Professional Documents
Culture Documents
www.discoverpass.wa.gov
FEBRUARY 2016
State Employee
The official newspaper of the
WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE
EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO
WASHINGTON
INSIDE:
Learn more on
pages 4 & 5.
INSIDE:
From left: Reidun MacGregor (WFSE council rep.), Sean Dannen (WFSE GG
strategic coordinator), and Local 793 members Tracy Muntz, Dani Kendall
and John Henson.
bers contract rights through
what is known as the demand to bargain process.
We were able to negotiate
a better time for submittal,
a transparent process and
two more slots added than
in 2015, said Sean Dannen,
WFSE/AFSCMEs General
Victories at Western
Washington University,
Fish & Wildlife, Central
Washington University
State Employee
WASHINGTON
Page 2
But they expressed frustration about unclear priorities and ambiguous expectations when Mother Nature
sends snow down on campus
that clogs up sidewalks and
roadways, Hamilton said.
The union suggested that
the CWU maintenance and
operations department clearly
communicate to custodians
how to factor snow removal
into their workloads.
And on Jan. 12, the university did just that.
This clear communication won by the union helps
make clear how important the
work of CWU custodians is
year round and during the
snowy winter season.
February 2016
Yakima Local 1326 members at their Lobby Day in Olympia Feb. 12. They
gladly let Gov. Jay Inslee photobomb their group pix! From left: Gladi Brinlee,
Alicia Marmaledo, Gov. Jay Inslee, Becky Withrow and Hazel Cromwell.
Stay engaged, informed:
Lobby Days:
http://wfse.org/get-involved/
lobby-days/
Hotline updates:
Audio 1-800-562-6102
E-mail sign up at wfse.
org/news/
Text updates: Text NEWS
to 237263
Online: wfse.org
Action alerts: Text wfsec28
to 237263
Gov. Inslee tours Western State Hospital, gets frontline look, listens
Gov. Jay Inslee Jan. 22
toured Western State Hospital
to get a frontline look and
hear from Local 793 members
about the crisis in recruitment
and retention, safety and
funding at the 800-plus bed
psychiatric facility in Lakewood.
He made the trip out
here to assess the situation
for himself because were in
a crisis situation out here,
said Alice Kreiger, a licensed
practical nurse and Local 793
member.
I think that by talking to
union members, I think that
he has a clearer picture of
what is going on out here.
The governor met with
about 30 union members with
no management present to
get their frank assessment of
the situation. Then he toured
wards to get an even closer
look.
February 2016
Members talk frankly with Inslee (far right) during his Jan. 22 visit to Western
State Hospital.
Local 793 members who represented views of Western State Hospital members during governors tour (from left): Gina Najolia, James Robinson, Alice
Kreiger, Eliga Sacks and Kathy Seiffert.
He seemed to be listening to a lot of things that were
said, forensic evaluator Gina
Najolia (Local 793) said.
I think the consistency
of the message about staffing and funding is getting
through.
I feel hopeful that the
Page 3
The more you know, the more youll want them out
of our state. Kacie, WFSE Member who helps people with development disabilities
Kacie
Addie, WFSE Member who helps people in financial and medical crisis
opeiu8/aflcio
I get mad when I think how much our union has done to
protect services and public employees compared to the
Freedom Foundation who attacks public services and our
benefits.
Theyre called the Freedom Foundation. The more you know, the worse they look.
The Freedom Foundation is trying to get state employees personal contact information.
Why do they want to contact you about your Union membership? Its simple.
We stand in the way. Our union protects public employees and the public good. As long as were strong they
cant get their hands on the billions of dollars invested each year in public services and public education.
They want to dismantle government, cut public services and outsource public jobs to the private sector.
They are a front group for the ultra wealthy and funded by special interests.
State Employee
ISSUES
Fair Pay
FreedomFoundationFacts.com
ISSUES > Fair Pay
Funding for
Public Services
FreedomFoundationFacts.com
ISSUES > Preserving Public Services & Good Jobs
Quality Jobs in
Washington
FreedomFoundationFacts.com
ISSUES > Preserving Public Services & Good Jobs
Pension Security
FreedomFoundationFacts.com
ISSUES > Retirement Security
Affordable
Health Insurance
FreedomFoundationFacts.com
ISSUES > Affordable Health Care
Retirement security
UNION NEWS
IN
MEMORIAM
James Henry Jim Crouse, Local
1301, Ellensburg, passed away Jan.
21 of a sudden heart attack. He was
62.
Hed worked for the state for just
SHARED LEAVE
REQUESTS
Shannon Henry, a financial
services specialist 3 with
DSHS in Spokane (Maple
CSO) and a member of Local
1212, is in need of shared
leave because of cancer surgery and recovery. Contact:
your human resource office.
Christina Erickson, a social
service specialist 2 with DSHS
in Spokane (Maple CSO) and
a member of Local 1212, is in
need of shared leave because
of a serious medical condition.
Contact: your human resource
office.
Jill Jeffries, a financial services specialist 3 with DSHS
in Bremerton and a member of
Local 1181, has been approved
for shared leave. Contact: your
human resource office.
Toni Mohle, a Community Corrections officer with the Department of Corrections in the DOC
Pierce County Special Needs
Unit and a member of Local 53,
has been approved for shared
leave because of recent brain
surgery and intractable migraines. Contact: Diana White
in DOC payroll or Fran Halpain
in DOC Human Resources, or
your human resource office.
Lisa McCormick, a program
coordinator with the System
Policy and Integrity Operations Division (ESPIOD) at the
Employment Security Department in Lacey and a member
of Local 443, is still in need of
shared leave because of several serious medical conditions.
She will use all her available
leave for upcoming medical
appointments. Any donation
would be greatly appreciated.
Contact: Kathleen Young, (360)
902-9538, or your human resource office.
Susan Betts, an industrial
insurance underwriter with
the Department of Labor and
Industries in Tumwater and a
member of Local 443, is still in
need of shared leave to cover
the time she will miss during
extended treatment and recovery from breast cancer. Susan
is expected to continue to be off
work until the end of May. Susan has used all her available
leave. Contact: Laura Cadwell,
(360) 902-5488, or your own
human resource office.
Sue Martinez, a financial services specialist 4 at the DSHS
Everett Community Service
Office and a member of Local 948, has a serious health
condition and is still in need of
shared leave. Contact: Cheryl
Page 6
February 2016
Tori Byington,
DSHS member of
Olympia Local 443,
is already gearing up to enter the
poster contest.
THEME:
Fostering DSHS Unity Across Divisions:
How We Transform Lives! Our Union Never Gives
Up!
WHY:
Winning contribution will be used for DSHS-WFSE/
AFSCME Unity Poster
Example of recent artwork that members in DSHS Childrens Administration developed to tell the
story of how many kids are literally in their hands.
DEADLINE:
All art must be received by Thursday, March 31.
Use any media, sizes 8.5x11 to 24x36 inches.
Send to: WFSE/AFSCME Organizing Department
By submitting artwork, participants agree to an unconditional release 906 Columbia St. S.W., Fourth Floor
Olympia, WA 98501
of their submissions for use by the Washington Federation of State
Employees and the American Federation of State, County and
QUESTIONS?
Municipal Employees, including the addition of WFSE and AFSCME
logos in the use of their submissions. All entries become the property Contact Sarah Buel, Rosemary Sterling or Elizabeth Turnbow at
1-866-820-2291. or contact buels@wfse.org
of WFSE.
SOUTH SEATTLE,
from page 1
February 2016
Page 7
MEMBERS IN ACTION
Harborview Medical Center members celebrate big win on how the UW runs the hospital
ith unanimous
backing from
the Metropolitan King County Council, Local 1488 members
at Harborview Medical
Center in Seattle have
won a major change in
how the University of
Washington runs this
regions premier trauma
center.
After the victory on the Harborview management contract, from left: Farris Hinton, Cleeesther Thomas and Toccara
Smith.
Thomas
Page 8
Mutual respect
What the UW-Harborview
management agreement
declares on respect for
Local 1488 members
voices:
The University will negotiate its collective bargaining agreements in a
productive and respectful
manner and in good faith
with the objective of seeking to reach timely agreements, prior to the expiration of such collective
bargaining agreements.
The University shall
comply with its collective
bargaining agreements,
and shall not directly or
indirectly, interfere with,
restrain, coerce, or discriminate against University Employees working at
the Medical Center in the
free exercise of their right
to organize and designate
representatives of their
choosing for the purpose
of collective bargaining, or
in the free exercise of any
other right.
Councilmember Rod Dembowski said before the unanimous vote.
The final agreement includes all the principles and
demands that Local 1488
members and WFSE/AFSCME laid out in February 2014,
including maintaining clinics in their current locations,
properly staffing Harborview
and setting a new tone on labor relations and bargaining
based on mutual respect.
The agreement also includes
other accountability measures
to end what has often been
called the UWs business as
usual attitude in employee
relations.
Its clear that the UW will
undertake no major changes
in any area unilaterally, but
only with consultation and/
or approval of the county executive, county council or the
Harborview Board of Trustees
appointed by the council.
Collaboration with
WFSE/AFSCME members is
necessary.
Were very happy to
see this come and that some
peace is coming, Thomas
told the council.
We look forward to continuing the work that makes
Harborview the premier institution that it is and partnering
(with King County) in making
the language of the agreement not just language, but
a reality of the operation of
Harborview Medical Center,
said Mark Hamilton, WFSE/
AFSCMEs Higher Education
Strategic Coordinator.
The agreement then went
to King County Executive
Dow Constantine, the Harborview Board of Trustees and
the UW Board of Trustees for
their approval and signature.
February 2016