vol. 37 no. 4

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The official newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO

NOMINATE OUTSTANDING MEMBERSDetails, 6 & 7.

VOL. 37 NO. 4

MAY 2009

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

WASHINGTON

StateEmployee

20% drop in assaults shines ray of hope duringWestern State Hospitals Workers Memorial ceremony

Local 793 members at Western State Hospital in Lakewood observe a moment of silence during their Workers

Memorial Day ceremony April 28. They celebrated the 20 percent drop in patient assaults on staff (from about 500

to 400). The local members set up 400 Work Should Not Harm Us signs on the lawn arranged in the shape of aheart. They vowed to continue the fight for safety on the day set aside to honor workers injured or killed on the job

in America. We must not sacrifice safety in these economic times, said Rep. Steve Conway, D-29th Dist. He was

joined by Sen. Mike Carrell,R-28th Dist., and Rep. Tami Green, D-28th Dist.

The 2009 Legislature

adopted a budget that couldmean layoffs for 3,000 to 4,000state employees.

That runs counter to eco-nomic recovery.

Thousands of consumerswill leave the job market justwhen the declining economyneeds jobs and the moneythey bring in.

Bargaining over theimpacts of layoffs on anagency-by-agency, institution-

by-institution basis holds thepotential of finding additionalalternatives to further cut thenumber of job losses. That is

4,000 layoffs coming?; impact bargaining expected; furloughs,other work hour reductions encouraged but not required

the value of having a contract.

In all, WFSE/AFSCMEmembers alone sacrificedmore than $1 billion to closethe states $9 billion budgetgap (see box).

The final budget adoptedApril 25 encourages but doesnot require agencies to con-sider furloughs, reduced workhours and voluntary leavewithout pay to trim their

budgets. All those impacts aresubject to bargaining to meetthe wishes of our members ineach agency or institution.

In addition, the finalbudget also allows agencies

$1 billion in state employee sacrifices

When the final chapter is written on this horrific $9 billionbudget deficit saga, the record will show that it was yoursacrifice of more than $1 billion in pay, pension contribu-tions, health care funding and layoffs that helped balancethe budget:

Economics - $140,000,000(pay raises, adjustments, etc.)Pension Contributions - $448,633,000Health Insurance - $200,000,000Layoffs (4,000 FTEs) - $240,000,000

TOTAL LOST: -$1,028,633,000

to offer voluntary retirementor downshifting incen-tives to save money and cutthe number of layoffs. Thosehave to be cost-neutral orhave to save money.

Step increases saved

All of your economicbenefits negotiated in the2009-2011 contracts bar-gained last fall were takenout. Thats why contractswere re-negotiated.

But your ongoing stepincreases remain. The Senatedefeated an amendment pro-posed by Sen. Joseph Zarellithat would have blockedstep increases. So those eli-gible for step increases willcontinue to get them.

At press time May 6, thelast piece of the topsy-turvycontract re-negotiation puzzlewas falling into place.

The WFSE/AFSCME-led Super Coalition of stateemployee unions was final-izing the re-negotiated healthinsurance article that goes inall contracts.

This came after the Legis-lature cut about $200 millionfrom state employee healthcare.

The contract article cen-tered on keeping the currentpremium share split wherethe state picks up 88 percentof the premium and employ-

Members at Naselle Youth Camp and other institutions fought andwon to stop planned closures. But a budget proviso mandates stud-ies that could lead to several closures next year. So the hard workcontinues to save quality services.

Breathing roomA full-court press saved institutions and pro-

grams--for now. Bad bills were made better.But the Legislature could have done much

more to help save jobs. Details below, 2, 3.

On Saturday, May 30, more than 100 organiza-tions have come together to organize a majormarch and rally in Seattle to support the goal ofwinning quality, affordable health care for every-one in 2009.

Mark yourcalendar forHealth Care forAll rally May 30 12:30 P.M. , Saturday, May 30,

Pratt Park, 18th Ave. S., Seattle

www.may30march.org

The All-CutsBudget

SURVIVAL GUIDE

ON PAGES 4 & 5:

Watch for ratification vote infoon your re-negotiated contract

ees pay 12 percent.Separate from the con-

tract, the Public EmployeesBenefits Board may considerraising office visit co-pays andother point-of-service costs.

Once the health carearticle wrapped up, the unionwould begin producingratification vote materials formembers.

At press time, two con-tracts had not been completedyet: the University of Wash-ington and Washington StateUniversity.

This is part of AFSCMEs campaign to win national

health care reform. Get more info. @ www.wfse.org >

Action Center > Health Care for All!

A Day in the Life of WFSESee 8

Shared leave requests -- 2 - 3

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Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee May 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: [email protected] Internet: www.wfse.orgMember, ILCA

WASHINGTON

LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP

SHARED LEAVE

REQUESTS

The shared leave requests listed onthis page have come in since the August

newspaper closed. This edition is thefirst regular edition to appear since then;

Septembers issue was pre-empted byspecial bargaining tentative agreementnewspapers.

These requests appeared shortly after

they came in on the WFSE/AFSCMEHotline, were e-mailed to those on the

Hotline e-mail list and printed on theShared Leave page at www.wfse.org.

If youve been approved to receive

shared leave by your agency or institu-tion, you can place a notice here. Once

youve been approved by your agencyor institution, WFSE/AFSCME can place

your shared leave request here and

online. E-mail the editor at t [email protected] call 1-800-562-6002.

The following could use a donation of

eligible unused annual leave or sick leaveor all or part of your personal holiday:

Louise Greenfield, an unemploy-ment insurance claims specialist 3 atthe Spokane Telecenter (EmploymentSecurity Department) and a member ofLocal 1221, is battling a serious thyroidcondition. She has been off the job sinceFebruary and needs additional leave foran indefinite time. Contact: Cathy Young,

(360) 902-9413.

Linda Huber, a workers compensationadjudicator 3 with the Department of

Labor and Industries in Tumwater anda member of Local 443, is in need of

shared leave to care for her husband.Contact: Candy Peppard, (360) 902-

5705.

Janie Stoughton, an office assistant 3 atEastern Washington University in Cheneyand a member of Local 931, is battlingcancer and is in need of shared leave.Contact: Your human resources office.

Lisa Grambo-Gaspar, a social worker 3in Seattle and a member of local 843, isbeing treated for medical problems andis in need of shared leave. Contact: MarkLacy at (206) 923-4930 (Mondays and

Tuesdays), (206) 691-2428 (Wednes-days) and (206) 760-2468 (Thursdays

and Fridays).

Jacqueline Kelly, a financial servicesspecialist 4 with DSHS in Seattle and a

member of Local 843, is being treated formedical conditions. Contact: Mark Lacy

at (206) 923-4930 (Mondays and Tues-days), (206) 691-2428 (Wednesdays)

and (206) 760-2468 (Thursdays andFridays).

John Medina, an HVAC technician at

It couldve been worse...

BRIGHT SPOTS IN A DARK SESSION

Fish and Wildlife

service credit bill

signed into law

Gov. Chris Gregoire on April 21 signed into

law SHB 1953, the bill allowing Fish and

Wildlife enforcement officers to transfer

retirement service credit from PERS 2 andPERS 3 to LEOFF 2. On hand were WFSE/

AFSCME Fish and Wildlife EnforcementLocal 881 Secretary Alan Thomas (behind

Gregoire, just right of center), and WFSE/

AFSCME Lobbyists Matt Zuvich, DennisEagle and Alia Griffing.

Washington Management Service sunshine bill passes

ESHB 2049, initiated by WFSE/AFSCME, will bring transparency to the Washington Man-agement Service and exempt service. It requires the Director of the Department of Personnel toreport to the governor and Legislature annually on the number of classified, Washington Manage-ment Service, and exempt employees; the number of bonuses and performance-based incentives

awarded to agency staff; and the cost of each bonus or incentive awarded. It also makes it easier toappeal attempts to exempt vacant positions. This came about because of a thorough study conducted bymembers in the Department of Ecology. WFSE/AFSCME is conducting similar studies on WMS abuses inother agencies.

Opt-out funding plan

saves state parksSHB 2339 allows the state to start collecting a $5 fee from

drivers when renewing license tabs to fund state parks. Theycan opt out of the fee. This is the funding plan that will keep

all state parks open when some 50 had been on the chop-ping block. It takes effect Sept. 1.The peoples parks are crown jewels that the public

will continue to support, Brian Yearout, Statewide ParksLocal 1466 President, told the Senate Ways and Means Com-mittee April 22.

Community Corrections members

win search and seizure billESSB 1792 authorizes

Department of Correctionsstaff to require an offenderunder the supervision ofa Community Correctionsofficer to submit to patsearches or other limitedsecurity searches without

reasonable cause when theoffender is on or preparingto enter the DOCs prem-ises, grounds, facilities, orin its vehicles.

Among other pluses,it: authorizes DOC hearing

officers, in addition to thecourts, to make determina-tions regarding whether anoffenders arrest for a viola-tion of a probation condi-tion was appropriate; andit authorizes a DOC staffmember, in addition to a

court, to approve release ofan offender from detentionon bail or personal recogni-zance after arrest by a CCO.

The governor signedESSB 1792 May 7.

Session ends with all-cuts, couldve beenworse budget, several legislative victories

The legislative sessionthat adjourned April 26 left in

its wake an all-cuts, couldvebeen worse budget.Given what Sen. Rosa

Franklin called the globaleconomic meltdown, the fi-nal budget (ESHB 1244) couldhave been worse.

Thats thanks to yourdaily, full-court press that

broke records for WFSE/AF-SCME member activism.

Members logged morethan 600 visits to legislators,said Dennis Eagle, WFSE/AF-SCMEs director of legislativeand political action.

Your messages got

through.In a session that focusedon the horrendous $9 bil-lion deficit, WFSE/AFSCMEmembers did score somemajor legislative victories

and made some bad bills notas bad.

Much savedfor now

The final budget OKdApril 25 saves institutions,hatcheries, parks and GA-U.But it funds studies that couldlead to closure of institutions.Lack of revenue could stillclose six hatcheries.

This is a big victorygiven the initial push to closeYakima Valley School, Na-selle Youth Camp, Green HillSchool, seven hatcheries and50 state parks, and eliminatethe General Assistance-Unem-

ployable program.

The budget directs theOffice of Financial Manage-ment to study the possibleclosure or downsizing of sev-

eral institutions, specifically inCorrections, Green Hill Schooland Maple Lane School in

Juvenile Rehabilitation andall residential habilitationcenters, like Yakima Valley

School. The study is due Nov.1. It must have a recommen-dation to eliminate 1,580 bedsin DOC, 235 beds in JuvenileRehabilitation and 250 beds inthe RHCs. SB 6182 paving theway to close all RHCs nevergot out of committee.

An amendment totake the target off GreenHill School and Maple LaneSchool in Juvenile Reha-

bilitation failed in the SenateApril 25. The amendment

by Sen. Dan Swecker of the20th District would haveexpanded the study of pos-sible JRA closures to not justfocus on Maple Lane andGreen Hill; merging the two

Community Corrections members gather at the Capitol April 14 dur-ing their lobby day. Their session-long efforts working with WFSE/

AFSCME lobbyists, testifying in hearings and meeting lawmakers in

person won a key search and seizure bill and mitigated a bill lowering

supervision for released offenders.CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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Page 3WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeMay 2009

LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP

Western State Hospital in Lakdwood and

a member of Local 793, is having surgeryto repair injuries suffered in Iraq. Contact:

Dave Wiggen, (253) 761-3366.

Cori Haynes, an attendant counselor 1

at Lakeland Village in Medical Lake anda member of Local 573, has been ap-

proved for shared leave. Contact: JanetEvans, (509) 299-1807.

Stacie Leanos, a custodian 2 with the

Department of Transportation in Van-couver and a member of Local 2559, is

recovering from surgery and is in need ofshared leave. Contact: Kim Shaffer, (360)

905-2221.

Nancy S. Olson, an administrative as-sistant 3 with DSHS in Olympia and a

member of Local 443, is facing a medicalcondition that is keeping her away from

work. Contact: Nancy Kryzanowski, (360)902-7717.

Joe Miner, a juvenile rehabilitation resi-

dential counselor at Maple Lane Schoolin Grand Mound and a member of Local

1926, is recovering from complicationsfrom surgery and is in desperate need ofshared leave. Contact: Denise Randall,

(360) 273-3151.

Ray Sauceda, a financial servicesspecialist 3 with DSHS in Olympia and a

member of Local 443, will be off the jobfrom April 30 to June 30 because of on-

going medical issues. He will exhaust allleave. Contact: Grace Chambers, (360)

725-6627, [email protected].

Sue Martinez, a financial servicesspecialist 4 with DSHS in Everett and a

member of Local 948, has been ap-proved for shared leave. Contact: Dawn

Hansen, (425) 339-4004.

Lashalle Jones, an administrative as-

sistant 3 with the DSHS Office of Indian

Child Welfare in Seattle and a member of

Local 843, has been approved for shared

leave. Contact: Mark Lacy at (206) 760-2468 (Mondays and Tuesdays), (206)

923-4930 (Wednesdays) and (206) 760-2468 (Thursdays and Fridays).

Ted Scharnhorst, a maintenancemechanic 2 at Washington State Univer-

sity in Pullman, is recovering from necksurgery and may need elbow surgery.

Contact: Jamilee Gecas, (509) 335-1760.

Jerri Isom, an occupational therapist 1at Western State Hospital in Lakewood

and a member of Local 793, has a seri-ous medical condition and is in need of

shared leave. Contact: Dave Wiggen,(253) 761-3366.

Norma Deahl, an information tech tech-

nician 2 with the Department of Laborand Industries in Tumwater and a mem-

ber of Local 443, has been approved forshared leave. Contact: Candy Peppard,(360) 902-5705.

Becky Fernandez, a medical assistancespecialist 3 with DSHS in Olympia, has

some serious medical conditions. Con-

tact: Your human resources office.

New director of nego-

tiations.Cecil Tibbetts,

former executive director

of Oregon AFSCMECouncil 75, has beenhired as WFSE/AF-

SCMEs director of

negotiations.

Tibbetts helmed Council

75 from 1980 to 1993. He later served ina number of public service positions and

most recently as a temporary staff rep with

Council 75 in Bend, Ore.

In his new role, he will coordinate bargain-

ing, including negotiations over the impactof layoffs and reduced hours that might

come because of the tight budget.

...but it couldve been better

different populations wouldhave catastrophic results,Swecker said.

No fish hatcherieswould be closed, with a big IF.If there arent sufficient newrevenues, the Department of

Fish and Wildlife may closeor convert six hatcheries:McKernan, Colville, Omak,Bellingham, Arlington andMossyrock.

State parks would allremain open with fundingfrom the $5 opt out planwhen drivers renew their li-cense tabs. However, a budgetproviso directs the state ParksCommission to pursue trans-ferring ownership of stateparks where local govern-ments, tribes or others haveexpressed interest in taking

them over.

The General Assistance-Unemployable programremains, with more focus ongetting the right services topeople.

So we got some breath-ing room, but have to work inthe interim to make the caseagainst closures, said WFSE/AFSCME President CarolDotlich.

Community Corrections officer 3 Linda Tolliverdiscusses concerns aboutESSB 5288 (the supervision bill) with Rep. Dean Takko, D-19th Dist.

Rep. Gary Alexander, R-20th Dist. ( foreground), and crowd of 200 at Save

Green Hill School/JRA town hall meeting April 8 at Centralia College

Green Hill School Local 862 members use barbecue to phone legislators.

Many bad bills made

better; veto urged on

Child Welfare privati-zation bill

Community Corrections

Thanks to a full-courtpress by WFSE/AFSCMECommunity Correctionsmembers to save jobs andpublic safety, the number ofpositions that could be losthas gone from the nearly 490the governor requested nowdown to 265 (or even fewer,depending on unfilled vacan-cies).

Thats because of the stilltroubling but much improvedESSB 5288 lowering supervi-sion of offenders and cuttingthe length of sentences.

Community Corrections

members succeeded in win-ning amendments to preserveseveral important parts on su-pervision of sex offenders andin cases of domestic violence.And a study will determine ifit is effective.

That bill was furthermitigated by the 11th-hourpassage of SB 6162 that adds

back the requirement thatoffenders who have a currentconviction for a serious vio-lent offense must be super-vised by the Department ofCorrections regardless of the

offenders risk to re-offend.And a budget proviso di-

rects the Department of Cor-rections to make these reduc-tions with the least possibleimpact on staffleaving thedoor open to fewer job cuts.

Child Welfare Services

2SHB 2106 and budgetlanguage sets up pilot projectsto privatize Child WelfareServices.

WFSE/AFSCME mem-bers worked and mitigatedthe damage by cutting theprivatized services from 100percent to 30 percent.

But the union is urgingthe governor to veto the billas costly and untested.

Fish hatchery transfers

2SHB 1951 is an exampleof a bad bill made better butnot ideal.

It allows privatization ofany fish hatchery that closesin the next two years.

But under pressure from

WFSE/AFSCME members,the bill requires these privatepartners to run the hatcher-ies with staff who are at leastas qualified as current statestaff.

State funded mainte-nance or improvements must

be done by bargaining unitemployees; if not, bargainingunit employees get to com-pete for the work.

This could be moot. Aproviso in the final state

budget keeps hatcheries openif there is enough revenuecoming in.

Pension calculations

SB 6157 provides that av-erage final salary calculationsfor Public Employees Retire-

ment System members not beaffected by salary reductionsdue to reduced hours, leavewithout pay, or furloughstaken as part of an employersexpenditure reduction effortduring the 2009-11 biennium.

Higher education: Huge cuts

Higher education takeshuge staff cuts across the line,

but its unclear how manyWFSE/AFSCME memberswould be affected.

The overall job cuts are asfollows: University of Wash-ington637; WashingtonState University362; EasternWashington University96;Central Washington Universi-ty100.5; The Evergreen StateCollege57; Western Wash-ington University130.5; theCommunity and TechnicalCollege system835.1.

Its unclear how tuitionincreases will offset theselosses.

Health care bills

ESSB 2245 preserves stateemployee health insurance el-igibility rights and maintainsthe standard that benefitsmust remain substantiallyequivalent to 1993 levels.

ESSB 5892, the genericdrug bill, ensures that thosetaking anti-psychotic and an-ti-depression medication cancontinue to get brand-namedrugs rather than generics.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

ALSO: In the Juvenile Reha-

bilitation Administration,enhanced parole would beeliminated. At the Special CommitmentCenter on McNeil Island,32 residential rehabilitationcounselors would be cut.

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HELP IN THESE TOUGH TIMESThe All-Cuts

Budget

SURVIVAL GUIDE

Layoffs for some, tough economic times for mostHere are a few resources that may help youand your family--even if you yourself are notfacing a layoff.

DISLOCATED WORKER ASSISTANCE

The WSLC has two labor liaisons for thefederal Workforce Investment Act (WIA)who conduct rapid response activi-ties during layoffs and plant closures tomake sure that the affected workers haveaccess to the best job retraining andre-employment program opportunities available. Assistanceis also available with applying for unemployment and otherbenefits available to these working families during their timeof crisis. For more information, contact WIA Labor Liaisons

Bill Messenger or Chelsea Orvella at 360-943-0608, [email protected] or [email protected].

If you have been or will be laid off through no fault of yourown because of the states $9 billion deficit belt-tightening,there are state and federal programs available to assist

you in finding re-employmentand pursing possible trainingopportunities. Many of theseservices are provided byother WFSE/AFSCME mem-bers in the EmploymentSecurity Department andthe Department of Socialand Health Services.

Your first step should be filing an Unemployment Insur-ance form. Your second and third steps should be visit-ing your local WorkSource to attend an orientation andenroll, if eligible, in the Dislocated Worker Program.

Benefits that you may be eligible for include, among others: one-on-one career counseling at your local WorkSource; a waiver of your job search requirements and/or extensionof UI benefits if you enroll in a certified training program; limited financial support for tuition, books and supplies; limited financial support for relocation or transportationcosts to pursue employment; and dislocated program eligibility if your spouse was a home-maker, dependent on your income.

For general assistance about Unemployment Insurance orthe Dislocated Worker Program and other services at Work-Source, visit www.go2ui.com or www.go2worksource.com.(They will direct you tohttp://www.esd.wa.gov/uibenefits/index.phphttps://fortress.wa.gov/esd/worksource/)

SERVICES FOR LAID-OFF WORKERS

WorkSource, a partnershipbetween state Employment

Security Department andother agencies.www.go2worksource.com

At WorkSource, you cansearch for work, identifyyour skills, explore newjobs and connect with lo-cal employers:

Job listings, referralsand hiring events.

Assistance with your r-sum and job applications.

Special programs andworkshops.

Internet access for job

searches. Copiers, fax machines,

phones and other officeequipment.

How to apply for unem-ployment benefits

If you lost your job throughno fault of your own, youmay be eligible for unem-ployment benefits.

Online information: www.go2ui.com

You can apply for benefits

online: https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/uia/icintro/in-tropage.aspx?lang=en-usor by phone at:

* www.esd.wa.gov (24hours a day)

* 800-318-6022 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.5 p.m.)

* TTY 800-365-8969(Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.5p.m.)

Whats new?

Stimulus packages

The federal governmenthas passed a bill temporar-ily increasing the weeklypayment by $25 for mostclaimants. The first pay-able week of this increasewas the week ending Feb.28, 2009, but the statecould not pay the increaseuntil it updated its computersystem. The week of May10, 2009, the state will mailthe lump sum, retroactivepayments to those who areeligible. Please keep youraddress current.

The state also passed abill temporarily increas-ing the weekly benefitamount by $45 for many

claimants. The bill alsoincreases the minimum

weekly benefit amount.This law took effect May 3,2009. New Statements ofWages and Hours weremailed the week of May10, 2009, if you qualify forthese increases.

For additional informationplease see the stimulusinformation: http://www.esd.wa.gov/uibenefits/faq/feder-al-state-stimulus-payments.php

Extended benefits

Effective May 3, 2009,Washington has triggeredinto a high extendedbenefits (EB) period. Thismeans you may be eligiblefor more weeks of EB.Notices to those already onEB were to go out startingMay 6. If you have run outof EB, you can begin claim-ing for the week endingMay 9 on May 10 to receiveadditional weeks. Pleasesee the extended benefit in-formation for further details:http://www.esd.wa.gov/

uibenefits/fileweekly/exten-sion/extended-benefits-faq.php

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR COBRA PREMIUM REDUCTION?

For more information and the full frequentlyasked questions, log onto:http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-cobra-premium-reductionEE.html

I have heard that the stimu-lus package signed by the

President included a tem-

porary COBRA premium

reduction. I would like more

information.

The stimulus package,which was enacted as theAmerican Recovery andReinvestment Act of 2009(ARRA), temporarily reducesthe premium for COBRA cov-

erage for eligible individuals.

COBRA (the ConsolidatedOmnibus Budget Recon-ciliation Act of 1985) allowscertain people to extendemployer-provided grouphealth coverage, if they wouldotherwise lose the coveragedue to certain events such asdivorce or loss of a job.

Individuals who are eligiblefor COBRA coverage be-cause of their own or a family

members involuntary ter-mination from employmentthat occurred from Sept. 1,2008 through Dec. 31, 2009and who elect COBRA, may

be eligible to pay a reducedpremium.

Eligible individuals pay only35% of the full COBRA premi-ums under their plans for upto nine months. This premiumreduction is generally avail-able for continuation coverageunder the Federal COBRAprovisions, as well as forgroup health insurance cover-age under state continuationcoverage laws.

If you were offered Fed-eral COBRA continuationcoverage as a result of aninvoluntary termination ofemployment that occurred atany time from Sept. 1, 2008through Feb. 16, 2009, andyou declined to take CO-

BRA at that time, or electedCOBRA and later discontin-ued it, you may have anotheropportunity to elect COBRAcoverage and pay a reducedpremium.

What plans does the pre-

mium reduction apply to?

The COBRA premium reduc-tion provisions apply to allgroup health plans sponsoredby private-sector employers

or employee organizations(unions) subject to the CO-BRA rules under the Employ-ee Retirement Income Secu-rity Act of 1974 (ERISA).

They also apply to planssponsored by state or local

governments subject to thecontinuation provisions underthe Public Health ServiceAct, and plans in the FederalEmployee Health BenefitsProgram (FEHBP).

The premium reduction isalso available for group healthinsurance that is required bystate law to provide compa-rable continuation coverage(such as mini-COBRA).

LAYOFFNOTICE

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IN A LAYOFFSee frequently asked questions about your layoff rights under theGeneral Government contract and Higher Education Coalitioncontract.Log onto:www.wfse.org > State Budget & You > Layoff Resources(The General Government FAQ ran in the January 2009 Washington StateEmployee.)

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HELP WITH MONEY, FOOD STAMPS & MEDICAL BILLS

Get child support for my

children?

The Division of Child Support(DCS) can help the parent,relative or court-appointedcaretaker that has custody ofa child to establish paternityand establish or modify or-ders for financial and medicalsupport.More information:http://www.dshs.wa.gov/dcs/services/

Get help to buy food?

Food Assistance helps

http://www.dshs.wa.gov/

faq.shtml

low-income individuals andfamilies get a healthier diet bysupplementing their incomewith benefits to buy food.More information:https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/on-linecso/Food_Assistance_Program.asp

Get money to help pay my

bills?

There are a number of as-sistance programs availableto help disabled persons,

families or pregnant womenmeet their day-to-day financialneeds.More information:https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/on-linecso/Services.asp

Apply for food, cash or

medical benefits?

Information about cash,medical and food benefitsis available in the Guide forAccessing Services:https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws-03esaapps/onlinecso/cover.asp

This guide explains some ofthe program rules and how tomake applications.

You can even make ap-plications on-line:https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws-

03esaapps/onlinecso/apply-ing.asp

The Trial Eligibility Calcula-tor can help show if you areeligible for one of the assis-tance programs offered bythe Department of Social andHealth Services:http://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/tec/

Apply for help with child

care bills?

The childcare program forworking families is called

Working Connections ChildCare:

https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/on-linecso/WCCC.asp

You can apply online:https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/on-linecso/applying.aspor in person at your localCommunity Service Office(CSO):https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/on-linecso/findservice.asp

There are a few specialprograms for childrengetting child welfare orprotective services thoughDSHS. Families interestedin these services should

call 1-800-446-1114.

HELP IN THESE TOUGH TIMESThe All-Cuts

Budget

SURVIVAL GUIDE

How can I tell if I am eligible

to receive the COBRA pre-

mium reduction?

ARRA makes the premiumreduction available for assis-tance eligible individuals. Anassistance eligible individual

is a COBRA qualified benefi-ciary who meets the followingrequirements:

Is eligible for COBRA con-tinuation coverage at any timeduring the period from Sept.1, 2008 through Dec. 31,2009;

Elects COBRA coverage(when first offered or duringthe additional election period

provided by ARRA); and

The COBRA election oppor-tunity relates to an involuntarytermination of employmentthat occurred at some timefrom Sept. 1, 2008 throughDec. 31, 2009.

However, if you are eligiblefor other group health cover-age (such as through a newemployers plan or a spousesplan) or Medicare you arenot eligible for the premiumreduction.

Moreover, electing the premi-um reduction disqualifies youfor the Health Coverage TaxCredit, which could be morevaluable to you than the pre-

mium reduction. Addition-ally, certain high-incomeindividuals may have torepay the amount of thepremium reduction throughan increase in their incometaxes.

Note: If the employee

stermination of employmentwas for gross misconduct,the employee and any de-pendents generally wouldnot qualify for COBRA orthe premium reduction.

For more information:www.dol.gov/COBRA.Call 1-866-444-3272 tospeak to an EmployeeBenefits Security Adminis-tration Benefits Advisor.

WHATS THE 2-1-1?

By phone: 2-1-1On the web:http://211us.org/

What is 2-1-1?

2-1-1 is an easy to remem-ber telephone number thatconnects callers to informa-tion about critical health andhuman services available intheir community.

2-1-1 provides callers withinformation about and refer-rals to human services foreveryday needs and in timesof crisis. For example:

Basic Human NeedsResource: food banks,clothing, shelters, rent as-sistance, utility assistance.

Physical and mentalhealth resources.

Employment support.

Support for older Ameri-cans and persons withdisabilities.

Support for children,youth and families: Qualitychildcare, Head Start, fam-ily resource centers, more.

UNION SAFE FREE FINANCIAL WELLNESS COURSES

Under the new financialoutreach and educationpartnership between theWashington Federation ofState Employees and theWashington State Employ-ees Credit Union, you can

access free services fromWSECU in these tougheconomic times.

WFSE/AFSCME membersdo not need to be a memberof WSECU to enjoy theseservices:

Financial Wellness Cours-es Budgeting and Debt Con-solidation Information One-on-One FinancialCounseling

Trained WSECU financial

wellness educators willcome to your worksite or

local meeting to provide thishelpful information. Groupsof at least 15 participantspreferred, but there areexceptions. Meetings can bescheduled anywhere in thestate, not just in communities

with WSECU branches. Call1-800-562-0999, Ext. 10101.

What is covered in the

WFSE/AFSCME-WSECU

Free Financial Wellness

Courses?

Financial wellness is aninterconnected part of overallhealth. Increase your knowl-edge and decrease yourstress with these one-hourprograms designed to ad-dress common financial is-sues. Its another free service

for WFSE/AFSCME membersfrom WSECU.

Financial Stress Management

Financial stress management

is part of your overall health.In this course, we talk about: What is stressing you? Crucial conversations Budget busters Creating a spending planyou can live with Retirement and recession

Identify Theft: When bad things

happen to your good name

Identity theft is one of the fast-est-growing crimes around.Know the statistics; dont beone! This course will help youprevent it from happening toyou.

Money MattersHow to

Keep Yours Secure

Get the tools to protectyour money. Stamp outscams and protect your-self from check fraud,credit card fraud andInternet scams with thishelpful course.

Credit Reporting 101

Looking to refinance yourhome or maybe get anew car? Learn how yourcredit score is createdand get tips to maintainyour credit worthiness.

If you participate in anyUnion Plus or AFSCME

Advantage members-only benefits programand face a hardship, youget a wide array of helpfrom the Union SAFEprogram.

For information: Union-Plus.org/UnionSAFE.

What kind of help?

Job loss grants; disabilitygrants; disaster reliefgrants; Save My HomeHotline; hospital caregrants; free Health Sav-

ings program; advice andcounseling to overcomedebt; credit counseling;and more.

The AFSCME Advantage members-only benefits programs offer a number of helpful financial services for these tough times. Log onto www.

afscme.org > AFSCME Advantage > Money & Credit. Union Plus Debt Help; Home Mortgages; Mortgage Assistance Hotline; Credit Counseling;

Energy Efficient Rebates; Your Credit Score; AFSCME Advantage Credit Card; Layoff Helpline; Retirement Planning Center; and more.

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MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD


WFSE/AFSCME Medal of Valor Award Nomination Form

STATEMENT OF FACTS

I, , nominatePerson submitting nomination Name of nominee

for the Medal of Valor Award.Nominees address:

Work phone: ( ) Home phone: ( )Number of local: How long a member:Agency:Current job class:

Description of why nominee should be considered for the award. Include specific example(s) ofbravery and valor between Sept. 1, 2007 and Aug. 31, 2009 (attach additional sheets if needed):

If this form is not completed in its entirety, the nomination may not be considered.

Date: Signature:

Send completed nomination forms to: WFSE/AFSCME Medal of Valor Award Committee,

1212 Jefferson Street S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.Nominations must be received by Aug. 3, 2009.

Nominations are now being accepted for theMedal of Valor Awards to recognize WFSE/AFSCMEmembers who have demonstrated bravery and valor.

The Medal of Valor Award is conferred everytwo years at the unions biennial state convention.This years award will be handed out at the WFSE/AFSCME Convention Oct. 2-4 in SeaTac.

The deadline to submit nominations is Aug. 3,2009.

For more, see the details below and in the nomi-nation form at right.

ELIGIBILITY: Locals, individual members and staffmay nominate union members. Two Medal of ValorAwards will be conferred. One award is earmarkedfor a public safety officer. The WFSE/AFSCMEExecutive Board broadened the award this year so asecond award is open for non-public safety officers.Nominees must have demonstrated bravery andvalor in a specific situation or situations betweenSept. 1, 2007 and Aug. 3, 2009.

NOMINATION: Submit written nomination (you mayuse the printed nomination form at right) with theinformation listed on the nomination form printed atright.

Send completed nomination forms to: TheMedal of Valor Award Committee, 1212 JeffersonStreet S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

Nominations must be received by Aug. 3, 2009(The award will be presented at the WFSE/AFSCMEConvention Oct. 2-4 in SeaTac). All written nomina-tions must include a statement of the required factslisted on the nomination form at right.

REVIEW: The Medal of Valor Award Committee,made up of public safety members appointed by theWFSE/AFSCME president, will review the nomina-tions and select the recipient of the Medal of ValorAward.

If this form is not completed in its entirety, thenomination may not be considered.

AWARD: The award will be presented at the WFSE/

AFSCME Convention Oct. 2-4 in SeaTac.

Person submitting nomination

WFSE/AFSCME Job Action of the Year Award Nomination Form

STATEMENT OF FACTS


for the Job Action of the Year Award.Nominees address:

Work phone: ( ) Home phone: ( )Number of local: How long a member:Agency:

Current job class:

Description of why nominee should be considered for the award. Include specific example(s) ofcreative and effective job actions organized by the nominee (or nominees) since the last conventionin October 2007 (attach additional sheets if needed):


Date:

JOB ACTION OF THE YEAR AWARDWashington Federation of State

Employees/AFSCME Council 28 AFL/CIO

Send completed nomination forms to: WFSE/AFSCME Job Action of the Year Award Selec-

tion Committee, 1212 Jefferson Street S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.Nominations must be received by Aug. 3, 2009.

Nominations are now being accepted for theJob Action of the Year Award to recognize aWFSE/AFSCME member or members who orga-nized the most creative and effective job action sincethe last convention in October 2007.

The deadline to submit nominations is Aug. 3,2009.

For more, see the details below and in the nomi-nation form at right.

ELIGIBILITY:Locals, individual members and staff may

nominate a WFSE/AFSCME member or memberswho who organized the most creative and effective

job action since the last convention in October 2007.

NOMINATION:Submit written nomination (you may use the

printed nomination form at right) with the informa-tion listed on the nomination form printed at right.

Send completed nomination forms to: Job Ac-tion of the Year Award Selection Committee, 1212

Jefferson Street S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.Nominations must be received by Aug. 3, 2009

(The award will be presented at the WFSE/AF-SCME Convention Oct. 2-4 in SeaTac. All writtennominations must include a statement of the re-quired facts listed on the nomination form at right.

REVIEW:The selection committee will review the nomi-

nations and select the recipient or recipients of theJob Action of the Year Award.


AWARD:The award will be presented at the WFSE/AF-

SCME Convention Oct. 2-4 in SeaTac.

Person submitting nominationSignature:

8/14/2019 Vol. 37 No. 4

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HOWARD JORGENSON ORGANIZING AWARD


ELIGIBILITY:

Locals and individual members may nominateunion members, shop stewards, statewide and localofficers, staff and other activists. Nominees must

have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills.

NOMINATION:

Submit written nomination (you may use theprinted nomination form at right) with the informa-tion listed on the nomination form printed at right.

Send completed nomination forms to: TheRosella Charvet Leadership Award Selection Com-mittee, 1212 Jefferson Street S.E., Suite 300, Olympia,WA 98501.

Nominations must be received by Aug. 3, 2009.All written nominations must include a state-

ment of the required facts listed on the nominationform at right.

REVIEW:

A committee, appointed by the WFSE/AFSCMEpresident and approved by the Executive Board willreview the nominations and select the recipient ofthe Rosella Charvet Leadership Award.

If the nomination form is not completed in itsentirety, the nomination may not be considered.

AWARD:

The award will be presented to the recipients atWFSE/AFSCMEs Convention Oct. 2-4 in SeaTac.

ROSELLA CHARVET

LEADERSHIP AWARDWashington Federation of State Employees/

AFSCME Council 28 AFL/CIO

WFSE/AFSCME Rosella Charvet Leadership Award Nomination Form

STATEMENT OF FACTS


for the Rosella Charvet Leadership Award.Nominees address:

Work phone: ( ) Home phone: ( )Local union number: How long a member:Agency:

Current job class:Union offices held:

Description of why nominee should be considered for the award. Include examples of: active unionparticipation building consensus; unity and solidarity; teamwork; inspirational acts; improvingunions community image; encouraging other members to participate; defending workers rights;working for group welfare and unions goals, etc. (attach additional sheets if needed):


Date: Signature:Person submitting nomination

Send completed nomination forms to: The Rosella Charvet Leadership AwardSelection Committee, 1212 Jefferson Street S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

Nominations must be received by Aug. 3, 2009.

Nominations are now being accepted for theHoward Jorgenson Organizing Award to recognizea WFSE/AFSCME member who has demonstratedoutstanding skills in the area of organizing.

The award is named after its first recipient, How-ard Jorgenson, WFSE/AFSCME president from 1972to 1997.

The Jorgenson Award is conferred every twoyears at the unions biennial state convention. Thisyears award will be handed out at the WFSE/AF-

SCME Convention Oct. 2-4 in SeaTac.The deadline to submit nominations is Aug. 3,

2009.For more, see the details below and in the nomi-

nation form at right.

ELIGIBILITY: Locals, individual members and staffmay nominate union members, shop stewards,statewide and local officers, staff and other activists.Nominees must have demonstrated outstandingskills in the area of organizing.

NOMINATION: Submit written nomination (you mayuse the printed nomination form at right) with theinformation listed on the nomination form printed atright.

Send completed nomination forms to: The How-

ard Jorgenson Organizing Award Selection Commit-tee, 1212 Jefferson Street S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA98501.

Nominations must be received by Aug. 3, 2009(The award will be presented at the WFSE/AFSCMEConvention Oct. 2-4 in SeaTac. All written nomina-tions must include a statement of the required factslisted on the nomination form at right.

REVIEW: A committee, appointed by the WFSE/AFSCME president, will review the nominations andselect the recipient of the Howard Jorgenson Orga-nizing Award.


AWARD:The award will be presented at the WFSE/AFSCME Convention, Oct. 2-4, in SeaTac.

WFSE/AFSCME Howard Jorgenson Organizing Award Nomination Form

STATEMENT OF FACTS


for the Howard Jorgenson Organizing Award.Nominees address:

Work phone: ( ) Home phone: ( )Number of local: How long a member:Agency:Current job class:Union offices held:

Description of why nominee should be considered for the award. Include example(s) of: organizingactivities; building unity within a bargaining unit or Local Union; improving the unions communityimage; encouraging other members to participate; working for group welfare and unions goals, etc.(attach additional sheets if needed):


Date: Signature:

Send completed nomination forms to: WFSE/AFSCME Award Committee,1212 Jefferson Street S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

Nominations must be received by Aug. 3, 2009.

Person submitting nomination

8/14/2019 Vol. 37 No. 4

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MEMBERS IN ACTIONCan you guess wherethe worksite at right

is and what WFSE/

AFSCME members

work there? Send your

guesses by e-mail [email protected] or regu-

lar mail: Editor, 1212

Jefferson St. S.E.,

Suite 300, Olympia,

WA 98501. Include

your name and mailingaddress. Deadline:

May 26. The first 10

readers with the correct answer who include their name and mailing

address will receive a prize.

Answer to Aprils Wheres

this worksite?:

The mystery worksitepictured in the AprilWashington StateEmployee showed theDepartment of Corrections Community Justice Center(CJC) in Seattles SoDo district across from Safeco Field.Members of DOC King County Local 308 work there.

The first 10 readers who submitted a correct guess were:John Chinn, Bill Copland, Randy Fong, Dick Hooper,Fred H. Johnson, Peter Lefeau, Mohammad Mosta-

favinassab, Becky Price, Beth Wierman and YoulanZheng.

Presidents Council 2009 meetsPresidents or their designees from nearly 30 WFSE/AFSCME locals took part in the 2009 Presidents Councilmeeting April 18 in Tacoma. They discussed a wide array of issues including: bargaining; the state budget; the

Next Wave movement; financial reporting; members-only benefits; leadership training; and effective networking

between the presidents.

3/17/09

LIFEA day in the

of WFSE/AFSCME

Local 1054,

Colville

Local 862 Green Hill &

Local 1926, Maple Lane

Rainier School Local 491 members

meet with Sen. Pam Roach (center)

Local 1221, Southwest CSO (DSHS), Spokane

Local 862, Centralia College

Local 1020, Everett CC

Local 862, Chehalis CSO (DSHS)

Scott Mallery,

Local 1221,

Ecology,

Spokane

Locals 573 &

782, Medical

Lake

Dorothy Wood, Local

1400, Kelso CSO

Joe Sheridan, Local

1221, Spokane SWCSO

Debra Newman,

Local 862, ESD,

Chehalis

Local 1221,

DOC, Spokane

Local 1221,

L&I, Spokane Local 1221, Spokane Valley CSO Local 443, DSHS, Lacey

Marvin Rife, Local

53, Tacoma

Local 793, Western

State Hospital

Local 53, Tacoma

Here are the best of the photo contest entries from the 3/17/09 Statewide Day of Action (and a few from related

events around the same time!).

EWU

Local

931

LOCAL WEBSITES LAUNCHED. The April 19 WFSE/AFSCME Communicators Conference launched locals

LaborWeb stand-alone websites. If your local participated in the training, you can find your new site at http://www.wfsec28.org/localxxx (xxx=your local number) and also through WFSE.org > WFSE Locals. If your local

does not yet have an active site, or you want to volunteer to help your local manage their site, contact your Lo-cal President. You can learn more about LaborWeb at www.wfse.org > Communications Center > LaborWeb.

vol. 37 no. 4

Documents