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The official newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIOSPECIAL ISSUEVOL. 37 NO. 3

APRIL 2009

Shared leave requests -- 2-3Q&A -- 4

Shop Steward Award winners -- 4

INSIDE:If youre a represented non-memberfee payer and you dont wish toreceive this publication, e-mail usat wfse@wfse.org, or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E.,Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501

WASHINGTON

BUDGET CUTS

HURT

WHY

WEFIGHTThe facts you need toknow and what you needto do as the All-Cutslegislative session entersthe home stretch. See 1-4

At press time, three ofWFSE/AFSCMEs bargain-ing teams had reachedtentative agreements on re-negotiated contracts brought

on by these tough economictimes.The largest, the General

Government BargainingTeam, reached a settlementwith the governors nego-tiators April 2. The HigherEducation Coalition Bar-gaining Team followed thenext day. The University ofWashington Police Manage-ment Bargaining Team cameto a settlement March 26.

Eastern WashingtonUniversity bargained April7, University of Washing-ton April 9 and Washington

State University April 10.

These re-negotiated

contracts come after monthsof controversy. Pendingratification, the 40,000 stateemployees represented by

WFSE/AFSCME will havecontracts come July 1. That isvitally important, especiallywhen it comes to the contractprovisions on layoffs andgrievance procedure. Thatultimately is the best outcomeof these negotiations.

More details and anyre-negotiated contractsare online at www.wfse.org>Contract Center.

Ratification by the respec-

tive group of WFSE/AFSCME

members will come afternegotiations on a new healthcare article. Those talks willwait until the Legislatureapproves language in the

budget. If the Legislatureadjourns as scheduled April

26, then the Super Coalitionof all state employee unionsled by WFSE/AFSCME willconvene, probably sometimein May, to negotiate the health

care article.Ratification, when mem-bers vote on all the changes,will take place after that. Ifratified, the contract will takeeffect July 1.

The General Government andHigher Ed Coalition contractshave no economics. But theypreserve important protec-tions negotiated and ratifiedlast fall, make important gainsin non-economic articles andprovide a process for re-visiting economic issues if theeconomy improves during the

term of the 2009-2011 contract.In General Government

and the Higher Education Co-alition, that means additionalpersonal leave days, with thecaveat that it has to be cost-neutral for positions requiring

backfill.The General Government

agreement preserved the newlanguage on overtime aftereight hours of work for DOT

Highway Maintenance andfruit/vegetable inspectors inAgriculture.

The General Govern-ment and Higher EducationCoalition agreements alsopreserved the new workplace

behavior article, with theHigher Ed pact now allowingcomplaints to go to a managerin an employees chain ofcommand.

Both those contracts made

new gains. In General Gov-ernment, those include: add-ing some teeth to the Union

Management CommunicationCommittees article and inHours of Work, the employerwill consider an employeespreference when adjusting theemployees work schedule.

In the Higher Ed con-

tract, an enhanced layoffand recall article and, fortemporary employees, thegrievance procedure forhourly employees would

now allow access outsidea college or university,namely the pre-arbitrationreview meeting (PARM)overseen by the state LaborRelations Office.

Both also include newShared Services languagewhere the union can sug-gest ways that one agencymay expand operations toprovide services to otherstate agenciesa way tomitigate budgetary con-straints.

Both also include lan-

guage on work-relatedillness or injury to reflecta 2007 law allowing useof sick leave and time-loss

benefits at the same timewithout a buy-back re-quirement.

Tentative agreements reached on re-negotiated WFSE/AFSCME contracts for tough economic times

TAKE ACTION

NOW!

StateEmployee

HEALTH INSURANCE: Keep 88/12 split

For a number of reasons--tied to these tough economic times--re-negotiationson your health care article will take place after the Legislature adopts a budget.The current split where the state pays 88% of premiums and you pay 12% hassupport in the Legislature. But some want you to pay more. The Senate actually

has $30 million less for benefits.TAKE ACTION NOW!

Call 1-800-562-6000. Urge legislators to support the current 88/12 split in thestate budget for state employees and support the health care funding level inthe House budget (HB 1244). Send a message online. Go to www.wfse.org>Call Now! Sign up for text messages. Go to www.wfse.org.

WE STAND FOR WASHINGTON

Amber Hager (left) holds up a photo of her niece, AlyciaNipp, during March 24 press conference with Alycias mother,Maranda Hannah (right) at WFSE/AFSCME headquarters inOlympia. Nipp, a 13-year-old seventh grader, was murderedFeb. 21. A convicted sex offender has been charged. They

joined with WFSE/AFSCME Community Corrections membersto fight legislation that would end supervision for 12,000 danger-ous offenders like the man charged in Alycias death.

WE STAND FOR THE VICTIMS

Ratification

Youll vote on your respectivecontract after negotiations onthe health care article, whichshould come in May.

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WFSE/AFSCME action has already saved DOC jobs com-pared to the first budget proposed by the governor and the

original version of SB 5288.

Lower supervision

of offenders/reduce

sentences

Senate budget House budget

272 jobs cut 321 jobs cut 489.8 jobs cut

Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee April 2009

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. Affiliated withthe American Federation of State, Countyand Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and theWashington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Periodicals postage paid at Olympia, WAand at additional offices. Circulation:

40,000.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes toWashington State Employee, 1212 Jefferson

St SE Suite 300 Olympia WA 98501-7501

Carol Dotlich, President

Greg Devereux, Executive Director

Editor Tim Welche-mail: tim@wfse.org Internet: www.wfse.orgMember, ILCA

WASHINGTON

SHARED LEAVE

REQUESTS

The shared leave requests listedon this page have come in since theMarch newspaper closed. These requests appeared shortly

after they came in on the WFSE/AF-SCME Hotline, were e-mailed to thoseon the Hotline e-mail list and printedon the Shared Leave page at www.wfse.org. If youve been approved to receiveshared leave by your agency or insti-tution, you can place a notice here.Once youve been approved by youragency or institution, WFSE/AFSCMEcan place your shared leave requesthere and online. E-mail the editor attim@wfse.org. Or call 1-800-562-6002. The following could use a donationof eligible unused annual leave or sick

leave or all or part of your personalholiday:

Richelle Tilzer, a workers compensa-tion adjudicator 3 at the Department ofLabor and Industries in Tumwater anda member of Local 443, is having totalknee replacement and will be off the

job 4-6 weeks. Contact: Candy Pep-

pard at (360) 902-5705.

Joe Miner, a juvenile rehabilitationresidential counselor at Maple LaneSchool in Grand Mound and a memberof Local 1926, is recovering from a se-rious surgery and will not be releasedback to work until May. Contact: De-nise Randall at (360) 736-1361.

Clance Lewis Jr., a custodian at Har-borview Medical Center in Seattle anda member of Local 1488, is preparingfor liver and kidney transplants. Con-tact: Sorayda Valez at (206) 744-9220.

Connie Guy, a social worker 2 forDSHS in Snohomish County and amember of Local 948, is recoveringfrom surgery. She has exhausted allleave. Contact: Connie McCormick at(360) 658-6887.

Alisa Fennell, a financial servicesspecialist with DSHS in Olympia and

a member of Local 443, is in need ofshared leave. Contact: Grace Cham-bers at (360) 725-6627.

Mary Luxa, a medical assistancespecialist 3 for DSHS in Olympia anda member of Local 443, is still fac-ing ongoing medical issues that mayrequire her being off work for severalmore months. Contact your humanresources office or attendance keeperfor the necessary shared leave dona-tion forms.

CUTS HURT

Todd Ganey, Local 443, DSHS, Olympia, with son, Aidan, 2, at Local 443s

March 17 Statewide Day of Action event on the Capitol campus.

TAKE ACTION

NOW!

WE STAND FOR CHILDREN

The facts:

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-8th Dist., discusses WFSE/AFSCME Community Correc-

tions members concerns over SB 5288 after March 4 hearing in the House Hu-

man Services Committee. From left: Dana Hufford, Local 308; Judith Lang,

Local 308; Cindy McHie, Local 396; and Ginger Richardson, Local 308.

WE STAND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

TAKE ACTION

NOW!

Ginger Richardson, Local 308, and

WFSE/AFSCME Lobbyist Matt Zu-vich testifying April 4 on ESSB 5288.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS:

Save jobs; protect victims, public

Quote: Releasing 12,000 dangerous offenderswith no supervision by our state Commu-

nity Corrections officers is not the way to balancethe budget.... There is no price tag we can placeon our children.-- Maranda Hannah, mother of murdervictim Alycia Nipp, at 3/24/09 press conference with WFSE/

AFSCME Community Corrections officer members

WFSE/AFSCME haswaged a session-long fight tosave jobs and public safety.

In the final days of the ses-sion, all that will be at stake.Legislation (ESSB 5288) onsupervision of low- and moder-ate-risk offenders released fromprison has been mitigated withsunset clause language.

Budget plans cutting jobshave also been mitigated. Thegovernor wanted to cut nearly490 Community Correctionspositions. Thanks to WFSE/AFSCME members action, theSenate plan cut that to 272.

Community super-vision does work. Iknow because I work

there on the front line. And ittakes that human interventionto be able to sit down with anoffender and make...changehappen.--Ginger Richardson,Local 308, 4/4/09 House hearing

Quote:

Call 1-800-562-6000. Urge legislators

to support the Senate position on ESSB5288 and the Senate budget (SB 5600)

as a starting point in the final days of

session because it saves more jobs.

Send a message online. Go to www.

wfse.org>Call Now!

Sign up for text messages. Go towww.wfse.org.

Gov. budget

Lets keep making progress

on DOC issues!

Call 1-800-562-6000. Urge legisla-

tors to support the House position

on E2SSB 5943 and oppose the

Senate position on 2SHB 2106.

Its lest costly and provides more

accountability.

Send a message online. Go towww.wfse.org>Call Now!

Sign up for text messages. Go

to www.wfse.org.

The major legislative threatto Childrens Services hasbeen mitigated in the House,but the Senate version of a billprivatizing Child Welfare Ser-vices (CWS) is still bad.

The House version ofE2SSB 5943 has cut the num-ber of privatization pilots from100 percent to only two offices.It honors collective bargainingrights.

The Senate version, now2SHB 2106, still privatizes60 percent of Child WelfareServices.

CHILDRENS SERVICES:

Support House position on CWS bill

Quote: These workers have been doing the best they can while be-ing underfunded, understaffed, overworked and often misman-aged for years.--WFSE/AFSCME Lobbyist Alia Griffing, Househearing, 3/24/09

Its coming down to the wire in OlympiaGoal now is to minimize the damage; revenue packageto voters possible

This special issue focuses on the key issues affectingyou as we enter the final days of the 2009 legislative ses-sion. Adjournment is scheduled for April 26.

The state is facing the same global economic crisis as

all other employers and governments. There will be cuts.The goal is to minimize that damage.

The Senate predicts 2,500 job cuts in Higher Educa-tion and 2,000 in General Government. The House leavesactual job cuts up to agencies; that means agency-by-agency bargaining on the effects of any cuts.

WFSE/AFSCME members have been visible

all session long fighting the all-cuts budget.

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Page 3WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeApril 2009

Patricia Robles, a social worker 3 forDSHS Home and Community Servicesin Seattle and a member of Local 843,has a serious medical condition and isneed of shared leave. Contact KayciBrand at (206) 341-7611.

Lyle Beckman, a maintenancemechanic 2 with the Department of

General Administration in Olympiaand a member of Local 443, will be offwork for surgery and will exhaust allleave. Contact: Megan Melton at (360)902-7487.

Carrie Holbrook, a health servicesconsultant 1 with the Department ofHealths Center for Health Statistics inOlympia and a member of Local 443,is in need of shared leave. Contact:Kim Newkirk at (360) 236-4310.

Kim Johnson, an administrativeassistant 3 with the Department ofLicensing in Olympia and a memberof Local 443, is caring for her 15-year-old daughter after brain surgery. Shecould really use shared leave. Contact:Lonnie Spikes at (360) 664-1394.

Lilia Vega, who works in intake at

the Spokane Telecenter of the Em-ployment Security Department and amember of Local 1221, needs sharedleave to take care of a family emer-gency. Contact: Kathleen Young at(360) 902-9413.

Maggie Watson, an adult training spe-cialist 2 at Rainier School in Buckleyand a member of Local 491, is recov-ering from serious injuries suffered ina motorcycle accident. Contact: PattyHuffman at huffmpa@dshs.wa.gov.

Jeanne Robinson, a grounds andnursery services specialist 3 with theDepartment of General Administrationin Olympia and a member of Local443, has been approved for sharedleave. Contact: Megan Melton at (360)902-7487.

Ashu Rohila, an office assistant 3

with DSHS in Olympia and a memberof Local 443, is facing an ongoingmedical condition and is in need ofshared leave. Contact: Todd Worley at(360) 725-4821.

Cindy Olsen, a licensed practicalnurse 2 at the Spokane VeteransHome and a member of Local 1221, isrecovering from surgery and is in needof shared leave. Contact: Sandie Wol-lan at (509) 344-5777.

Jennifer Joyce, a patient servicesspecialist-call center at HarborviewMedical Center in Seattle and a mem-ber of Local 1488, is in need of sharedleave. Contact: Michelle Gaughan at(206) 744-9228.

Debra Kinzy, a patient servicesspecialist-call center at Harborview

Medical Center in Seattle and a mem-ber of Local 1488, is recovering froma serious condition that put her in thehospital. Contact: Michelle Gaughan at(206) 744-9228.

Aurora Brown, a WorkSource spe-cialist with the Employment SecurityDepartment in Spokane and a mem-ber of Local 1221, is currently unableto work. Contact: Kathleen Young at(360) 902-9413 or e-mail kayoung@esd.wa.gov.

CUTS HURTA Day in the Life of WFSE photo contest

This photo submitted by Spokane Local 1221 member Aaron Cole is one of

the dozens of submissions to the A Day in the Life of WFSE photo contest.

Entrants submitted photos taken on the Statewide Day of Action March 17.

The May Washington State Employee will carry winning photos. You can viewmore entrants at www.wfse.org>Important Links>WFSEc28 on Flickr.

PICTURED: Spokane (Monroe Street) and Newport Field Unit CommunityCorrections workers Jon Oglesby, John Hernandez, Melissa Cook, Monroe

Hartung and Aaron Cole.

Yakima Valley School members of Local 1326 and supportersfrom other WFSE/AFSCME locals stand in opposition to the clo-

sure of Yakima Valley School during March 30 budget hearing in

the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

WE STAND FOR NATURAL RESOURCES

TAKE ACTION

NOW!

WE STAND FOR YAKIMA VALLEY SCHOOL & ALL RHCs

TAKE ACTION

NOW!

Support House position keeping

Yakima Valley School openThanks to a constant

full-court press and presenceby WFSE/AFSCME mem-bers, especially from YakimaValley School, the Housebudget proposal would keepthe Selah facility for some of

the states most profoundlydisabled clients open.

It only makes fiscal

sense. A new report sayskeeping Yakima Valley Schoolopen saves more money thanclosing it.

The House would keep Yakima Valley School open. The Sen-

ate and governor want to close it.

Closing Yakima

Valley School

House budget Senate budget

0 job cuts 135.5 jobs cut 139.5 jobs cut(stays open)*

The facts:

Gov. budget

*At full capacity, keeping YVS open would save the state

$3.5 million because 60% of the funding would be federal.

I know youve got hard decisions to make.Tell me youre going to get the same service

somewhere else, cheaper. Because all the studies show theyre not.

Julianne Moore, Local 1326, Senate Ways and Means Committee, 3/30/09

Call 1-800-562-6000. Urgelegislators to support the House

position in HB 1244 keeping Ya-

kima Valley School open because

it saves money and YVS gets the

job doneAlso: Dont support a study closing

Frances Haddon Morgan Center.

Send a message online. Go to

www.wfse.org>Call Now!

Sign up for text messages. Go

to www.wfse.org.

Quote:

Fish & Wildlife members gather outside the Capitol for their lobby day March 4 to push for fewer cuts, includ-ing the closure of seven hatcheries and cuts to enforcement.

In the closing days of session, Fish

and Wildlife members are working

to mitigate significant cuts to their

budget. Already, HB 1951 (privatiz-ing seven hatcheries targeted for

closure by all budget proposals) has

been amended to add new require-

ments that mean private companies

cant just hire anyone and repairs

have to be let out to bid for state

employees.

Call 1-800-562-6000. Urge legislators to

support the Senate position on HB 1951.

Send a message online. Go to www.

wfse.org>Call Now!

Sign up for text messages. Go to www.

wfse.org.

WE STAND FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE

TAKE ACTION

NOW!

Western and Eastern State Hospital members during one of their lobby daysearlier this session.

Call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your

legislators:

To support the House budget posi-tion in HB 1244 to keep the General

Assistance-Unemployable Program.

(The Senate would keep it at 80percent).

To mitigate the staffing cuts at

Western and Eastern State Hospi-tals.

To mitigate the cut in residential re-

habilitation counselors at the Special

Commitment Center. Send a message online. Go to

www.wfse.org>Call Now!

Sign up for text messages. Go to

www.wfse.org.

WE STAND FOR HIGHER EDUCATIION

TAKE ACTION

NOW!

Call 1-800-562-6000. Urge legisla-

tors to mitigate the huge cuts in higher

education that could mean thousands of

lost jobs. Send a message online. Go to www.wfse.

org>Call Now! Sign up for text mes-

sages. Go to www.wfse.org.

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Page 4 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee April 2009

Can you guess where the worksite above is (its the building in the right

foreground) and what WFSE/AFSCME members work there? Send your

guesses by e-mail to tim@wfse.org or regular mail: Editor, 1212 Jef-

ferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501. Include your name andmailing address. Deadline: April 30. The first 10 readers with the correct

answer who include their name and mailing address will receive a prize.

Wheres this worksite?

Answer to Marchs Wheres this worksite?:

The mystery worksite pictured in the MarchWashington State Employee showed theRegion DSHS Division of Children andFamily Services (DCFS) office at 100 W.Harrison St., near the Seattle Center andQueen Anne Hill. Members of King CountyHuman Services Local 843 work there.The six readers who submitted a correct guess: LonnieCarlson, Pat Daane, Jilleen Jarrett, Carrie Schoenow,Gwen Seagroves and Michael Talamaivao.

CUTS HURT

Q. Whats the new WFSE/AFSCME

Staffing Plan and Reorganization all about?

A. (from the WFSE/AFSCME

Communications Committee)

The WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 ExecutiveBoard recently approved changes to thestaffing plan. The staffing plan is a livingdocument intended to change in order to meet

the needs of members over time.

One of the most visible changes will be estab-lishing a new job classification, Labor Advo-cate (LA), and merging todays Field Repre-sentatives and Senior Field Representativesinto a new classification, Council Representa-tive (CR).

There will be five Labor Advocates stationedthroughout the state. Some of the major dutiesthe LAs will handle include: pre-arbitrationreview meetings (PARM), non-disciplinary anddisciplinary arbitrations, unfair labor practices,demands to bargain, Personnel Resource

Board (PRB) hearings, statewide agency as-signments, and negotiations (including jointlabor management meetings at the Universityof Washington).

Creation of the new Labor Advocate posi-tions will free up Council Representatives tohandle matters closer to members on a dailybasis. During contract negotiations, SeniorField Representatives were pulled from theirnormal assignments and dedicated to bar-gaining. Under the reorganization, Field Staffwill not be pulled for bargaining or statewideagency duties.

Some of the major duties of the CRs include:internal organizing, member activation, jobactions, workplace issues and informationalmeetings, political grassroots organizing/PEOPLE, member training, steward mentor-ing, local union/management communicationcommittees, grievances (when a steward is notavailable), and contract enforcement issues.Council Representatives will handle grievanc-es to the top agency step and present cases tothe Statewide Grievance Committee.

WFSE/Council 28 remains committed to meet-ing members needs in the most efficient andeffective way possible.

Got a question? E-

mail: tim@wfse.org

Franco, Moore honored with

Shop Steward of Year awardsRodolfo Franco, Seattle Community College, Local 304, and Julianne Moore,

Yakima Valley School, Selah, Local 1326, were honored with Shop Steward ofthe Year awards at WFSE/AFSCMEs Shop Steward Conference March 21-22 in

SeaTac. About 300 stewards from around the state attended the conference, getting

basic and advanced training. Elaine Bernard of the Harvard Trade Union Program

delivered a pre-awards keynote address. PICTURED (from left): Craig Gibelyou,

Local 793, co-chair of the Steward Committee; Franco; Moore; WFSE/AFSCMEPresident Carol Dotlich; Bernard; and Dolly Adeyemi, Local 341, co-chair of the

Steward Committee.

WE STAND FOR GREEN HILL SCHOOL, NASELLE YOUTH CAMP,

ALL JUVENILE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

TAKE ACTION

NOW!

Call 1-800-562-6000. Urge legislators to oppose the proposed closure of Naselle Youth

Camp in the House budget (HB 1244), the proposed closure of Green Hill School in the Sen-

ate budget (SB 5600), and cuts to parole services in the House budget. They harm the JRA

continuum of care.

Send a message online. Go to www.wfse.org>Call Now! Sign up for text messages. Goto www.wfse.org.

JUVENILE REHABILITATION:

Save Naselle, Green Hill, group homes,

parole servicesThe fight to save jobs and

programs in DSHS juvenilerehabilitation has taken sometwists and turns.

The governor and Housewant to close Naselle YouthCamp.

The Senate wants toclose Green Hill School.

Neither is acceptable.The proposed closures

harm the successful continu-

um of care that makes a dif-ference in the lives of youthfuloffenders and protects com-munity safety.

In addition, the Housewould cut enhanced paroleservices, a cut of 41.2 jobs.

Not in the budget, butrumored are closures of non-contracted group homes.

Naselle Youth Camp Local 2263 members and

supporters gather after delivering petitions to the

Governors office earlier this session

Green Hill School Local 862 members take to an Olympia

overpass during their March 10 lobby day.

WE STAND FOR STATE PARKS

PARKS & RECREATION:

Support House, Senate opt-out

plans to keep state parks openUnder intense WFSE/AFSCME pressure, both theHouse and Senate budget plans would save stateparks. The budgets assume new revenue generatedby an opt-out voluntary $5 fee for license tab re-newal that would be earmarked for state parks. Thatmeans no parks closures.

TAKE ACTION

NOW! Call 1-800-562-6000.

Urge legislators to support

the opt-out plan to keep

parks open in both budgets

(SB 5600/HB 1244).

Sign up for text mes-sages. Go to www.wfse.

org.

Send a message online. Go to

Parks Local1466 membersduring theirMarch 3 lobbyday. INSET:Local 1466PresidentBrian Yearouturges ParksCommissionto supportfundingalternativesMarch 5.

www.wfse.org>Call Now!