washington state employee (wse) 10/2015

8/20/2019 Washington State Employee (WSE) 10/2015

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The ofcial newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28•AFL-CIO

VOL. 43 NO. 8

OCTOBER 2015Meet our new bargaining teams.

See page 6.

State EmployeeWASHINGTON

Every voice counts: Dignity for all

T

he voices of lower-paid members at

all University ofWashington campusesgot through to man-agement Oct. 8 as their bargaining team won anagreement extending the$15 minimum wage tomembers at campusesoutside Seattle.

$15 now real for UW membersEvery voice counts as Local 1488 members win Seattle’s $15minimum wage on campuses outside the city

The union on Sept. 28won agreement for all UW Se-attle members. But the WFSE

Local 1488 bargaining teaminsisted it would be unfair toleave out the other campuses.

The Oct. 8 agreementmeans that workers at all UWcampuses – including Seattle,Harborview, Bothell, Tacomaand Friday Harbor – will allget the $15 minimum wageenacted in Seattle.

“The raise needs to ap-ply to everyone who worksfor the UW, regardless of jobor work location,” Local 1488

President Paula Lukaszeksaid at the time.

Lukaszek joined her two

other bargaining team members Alan Presley and DenzellDeloney-Whiten and WFSE/AFSCME Labor Advocate Jen-nifer Dixon in hammering outthe all-campus agreement.

Under the Sept. 28 andOct. 8 agreements, the mini-mum wage on all UW cam-puses will go to $13 an houron Jan. 1, 2016 and to $15 anhour on Jan. 1, 2017 – a yearahead of the Seattle ordi-nance.

Both sides go back tothe table Oct. 20 to negotiateother issues related to the ex-tension of the minimum wageto all UW campuses.

Local 1488 members at the UW Laundry, alongwith custodians, make up 69 percent of Local1488 members earning less than $13 an hour.That changes Jan. 1 thanks to our union.

The victory was anothermilestone as Local 1488 members stand up for the $15minimum wage for all UWemployees.

WFSE/AFSCME members and the King CountyCouncil once again saidthe University of Wash-ington needs to clean upits act and end decades ofdisrespect for workers -- orthe UW risks losing the

contract to run Harborview

Union, King County Council challengefor change at UW-run HarborviewMedical Center

Harborview challenge

Medical Center.The people of King

County own Harborview --this region’s major traumacenter located on Seattle’sFirst Hill. But since the late1960s, the county has con-tracted with the UW to run

the hospital in a series of

15-yearagree-ments.

Butthistimearound,WFSE/AF-SCMEand Lo-

cal 1488 members pushed asympathetic King CountyCouncil and County Ex-ecutive Dow Constantineto – for the rst time – drilldown and insist on changes

beforerenew-ing theagree-mentwith theUW.

Ne-go-tiationscontin-

ue and were the main topicOct. 7 before the council’sCommittee of the Wholeconsisting of all nine coun-

Hamilton Dembowski

See HMC, page 7

Hundreds of conversations = AFSCME Strong resolve

EVERY VOICE COUNTS FORTHE “COMMON GOOD”“(It’s being) united for the

same purpose and focus,

partnering with everyone in the

community, in your workplace,

within your faith-base and

staying focused on the

common good of everybody.”

Nearly 400 Convention 2015 delegates committed to the challenge bystepping up the program of one-on-one conversations that makes sure allideas, suggestions and concerns are heard. See pages 3-5.

Ecology members after winning the “JobAction of the Year” Award at the WFSE/AFSCME State Convention Oct. 4.

-- Delegate SandraWomack, Local 53

United for our future, our families &

the future of public services.

To schedule your EVERY VOICE COUNTS Interview please contact your Union Rep, call

(800) 562-6002 or email [email protected]. See special “Poster of the Month” on page 8.


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Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee October 2015

StateEmployeeWashington State Employee (USPS 981-

200) is published monthly, except Februaryand July, for $5.08 per year by the Washing-ton Federation of State Employees/AFSCMECouncil 28 • AFL-CIO, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E.Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501. Afliated withthe American Federation of State, Countyand Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and theWashington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Periodicals postage paid at Olympia, WAand at additional ofces. Circulation:42,000.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes toWashington State Employee, 1212 JeffersonSt SE Suite 300 Olympia WA 98501- 7501

Sue Henricksen, President

Greg Devereux, Executive Director

Editor Tim Welche-mail: [email protected] • Internet: www.wfse.orgMember, ILCA

WASHINGTON

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OPTION. If you’d like to save paper and postage, you can receive this newspaper electronically. Go to www.wfse.org and hoverover NEWS & INFO, located in the top menu bar. Select from the drop-down list: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYEE - Newspaper. Use the formon this page to register for the electronic version. Or e-mail us at [email protected], or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300,Olympia, WA 98501. If you’re a represented non-member fee payer and you don’t wish to receive this publication in any format, e-mail us at con - [email protected], or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

EVERY VOICE COUNTS : WFSE/AFSCME VOTERS’ GUIDE 2015

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

BEFORE I-1366

P h

o t o

: S t e

p h

e n

S c

h w a r t z

, r e p r o

d u c e

d

u n

d e r

a C r

e a

t i v e

C o m m

o n s

l i c e n s e

What you need to know before you vote:

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 . Eyman’s I-1366 would

let a few politicians stand in the way of

the public services Washington’s grow-

ing population wants and needs.

AFTER I-1366

Tim Eyman is at it again!

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

Here’s how Eyman’s I-1366 would let a small group

of politicians slash the public services you provide:

Provided by WFSE/AFSCME for members’ voter education.

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

Vote in the General Election by Nov. 3!

N o v.

3

Our union has taken positions in two key races inwhat many call an “off-year election”

How you vote is your personal decision. So whenyou vote, consider this....

Tim Eyman doesn’t share our values

Massive cuts to schools and servicesI-1366 will cause more partisan gridlock andblow an $8 billion hole in the state’s budgetover the next 6 years, leading to devastating

cuts to our schools, colleges and otherprograms.

Tim Eyman’s I-1366 is a false choice that takes Washington backward.

An unfair hurdle to tax reformI-1366 would block changes to ourregressive tax system and allow extremistsfrom either party to block efforts to make

taxes more equitable for middle- and low-income families, or to help small businessesby replacing outdated B&O taxes.

Constitutionally awed and costly

Tim Eyman’s latest idea is so awed that itwill likely be found unconstitutional; costingstate 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

Rep. Gregory is a voice for

working families and ourcommunity.

Why Rep. Carol Gregory?

• She has served as president of the FederalWay School Board, as a public school teacherand as president of her union.

• She voted for state employees and working families 100% ofthe 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 noconditions, our rst pay raises in 7 years and saved health carecoverage for 20,000 state employee spouses with no additional

surcharges.

• Rep. Gregory had our backs and fought for jobs and publicservices. She stood with us for a nal budget that added funding,staff and resources for Children’s Services, mental health, stateparks and infrastructure.

Rep. Gregory isrunning to nish

the term she was

appointed to ll

after the death

of Rep. Roger

Freeman.

YOU DECIDE.Just make sure to VOTE. When your ballot

arrives, ll it out and send it in!1 WSLC 2015 Legislative Report; 2 Final State Operating Budget ESSB 6052, 2015


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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeOctober 2015 Page 3

EVERY VOICE COUNTS : CONVENTION 2015 REPORTWhy “Every VoiceCounts” in the AFSCMEStrong program:Convention 2015delegates use the voicethat a U.S. SupremeCourt ruling may silence

“It means together wecan ght for what webelieve in.”Jeannie Cornell, Local

970

“It means we have aunited coalition...that is

working together in thepublic sector to supportthe populace.”Hiram Gray, Local 491

“To be a strong founda-tion to work hard andto work for others.”Addy Rodriquez, Lo-cal 1326

“It will help my family.”Dioscora Page, Local443

“It means de-mocracy withindemocracy.”Adam Draude, Local 443

“We are all standingtogether in unity forthe working peopleand ghting forequality and safety.”Andrea Warren,Local 573

More details and images at: http://wfse.org/convention/ and on Facebook: Facebook.com/WFSEcon46

By the time WFSE/AFSCME’s 2015Convention

adjourned Oct. 4in Seatac, nearlyall delegates hadengaged in a one-on-one conversationto show that “EveryVoice Counts” in themonths leading up toa corporate-backedSupreme Court casethat aims to take awaythe voice at work that

Delegates unite for ourfuture and families

sustains our families.The nearly 400 delegates

committed to the challenge by stepping up the programof one-on-one conversationsthat makes sure all ideas,suggestions and concerns areheard.

The 2015 edition of theconvention set the course ofthe union for the next twoyears and beyond with twodays of debate and votes on

resolutions brought forward by members across the state.

And delegates Oct. 4 electedthe four ofcers who will

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

Elected ofcers take oath of ofce from Executive Director Greg Devereux.

From left: Henricksen, Hall, Stanley and Kuschel.

WFSE/AFSCME Community Organizer Brandon Anderson (left) sits down forone-on-one conversation with Local 304 delegate Orson Williamson (right) --with a little help from Local 1488 delegate Claude Theard (center). It was oneof hundreds of conversations at the convention -- among thousands now going

on with members statewide.

spend their two-year termmaking sure all voices areheard.

They are:President – Sue

Henricksen, Local 53, DDField Services, Tacoma (re-elected).

Vice President – Judy

Kuschel, Local 313,Corrections, Vancouver.

Secretary – TracyStanley, Local 1400, LowerColumbia College, Longview.

Treasurer – Don Hall, Local 1466, Parks, WenatcheeConuence State Park (re-

elected).

Convention honors

Lisa Tavarez, the Com-munity Corrections special-ist wounded in the line ofduty Sept. 3 in Yakima, wasawarded the union’s Medal ofValor Committee’s MeritoriousService Award at the conven-tion banquet Oct. 2.

The Local 1326 member“humbly” accepted the awardon behalf of her Departmentof Corrections and task forcecolleagues.

She echoed sentiments inthe room when she said shechose public service to makea “difference that goes unrec-ognized on a daily basis. We

didn’t nd public service, itfound us.”

Tavarez never knows what she’ll face when she’s on the

Wounded DOC ofcer

credits colleagueshunt for suspects. She’s hadmany close calls over theyears. But on Sept. 3, she hadthe closest call of her 14-yearcareer.

That day, Tavarez waspart of the Pacic NorthwestViolent Offender Task Forcethat went to a Yakima houselooking for a drive-by shoot-ing suspect. They were atthe door when the suspectopened re. Tavarez was shotas the suspect holed up in thehouse.

Lisa was grazed on thehip. Luckily she was treatedat a local hospital and re-

leased.The shooting provoked a

90-minute standoff that even-

Lisa Tavarez, Local 1326, 2015 Meritorious Service Award honoree See VALOR, page 5

See more of

these AFSCMEStrong conversations

on our You- Tube channel:https://www.

youtube.com/

http://wfse.org/convention/http://facebook.com/WFSEcon46http://facebook.com/WFSEcon46http://wfse.org/convention/


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# W F S E

c o n 4 6

4 6 t h

B i e n n i a l

C o n v e n t i o n

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EVERY VOICE COUNTS : CONVENTION 2015 POSTER

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeePage 4 October 2015

AT NEAR RIGHT: Sen. Mark Miloscia from the 30th District addressed the Oct. 3 Conser-vative 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 Caucusabout the importance of standing up for public service.

Miloscia, Habib address caucus breakfasts


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EVERY VOICE COUNTS : CONVENTION 2015 REPORT


tually involved the YakimaSWAT team. The suspect sur-rendered and is in jail with bail set at $5 million.

“The team I was with,their bravery outweighs any-thing I could have imagined,”Tavarez said. “When peoplehear ‘Ofcer down,’ regard-less of what has happened,they have to stay in the ght,they can’t leave their posi-tions. My team did just that,and they are heroes to me. Ofcourse I’ve had a few tears, but at the end of the day,we’re all safe and the guy’s behind bars.”

“The shootout and the brav-

ery shown by you and yourcolleagues brought a happyending to a scary incidentthat generated the concern ofthe entire union nationwide,”WFSE/AFSCME PresidentSue Henricksen said in pre-senting the award to Tavarez.

“And it was another all-too-often reminder of therisks Department of Correc-tions members and all Federa-tion members and all publicemployees take every day tokeep us safe.”

Job Action of the Year Award.Department of Ecology membersstatewide. The 2014 “It’s COLAtime” slogan came from Ecology

members who went one-on-one

across the state in support of locality

pay during the last contract negotia-

tions. They also united in support of

the bargaining team. Photo, page 1.

Special Award. To AprilSims in appreciation ofher years to service as

the legislative and political

action coordinator. Sims moved to a

job with the WSLC.

Convention honors

VALOR, from page 3

Howard Ocobock PEOPLE Award

Interpreters United Local 1671 member Leroy Mould (leftand above with Local 1671 delegates), was honored forhis efforts growing his bargaining unit’s 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 court’s ruling on the so-called Friedrichs case that

would extend that challenge to all public sector workers.

Howard Jorgenson Organizing Award

RosellaCharvetLeadership Awards

The convention honored three mem-

bers in recognition of their dedication

and contributions to the members of

their locals. Receiving the Rosella

Charvet Leadership Awards: PaulaLukaszek, Local 1488; Scott Mallery,Local 1221; and Tracy Stanley, Local1400.

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

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

Hall.

Gov. Jay Inslee inhis convention speechOct. 2 stood behindthe collective bargain-ing rights that broughtus our rst raises inseven years and against

the Senate’s politicalgame-playing that camewithin hours of forcinga July 1 shutdown ofservices the public de-pends on.

He rejected theWisconsin-style attacksof Scott Walker.

“We are not going

Inslee: Collective bargaining “fundamental human right”to let that happen in thestate of Washington,”Inslee said.

“Collective bargain-ing is a fundamentalhuman right,” he said.“It is a right that I’m go-

ing to work with you tomake sure is protectedin the state of Washing-ton.”

Proud to have stoodwith us on COLAS, In-slee said he wants thenext state budget to beone that “has the backs

of our state employeesand the backs of thepeople we serve.”

“I am so pleasedto have stood with youyear after year,” Insleesaid, including success-

ful efforts this year toadd resources in mentalhealth, Children’s ser-vices and state parks.

See Inslee’s full speechon our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=KxaFr9o4j24

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

AFSCME President Lee Saunders praised WFSE/

AFSCME members for leading the way in reshaping theunion in the face of a possible U.S. Supreme Court decisionin 2016 that could silence our voice at work.

The union’s program of one-on-one conversationswith members to nd new ideas and address concerns willtruly make the union “AFSCME Strong,” he said in his Oct.2 keynote address.

“We’ve got to accept the challenges that confront all ofus,” Saunders said.

See Saunders’ full speech on our YouTube channel: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=19MQHMlOR_A

Saunders: Court won’tsilence our voice Former AFSCMESecretary-Treasurer Wil-

liam Lucy, founder of

the Coalition of BlackTrade Unionists, heldan informal two-hourconversation with del-egates Oct. 1 and thenaddressed them in theconvention hall the nextafternoon.

Lucy, who stoodalongside the Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.in civil rights struggles

Lucy inspires not once, but twiceand Nelson Mandelain ending apartheid,quietly and passionately

boosted the delegates.He called on them

to challenge “folks whodon’t want or need pub-lic service.”

Lucy’s Thursdaynight conversation wasthe rst-ever WFSE/AFSCME event to bestreamed live on Peri-scope, courtesy of theWFSE/AFSCME Com-

munications Committee.See Lucy’s Friday speechto the full convention:

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

Lucy (right, with WFSE/AFSCME Exec. Dir.Greg Devereux) at Oct.1 “conversation.”

Delegates debated and votedon constitutional amendments andresolutions.

Among the measures passing:

Delegates use voice--and vote

• Reafrming WFSE/AFSCME’s com-mitment as a champion of equal rightsand civil liberties.• Build on existing contract language

to strengthen anti-bullying laws.• Supporting legislation and policyinitiatives regarding energy generation

and consumption, and sustainable de-velopment to lessen our “contributionto the effects of climate change.”• Opposing an early endorsement inthe 2016 presidential race.

• Developing a strategy to help stateemployees in high-cost areas of thestate.

More details on all convention resolu-tions and constitutional amendmentsonline: http://wfse.org/convention-reso-lutions-amendments/

David Middlekauf accepts the award given to Rainier School Local 491 forbeing the local with the highest percentage of PEOPLE contributors at the

MVP level. AFSCME President Lee Saunders (fourth from the right) presented

the award.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxaFr9o4j24https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxaFr9o4j24https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxaFr9o4j24https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19MQHMlOR_Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19MQHMlOR_Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2oJWW5aMU8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2oJWW5aMU8http://wfse.org/convention-resolutions-amendments/http://wfse.org/convention-resolutions-amendments/http://wfse.org/convention-resolutions-amendments/http://wfse.org/convention-resolutions-amendments/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2oJWW5aMU8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2oJWW5aMU8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19MQHMlOR_Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19MQHMlOR_Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxaFr9o4j24https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxaFr9o4j24


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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeePage 6 October 2015

EVERY VOICE COUNTS: NEW BARGAINING TEAMS ELECTED

The ballots have been counted for bargainingteams for the next, 2017-2019 contracts. Negotiations begin early next year.

Appointments to ll vacant positions may still bemade.

Here are the elected members of our 2017-2019

WFSE/AFSCME Bargaining Teams (as of Oct. 9):

GENERAL GOVERNMENT (elected from GeneralGovernment’s eight policy groups)

Corrections:Bill Copland, Local 1253, Department of Correc-tions, Kennewick

Employment Security:

Ginger Bernethy, Local 443, Employment SecurityDepartment, Olympia

Human Services:Children’s Administration – Romy Garcia, Local 843,Seattle

Community Services Division – Shay Kaushagen, Local 313, Vancouver

Division of Child Support – Steve Fossum, Local443, OlympiaHome and Community Services – Cynthia English,Local 53, TacomaAt-Large – Bill Youngman, Local 843, Seattle (DVR)

Institutions:

State Hospitals – Rick Hertzog, Local 793, WesternState Hospital, Lakewood

Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation/Special Com-mitment Center – Gabe Hall, Local 862, Green HillSchool, Chehalis

Veterans Affairs – Lyn Hoand, Local 482, Washing-ton Veterans Home, RetsilDevelopmental Disabilities Administration-CMO/

Residential Habilitation Centers – David Greenman, Local 341, Fircrest School, Shoreline, and JulianneMoore, Local 1326, Yakima Valley School, Selah

Labor & Industries:Imelda Ang, Local 443, L&I, TumwaterDeFrance Clarke, Local 443, L&I, Tumwater

Miscellaneous:Wendy Conway, Local 443, Ofce of InsuranceCommissioner, TumwaterSarah Decker, Local 1225, Center for ChildhoodDeafness and Hearing Loss, VancouverHeather Pyles, Local 313, Washington State PatrolCrime Lab, Vancouver

Here are results of bargaining team electionsNatural Resources:Patricia “Pat” Bailey, Local 872, Ecology, LaceyKerry Graber, Local 872, Ecology, Lacey

Transportation:

Mike Anthony, Local 379, DOT, SeattleKate Rogers, Local 1060, DOT, Greenbank

COMMUNITY COLLEGE COALITION:

Community Colleges of Spokane:Marlene Hagerman, Rick Pelfrey and Theresa Sul-livan, 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 Local304

South Puget Sound Community College (Olym-pia):Tim Nairn, Local 443

Note: Vacant positions at Bellevue, Centralia, GreenRiver, Tacoma, Whatcom and Part-Time Hourly.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (Ellens-

burg):Chris Everett, Skip Jensen and Jeff St. John, allLocal 330Note: Some vacancies exist where no nominationswere received.

EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (Cheney):Dave Sundstrom, Craig Walker and Kathleen War-ren, all Local 931Note: Some vacancies exist where no nominationswere received.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON:UW Medical Center At-Large – Cassie Corall andRaeno Alforque, both Local 1488Bothell Campus At-Large – Stacey Fullwiler, Local1488UW Main Campus At-Large – Joe Davenport andJonathan McCollum, both Local 1488UW Main Campus Trades – Don Stephens andJames Grady, both Local 1488UW Main Campus Custodian – Salvador Castillo

Local 1488 President – Paula LukaszekNotes: Elections in progress for Harborview MedicalCenter At-Large and PAC Lab/Friday Harbor/Con-solidated Laundry – ballot count was to start Oct. 12after this newspaper went to press; some vacanciesexist where no nominations were received.

UW POLICE MANAGEMENT:

Anthony Stewart, Local 1488Note: Vacancy exists where no nominations were

received.

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY:

Vacancies exist where no nominations were re-ceived.

WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (Belling-ham):Sonia Baker, Clint Burt, Ryan Cullup, David Gar-cia, Tim Harvey, Sarah Neugebauer, Stephanie

Scott and Steve Vanko, all Local 1381.Note: Vacancy exists where no nominations were

received.

THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE CLASSIFIEDSTAFF (Olympia):Lana Brewster, Steve Johnson, Tony Perez, DougShanafelt, Susie Seip and Kirk Talmadge, all Local

443Note: Some vacancies exist where no nominationswere received.

LANGUAGE ACCESS PROVIDERS (Interpreters, all

Local 1671):Group 1 – Quan TranGroup 2 – Leroy MouldGroup 3 – Samuel PottsGroup 4 – Anne De Santis and Aida Sanchez VelaGroup 5 – Cora LeighGroup 7 – Anastacio LepeGroup 8 – Larysa HouseGroup 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 September’sunion campout at Cornet Bay Environ-mental Learning Center at Deception

Pass State Park.It was a time for “family-bonding,”

said Gregg Gunther, Local 843, who hasbeen at every Howard Ocobock MemorialFamily Campout since they began.

“Because we’re all family -- unity andsolidarity,” said Gunther, who brought his13-year-old son, Nick.

This year’s campout also followedthe tradition of supporting our state parks-- often targeted by politicians for closureand outsourcing -- by using our state

parks.Once again, Parks Local 1466 mem-

ber Rick Colombo entertained camperswith an interpretive talk on the history ofDeception Pass. And several park em-ployees were the honored guests at the

Saturday night hamburger-and-hot dogpotluck Sept. 12.

More online at: http://wfse.org/ afscme-family-strong-at-2015-union-cam-pout-at-cornet-bay/

The WFSE/AFSCME Members Only Benets Committee with

some of the park’s employees and one happy camper at the Sat-

urday night potluck. From left: Parks staff Bryce Watkinson, BillRuh and Jonathan Bright; WFSE/AFSCME’s Tavie Smith withMax Delaney, grandson of Holly Delaney, Local 1488, Harbor-view Medical Center; and committee members Karen Mork, DebSills and Ken Blair (chair).

Vo family takes

to the volleyball

court.

AT LEFT: Local 443 memberSue Gardiner (standing, withgranddaughter Kira Kimball,

7 months) playing Monopoly

on the lawn at Cornet Bay.

Clockwise from bottom left:

Granddaughter Ravyn Allen,

13; daughter Shannon KIm-

ball; Kira and Gardiner; and

grandsons Gunner Muser, 3,

and Drake Kimball, 6.

Tonia Duncans (Local 948) tries

for a ringer in

horseshoes.

Local 948’s Edwin Jocson and Randy Kurtz tendto burgers and hotdogs.

http://wfse.org/afscme-family-strong-at-2015-union-campout-at-cornet-bay/http://wfse.org/afscme-family-strong-at-2015-union-campout-at-cornet-bay/http://wfse.org/afscme-family-strong-at-2015-union-campout-at-cornet-bay/http://wfse.org/afscme-family-strong-at-2015-union-campout-at-cornet-bay/http://wfse.org/afscme-family-strong-at-2015-union-campout-at-cornet-bay/http://wfse.org/afscme-family-strong-at-2015-union-campout-at-cornet-bay/http://wfse.org/afscme-family-strong-at-2015-union-campout-at-cornet-bay/


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UNION NEWS


SHARED LEAVE REQUESTS

STILL IN NEED OF SHARED

LEAVE:• Patricia Shives, a supportenforcement ofcer 2 withDSHS in Fife and a member

of ™cal 53, is battling breastcancer and is undergoingve months of chemotherapy.She underwent a secondsurgery July 21 and is in needof shared leave while she

recovers and undergoes theve months of chemotherapy.Contact: Carol Murray at(253) 476-7663, or yourhuman resource ofce.

• Jane Zimmer, a supportenforcement ofcer 4 withDSHS in Vancouver and

a member of Local 313, isrequesting shared leave tocover her extended time off

during her recuperation froma serious accident. Contact:Pam Miller at (360) 397-9704,or your own human resourceofce.

More shared leave

requests:

Gebermedhin (Gary) Tekle,

IN MEMORIAM

Steve Huntamer, a longtimeDepartment of Transporta-tion member of Yakima Local

1326 who recently retired,passed away comfortably onSept. 17, 2015, after a short,hard battle with lung cancer.Huntamer, of Selah, was 62.A celebration of his life took

place Sept. 26. Memori-als may be made to theMarch of Dimes in care of

Brookside Funeral Home &Cremation, P.O. Box 1267,Moxee, WA 98936.

a patient care technician atthe University of Washingtonin Seattle and a member of

Local 1488, is requestingshared leave to cover his timeoff while recuperating from

a serious auto accident. Heexpects to be out for an-other month, or more. He has

used all her available leaveresources. Contact: BeckyHammontree, (206) 598-7786,or your own human resourceofce.

Jill Burr, a public safetyofcer at Harborview MedicalCenter in Seattle and amember of Local 1488, has

been approved for sharedleave. She is battling acombination of on-the-jobinjuries and a serious illnessand its side effects. Contact:Kim Francis, (206) 744-9229.

Isabel Estrada, a socialservices specialist 2 withDSHS in Renton and amember of Local 843, is inneed of shared leave to cover

time she will missing whilerecovering from her recentsurgery. She will be out aboutsix weeks. Contact: MarylouBaker, (253) 372-5827, oryour own human resourceofce.

Elizabeth Swenhaugen, anancial services specialist 3with DSHS in Spokane and amember of Local 1221, hasbeen approved for shared

leave. She has used all heravailable sick, vacation andpersonal leave. Contact: JoeGuzik, (509) 363-3366, oryour human resource ofce.

Gordon Monk, a recreationand athletics specialist 2 atthe Special CommitmentCenter on McNeil Island anda member of Local 793, isrequesting shared leave. He

is recovering from surgeryand has been away fromwork since June 30. He has

used all his available leave

resources. Contact: VeronicaJones, (360) 617-6301, oryour human resource ofce.

Robert Smith, a maintenance

mechanic 1 with theDepartment of Transportationin Seattle and a memberof Local 378, is requestingshared leave to cover hisextended time off while

recuperating from a high-impact car accident. He hasused all his available leaveresources. Contact: DOTHR at (425) 314-8996, or

your own human resourcedepartment.

Marcia McBride, an ofceassistant 2 at the Departmentof Labor and Industries inTumwater and a member ofLocal 443, is still in need ofshared leave as she recovers

from recent surgery. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Kathy Taylor, an ofceassistant 2 at the Departmentof Labor and Industries inTumwater, has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact:your human resource ofce.

• • •

If you’ve been approved forshared leave by your agency orinstitution, you can have yourshared leave request listed here.Donations of unused annualleave, sick leave or all or part of your personal holiday may bemade. To add your request here,call Tim Welch or Tavie Smith at1-800-562-6002, or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].

cilmembers.The union’s Higher Education

Strategic Coordinator Mark Hamiltonfaced Harborview’s Executive DirectorPaul Hayes and demanded fair treat-ment of the hospital’s workers, in-cluding the 1,200 surgical technicians,custodians, trades workers and otherFederation members there.

“I challenge Executive DirectorHayes to an open and sincere dialogue

with our members,” Hamilton said.Councilmember Larry Gossett

asked Hamilton who conrmed “ourmembers do not feel like they’re beingrespected.”

Councilmember Rod Dembowskivoiced frustration that employee rela-tions – and how workers are treated by the UW and Harborview -- “don’tseem to be getting any better.”

“And it’s going to be very dif-cult to justify a continued relationship(with the UW) without a change in theapproach to our folks who are giving

care to the community of Harborview beyond this contract,” Dembowskisaid.

“What I’m sensing is a more fun-damental problem. I’m interested in

making sure that before we enter a re-newal, long-term agreement, we havestructural reform and protections inplace.”

That reiterated Hamilton’s de-mand that the UW value its employeeswho he said are highly skilled andtrained and need respect, dignity, aliving wage, the opportunity for ad-

vancement and “be empowered toconduct their craft in the fulllment ofthe hospital’s commitment to the com-munity.”

He also called for a commitment

to Harborview’s historic mission,including a stable future for its com-munity clinics, and increased nancialoversight and accountability.

“We look forward to a continuedpartnership with King County inpreserving the historic mission andreputation of excellence at HarborviewMedical Center,” Hamilton said.

HMC, from page 1

SHOP STEWARDCORNER

STEWARDCENTER wfse.org

Shop Steward Committee needs your ideas...The WFSE/AFSCME ShopSteward Committee is ask-

ing shop stewards whatideas they have to add to the

union’s current web-basedgrievance tracking system. E-mail ideas to Jean Backmanat [email protected].

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

New ofcers at WFSE/AFSCME Local 2559, Washington StateDepartment of Transportation, Vancouver. Some 41 members

showed up at Local 2559’s Oct. 8 meeting to make their voice

count and vote in their new slate of local ofcers.

From left: Executive Board Members Renee Henderson, WayneSeed and Jayson Henkel; Secretary Danni Mattix; TreasurerFrank Stewart; Vice President Nathan Gruenberg; andPresident Clark Sexton.

WFSE/AFSCME’sPaulsenappointed totechnologyboard. JeffPaulsen (right),an information

technology specialist 5 with

Consolidated Technology Services

in Olympia and president of Local

443, has been appointed to thestate Technology Services Board.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s ofce made the

announcement on Oct. 6.

Paulsen’s appointment gives

Federation IT members an important

seat at the table as IT members

strive to give the best public service

possible.

Student Debt Workshop. Some of the participants at WFSE/AFSCME’s Stu-dent 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/

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

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


8/8

United for our future, our

families & the future

of public services.

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 what’s 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 canstop their attacks on public services and win fair pay and benefits to sustain our families.

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?

Every Voice

Counts

To schedule your Every Voice Counts Interview please contact your Union Rep, call (800) 562-

6002 or email [email protected]

opeiu8/acio

washington state employee (wse) 10/2015

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