympia
Home and Community Services Cynthia English,
Local 53, Tacoma
At-Large Bill Youngman, Local 843, Seattle (DVR)
Institutions:
State Hospitals Rick Hertzog, Local 793, Western
State Hospital, Lakewood
Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation/Special Commitment Center Gabe Hall, Local 862, Green Hill
School, Chehalis
Veterans Affairs Lyn Hofland, Local 482, Washington Veterans Home, Retsil
Developmental Disabilities Administration-CMO/
Residential Habilitation Centers David Greenman,
Local 341, Fircrest School, Shoreline, and Julianne
Moore, Local 1326, Yakima Valley School, Selah
Labor & Industries:
Imelda Ang, Local 443, L&I, Tumwater
DeFrance Clarke, Local 443, L&I, Tumwater
Miscellaneous:
Wendy Conway, Local 443, Office of Insurance
Commissioner, Tumwater
Sarah Decker, Local 1225, Center for Childhood
Deafness and Hearing Loss, Vancouver
Heather Pyles, Local 313, Washington State Patrol
Crime Lab, Vancouver

Natural Resources:
Patricia Pat Bailey, Local 872, Ecology, Lacey
Kerry Graber, Local 872, Ecology, Lacey
Transportation:
Mike Anthony, Local 379, DOT, Seattle
Kate Rogers, Local 1060, DOT, Greenbank
COMMUNITY COLLEGE COALITION:
Community Colleges of Spokane:
Marlene Hagerman, Rick Pelfrey and Theresa Sullivan, all Local 1221
Everett Community College:
Laura Little and Max Phipps, both Local 1020
Lower Columbia College (Longview):
Tracy Stanley and Vicki Echerd, both Local 1400
Peninsula College (Port Angeles):
Tom Cline, Local 1463
Seattle Community Colleges:
Tarrell Forest-Parramore, Lisa Gacer and Orson
Williamson, all Local 304
Shoreline Community College:
Paul Fernandez and Jerome Owens, both Local
304
South Puget Sound Community College (Olympia):
Tim Nairn, Local 443
Note: Vacant positions at Bellevue, Centralia, Green
River, Tacoma, Whatcom and Part-Time Hourly.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (Ellensburg):
Chris Everett, Skip Jensen and Jeff St. John, all
Local 330
Note: Some vacancies exist where no nominations
were received.
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (Cheney):
Dave Sundstrom, Craig Walker and Kathleen Warren, all Local 931
Note: Some vacancies exist where no nominations
were received.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON:
UW Medical Center At-Large Cassie Corall and
Raeno Alforque, both Local 1488
Bothell Campus At-Large Stacey Fullwiler, Local
1488
UW Main Campus At-Large Joe Davenport and
Jonathan McCollum, both Local 1488
UW Main Campus Trades Don Stephens and
James Grady, both Local 1488
UW Main Campus Custodian Salvador Castillo
Local 1488 President Paula Lukaszek
Notes: Elections in progress for Harborview Medical
Center At-Large and PAC Lab/Friday Harbor/Consolidated Laundry ballot count was to start Oct. 12
after this newspaper went to press; some vacancies
exist where no nominations were received.
UW POLICE MANAGEMENT:
Anthony Stewart, Local 1488
Note: Vacancy exists where no nominations were
received.
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY:
Vacancies exist where no nominations were received.
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (Bellingham):
Sonia Baker, Clint Burt, Ryan Cullup, David Garcia, Tim Harvey, Sarah Neugebauer, Stephanie
Scott and Steve Vanko, all Local 1381.
Note: Vacancy exists where no nominations were
received.
THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE CLASSIFIED
STAFF (Olympia):
Lana Brewster, Steve Johnson, Tony Perez, Doug
Shanafelt, Susie Seip and Kirk Talmadge, all Local
443
Note: Some vacancies exist where no nominations
were received.
LANGUAGE ACCESS PROVIDERS (Interpreters, all
Local 1671):
Group 1 Quan Tran
Group 2 Leroy Mould
Group 3 Samuel Potts
Group 4 Anne De Santis and Aida Sanchez Vela
Group 5 Cora Leigh
Group 7 Anastacio Lepe
Group 8 Larysa House
Group 9 Irine Kariuki and Daniel Wong

AFSCME FAMILY STRONG AT 2015 UNION CAMPOUT AT CORNET BAY

About 70 WFSE/AFSCME Members,
family and friends enjoyed Septembers
union campout at Cornet Bay Environmental Learning Center at Deception
Pass State Park.
It was a time for family-bonding,
said Gregg Gunther, Local 843, who has
been at every Howard Ocobock Memorial
Family Campout since they began.
Because were all family -- unity and
solidarity, said Gunther, who brought his
13-year-old son, Nick.
This years campout also followed
the tradition of supporting our state parks
-- often targeted by politicians for closure
and outsourcing -- by using our state
parks.
Once again, Parks Local 1466 member Rick Colombo entertained campers
with an interpretive talk on the history of
Deception Pass. And several park employees were the honored guests at the
Saturday night hamburger-and-hot dog
potluck Sept. 12.
More online at: http://wfse.org/
afscme-family-strong-at-2015-union-campout-at-cornet-bay/

Page 6

Vo family takes
to the volleyball
court.

Tonia Duncans
(Local 948) tries
for a ringer in
horseshoes.

Local 948s Edwin Jocson and Randy Kurtz tend

to burgers and hotdogs.

The WFSE/AFSCME Members Only Benefits Committee with

some of the parks employees and one happy camper at the Saturday night potluck. From left: Parks staff Bryce Watkinson, Bill
Ruh and Jonathan Bright; WFSE/AFSCMEs Tavie Smith with
Max Delaney, grandson of Holly Delaney, Local 1488, Harborview Medical Center; and committee members Karen Mork, Deb
Sills and Ken Blair (chair).

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

AT LEFT: Local 443 member

Sue Gardiner (standing, with
granddaughter Kira Kimball,
7 months) playing Monopoly
on the lawn at Cornet Bay.
Clockwise from bottom left:
Granddaughter Ravyn Allen,
13; daughter Shannon KImball; Kira and Gardiner; and
grandsons Gunner Muser, 3,
and Drake Kimball, 6.

October 2015

UNION NEWS

SHOP STEWARD
CORNER

Shop Steward Committee needs your ideas...

The WFSE/AFSCME Shop
Steward Committee is ask-

HMC, from page 1

cilmembers.
The unions Higher Education
Strategic Coordinator Mark Hamilton
faced Harborviews Executive Director
Paul Hayes and demanded fair treatment of the hospitals workers, including the 1,200 surgical technicians,
custodians, trades workers and other
Federation members there.
I challenge Executive Director
Hayes to an open and sincere dialogue

ing shop stewards what

ideas they have to add to the

with our members, Hamilton said.

Councilmember Larry Gossett
asked Hamilton who confirmed our
members do not feel like theyre being
respected.
Councilmember Rod Dembowski
voiced frustration that employee relations and how workers are treated
by the UW and Harborview -- dont
seem to be getting any better.
And its going to be very difficult to justify a continued relationship
(with the UW) without a change in the
approach to our folks who are giving

unions current web-based

grievance tracking system. Email ideas to Jean Backman
at jeanb@wfse.org.

care to the community of Harborview

beyond this contract, Dembowski
said.
What Im sensing is a more fundamental problem. Im interested in
making sure that before we enter a renewal, long-term agreement, we have
structural reform and protections in
place.
That reiterated Hamiltons demand that the UW value its employees
who he said are highly skilled and
trained and need respect, dignity, a
living wage, the opportunity for ad-

STEWARD
CENTER
wfse
.org

vancement and be empowered to

conduct their craft in the fulfillment of
the hospitals commitment to the community.
He also called for a commitment
to Harborviews historic mission,
including a stable future for its community clinics, and increased financial
oversight and accountability.
We look forward to a continued
partnership with King County in
preserving the historic mission and
reputation of excellence at Harborview
Medical Center, Hamilton said.

EVERETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNION STAFF BREAKFAST. Local 1020 members at Everett CC held their annual staff
union breakfast Sept. 15 where they discussed their new collective bargaining agreement and built solidarity.

New officers at WFSE/AFSCME Local 2559, Washington State

Department of Transportation, Vancouver. Some 41 members
showed up at Local 2559s Oct. 8 meeting to make their voice
count and vote in their new slate of local officers.
From left: Executive Board Members Renee Henderson, Wayne
Seed and Jayson Henkel; Secretary Danni Mattix; Treasurer
Frank Stewart; Vice President Nathan Gruenberg; and
President Clark Sexton.

SHARED LEAVE
REQUESTS
STILL IN NEED OF SHARED
LEAVE:
Patricia Shives, a support
enforcement officer 2 with
DSHS in Fife and a member
of cal 53, is battling breast
cancer and is undergoing
five months of chemotherapy.
She underwent a second
surgery July 21 and is in need
of shared leave while she
recovers and undergoes the
five months of chemotherapy.
Contact: Carol Murray at
(253) 476-7663, or your
human resource office.
Jane Zimmer, a support
enforcement officer 4 with
DSHS in Vancouver and
a member of Local 313, is
requesting shared leave to
cover her extended time off
during her recuperation from
a serious accident. Contact:
Pam Miller at (360) 397-9704,
or your own human resource
office.
More shared leave
requests:
Gebermedhin (Gary) Tekle,

October 2015

a patient care technician at

the University of Washington
in Seattle and a member of
Local 1488, is requesting
shared leave to cover his time
off while recuperating from
a serious auto accident. He
expects to be out for another month, or more. He has
used all her available leave
resources. Contact: Becky
Hammontree, (206) 598-7786,
or your own human resource
office.

WFSE/AFSCMEs
Paulsen
appointed to
technology
board. Jeff
Paulsen (right),
an information
technology specialist 5 with
Consolidated Technology Services
in Olympia and president of Local
443, has been appointed to the
state Technology Services Board.
Gov. Jay Inslees office made the
announcement on Oct. 6.
Paulsens appointment gives
Federation IT members an important
seat at the table as IT members
strive to give the best public service
possible.

Elizabeth Swenhaugen, a
financial services specialist 3
with DSHS in Spokane and a
member of Local 1221, has
been approved for shared
leave. She has used all her
available sick, vacation and
personal leave. Contact: Joe
Guzik, (509) 363-3366, or
your human resource office.

Jill Burr, a public safety

officer at Harborview Medical
Center in Seattle and a
member of Local 1488, has
been approved for shared
leave. She is battling a
combination of on-the-job
injuries and a serious illness
and its side effects. Contact:
Kim Francis, (206) 744-9229.

Gordon Monk, a recreation

and athletics specialist 2 at
the Special Commitment
Center on McNeil Island and
a member of Local 793, is
requesting shared leave. He
is recovering from surgery
and has been away from
work since June 30. He has
used all his available leave
resources. Contact: Veronica
Jones, (360) 617-6301, or
your human resource office.

Isabel Estrada, a social

services specialist 2 with
DSHS in Renton and a
member of Local 843, is in
need of shared leave to cover
time she will missing while
recovering from her recent
surgery. She will be out about
six weeks. Contact: Marylou
Baker, (253) 372-5827, or
your own human resource
office.

Robert Smith, a maintenance

mechanic 1 with the
Department of Transportation
in Seattle and a member
of Local 378, is requesting
shared leave to cover his
extended time off while
recuperating from a highimpact car accident. He has
used all his available leave
resources. Contact: DOT
HR at (425) 314-8996, or

LATEST INTERNAL ORGANIZING AWARD. Tracy Stanley (Local 1400) is the latest WFSE/AFSCME member recognized for conducting the most one-on-one
conversations with co-workers as part of the AFSCME Strong effort to inform,
involve, engage and empower members. She received a gift basket at the
WFSE/AFSCME convention Oct. 4 in Seatac from Internal Organizing Committee co-chairs Max Phipps and Julianne Moore. In photo (from left): Stanley,
Phipps, WFSE/AFSCME Pres. Sue Henricksen and Moore.

Student Debt Workshop. Some of the participants at WFSE/AFSCMEs Student Debt Workshop held Sept. 26 in Seattle. It was taught by WFSE/AFSCME
Council Representatives Joan Gallagher and Kaite Marks.
Find out more online: http://wfse.org/get-involved/student-debt-resources/

IN MEMORIAM
Steve Huntamer, a longtime
Department of Transportation member of Yakima Local
1326 who recently retired,
passed away comfortably on
Sept. 17, 2015, after a short,
hard battle with lung cancer.
Huntamer, of Selah, was 62.
A celebration of his life took
place Sept. 26. Memorials may be made to the
March of Dimes in care of
Brookside Funeral Home &
Cremation, P.O. Box 1267,
Moxee, WA 98936.
your own human resource
department.
Marcia McBride, an office
assistant 2 at the Department
of Labor and Industries in
Tumwater and a member of
Local 443, is still in need of
shared leave as she recovers
from recent surgery. Contact:
your human resource office.
Kathy Taylor, an office
assistant 2 at the Department
of Labor and Industries in
Tumwater, has been approved
for shared leave. Contact:
your human resource office.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

If youve been approved for

shared leave by your agency or
institution, you can have your
shared leave request listed here.
Donations of unused annual
leave, sick leave or all or part of
your personal holiday may be
made. To add your request here,
call Tim Welch or Tavie Smith at
1-800-562-6002, or e-mail tim@
wfse.org or tavies@wfse.org.

Page 7

Every Voice

Counts
(YHU\

Your voice counts.

We want to hear from you.

Our union is interviewing over 32,000 union members because your ideas and concerns are important.
Right now it is hard for working people to get by, let alone get ahead. Corporate CEOs and politicians
manipulate the rules in their favor. They have a plan for our future. There is an anti-union and anti-public
employee agenda moving across America. Last spring, the WA Senate rejected our contracts for the first
time ever. They tried to block our raises, cut public pensions, weaken our union and privatize our jobs. This
was just a preview of whats coming. There is a pending U.S. Supreme Court case that could seriously
impact public services and our future. This case could make it even harder for working people to come
together to protect our pensions, health care and speak up for each other to get ahead. Together, we can
stop their attacks on public services and win fair pay and benefits to sustain our families.

9RLFH

&RXQWV

Make sure you complete your

Every Voice Counts Interview!

We need to hear from you about:

What changes and/or improvements would you like to see in your workplace?

What ideas or concerns do you have re: services, program funding levels or service delivery?

What are your priorities and suggestions for our next union contract negotiations?

How can we make our union and union contract stronger?

United for our future, our

families & the future
opeiu8/aflcio

of public services.
To schedule your Every Voice Counts Interview please contact your Union Rep, call (800) 562-6002 or email Irenes@wfse.org
opeiu8/aflcio