wse october 2011

8/3/2019 WSE October 2011

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The ofcial newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO

VOL. 39 NO. 9

OCTOBER 2011

WASHINGTON

State

Employee

CONVENTION 2011 REPORTSee pages 4 & 5.

Calling all

WFSE

Warriors!As legislators ponder another $2 billionin cuts in special session starting Nov.28, your help is needed more than ever tosave our state -- public safety, patient care,common-sense services for children andadults. From Wall Street to Main Street tothe state Capitol to your neighborhood --its time to say, Enough is enough!

WFSE Warrior form on page 2.

Local 793 members during Solidarity Break walkout

Oct. 13 to ght off proposed ward closures at Western

State Hospital in Lakewood and Eastern State Hospital in

Medical Lake.

From Wall Street to MainStreet to the state Capitolin Olympia, members andthe public with surprisingmedia support are mobiliz-ing in advance of the Nov. 28

special legislative session todetermine another $2 billionin budget cuts.

Now more than ever isthe time for you to becomea WFSE Warrior against thebudget cuts and the forcesthat want to preserve corpo-rate tax breaks over qualitypublic services, public safety and people who need a help-

ing hand. Fill out the WFSEWarrior form on page 2.

Clearly, much is at stake.Just a few examples:

Threatening publicsafety by cutting post-releasesupervision for 17,000 danger-ous murderers, kidnappers,sex offenders and other vio-lent criminals. Proposed 10percent budget cuts wouldcut up to 765 Community Cor-rections positions from pro-tecting our communities. AsLocal 308 member and Com-munity Corrections OfcerIris Peterson told KCPQ TV:

Its crazy, quite frankly.They would release peoplestraight from prison into thestreets, next door. No one

would be watching them orintervening or helping them

reintegrate into society whichis our job. No one would besupervised. No sex offenders,no violent offenders, no men-tally ill offenders.

DOC members have mo-bilized across the state, at the

bargaining table, with peti-tions and accepting media

invitations to go on the air.More is coming.

Closing ve wards atWestern State Hospital and oneat Eastern State Hospital thatcould send more than 150

patients, including those withdementia and traumatic head

injuries, to an uncertain futurein the community. Propos-als could cut more than 220workers who care for thesefragile mentally ill patients.

Western and Easternmembers wasted no time

Budget cuts Occupy WFSE/AFSCME members

as they mobilize in advance of Nov. 28 session

See BUDGET, page 3

Medical Interpreters take to the stage at the WFSE/AFSCME Convention Oct.

9 to thank the union -- and ask for help ghting the plan to cut their program.

Solidarity in Medical Lake: Tacoma Local 53 Community Corrections Ofcer

Billy Smith joins Transportation and other DOC colleagues in opposing cuts

that harm safety at Eastern State Hospital and Lakeland Village.

Convention delegates join the Occupy Spokane march Oct. 7 as

the union embraces the movement that started on Wall Street.

Local 308 CCO Iris Peterson voices grave

concerns over proposed cuts to post-release

supervision of dangerous inmates released from

prison.


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Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee October 2011

UNION NEWS

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 with

the 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

Carol Dotlich, President

Greg Devereux, Executive Director

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

WASHINGTON

We

needYOU in

this

fght.

Washington Federation of State Employees AFSCME Council 28 www.wfse.org

PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY STATE ZIP

HOME EMAIL I want to OPT-IN to the Hotline

HOME PHONE

CELL PHONE I want to OPT-IN to Text Message Alerts

THE BEST WAY TO GET MESSAGES TO ME: HOME PHONE CELL PHONETEXT MESSAGING OTHER _________________________________________

The economic downturn continues. More devastating cuts are proposed.And theyre attacking our collective bargaining rights. We need to ghtfor our rights at work, closing tax breaks for big corporations, and stron-ger revenue retrieval for Washington state. If we stay silent, we lose.Please join the WFSE Warrior Team:

This is

what

Ill do.

As a WFSE Warrior, I commit to doing the following:

Check any or all:

COME TO LOBBY DAYS IN OLYMPIA

MEET WITH MY LEGISLATORS IN THEIR HOME DISTRICT

PHONE BANK MEMBERS WITH CALLS TO ACTION

WRITE LETTERS TO LEGISLATORS ANDKEY DECISION MAKERS

DOORBELLING

ATTEND RALLIES/JOB ACTIONS IN OLYMPIA

ATTEND JOB ACTIONS AT MY WORKSITE OR CITY

Im interested in applying for WFSE WarriorTraining Jan. 21-22, 2012.

Cut out and mail to: WFSE Internal Organizing Committee,

1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

wsecu.org | 800.562.0999

Sign up your work group or

FREE FINANCIALWELLNESS COURSES

WSECU oers one-hour programs to help address common fnancialissues. Access this ree fnancial resource or Federation members.

Course Oerings:

Financial Stress Management

Identity Theft When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name

Money Matters How to Keep Yours Secure

Credit Reporting 101

To schedule a workshop with one o our trained inancial wellnesseducators or your local or public agency, call 800.562.0999 x10101.WSECU membership is not required all WFSE/AFSCME membersand retirees are welcome!

The union Oct. 11 ledsuit in Thurston CountySuperior Court to stop thestates repeal of the uniformcost-of-living adjustmentpromised to those in thePERS 1 retirement system current and future retirees.

The Legislature this yearpassed SHB 2021 to repealthe uniform COLA created in1995. SHB 2021 and the repealtook effect June 30.

The WFSE/AFSCMElawsuit says that action

violates the state constitutionand due process rights and isa breach of contract.

One other charge inlaymans terms is: You cantpromise something and thentake it away.

The PERS 1 UniformCOLA is an automatic,annual COLA for PERS 1retirees. About 65,000 currentand retired state employeeshired before October 1977 areaffected.

Union sues to

reinstate PERS 1

uniform COLA

Headquarters

diversity mural

Artist Katie Marks poses with the

diversity mural gracing the lobby ofWFSE/AFSCME Headquarters in

Olympia. The mural was commis-

sioned by the unions Workforce

Diversity Committee.

The nal WFSE/AFSCMEstate employee contractsin this protracted round ofbargaining have all beenratied.

These are the last of thecontracts covering 40,000 stateagency and higher education

employees that started in 2004under the 2002 PersonnelSystem Reform Act.

Recent results:

EASTERN WASHINGTONUNIVERSITY: Ratied, 117-3,9/13/11. COMMUNITY COLLEGECOALITION: Ratied byan overall vote of 527-21,9/15/11. Bellevue College,

9-1; Centralia College, 19-0; Community Colleges ofSpokane, 133-3; Everett CC,

43-2; Green River CC, 29-3;Lower Columbia College, 47-

2; Peninsula College, 20-2;Seattle CC 107-6; ShorelineCC, 37-0; South Puget SoundCC, 26-0; Tacoma CC, 31-2;

and Whatcom CC, 26-0 WESTERN WASHINGTONUNIVERSITY: Ratifed, 101-2,

9/22/11. THE EVERGREEN STATECOLLEGE: Raed, 55-31,

9/28/11.

Final contracts ratied


3/8

PUSHBACKALREADY STARTSIN STEVENSON.A months-longaction by Local

716 members in

Skamania andKlickitat counties hita major milestoneSept. 22 whenthey presentedpetitions signed bymore than 1,000residents to save

the Community Service Ofce in Stevenson. DSHS wants toclose the CSO. The action came at a packed town hall meetingwhere the community, clients and WFSE/AFSCME members

came together to speak against the closure. But DSHS RegionalAdministrator Dan Owens said his hands were tied and theStevenson CSO would close in June 2012. But his is not the

last word. A copy of the petition was also sent to Gov. ChrisGregoire.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee Page 3October 2011

GENERAL ELECTION 2011

mobilizing against the attackon public safety, patients andservices.

Were here today to stopthe attack on labor that hasbeen occurring across thiscountry and it needs to stop,it stops here, it stops today,Local 793 member DanielDawson said before a Sept. 26march into an all-staff meet-ing where mental hospitaldirector Jess Jamieson wasabout to announce the pro-posed cuts.

When is the truth goingto come out, Jess? WFSE/AFSCME President CarolDotlich asked.

The state needs to puta premium on staff who pro-vide direct care and not topeople who push papers,said state Sen. Steve Conwayof the 29th District.

Cutting may not be ouronly option here., he said.We the people need to askourselves, Do we need toraise revenue?

Media reaction has beenswift. As KOMO-TVs Ken

Schram said: Targeting thevulnerable; plotting to sendviolent and aggressive men-

tally ill patients to area nurs-

ing homes is, quite frankly,unconscionable.

DSHS proposes closingNaselle Youth Camp, jeopar-dizing the rehabilitation of260 youthful offenders. TheLegislature closed MapleLane School in June andmany lawmakers are usingthe economic crisis to justifyclosing JRA facilities for badpolicy reasons. In its Sept. 26editorial (State needs to lookelsewhere), The Daily Asto-rian took up the call to saveNaselle. It is the regrettable

truth during budget crisesthat nearly every bureaucracywill protect its upper echelonsand headquarters staff overactual front-line service pro-viders, the paper wrote.Naselle Youth Camp is agreat success, having turnedcountless lives around in re-cent decades. Youth offendersare well served legitimatelyrehabilitated by NaselleYouth Camp.

Medical Interpreters.

The Health Care Authority

proposed cuts that wouldtotally eliminate the medicalinterpreter program and

the 2,000 interpreters who

struggled and won unionrights and a rst contract. In-stead of innovation like clos-ing tax loopholes the agencyproposes cutting this programthat makes such a huge dif-ference in the lives of 70,000patients for whom English is asecond language. InterpretersUnited Local 1671 has taken anumber of actions to ght fortheir clients, including an on-line message to the governorand legislators at www.wfse.org.

The Health Care Au-

thority proposal to cut theBasic Health Plan provided byour members that is a lifelineto 35,000 citizens.

We cannot cut our wayout of this mess anymore,Dotlich said. From WallStreet to Spokane to Seattle,the public is rallying for pub-lic services and against thereal culprits in our damagedeconomy the fat cat WallStreet types and their spine-less protectors in public ofce.Our communities are in real

danger from the proposednew cuts.

Call or e-mail the governor and legisla-tors to join with us in supporting new revenueand closing corporate tax loopholes to headoff devastating cuts. Enough is enough! Callthe Capitols toll-free message hotline at1-800-562-6000; the hotline is open from8 a.m.-12 noon and 1-4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday. Take online action; go to www.

What you can do:wfse.org and click on Action Center.

Become a WFSE Warrior! Fill out and returnthe form on page 2.

Follow the issues and calls to action:

1. Text F4WR to 69866 to get text messageson calls to action. 2. Online at www.wfse.org.3. Click links to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr andYouTube to get the information and calls to ac-tion you need.

www.ProtectOurCommunities.com

Hesbaaack!

PLEASE VOTE NO ON I-1125 & I-1183!I-1183: A risky deal for Washington

Last year voters twice rejected state

liquor de-regulation and privatiza-tion.

But big corporations are back thisyear bankrolling another risky liquorinitiative.

I-1183 would OK liquor sales in1,000 mini-marts and gas stations.

FACT: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently came out

against deregulating state liquor stores because multiple studies prove it

will increase consumption and problem drinking by 48% or more.SOURCE:Washington State Labor Council, 10/6/11

I-1183 puts our communities at risk with more

teen access to alcohol and drunk driving.

Dont be fooled

by Tim Eymans

Initiative 1125

Tim Eymans Initiative 1125 is a dangerous and irresponsible initia-tive that will halt major transportation projects across Washington.

Politicizes transportation

FACT: Making tolls directly subject to legislative horse-trading invites trouble and mis-

chief. SOURCE:The Tacoma News Tribune, 5/10/11

More highway gridlock.FACT: Bonding companies would be reluctant to nance projects where funding is set by

the whims of the Legislature. SOURCE:The Olympian, 9/27/11

Recipe for disaster.

FACT: By restricting the states management of its highways, including tolls, Initiative

1125 would make it more difcult to build needed roads and bridges...This is a mess too

large. SOURCE:The Seattle Times, 10/7/11

[email protected]

We cant let Tim Eyman, politicians

and millionaires hijack our

transportation.

BUDGET, from page 1 IT EXEMPTION FIGHT GOES ON. The fate of 175 exempted in-formation technology members moved to the new Consolidated

Technology Services agency may rest with the Public Employ-ment Relations Commission, the Legislature or bargaining table.The IT workers, backed by about 200 WFSE/AFSCME members

from across the state and two key legislators, won a temporarydelay Sept. 20 at a hearing, but state Personnel Director Eva

SantosSept. 30,approvedthe pack-age.In a laterinterviewfor a storyby MichaelKuchta ofthe Inter-

nationalLabor Com-munications

Association (ILCA), One of the exempted members, Local 443sJeff Paulsen, saw a paradox in the situation. By taking awaythe bargaining rights of 175 people, in a sense, youve weak-ened the union, in numbers anyway, he said. But I think itsgoing to backre. The rest of the union is becoming more ener-gized. Theyre more aware of whats happening. Weve got moreresolve.

Local 443 IT memberJeff Paulsen and colleagues at hearing.
http://www.wfse.org/http://www.wfse.org/http://www.wfse.org/http://www.wfse.org/http://www.wfse.org/http://www.wfse.org/http://www.wfse.org/http://www.wfse.org/http://www.wfse.org/http://www.wfse.org/


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CONVENTION 2011

Mary Donnelly

(right) was honored

for her 38 years

working for the union.

She retired in August.

With her at the Oct.

7 banquet is WFSE/

AFSCME President

Carol Dotlich.

Inslee: You are bulwark against

attacks on the middle classCongressman Jay

Inslee, a Democraticcandidate for governor,told WFSE/AFSCMEConvention delegatesOct. 7 that state em-

ployees are a bulwarkagainst attacks on themiddle class and col-lective bargaining isa basic right of democ-racy.

Inslee said asgovernor hed defend collec-tive bargaining and publicservices.

He said we shouldntelect candidates who paintstate employees as sort ofthe piata of our state, Insleesaid.

He referred to his experi-

Convention speeches from four strong alli es red up delegates.Top - Former AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer and cur-

rent CBTU President William Lucy; Above (from left) - Ken Allen, executive director of Oregon AFSCME Council 75;

AFSCME Secretary-TreasurerLee Saunders; and Danny Donohue, president of CSEA Local 1000 in New York. They

endorsed the Occupy Wall Street movement. As Allen said: We cant allow Wisconsin to happen here....Nows the time

to ght and ght hard.

ence working bulldozers andjackhammers as he workedhis way through school.

If anybody tries to takeaway your collective bargain-ing rights, theyre going tohave to go through my bull-dozer, Inslee said.

WFSE/AFSCMEs Con-vention 2011 wrapped up Oct.9 in Spokane after passingseveral new constitutionalamendments and ring updelegates to take on manage-ment and Wall Street.

The 413 delegates (and15 alternates) from 41 localsre-elected WFSE/AFSCMEPresident Carol Dotlich, VicePresident Sue Henricksen andTreasurer Rosemary Sterling.And they elected Judy Kus-chel of Vancouver Local 313as the unions new secretary.Henricksen was re-elected byacclamation because she ranunopposed. The ofcers havetwo-year terms.

Delegates adopted fouramendments to the Federa-tions constitution, includ-

ing one to make the uniontreasurer the chair of theWFSE/AFSCMEs FinanceCommittee and one creatinga new policy committee fornon-state employee members,such as medical interpreters.

The convention on Oct.9 welcomed some of thosenewly organized public ser-vice and state employee mem-bers when representativesfrom new units at AmericanBehavioral Health Systems,the Facilities and OperationsUnit at the Washington StateUniversity Spokane Campus,

and the Interpreters United,who for the rst time haddelegates as part of their newstatewide Local 1671.

Delegates also adoptedone resolution, to seek actionto decrease patient assaultson psychiatric and forensicworkers.

As the Occupy Wall Street

movement sweeps the nation,some 100 delegates on Oct. 7joined the Occupy Spokanemarch, passed a resolution tosupport that movement and

See CONVENTION, page 5

400-plus delegates charged up to take on management & Wall Street

WFSE/AFSCME ofcers for 2011-2013, from left, after being sworn in Oct.

9: TreasurerRosemary Sterling, Local 1381,Whatcom Community College;Secretary Judy Kuschel, Local 313, Community Corrections, Vancouver; Vice

President Sue Henricksen, Local 53, DSHS DD Field Services, Tacoma; and

President Carol Dotlich, Local 793, Western State Hospital, Lakewood.

LEFT: Folk singers entertain hundreds of convention delegates before their Oct. 8 rally for Eastern

State Hospital and Lakeland Village at a highly visible Medical Lake shopping center parking lot.

RIGHT: WSLC Secretary-Treasurer Lynne Dodson keynotes rally. We cant cut our way out of thisrecession, Dodson said in announcing coalition job actions to push for new revenue over cuts.

WFSE/AFSCME delegates march with the Occupy Spokane forces

Oct. 7. They are raising the question that needs to be raised -- what

is fairness? said former AFSCME Sec.-Treas. William Lucy in his

Oct. 8 convention speech.

Tacoma Local 53 delegates were among the 413 delegates to the WFSE/AFSCME

Convention Oct. 7-9 in Spokane.


5/8

collected more than $1,000 tohelp organizers with logisticaland supply costs.

After the Saturday session,several hundred delegatestraveled to Medical Lake for

a rally in support of workersat Eastern State Hospital andLakeland Village to protestcurrent and future budgetcuts and management inac-tion that threaten patient,

public andworkersafety.

Theywerejoined bytwo ofthe mostrespectednationallabor lead-ers, formerAFSCME

Secretary-Treasurer WilliamLucy and Danny Donohue,president of CSEA/AFSCMELocal 1000 in New York.

Lynne Dodson, secretary-treasurer of the WashingtonState Labor Council, keynotedthe rally, kicking off remarksfrom Eastern and Lakelandworkers with testimony aboutsafety problems.

We need staff, saidinjured ESH member KathyKelly. We do not need a

ward closure.Im going back into the

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeOctober 2011 Page 5

CONVENTION 2011

MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD. State-wide Parks Local 1466 membersTor Bjorklund and Dean Lambertreceived the unions Medal of Valor

Award at the Oct. 7 banquet. Theywere honored for the quick action andbravery during a deadly gang-relatedgunght at Lake Sammamish StatePark in July 2010. Without their ac-tions under re, there could have beenmore victims.

HOWARD JORGENSON ORGANIZ-ING AWARD. Narscisa Hodges ofInterpreters Local 1671 accepts theaward on behalf of the successfulcampaign to bring union rights to statemedical interpreters.

ROSELLA CHARVET LEADERSHIPAWARD. Rebecca Withrow, YakimaLocal 1326, Corrections, was honoredwith the unions 2011 Rosella Charvet

Leadership Award Oct. 8. Withrow,called the go to person in YakimaLocal 1326, was credited with being a

leader in building workplace solidarity.

Washington Labor

Council President

Jeff Johnson

The convention honors...

HOWARD OCOBOCK PEOPLEAWARD. Mildred Bynesof BremertonLocal 1181 accepts the award for being

the local with the highest percentage ofPEOPLE MVP members. Tim Hughes,Legislative and Political Action Co-

Chair, presents the award Oct. 9.

JOB ACTION OF THE YEAR AWARD.Two locals shared honors Oct. 9.

At left, Julianne Moore of Yakima Local 1326accepts award for her locals long string of ac-tions in Yakima and at the Capitol in Olympia.

Below, Local 793 members at Western StateHospital receive award for job actions againstbudget cuts and mismanagement.

VOLUNTEER MEMBER ORGANIZERS. WFSE/AFSCMEs VMO CoordinatorPam Carl (center) hands out certicates recognizing the work of Volunteer Mem-ber Organizers from several locals who helped in a number of recent organizingcampaigns. They were honored Oct. 9.

Marine Corps--its safer, saidanother injured ESH member,Randy Mace.

Other convention speak-ers over the weekend in-cluded AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Lee Saunders,WSLC President Jeff Johnson,Oregon AFSCME Council75 President Ken Allen, and

candidate for governor U.S.Congressman Jay Inslee.

Donohue said the OccupyWall Street movement has asimple message the rich andpowerful dont get.

The systems broken andits got to change, he said.

You will not blame us,you will not divide us, youwill not silence us, Johnsonvowed to the 1 percent in con-trol of the nations wealth.

Delegates to the WFSE/AFSCME 2011 Conven-tion adopted the followingamendments to the WFSE/AFSCME Constitution:

Constitutional Amendment3 (clarifying how locals can

unite in sending a delegateto the convention). Constitutional Amend-ment 7 (bringing section onnomination and election of

Executive Board members in

line with AFSCME Constitu-tion). Constitutional Amend-ment 8 (making the WFSE/AFSCME treasurer the chairof the unions Finance Com-mittee). Constitutional Amendment12 (allowing as membersthose who perform servicesfunded directly or indirectlyby the state of Washington;creates a new Public Ser-vice Policy Committee for

all local union members not

employed by a state agen-cy, college or university).

Delegates also adoptedone resolution:

Resolution 3 (protectingcare givers from assaultsby psychiatric and forensicpatients).

Delegates rejected (didnot adopt) seven otherproposed constitutional

amendments and two reso-

lutions.

Convention oor votes

CONVENTION,from page 4

Newly organized members cheered at conventionThe convention on Oct. 9 welcomed three groups of newly organized members: Interpreters United (top), WSU Facilities

and Operations-Spokane (below, left) and American Behavioral Health Systems (below, right).

Local 1671 Interpreter memberEdmundo Cavazos: I want to thank you for extending your hand to lift us out of oppres-

sion and exploitation. We stood alone for many years.

Jane Graydon, WSU Facilities/Operations, Spokane: The union

has given us a voice and we have someone in our corner, a voice

that carries authority. With her (standing): Frank Ambrose, SteveSiegfried, Mike Reitemeyerand Brian DeLong).

Dan Meinzinger(with Renee Jordan and

Laura Bransford), ABHS: Without a union, we

could not ght for fairness.

And the convention at itsOct. 7 banquet honored MaryDonnelly, the longtime Fed-eration executive assistantwho retired in August after38 years with the union. AsDonnelly accepted the honor,the veteran go to person forevery convention dating to1974 summed up the state ofthe union best:

The thing that reallywarms my heart tonight as Ilook out at this audience and(I) see so many new faces,people who are stepping up,people who are taking an ac-tive role in this union, whichis what we need to keep mov-

ing forward and I wish youall the best.


6/8


UNION NEWS

SHARED LEAVE

REQUESTS

If youve been approved to

receive shared leave by your

agency or institution, you canplace a notice here. Once

youve been approved by your

agency or institution, WFSE/

AFSCME can place your

shared leave request here and

online. Please include a contact

in your agency, usually in hu-

man resources, for donors to

call. E-mail the editor at tim@

wfse.org. Or call 1-800-562-

6002.

The following could use a do-

nation of eligible unused annual

leave or sick leave or all or part

of your personal holiday:

Denise Avery-Baeten, anancial services specialist4 with DSHS in Shelton and

a member of Local 443, hasbeen approved for and isneed of shared leave to carefor her husband, who is enter-ing the nal stages of terminallung cancer. She has ex-hausted all leave. She wouldappreciate any leave you candonate to allow her to spendthe time with him to care forhim and take him to medicalappointments. To help with adonation of eligible unusedannual leave or sick leave orall or part of your personalholiday, contact your human

resource ofce.

Jolene Rodarte, a PBXand telephone operator atRainier School in Buckley anda member of Local 491, hasbeen caring for her motherwho has been battling lungcancer for the past two years.

Her mom now is on hospiceand in need of 24-hour care.Jolene needs shared leaveto ensure she has enough tocover the time she needs tocare for her mother in her nal

days. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Tell us where this worksite is

and which WFSE/AFSCME

members work there. Send

your guesses by e-mail to

[email protected] or regular

mail: Editor, 1212 Jefferson

St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia,

WA 98501. Include your

name and mailing address.

Deadline: Nov. 10. The rst

10 readers with the correct

answer who include their

name and mailing address

will receive a prize.

Answer to Augusts Wheres this

Worksite?

The last mystery worksiteshowed the campus of

Bellevue College where local304 members work. Onereader guessed correctly: Dru Smith.

Wheres this

worksite?

Julie Gonzales, a WorkFirstprogram specialist with DSHS

in Vancouver and a memberof Local 313, is caring for herhusband, who was in a very

serious vehicle accident. Hedeveloped an extremely seri-ous health condition becauseof the accident that requiresher support and care. Con-

tact: Grace Chambers, (360)725-6627 or [email protected].

Salim Khan, a hospital cen-tral services technician atthe University of Washingtonin Seattle and a member ofLocal 1488, is on an intermit-tent schedule while he cares

for her severely ill wife. He isrequesting leave to cover thetime needed to care for hiswife during her lengthy recov-ery from surgery. Salim hasexhausted all leave. Contact:

Jewel Evans, (206) 598-6113.

Thomas Birkeland, a nan-cial services specialist 4 withDSHS in Tacoma and a mem-ber of Local 53, is suffering

from spinal stenosis, whichcauses severe pain and hasconned him to a wheelchair

at work and at home. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Marv Fritts, a psychiatricsecurity attendant at WesternState Hospital in Lakewood

and a member of Local 793,has exhausted all leave while

continuing to care for his criti-cally ill wife. Contact: Tina Mc-Donald, (253) 761-3361.

Heather Hunley, an atten-dant counselor 1 at LakelandVillage in Medical Lake and

a member of Local 573, isoff work for an extended pe-riod and is in need of sharedleave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Cathy Testa, an ofce as-sistant 3 at Eastern StateHospital in Medical Lake and

a member of Local 782, hasbeen approved for shared

leave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Carrie Angel-Arch, an Em-ployment Security programcoordinator for the Employ-ment Security Departmentin Tacoma, has exhaustedall leave and is requestingshared leave to cover her time

off for treatments and recover.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Sharon Shea, a health insur-ance benets specialist withthe Health Care Authority in

Lacey and a member of Lo-cal 443, has been approvedfor shared leave. To help with

a donation of eligible unusedannual leave or sick leave orall or part of your personalholiday, contact your humanresource ofce.

Cynthia Walcker, an environ-mental specialist 4 with theDepartment of Ecology in Bel-levue and a member of Local304, has been approved forshared leave. To help with a

donation of eligible unusedannual leave or sick leave orall or part of your personalholiday, contact your humanresource ofce.

Gizachew Kassa, a custodi-an at the University of Wash-ington and a member of Local

1488, has been approved forshared leave because of a

medical condition. Contact:Rachel Vane, (206) 897-1883.

Liz Buttereld, a nancial

services specialist 4 withDSHS in Spokane and amember of Local 1221, has

been approved for sharedleave. Contact: Abbie Waligo-ra, (509) 227-2228.

Kristi Finney, a WorkFirstprogram specialist with DSHS

in Vancouver and a memberof Local 313, has been ap-proved for shared leave be-

cause of a medical condition.Contact: Grace Chambers,

(360) 725-6627 or [email protected].

Yevette Sanders, a nancialservices specialist 3 withDSHS in Olympia and a mem-ber of Local 443, has beenapproved for shared leavebecause of a medical condi-tion and upcoming surgery.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Christy Smith, a WorkFirstprogram specialist with DSHSin Vancouver and a memberof Local 313, is out on an ex-tended illness. Contact: Grace

Chambers, (360) 725-6627 [email protected].

Wendy McCombs, a cor-rectional records technician1 with the Department ofCorrections in Tacoma anda member of Local 53, is inneed of shared leave becauseof a serious medical condi-tion that will require a lengthyrecovery time. Contact: Your

human resource ofce.

Sharon Roybal, a Commu-nity Corrections ofcer withthe Department of Correctionsin Richland, has had a totalknee replacement in her leftknee and will have the same

done on her right knee in Oc-tober. This because of severearthritis. She will be off workuntil at least the end of Janu-ary. She is a single motherof three children. She hasexhausted all leave. Contact:

Diana White, (360) 413-5407or [email protected].

Karen L. Lewis, a tax spe-cialist 3 with the EmploymentSecurity Department in Ta-coma and a member of Local53, has been approved forshared leave to recover fromsurgery. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Shareece Hayes, a socialworker 3 with DSHS Chil-drens Administration in KingCounty and a member of Lo-cal 843, has been approved

for shared leave. Contact:your human resource ofce.

IN MEMORIAM

Rod Nicholls,the former Local

931 presidentwho served onthe FederationsStatewide Ex-ecutive Boardfrom 2002 to2004, died Aug.15 in Cheney.

He was 58. Hehad retired this past Jan. 1. At hisrequest, there will be no funeral, buthis sons will host a celebration-of-life

memorial. In lieu of owers or remem-brances, the family kindly requestsmaking a donation to the Rod B.

Nicholls Endowed Scholarship Fund,c/o Eastern Washington UniversityFoundation, 102 Hargreaves Hall,

Cheney, WA 99004.

Jannette Marie Goehner, a DDSadjudicator 4 with DSHS in Spokaneand a member of Local 1221, died

July 30. She was 60. A memorial ser-vice was held Aug. 18. Jan continued

working the last 14 months before herdeath even as she battled cancer.

Barbara Ocobock, aretired longtime DSHSmember of Yakima Lo-cal 1326, died Sept. 9.She was 64. She was akey activist in the Human

Services organizing cam-paign in the late 1980s

that brought thousands ofher co-workers across thestate into the union. Funeral serviceswere held Sept. 15.

Clint Stearley, an information techni-cian specialist 2 with the Department

of Information Services in Yakima anda member of Local 1326. Stearley, 65,died Aug. 10.

Cindy Corby, a cook 1 at Green HillSchool in Chehalis and a member ofLocal 862, died Oct. 1. She was 53. Acelebration of her life took place Oct. 7in Napa, Calif.

BradlyGilmore, ahydrogeolo-gist 4 with theDepartmentof Ecology inBellevue and amember of Lo-cal 304, diedearly Sept. 28at Harborview

Medical Cen-ter in Seattle

from injuries suffered in a motorcycleaccident Sept. 27 on the West SeattleBridge while commuting to work fromhis home in Kitsap County to Bellevue.

He was 53. He worked in the ToxicsControl Program. An open house in hishonor was held at his home Oct. 1. In

lieu of owers, you can donate to oneof his favorite charities, High CountryNews (www.hcn.org) or a charity ofyour choice.

Bob Pound, a DSHS social worker 3and member of Local 1054 in Newport,died Sept. 11.

Cindy Trokey, a former member ofLocal 341 at Fircrest School and wife

of current Local 341 member JamesTrokey, died Sept. 25. Services wereheld Oct. 7 in Lacey. Donations in

Cindys name may be made to theSeattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Debbi So-rensen, a resi-dential/studentlife counselorat the Center

for ChildhoodDeafness andHearing Loss inVancouver and

a member of Lo-cal 1225, died

Sept. 24. She was 58.

Paul Ohler, a former EWU Local 931member and one of the grievants inthe successful information tech over-time case in the 1990s, died Sept. 1in Spokane. He was 64. His funeral

was Sept. 10. Memorial contributionsare suggested to the SPCA, OgdenHall or Union Gospel Mission.

Nicnolls

Ocobock

Gilmore

Sorensen
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.hcn.org/http://www.hcn.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


7/8

October 2011 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee Page 7

UNION NEWS

Open enrollment for your 2012 health insurance plan is the month

of November. One of the new options is a health savings account the Consumer Driven Health Plans. They may sound appeal-ing, but you have to carefully read between the lines before decid-ing whether its right for you. If you gamble that youll be healthy-- and then end up getting sick -- you could be on the hook forthousands of dollars of medical bills.

Here, WFSE/AFSCME Executive Director Greg Devereux, an-swers some of the main questions about the new Consumer DriveHealth Plans (CDHP). Devereux represents state employees on thePublic Employees Benefts Board.

Q: What is a Health Savings Account?

Insurance companies have been experimenting with methodsto lower health care premiums for decades. One such methodis called a Health Savings Account. In such a scheme, the

employer typically makes a contribution into an employeesaccount and the employee chooses how to spend the employ-ers and their own contributions on medical expenses.

When HSAs were rst introduced many employers usedthem to transfer costs to employees. The employers devisedHSA plans with very low employer contributions and veryhigh employee deductibles and high out-of-pocket maxi-mums. Employees often were stuck with very high upfrontcosts and rarely reached their out-of-pocket maximumsbeyond which the employer paid the costs. Initially, theproblems associated with many HSA plans gave HSAs ingeneral a bad reputation. While many protections have beenbuilt into more recently designed HSAs, the initial stigma stillpersists.

Q: What is a Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) with aHealth Savings Account (HSA)?

A CDHP/HSA is the Health Care Authoritys description oftheir HSA offering. Under their plan, a portion of the pre -mium paid by the employer - or $700 per year for a singlesubscriber, $1,400 per year for a subscriber with one or morecovered family members - will go in the employees HSAmonthly on a prorated basis. At the same time, the employ-ees deductible for medical care will be $1,400 for the year foran individual and $2,800 for a subscriber with one or morefamily members.

Q: Is a CDHP a better choice for me?Each state employee will have to make that choice for himor herself. For young, healthy workers who anticipate few

health problems and therefore few health expenditures, HSAsmight have some value. For older workers with ongoinghealth issues HSAs make little sense.

One signicant issue with CDHP/HSAs is how can onepredict your health at any age? A young, healthy personcould contract cancer tomorrow or be in a car accident. Witha CDHP/HSA an individual is hoping they will be healthyduring the plan year.

Q: What are the major differences between CDHPs andmore traditional health care plans?

What are Consumer Driven Health Plans/

Health Savings Accounts all about?

Traditional health plans have higher premiums and muchlower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. The CDHP/HSA offered by the Health Care Authority has a low premi-

um and a higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.

Q: If I choose a CDHP and incur signicant health costs,can I drop the plan and move to a more traditional plan?

Once you have chosen a CDHP/HSA or a more traditionalhealth care plan you must remain in that plan during the planyear. During the next open period, you may change plans.

Q: How much is contributed to my HSA account annually?

Under the Health Care Authoritys scheme, $700 per year fora single subscriber $1,400 per year for a subscriber with oneor more covered family members. The portion of the premi-um paid by the employer goes into the HSA account monthlyon a prorated basis.

Q: Is the contribution made by the employer to my HSAa lump sum at the beginning of the plan year or monthlyinstallment?

Monthly installments on a prorated basis.

Q: Why are CDHP/HSAs being introduced now?

Republican legislators have been pushing hard for years forHSAs to be introduced into Washington state government.The original HSA legislation passed in 2007 over WFSEsobjections. The current administration has decided that nowis the time to experiment with these plans.

by Tim Foley

Member, WFSE/AFSCME Steward

Committee

Recently, the membership

of Spokane Local 1221directed the local ShopSteward Committee todevelop and clarify anelection process for chief shopstewards.

As the committee workedto comply with this directive,it realized the local had neverclearly claried chief shopsteward responsibilities. Inaddition, the committee alsorealized that before a personcould run for this position,they would need to knowwhat would be required ofthem over a two-year periodand that this would probablyhave an effect on who decidedto run for this position.

After numerous highlycharged meetings, thecommittee developed 12Local 1221 shop stewardresponsibilities. See below.

Please note that therst section contains eightresponsibilities that a chiefsteward will be requiredto do, whereas the secondsection contains fourresponsibilities that a chiefsteward may do or be

involved in.The committee also

realized the importance ofclarifying chief shop stewardduties, as they could be usedin the process of taking actionon or be used in the removalof a chief shop steward (alsoplease see the WFSE Council28 Shop Steward Policy,Section IX, Subsections A, Band C Complaints AgainstStewards; its online at wfse.org, click on Stewards andthen Steward Toolbox).

If a local wishes to review

Local 1221s Nominationand Election of Chief ShopSteward Policies, contact TimFoley at: Local 1221, P.O. Box9798, Spokane, WA 99209.

LOCAL 1221 CHIEF SHOP

STEWARD RESPONSIBILITIES

In accordance with the

local steward policy, a chiefstewards responsibilities willinclude:

1. Chair at least one quarterlymeeting of the steward

committee at the bargainingunit level.2. Effectively communicate,mentor and educate stewards.3 Act as a resource forstewards.4. Maintain the bargainingunit grievance le. Ensureproper and timely lings of allgrievances.5. Attend a minimum of oneLocal 1221 meeting a quarter.

6. Complete the W.F.S.E.advanced steward training.7. Promote, encourage, andmaintain open, clear, and

STEWARD

CORNER

transparent communication

between management,stewards, and members.8. At the end the term or incase of suspension/removalthe Chief Shop Steward shallrelease all records to the localPresident and/or successor.

In accordance with thelocal steward policy, a chief

stewards responsibilities mayinclude:

1. Work with council staff indirecting stewards.

2. Collect and compile

recommendations for contractlanguage improvements.3. Be involved in anybargaining unit job actions.4. Be a member of the localsteward committee andattend meetings regularly.Local President may suspendor remove a Chief ShopSteward pending a fullinvestigation of a complaint.The President will notify theeld ofce and may appointan interim Chief ShopSteward.

Recent Advanced Steward Training for Local 1221 members at the Spokane

Veterans Home.


8/8

Page 8 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

MEMBERS IN ACTION

October 2011

What made you decide tobecome a volunteer mem-ber organizer?

MICHELE STELOVICH: Pam

Carl asked me if I would beinterested in being a VMOand said that I would do wellat this. Everyone seemed tobe having so much fun that Iwanted to join too. Then Pam

asked me again and I saidyes. I went out on my rstorganizing campaign for theInterpreters and I learned allover why I became a unionmember in the rst place. Itis for the right of each personto have a say over workingconditions and pay as well

as protection from harass-ment and retaliation fromthe boss. I believe I made adifference and today the in-terpreters through their hardwork now have a contractand a say. You know it is also

about spending time with yourfriends working on somethingyou believe in - what could be

better.How long have you been anactivist in the union?

I dont really remember asbeing an activist has just be-come just part of my life. Ibelieve nine years more orless.What do you like best aboutbeing a VMO? The least?

I like best meeting all the

people on the way and hear-ing their story. I have learnedso much and have a renewedrespect for differences, otherpeoples culture and ways.I have learned to be morethankful for my citizenship inAmerican and its unique gifts.

Least favorite: I went to a

house out in Whatcom Countywhere there were three dogsrunning the elds. When

I pulled into the yard theyjust circled my car. I did notget out as they barked andbarked and no one came tocheck. I later went back andmet the sweetest family. Ipetted the pony and fed it anapple. The little girl showedus her new shoes and I got atour of their yard.

Why should union members

become a VMO?

I believe it is the peopleand the fun we have workingon a campaign. Also, seeingnew members and how excit-ed they are to have their rstcontract and be able to havea say in their work place, Ireceived a renewed convic-tion that it is our right as a hu-man being to have a say overworking conditions, pay and

benets.

Share one of your favoriteorganizing campaign expe-riences/situations.

I remember in the Adult Fam-ily Home campaign sittingon a womans couch and

she shared her life story. Iwatched as she lovingly caredfor people (consumers) and

VMO SPOTLIGHT:Michele Stelovich, Local 948, EverettFirst in a series of proles of WFSE/

AFSCME Volunteer Member Orga-

nizers

she told us she had movedacross the country with her

husband, was an accountantand now she cares for her el-derly folks.

Interested in being a Volun-teer Member Organizer? Call

Pam Carl at 1-800-562-6002or e-mail [email protected].

HONORING A FALLEN COL-LEAGUE. Members of Ellens-burg Local 1301 honored the

late Greg Ballard, a 30-yearDepartment of Transportationmember who died in 2010.

They donated and installed abench in his honor at the CleElum High School football sta-dium Sept. 2. Greg was the

most genuine and generousperson you could ever meet,said Rick Henderson, a Local1301 steward and friend.

Local 1301 members with

the bench dedicated toGreg Ballard (above).

FROM LEFT: Kevin

Nicholson, Local 1301

President Jason Pratt

and Rick Henderson. 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENT SERVICE IN LOCAL 304.

Seattle Local 304 Executive Board members (from left) Mat-

thew Davenhall, Rodolfo Franco and Michelle Henry with

plaque awarded by AFSCME Regional Rep. Aaron Cole (in

back) recognizing their 50 years as a local.

Summer picnic fun

WFSE/AFSCME

locals from across

the state celebrated

solidarity with fun

picnics this summer,

including UW/Harbor-

view Local 1488 (far

left), Vancouver Local

313 (top, left) and

Lakeland Village Local

573 (bottom).

STATEWIDE PARKS LOCAL 1466 MEETS. Statewide Parks Local 1466 held its summer meeting Aug. 18 in Vancouver.They discussed the new contract and the Discover Pass.

EWU MEMBERS

LABORWEB

TRAINING. Local

931 members at

Eastern Wash-

ington University

took training on

the LaborWeb

program for their

local website in

August in Cheney.

Locals wanting

training can e-mail

[email protected].

wse october 2011

Documents