VOL. 44 NO.

10

www.discoverpass.wa.gov

DECEMBER 2016

SPECIAL ISSUE:

State Employee
Looking ahead to 2017

The official newspaper of the

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

WASHINGTON

Now good on either

of two vehicles!

#InvestInWA

LOBBY DAYS 2017

More @wfse.org & page 4

Our ratified
contracts,
modest raises
an investment
in Washington
Sign up for a 2017 Lobby Day.

Why? Because a battle looms over funding of

our ratified contracts. Our voices matter.

SPECIAL SECTION: Pages 3-5

Court upholds victory for CWU members against outsourcing

Order to be publicly read in January at

CWU Board of Trustees meeting

ocal 330 members have

won a big victory over
outsourcing of their
work and it will get a big
exclamation point next month
in front of the Central Washington University Board of
Trustees.
Thats because Kittitas
County Superior Court judge
in November formally upheld
last years victory by Central
Washington University members in Ellensburg against
outsourcing roofing work at

the CWU presidents residence.

Judge Frances P.
Chmelewskis Nov. 14 signed
order rejected the universitys
appeal of the decision rendered earlier this year by the
Public Employment Relations
Commission. This followed
her bench ruling Oct. 25.
The courts decision upholds
the PERC ruling, including
monetary damages to the Local 330 members for the illegal
outsourcing.
Another highly visible

sanction is expected to take

place in late January when
the decision in favor of the
CWU workers must be read
before the universitys board
of trustees.
The judge let stand the decision earlier this year when the
Public Employment Relations
Commission (PERC) ruled
3-0 that the 2013 outsourcing
of the roofing work was still
illegal.
The PERC ruling built on
earlier rulings by awarding
monetary damages.

ees, abridging their rights to

bargain such mandatory subjects. That reversed last years
ruling by a hearings officer
that went the other way.

PERC also declared that

CWU had in fact engaged in
direct dealing with employ-

And the PERC ruling also set

an important precedent for
similar cases in the future.

The commission adopted

a new standard for determining skimming for bargaining
unit work and for outsourcing
(contracting out) violations.
The new standard is less
repetitive and easier to understand.
The university objected to
PERCs expanded ruling.
Thats the appeal that the
court rejected, setting up next
months public admission of
wrongdoing before the CWU
Board of Trustees.
It took several years. But
in the end, the contract and
the law gave CWU Local 330
members this authoritative
victory.

Looking for a 2017 New Years resolution?

Heres one on personnel files

he New Year is a time when all of us reflect on our goals for the
past year and decide whether to continue them or develop new
goals.
One of the goals we should all have is to look at our contract.
In General Government, for instance, we have the right to remove
the previous years job performance information. But we have to be vigilant and exercise that right.
Heres what our General Government contract Article 31.5, states:
Supervisory files will be purged of the previous years job performance information following completion of the annual performance
evaluation, unless circumstances warrant otherwise. Upon request by the
employee, the supervisor will share why the materials were not purged.
The confidentiality and security of supervisory files will be maintained to
the extent allowed or required by law.
Adopt this as one of your goals every year.
Our contract has value. Use it.

SHOP STEWARD CORNER

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2017

One shop stewards thanks to all of us

who helped a Local 782 family after tragedy
Seasons Greeting to My Brothers and Sisters:

y name is
Dianne
Womack and
I am a shop steward
for Local 782 at Eastern
State Hospital in Medical
Lake. Actually I am the
chief shop steward for
my local. I am also a
member of the unions
statewide Stewards
Committee.
Back in October,
we had our Stewards
Conference and man
what a BLAST!! Great
speakers, classes and
what about those
arbitrators?
Everything was
awesome!
But something about
this years conference
will remain in my heart
forever:
A member of my
local lost his 3-year-old
son in a house fire that
weekend.

PSERS:

Gabriel Whitcher, a
custodian 1 at Eastern
State Hospital in Medical
Lake and a member
of my Local 782, lost
his son, Noah, in that
unspeakable tragedy.
When I presented
this information to the
stewards attending the
conference, heart on my
sleeve, these stewards
amazed me.
Within 10 minutes
we raised $605 for this
member and his family.
I want you all to
know that the member
truly feels like part of a
family because of what
you have done.
I want to thank you
for not only opening up
your wallets but also
you hearts to this family.
He was overcome by
emotion to know that so
many people, whom he
has never met, would

Renewed effort for institutions

workers in dangerous jobs

The good humanitarian effort to bring earlier

retirement to institutions workers doing jobs with
skyrocketing rates of injury will once again go to
the Legislature without the recommendation of the
states pension panel.
A majority of the Select Committee on Pension
Policy Dec. 13 supported the bill to expand eligibility for the Public Safety Employees Retirement
System (PSERS). But a recommendation needed 11
votes and only got 10.
WFSE/AFSCME Deputy Executive Director

do something like that

for him. He told me he
never knew that being
part of a union was like
being part of a family.
And he wanted to thank
all of you for the money
raised. It helped give
his son the funeral he
deserved.
I personally have
never been more
proud to belong to a
wonderfulgroup of
caring people. Your
love and actions have
inspired me to do my
very best for those I
serve--the members of
Local 782 and WFSE/
AFSCME Council 28.
Thank you for
everything and I LOVE
YOU ALL!! May God
Bless you and keep each
and every one of you
safe this Holiday Season.
In Solidarity,
Dianne Womack
Chief Shop Steward
Local 782

Words cannot express the pain all WFSE/AFSCME

members feel for Gabriel and his family over the loss
of little Noah. Our thoughts and prayers are with
them.
P.S. The Local 782
Executive Board set
up a special account at
the Washington State
Employees Credit Union
to help the Whitcher
family.
Any WFSE/
AFSCME member who
would like to donate
to the Whitcher family
relief account can do

Bob Keller, one of

the members of the
select committee,
made the motion
that ultimately
failed.
As it stands, this
latest version of the
PSERS expansion
bill will go to the Legislature next month with no recommendation.
WFSE/AFSCME Lobbyist Matt Zuvich earlier
urged the select committee to recommend this latest
PSERS bill. It would recognize the dangerous jobs

so at any branch of
the Washington State
Employees Credit
Union. You will need
the account number
to make the donation.
The account number is:
6668514.
Whitman CountyClarkston Local 1300,
though small, donated
$500.

done by direct-care staff in state mental hospitals,

residential habilitation centers, juvenile rehabilitation centers, and the Special Commitment Center.
And it would help bring recruitment and retention
relief to keep good institutional employees from
fleeing to safer and higher-paying jobs.
The PSERS retirement system allows its members to retire at age 60 without penalty, a lower
early retirement factor than in the PERS system and
a more generous death benefit.
PSERS expansion legislation passed the state
House in both 2015 and 2016 but never got a hearing in the state Senate.

Still another court victory against those attacking our privacy

A judge in Olympia on
Oct. 28 blocked another attack
on our privacy at least until
March.

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:
42,000.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Mary Sue Wilson that day granted the preliminary injunction requested
by the Washington Federation
of State Employees/AFSCME
and other unions against the
mysterious johnsmithofwa.
The judges order enjoins, or

blocks, state
agencies from
releasing information on
grievances to
johnsmithofwa until a hearing on a
permanent injunction is held
March 1, 2017.
Under Wilsons order,

state agencies cannot provide

johnsmithofwa any of
the documents concerning
employees represented by
(the unions) requested at issue here, including all grievances filed by any employee
or union including the actual
grievance and associated correspondence including re-

sponses, investigations, notes,

emails and decisions, regardless of the resolution of the
grievance until the March 1
hearing is held.
WFSE/AFSCME Attorney Ed
Younglove made the unions
successful arguments in court.

CLARIFICATION: The image of Mr. Stacy Jackson was included in a photo taken at a Seattle/King County NAACP news
conference on February 19, 2016 at South Seattle College and included in the March 2016 issue of Washington State Employee.
However, Mr. Jackson was not involved in the news conference in any way, nor was he involved in the union members
complaints regarding unfair treatment. The Federation regrets the error and apologizes for any inconvenience.

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

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

December 2016

Battle over funding of our

ratified contracts begins

owerful forces are already taking aim

at our ratified contracts, spreading
the phony argument that the modest
raises we negotiated are a giveaway and
shouldnt be funded.
We dont need to go any further than the
Dec. 7 Seattle Times. The Times reported
what we already knew: Legislative funding of our negotiated pay raises and ratified
contracts isnt a sure thing.
The Times reported:
Gov. Jay Inslee likely wont release his
proposed two-year state budget until next week, but the
first fiscal skirmish with legislative Republicans has already
begun over planned pay
raises for public workers.
The story relates opposiSen. Braun:
Raises a give- tion to the raises from the state
away?
Senates top budget writer, Sen.
John Braun, and a corporatebacked think tank.

Invest in a 2017 Lobby Day!

Its not too early to sign up for one of our

Lobby Days: http://wfse.org/get-involved/
lobby-days/

You can see the full Dec. 7 Seattle Times

story and our response here: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/insleesplan-for-state-worker-raises-sets-up-a-fight/
He needs to be making difficult choices
here; its not just a giveaway, the Times
quoted Braun as saying of Inslee.
But Braun got two emphatic counterpunches:
Inslee on Dec. 14 stood up for the contracts he negotiated with WFSE/AFSCME
members and others by proposing a biennial budget that funds our ratified contracts

Retirees look ahead to 2017

t can feel very lonely

as a senior and as a
public employee after
retirement, states Charleen
Goodrich who retired from
the Department of Labor and
Industries in 2010.
There are not only
attacks on Social Security and
Medicare to contend with, but
public employees are vilified
in the media. After so many
years as a public servant and
union member, I am not about
to allow myself to become
powerless.

Charleen was one of more

than 220 retirees, a record
number, who took part in the
2016 convention of the Retired
Public Employees Council
of Washington/AFSCME, in
Wenatchee Sept. 27-28.
I was gratified to see
so many other delegates
from around the state come
together to fight threats to our
retirement security, Charleen
said.
Too often, we (publicsector workers) feel like we
lose our sense of connection
to a community after retiring
and often wonder how we can
replace the sense of solidarity
and purpose they felt towards
their fellow employees during
their working years, said
Shirley Dicus, a member from
the Spokane Area Chapter.
We actually have one of
the most politically powerful

December 2016

and negotiated pay raises (see story, page 4).

WFSE/AFSCME members packed a
Senate budget hearing in November (see
story, page 5). Now, theyre lining up for our
2017 Lobby Days to counter the phony facts
and figures being used by those who dont
understand that the modest pay increases
translate as an investment in Washington:
Good for public services. Good for the
economy. Good to keep good state employees from fleeing to higher-paying jobs with
cities, counties, the federal government and
private businesses.
Lets make our voices heard when the
Legislature convenes next month.
More on pages 4-5.

Our Retirees allies renewed their sense of

solidarity at recent state convention

RPEC
CORNER

RPECs top tier priorities in

2017 include:

Online:
rpecwa.org
populations, when we work
together.
With the goal of helping
to rebuild that connection and
mobilize retirees to protect
their benefits, RPEC members
convened to elect their officers
and executive board, enact
the organizations legislative
priorities, and to hear the
latest updates on retirement
security in Washington.
First-time delegate
Judith Frey, president of the
Eastside King County chapter,
appreciated the networking
that took place and remarked
that she arrived knowing
less than 10 people and left
with connections in RPEC all
across the state.
Frey and the other
delegates also heard many
distinguished speakers
including the director of the
Office Financial Management,
David Schumacher, who
spoke about the state budget
process and answered
members questions about the
health of the states finances.
Representatives from WFSE/
AFSCME Council 28 (current
state employees) and the

Restoration of the PERS

Plan 1 COLA
Restore PEBB Medicare
benefit by increasing the
states contribution by a
minimum of $32.50 per
month per member.
Full funding of employer
contribution rates to the
pension plans
Oppose effort to create a
new state retirement plan
Protect and Expand Social
Security, Medicare and
Medicaid
Opposition to the TPP
(Trans-Pacific Partnership)
Washington State Labor
Council/AFL-CIO also
spoke and reiterated their
organizations solidarity with
retirees as a vital part of the
labor movement.
The conventions theme of
education and mobilization
continued with workshops
including a state budget
workshop, conducted by
state representatives Kristine
Lytton and Timm Ormsby.
The budget workshop

Want a retirement
workshop?

was a definite high point

of the convention, giving
retirees perspective on the
complicated nature of the
budget, said Clair Olivers,
delegate from the Everett-area
chapter.
Olivers said he especially
appreciated that the
lawmakers were refreshingly
frank with members on
how the current restraints
on the budget may require
considerations of new
revenue.

Charleen and many

other delegates returned to
their chapters around the
state to reach out to other
public employees. We have
a potential membership of
more than 100,000 members,
Charleen said, and as more
retired public employees
recognize our collective
power and mobilize to set
legislative goals, we could be
an unstoppable force.

If your local is interested in hosting a retirement security workshop, please contact James at the Retired Public Employees
Council office at 1-800-562-6097 or james@rpecwa.org.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

Page 3

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2017

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2017

Lobby Days are the

easiest & best ways
to win funding for our
strong contracts

They
need to
see US &
hear OUR
stories

STATE EMPLOYEES
Modest pay raises recognize theres work to be done
AS POPULATION HAS CONTINUED TO GROW,
with increasing demand for
committed
service
THE our
STATE
WORKFORCE HAS
SHRUNK

Legislators need
more than headlines,
posts and tweets
WFSE/AFSCME members can make
a big difference in 2017 by signing
up for a Lobby Day.
Because members individually or with
their local or work colleagues can best
inform legislators about the work state
employees do to bring quality services
to the public. The demand keeps
growing (see chart on page 5).

So please sign up for a Lobby Day. Its

easy. Get all the details and RSVP
online at: http://wfse.org/get-involved/
lobby-days/

Thats where all of us come in.

But we
face fierce
opposition.
Legislature has
final say.

storm. Meanwhile, state employees are having

to pay a larger share of their benefit costs. The
average employee contribution to medical costs is
now $161 per month, compared to less than $28
per month in 2001.

building an effective and efficient state government, and

he believes it all starts on the
frontlines....
The governor also understands how important it is
to give agencies the resources
and tools they need to attract
and retain the strongest possible workforce....
Prior to 2015, state employees had gone six years
without a general wage in-

crease the longest stretch

since the early 1960s that they
had not seen such a raise. In
fact, at the height of the Great
Recession, employees agreed
to take a two-year, 3 percent
pay cut to help the state
weather the storm. Meanwhile, state employees are
having to pay a larger share of
their benefit costs. The average employee contribution to
medical costs is now $161 per
month, compared to less than
$28 per month in 2001.
The governor said the
budget funds the modest
general wage increases of 6
percent over two years (General Government/Higher
Ed) and targeted raises to
address recruitment and retention issues in certain job

classes.
All told, as a share of
the General Fund budget,
state employee salaries and
benefits have fallen from 21
percent in 2008 to less than 17
percent in the current fiscal
year, the Governors Office
said.

Sign up for a Lobby

Day!
And we all need to be
part of the debate. So sign
up for one of our 2017 Lobby
Days and let lawmakers know
that investing in our negotiated pay raises and ratified
contracts is an Investment in
WA.
Because this is not a done

deal by any stretch.

Now the state Senate and
House will separately tear
apart the governors plan
starting next month and then
issue their own recommendations.
We have to let them know
the governors plan investing
in state employees is sound.
And remember, the incoming chair of the budgetwriting Senate Ways and
Means Committee, Sen. John
Braun, has questioned our negotiated pay raises, telling the
media they are a giveaway.
So make plans to set
lawmakers right. Go to our
Lobby Days signup page
online: http://wfse.org/getinvolved/lobby-days/

You can see for yourself all the budget documents from the governor:
http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget17/highlights/default.asp
WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

December 2016

10.5

FY 2016

State population

6,041,710

7,183,700

State employees

63,975

62,785

Graph shows ratio of state employees to

population; for easy reference SE/POPULATION figure multiplied by 1,000; the declining ratio shows fewer state employees for
the larger population.

10.0

9.5

9.0

8.5

8.0

FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

*Based on actual state employee head count. Does not include higher education.

In 2001, there were nearly 6 million people in Washington and about 64,000 state general government employees. Today,
Washingtons population is more than 7 million and general government employees total fewer than 63,000. Put another way: We
have 1.5 million more people being served bysession
1,200 fewer
state employees.
hearing
that touched
2017-2019 biennial budget
request (see page 4). Then the
on our 10 ratified contracts
legislative
debate
fundone
for
General
Government,
collective bargaining
agreements
and over
interest
The governors proposed 201719 budget includes
ing
of
our
contracts
begins
eight
for
Higher
Education
arbitration awards the state recently reached
funding for a modest general wage increase for
when the 2017
and one
for Medical
withInterpret38 unions representing
aboutLegislature
50,000 state
most general government and community
college
convenes Jan. 9.
ers.
employees
and
47,000
publicly
funding
nonstate
employees, and larger, targeted raises to address
pay raises
They got a rundown of
employees.
recruitment and retention issues in certain job
and contracts
what many of us already
In the administrations eyes,
classes. The increases
are
the
result
of
new
begins in
know cost-of-living adjustthe contracts also try to make
January, she
ments of 6 percent in three inup lost economic ground in
said.
stallments starting July 1, 2017
other ways, such as improved
35
We
(GG/HE); targeted job invacation accrual rates and two
need people
creases to address recruitment
leave provisions that would
to keep
and retention and other crises
require changes to current
joining in
for more than 10,000 workers;
law:
to keep the
and instituting a minimum
The ability to use vamovement
wage of $12 an hour so no
cation leave in the first six
Brewster
going,
state employee will ever earn
months of employment; and
Brewster said.
less than that again.
Improved access to paid
A month later, Gov. Jay
leave options for employees
The Senate Ways and Means
Inslee included a funding
with a newborn or newly
Committee held the prerequest for the raises in his
placed child.

United, we show lawmakers why

our strong contracts matter
began earlier this month,
They (the senators) had
WFSE/AFSCME members
some good questions, Lana
201719
Policy Highlights
showed state Senate
budgetBudget &Brewster,
a Local 443 member
writers our negotiated pay
at The Evergreen State Colraises matter.
lege in Olympia, said after the
Dozens of members
hearing.
in AFSCME Green t-shirts
We have some recruitpacked a Senate budget hearment and retention problems
ing Nov. 14 and the senators
so were just hoping for the
got the message that our ratibest.
fied contracts and negotiated
And legislators need to
pay raises will go a long way
keep seeing members at the
to keeping the employees
Capitol when the full legislawho provide vital social sertive debate on our negotiated

WFSE/AFSCME members pack pre-session

hearing on funding of our contracts. See
story on next page.

FY 2002

Washingtons population is
more than 7had
million
andsix
general
Prior to 2015, state employees
gone
years
government
employees
total
without a general wage increase the longest
than
63,000.
stretch since the earlyfewer
1960s
that
they Put
hadanother
not seen
way:
We
have
1.5
million
more
such a raise. In fact, at the height of the Great
people being served by 1,200
Recession, employees agreed to take a two-year,
fewer state employees.
3 percent pay cut to help the state weather the
SOURCE: OFM

All told, as a share of the General Fund budget,

state employee salaries and benefits have fallen
from
percent in
2008public
to lesssafety,
than 17health
percent in
Before the battle
for21
fundvices,
current fiscal and
year.other public services.
ing of our contractsthe
even

We need to
be part of the
debate and
get the right
info (no phony
fake news) to
legislators by
signing up for
one of our 2017
Lobby Days.

11.0

they need to attract and retain the strongest

possible workforce. But
that there
has been
challenge,
In 2001,
were anearly
6
million
people
in
Washington
especially in certain areas, such as our state
64,000 state State
general
psychiatric hospitals and about
the Washington
government
employees.
Today,
Patrol.

Lobby Days 2017. Take action to implement our strong contracts, recover
losses weve shouldered and help improve public services in Washington.

Governors proposed biennial budget would fund

our negotiated pay raises and ratified contracts

Page 4

As population
has continued to
grow, the state
workforce has
The governor also understands how important
it is to give agencies the
resources and tools
shrunk

and their families a unique opportunity to engage with legislators and tell
them our stories face-to-face, in person, genuine and true.

WFSE/AFSCME offers union members

ov. Jay Inslee Dec.14

unveiled his proposed budget for the
two-year spending cycle that
begins July 1 and he invests
in Washington by investing in
his state employees.
He does this by funding
our negotiated pay raises
and ratified contracts for our
42,000 members in General
Government, state colleges
and universities and medical
interpreters.
This is an important step.
But the governors budget
proposal is just that -- a recommendation. Legislators
will have the final say and
write the final budget starting
when their 2017 session convenes Jan. 9.
Inslees budget documents say he is committed to

Gov. Inslee is committed to building an effective

and efficient state government, and he believes it
all starts on the frontlines. Thats why his Results
Washington initiative is engaging frontline workers
across the state in an ever-expanding quest to
improve how state government serves its citizens
and wisely uses taxpayer dollars.

More on the governors budget proposal:

Theres much more in the budget
and the union will identify impacts
before the start of the 2017 legislative
session on Jan. 9. But here are some
major things that jumped out of
Gov. Jay Inslees 2017-2019 Biennial
Budget proposal unveiled Dec. 14:

Mental health
The governor would invest
heavily in mental health, including
bolstering our three state mental hospitals but also invest in community
resources, including nine, 16-bed
state-operated community facilities.
His office said its a major overhaul of the states troubled mental
health system.
His proposal would create a
patient-centered system with sizable
new resources for treating people in
the community.
His proposal would also shift
nearly all civilly committed (noncriminal) patients to other treatment
centers around the state by 2020.
There may be both good things
and unintended consequences in his

December 2016

plan. But this begins the debate. All

told, the governor proposes to add
1,000 new mental health beds and
more than 700 staff positions to the
states comprehensive mental health
system.

Childrens agency
Inslees budget plan will also lay
the groundwork for a new agency
focusing on the needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children.
This follows the recommendation
of a Blue Ribbon Commission.
All WFSE/AFSCME members affected by this proposed new agency
are now part of the debate thats why
they should all come to a Lobby Day
in the 2017 session.
Because its clear that no reorganization will be effective unless we
stabilize the workforce that is losing
employees at a rapid rate.
That means we need better pay,
lower caseloads and more supportive
management.
Bluntly, we cant improve outcomes for kids, regardless of the struc-

ture, if we cant hire and retain skilled

employees.
That point is emphasized on page
42 of the Blue Ribbon Commission report: http://www.governor.wa.gov/
sites/default/files/documents/BRCCF_FinalReport.pdf.

DOSH
The governor proposes another
important step to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the
Division of Occupational Safety and
Health (DOSH) in the Department of
Labor and Industries.
Inslee calls for 16 new positions.
This is on top of recruitment and retention pay adjustments negotiated in
the General Government contract.

Proposed Naselle closure alarming

WFSE/AFSCME members are
greatly alarmed by the governors
proposal to close the Naselle Youth
Camp in Juvenile Rehabilitation for 76
youthful offenders.
The governors plan would move
those youth to Echo Glen Childrens

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

Center in Snoqualmie and Green Hill

School in Chehalis.

State Parks
For state Parks, the governor
proposes continuing to use litter tax
revenues to support Parks operations to accommodate 30 million
visitors every year at 125 developed
state parks.
Inslees plan would also increase
preventative maintenance and preservation to campgrounds and historic structures.
This is all important to our Parks
Local 1466 member and all of us who
visit these Crown Jewels of Washington.

Corrections
In Corrections, the governor
proposes savings by requiring terms
of supervision to be served concurrently unless the court expressly
orders the terms to be served consecutively, and allow earned time
credits to be prospectively applied to
confinement pursuant to a weapons
enhancement.

Page 5

MEMBERS ONLY BENEFITS UPDATE

UNION NEWS

WFSE/AFSCME members turn out for

Union Sportsmens Alliance event
One of our Members Only Benefits partners, the Union Sportsmens
Alliance, held its first dinner event in
Washington Dec. 1.
WFSE/AFSCME had a strong delegation in support of the alliances effort to unite more than 6 million active
and retired AFL-CIO union members
in their mission to: Educate. Conserve.
Volunteer.
As a union-operated, uniondedicated, 501(c)(3) conservation
organization, the Union Sportsmens
Alliance (USA) is committed to uniting
these millions of union sportsmen and
sportswomen.
United into one community with a
shared commitment to:
educate future generations of
sportsmen and sportswomen;
conserve healthy wildlife habitat;
and volunteer their time and
skills for projects that improve access
to quality places to hunt, fish and
shoot.
The Dec. 1 dinner at the Teamsters
Hall in Seattle was fun but was part
of the groups Work Boots on the
Ground program for conservation
projects and park structure repairs.
WFSE/AFSCME members viewed this
as an opportunity for our state parks.

IN MEMORIAM

Imagine what you can achieve with

the AFSCME Free College Benefit

To learn more about this Members Only Benefit, go to:

http://unionsportsmen.org/

There are always points in your career and your life in which
you want to move forward. You want to improve; you want to feel
inspired and reach new goals. Perhaps you want to qualify for a
promotion, finish your degree, or enrich your life through learning.
Whatever your motivation, a quality education can be the catalyst to
get you where you want to go.
Its AFSCMEs mission to give you every advantage to get ahead.
Thats why weve partnered with Eastern Gateway Community College. Through the AFSCME Free College benefit, you and your family members can now earn an associate degree completely online
for FREE. Learn more at: http://freecollege.afscme.org/

From our Members Only Benefits partners at

Colonial Life and Modern Woodmen.

IN MEMORIAM: Frank Marks III,

a custodial supervisor for the Department of Enterprise Services for the
Labor and Industries Headquarters in
Tumwater, died Oct. 19. The Local 443
member was 61.
DES Director Chris Liu told colleagues of the sad news. His years of
dedicated public service are greatly
appreciated.
Liu told DES employees in an
email:
Frank lost his battle with a personal illness. On behalf of DES, I have
sent a letter to his family expressing
our heartfelt condolences and sympathy. Our thoughts and prayers are with
Franks family and loved ones. I also
want to express my deepest sympathy
to all my DES colleagues on the Custodial Services Team and our Buildings

SHARED LEAVE
REQUESTS
Kambria Dumesnil, a customer service specialist with
the Department of Labor and
Industries in Aberdeen and
a member of Local 970, has
been off work since late November because of pregnancy
complications. She delivered
her daughter on Dec. 11; her
daughter is in the NICU at Tacoma General Hospital. Kambria is in need of shared leave
as and will be off work until
late January as she recovers
from a C-section. Contact:
your human resource office.
Shannon Bryant, a financial
services specialist 2 with
DSHS in Olympia and a member of Local 443, is in need of
shared leave. Contact: your
human resource office.
Robin Hicks, a social service
specialist 2 with DSHS in Federal Way and a member of
Local 843, has been approved
for shared leave. Contact:
your human resource office.
Elaine Lewis, a medical assistance specialist 3 with
the Health Care Authority in
Olympia and a member of Local 443, has been approved
for shared leave for the time
she will be out of the office for
knee surgery and recovery.
Contact: Paula Williamson at
(360) 725-3805 or your human resource office.

wfse.org/member-benefits/

Jacqueline Walker, a WorkFirst specialist 4 with the

Employment Security Department in Spokane and a
member of Local 1221, has
been approved for shared
leave through Feb. 6, 2017
for a serious health condition.
Contact: your human resource
office.
Kattie Antilla, a WorkFirst
Program specialist with DSHS
in Kelso and a member of Local 1400, is in need of shared

Page 6

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

December 2016

December 2016

Tacoma Police Officer Reginald Jake

Gutierrez

& Grounds Division with whom Frank

worked.
The entire Federation family sends
condolences to Franks family, friends
and colleagues.

leave. Contact: your human

resource office.
Michael Heaps, a workers
compensation adjudicator 3
with the Department of Labor
and Industries in Tumwater
and a member of Local 443,
has been approved for shared
leave. He is requesting
shared leave to cover the time
he has missed and will miss
for medical treatments for
esophageal cancer. Contact:
Laura Cadwell at (360) 9025488 or your human resource
office.
Denise Danielson, a rehabilitation technician 1 with
DSHS in Seattle and a member of Local 843, is in need
of shared leave because of
her high-risk pregnancy with
twins. Contact: your human
resource office.
Terri Madison, an industrial
insurance underwriter 4 with
the Department of Labor and
Industries in Tumwater and
a member of Local 443, has
been approved for shared
leave. She is requesting
shared leave to cover the
time she will be out of office
for medical leave. Contact:
Cattlena Nguyen at (360) 9025679 or your human resource
office.
Ruth Delgado, a financial
services specialist 3 with
DSHS in King County and a
member of Local 843, is in
need of shared leave. Contact: your human resource
office.
Tiffiany Grigsby, a WorkFirst
program specialist with DSHS
in Yakima and a member of
Local 1326, has been approved for shared leave. Contact: your human resource
office.
Cindy Hendrickson, a financial services specialist 3 with
DSHS in Kennewick and a
member of Local 1253, has
been approved for shared
leave. Contact: your human

IN MEMORIAM: A message from

WFSE/AFSCME President Sue Henricksen to the members of Tacoma
Police Union Local 6, AFL-CIO, in the
wake of the tragic Nov. 30 shooting
death of Tacoma Police Department
Officer Reginald Jake Gutierrez:
As President of the Washington
Federation of State Employees Council
28, I would like to extend our deepest
sympathy to you and your fellow officers during this difficult time.
A loss of any life is difficult but
losing a fellow officer in the line of
duty is heart breaking. As a wife of
a retired Auburn police officer this
impacts me deeply. I know that all
of you go out every day to make this
world a better place for all of us. Our
debt to you and Officer Gutierrez is
one that can never be repaid or honored enough. Our prayers and condolences go out to all of you. God bless
you all. In Solidarity Sue Henricksen.

resource office.
Sherry Smiley, a financial
services specialist 3 with
DSHS in White Center and
a member of Local 843, has
been approved for shared
leave. Contact: your human
resource office.
Rhonda Leatherwood, an
information technology specialist 4 with the Department
of Health in Spokane and a
member of Local 1221, has
been approved for shared
leave. Contact: your human
resource office.
Catrina Murphy, a health
services consultant 1 with the
Department of Health in Tumwater, has been approved for
shared leave through May 21,
2017. Contact: your human
resource office.
Edna E. Wright, an office
assistant 3 with DSHS in Tacoma and a member of Local
53, is in need of shared leave
because of a serious medical
condition. Contact: your human resource office.
Sharon Langvad, an administrative hearings coordinator
with DSHS in Puyallup and a
member of Local 53 is in need
of shared leave. Contact: your
human resource office.
John Conley, a financial services specialist 3 with DSHS
in Lakewood and a member of
Local 53, is in need of shared
leave. Contact: your human
resource office.
Debora Christiansen, a
WorkFirst program specialist
with DSHS in Bremerton and
a member of Local 1181, has
been approved for shared
leave because of a serious
medical condition. Contact:
your human resource office.
Glenda Turner, an office assistant 3 with the Department
of Corrections in Tacoma and
a member of Local 53, has
been approved for shared

IN MEMORIAM: Fairbanks, Alaska,

Police Department Sgt. Allen
Brandt, a member of AFSCME/
Public Safety
Employees Association (PSEA)
Local 803, died
Brandt
Oct. 28 after a
brutal shooting a
few days before.
WFSE/AFSCME President Sue
Henricksen issued this statement on
hearing that sad news:
AFSCME Council 28 mourns the
death of our brother Sgt Allen Brandt
of the Fairbanks Police Department.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his
family and fellow officers. A true hero
has been lost.

leave because of a serious

medical condition. Contact:
your human resource office.

tact: Kathleen Young at (360)

902-9538, or your human resource office.

Kimberly Reynolds, a financial services specialist 4 with

DSHS in Everett and a member of Local 948, has been
approved for shared leave.
She is having her third neck
fusion surgery. Kimberly expects to be out from three to
six months. Contact: Angela
Juris at (360) 725-6784, or
your human resource office.

Sara Wetsch-Betts, a workers compensation adjudicator

with the Department of Labor
and Industries in Tumwater
and a member of Local 443,
has had her shared leave
request extended through
Jan. 14, 2017. Contact: Laura
Cadwell at (360) 902-5488, or
your human resource office.

Laura Gilgore, a financial

services specialist 3 with
DSHS in Long Beach and a
member of Local 970, has
been approved for shared
leave. Contact: your human
resource office.
Gabriel Whitcher, a custodian 1 at Eastern State Hospital
in Medical Lake and a member of Local 782, has been
approved for shared leave as
he continues to recover from
the tragic death of his 3-yearold son, Noah, in a house
fire. Contact: Laura Fairley at
(509) 565-4680.
Janice Simons, a psychiatric security nurse at Eastern
State Hospital in Medical Lake
and a member of Local 782, is
recovering from a serious illness and has been approved
for shared leave. Contact:
Laura Fairley at (509) 5654680.
Karen Lewis, a tax specialist 3 with the Employment
Security Department in and
a member of Local 443, has
been approved for shared
leave. She is having another
cancer-related surgery. Contact: Kathleen Young at (360)
902-9538, or your human resource office.
Ellen OConnor, an information technology specialist 4
with the Employment Security
Department in Olympia and
a member of Local 443, has
been approved for shared
leave for medical issues. Con-

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

Roxanne Childress, a disability determination adjudicator 3 with DSHS in Olympia

and a member of Local 443,
has been approved for shared
leave. Contact: your human
resource office.
Pierre Humphrey, a social
service specialist 3 with
DSHS in Seattle and a member of Local 843, has been
approved for shared leave.
Contact: your human resource
office.
Sonja Allen, a WorkFirst program specialist with DSHS in
Lakewood and a member of
Local 53, has been approved
for shared leave because of
a serious medical condition.
Contact: your human resource
office.
Jennifer Key, a social service
specialist 2 with DSHS in Port
Angeles, has been approved
for shared leave because of
a serious medical condition.
Contact: your human resource
office.
Deandra Standley, a financial services specialist 3 with
DSHS in Tacoma and a member of Local 53, is still in need
of shared leave. Contact: your
human resource office.
Colleen Musa, an adjudicator 3 with DSHS in Spokane,
has been approved for shared
leave to care for her disabled
father. Contact: your human
resource office.

Page 7

UNION NEWS

Aberdeen members praise next generation

It was a great Local 970 meeting Nov. 17 in Aberdeen with a
special presentation to 13-year-old Andrew Crawford for his
All-Star volunteerism at the unions recent Howard Ocobock
Memorial Family Campout at Deception Pass. Andrews dad,
Jered, and grandmother, Local 970 member Bert Reynolds.
were both on hand (photo at left). The rest of Local 970 (below)
stood in for the unions Members Only Benefits Committee
and Executive Board in personally thanking and congratulating
Andrew.

LEFT: Crawford at
the union campout
at Deception Pass
in September.

More Members Only

Benefits news, page 6.

Members 2015
Fund our
contracts
efforts win
national media
honors
This unions communications network and activists have again received
national honors from the
International Labor Communications Association,
AFL-CIO.
This year the WFSE/
AFSCME Public Affairs
program earned a prestigious Saul Miller Award,
the labor journalism
equivalent of a Pulitzer
Prize. It came for stories in
our publications and field
communications during the
2015 legislative fight to win
funding of our contracts.
The Miller Awards honor
outstanding labor journalism in the field of collective
bargaining, organizing and
political action.
The ILCA handed out
the awards at a ceremony
Dec. 9 in Washington, D.C.
WFSE/AFSCME Public
Affairs Director Tim Welch
accepted the honors on behalf of members, staff and
the WFSE/AFSCME Communications Committee.
WFSE/AFSCME received
the following ILCA honors
for work in 2015:

Poster of the month

Saul Miller Award: Writing: Collective Bargaining: State/Local

Fund Our Contracts (news
stories, informational materials during successful 2015
legislative session to fund
our contracts)
Writing: Best Analysis:
State/Local
A Tale of Two Budgets
(comprehensive analysis in
April 2015 WFSE/AFSCME
Washington State Employee newspaper)
General Excellence: Blog:
State/Local
WFSE/AFSCME Hotline
News Service
Electronic Media: Best
News Video: State/Local
Our View June 2015
(WFSE/AFSCMEs YouTube/cable TV newsmagazine edition spotlighting
public actions by WFSE/
AFSCME members during
the 2015 effort to win funding for our contracts; Tim
Welch, executive producer;
Chuck Bolland, director)

Page 8

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

December 2016