washington state employee, august 2011

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The ofcial newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28•AFL-CIO

VOL. 39 NO. 7

AUGUST 2011

WASHINGTON

State Employee

2012 HEALTH INSURANCE PLANSSee pages 4 & 5.

WFSE’s Summer Warriors

Althea Lute’s legacylives on every timeWFSE/AFSCME

members hoist a picket sign totake on management or knock on doors to invite those who

ALTHEA LUTE, 1951-2011

LegacyAlthea Lute touched the lives of thousands --

and moved management and legislators

The Coalition of Black

Trade Unionists willhave a special tribute to

Althea at their annualbanquet Sept. 3 at Ma-

chinists Hall, 9125 15th Place S., Seattle, WA

98108. If you’re inter-ested, contact Jacquie

Jones-Walsh at (206)772-2079, or Mari Wyatt

at (206) 721-2266.

need a contract into the union.Lute, the retired Wash-

ington Federation of StateEmployees staffer and formerUniversity of Washington/Harborview Medical CenterLocal 1488 activist who madeher mark on organizing, di-rect action and grassrootspolitical mobilization, died

June 22 of complications fromdiabetes and kidney diseaseat Swedish Hospital in Seattle.

She was 60.Services were held July 2at Greater Mount Baker Bap-tist Church in Seattle.

In her fnal days, she visit-ed with dozens of old friendsand co-workers and simplyasked them to pray for her.

Over the years in all her

different union jobs, Lute became the “go-to” person tocoordinate numerous job ac-tions and rallies. Her innova-tions on how to take our mes-sage to the streets live on in

just about every rally, petition

signing campaign or marchon the boss.

Shortly before her death,she remarked to a former col-league how tickled she was tosee members this past legisla-tive session staging noontimeevents where they grabbeda hotdog and made a hotlinecall to legislators.

She helped invent those“Hotdogs and Hotlines”events years ago.

Leading chants at August 2004

Tacoma rally to move manage-

ment during contract talks.

Standing up for Fircrest School

parents’ appeal rights at Lacey rally,July 2004. See ALTHEA, page 8

1

2

3 4

5

6Details on page 7



WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee August 2011

UNION NEWS

StateEmployee

Washington State Employee (USPS 981-200) is published monthly, except Februaryand July, for $5.08 per year by the Washing-ton Federation of State Employees/AFSCMECouncil 28 • AFL-CIO, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E.Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501. Afliated withthe American Federation of State, Countyand Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and theWashington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

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

42,000.

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

Carol Dotlich, President

Greg Devereux, Executive Director

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

WASHINGTON

Oct. 28-30, 2011

MillersylvaniaState Park

EnvironmentalLearning Center(near Olympia)Deadline to register: Oct. 14, 2011

ANNOUNCING!

Howard Ocobock Memorial

WFSE/AFSCME Family CampoutMillersylvania State Park

NOTE: This campout requires a minimum

number of campers. In the event the mini - mum isn’t reached, you will be refunded your money.

The WFSE/AFSCME Members Only Ben-ets Committee and the WFSE/AFSCMEStatewide Executive Board invite all WFSE/ AFSCME members and their families tocome to this fun, overnight get-together atone of the most beautiful state parks main-

tained by members of Parks Local 1466.• This year, you have the option of checkingin Friday night or anytime Saturday.• Cabins have been reserved. WFSE/AF-SCME will pay the $9.30 per night camp feefor members; members pay for any family orguests.• You may also choose to camp at a tent orRV site, if available. WFSE/AFSCME willreimburse you for the $26 campsite fee.• Kitchen facilities available for meals. Bringyour own food for breakfast and lunch.• Each campout will feature a Saturday-night

potluck, with hotdogs, hamburgers, condi-ments and chips. Each family should bringone main dish to serve eight, plus a salad ordessert.• For cabins, bring sleeping bag or beddingmaterials.QUESTIONS? Call 1-800-562-6002 • E-mail:[email protected] • Visit www.wfse.org

Hiking

Biking

Local tours

Street City State Zip

( ) ( )

Home phone Cell Phone Home e-mail address

Local #:

HOWARD OCOBOCK MEMORIAL WFSE/AFSCME UNION FAMILY CAMPOUT

Oct. 28-30, 2011

Millersylvania State Park

Deadline to register: Oct. 14, 2011

NAME

How many family members or guests will you be bringing? ____________ Please enclose $9.30 for each fam-ily member or guest you’ll be bringing. Make checks out to WFSE/AFSCME.Mail this form to: WFSE/AFSCME Campouts, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

What activities would you be interested in?

Birdwatching

Fishing

Boating

Horseshoes

Swimming(Millersylvania)

I’d like more informa-

tion on the tent and/or

RV option

http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Millersylvania

WFSE JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Director ofNegotiationsOlympia Headquarters

This position has overall re-

sponsibilities for the coordina-tion of all contract negotia-tions for general government,higher education coalition,and several universities withinWashington State. Speci-cally, this position is respon-sible for lead negotiationduties covering the GeneralGovernment master contractbargaining table; coordinatesnegotiations between multipleWFSE bargaining tables; su-pervises six Labor Advocatesresponsible for grievancearbitrations, contract and mid-term negotiation. Key liaison

between the WFSE and thestate Labor Relations Ofcebetween contract negotiationscycles. Minimum Qualica-tions: Bachelor’s Degree inLabor Relations or relatedeld and ten years direct col-lective bargaining negotiatingexperience covering multipleand large bargaining unitspreferred. Supervisory expe-rience of three years or moreis required. Additional negoti-ating experience may be sub-stituted for the required de-gree. Ability to work long, ir-regular hours and willingness

to travel is a must. Must havea valid driver’s license, useof personal vehicle, and validvehicle insurance. Excellentbenets package provided.Beginning salary: $78,734annually. Open until further notice or until lled.

Public ServiceProgram SupervisorOlympia Headquarters

This position will manage andcoordinate mobilization of

and representation for inde-pendent providers, includingInterpreters United and othernon-traditional public serviceprovider members that may

join Council 28, WFSE. Thisposition will coordinate andconduct bargaining, mobi-lize and activate members,potential allies and coalitionpartners in support of policy/ legislation efforts, advocacy,contract enforcement, and

workplace issues. This posi-tion will supervise the work ofthe Public Service Organizers.Minimum Qualications: Five years of experience de-veloping and leading organiz-ing and/or other grass rootsstrategic campaigns; and twoyears of experience in labororganizing that includes fa-miliarity with developing andimplementing eld mobiliza-tion efforts (internal and ex-ternal organizing campaigns);and two years of experiencenegotiating union contracts,union contract administrationand enforcement; minimumof one year of supervision ex-perience; willingness to travelextensively and work irregularhours (including evenings and

weekends as needed); strongresearch, writing, and policydevelopment skills; and prov-en leadership ability. Musthave a valid driver’s license,use of personal vehicle, andvalid vehicle insurance. Ex-cellent benets packageprovided. Beginning salary:$66,165 annually. Open until further notice or until lled.

Classication Manager2 positions – OlympiaHeadquarters

This position serves as anassigned professional expertproviding advice and consul-tation to WFSE management,eld staff and members on allclassication/compensationissues in general governmentand/or higher education. As-sists with collective bargain-ing negotiations. PreferredMinimum Qualications:Bachelor’s Degree in laborrelations, human resourcesor related eld experience inclassication, compensationand salary survey work; his-torical knowledge and workexperience in WashingtonState classication/com-pensation is a plus; work-ing knowledge of federal andstate labor law and case lawrelating to classication/com-pensation/salary survey is-sues. Substantial work expe-rience may be substituted foreducation. Strong research,writing and public speakingskills are a must. Must havea valid driver’s license, useof personal vehicle, and validvehicle insurance. Excellentbenets package provided.

Beginning salary: $66,084annually. Open until further notice or until lled.

Council Representative1 position in Seattle, 1position in Spokane,and 2 positions inOlympia

Council Representatives arethe “internal organizers” of theunion, assigned to member-

ship building and leadershipdevelopment. These staff areprimarily responsible for dailymember contact and activa-tion. The Council Represen-tative organizes job actions,trains Member Action TeamLeaders and Stewards andgenerally assist in grassrootsempowerment. Council Rep-resentatives also assist stew-ards in grievance processing,provide basic representationin the absence of a steward,

attend mid-level grievancehearings and related meet-ings, and attend union/man-agement meetings.Preferred Minimum Quali-cations: Minimum of twoyears education in or hasexperience with, labor unions,labor or community organiz-ing, and basic personnelpractices; the ability to travel;has basic MS Windows-basedcomputer aptitude, is skilledin the use of a PC and laptop,has the ability to use a cellular

phone, and has the ability towork with and guide otherseffectively. Experience withunion training a plus. Musthave a valid driver’s license,use of personal vehicle,and valid vehicle insurance.Excellent benets packageprovided. Beginning salary:$46,182 annually. Beginningsalary: $46,182 annually.Open until September 16,2011.

Ofce ManagerOlympia Headquarters

This position manages theheadquarters support func-tions and building man-agement. Specically, isresponsible for supervisingheadquarters support staffresponsible for membershipdata, reception, member-ship database and reporting,clerical support for Public

Affairs, PERC Activities,Classication and Contract-ing Compliance staff areas,archiving, local meeting noticeand newsletters publishing,and headquarters custodial.Manages mail and print shopand operations; headquartersbuilding maintenance andfacilities upgrades, parking,and landscaping; manages allheadquarters building movesand space issues. PreferredMinimum Qualications:

Facilities and building man-agement experience and aminimum of two years of su-pervisory experience. Musthave a valid driver’s license,use of personal vehicle, andvalid vehicle insurance. Ex-cellent benets packageprovided. Beginning salary:$63,857 annually. Open until September 16, 2011.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

T E T E

T E T E




A memorial fund has been set up at the Washington

State Employees Credit Union for the son of MichelleDykes, the Department of Corrections Local 53 memberwho died July 26 from injuries suffered in a July 21motorcycle crash at the I-5/SR 101 interchange inTumwater.

Dykes, 39, was a Community Corrections ofcer 2 inTacoma and 10-year member of the Federation.

You can go to any WSECU branch and make acontribution to the fund, which is in Michelle Dykes’ name.

Fund set up for son of

DOC member Michelle Dykes

Congressman Jay Inslee became the rst candidatefor governor in 2012 to seek aforum with WFSE/AFSCMEmembers when he stopped bythe union’s Statewide Execu-tive Board meeting July 16.

He received a warm re-ception as he invoked the can-do spirit of Harry Truman anddefended state employee col-lective bargaining, pensionsand contracting out rights.

“The heat is going to beon when you’re governor

because it’s the place wherethe kitchen is and where theheat is,” said Inslee, the mem-

ber of Congress from the 1st Congressional District thatstraddles Puget Sound in theSeattle area. “All I can tell youis I’ve shown you I can takethe heat. I know who cooksthe food and that’s workingclass people, including your

brothers and sisters.”Inslee said he under-

stands the disappointment of state employees who’ve beenwhipsawed by managementover the past several years.

“I think I know how youfeel about being burned…about what has happened toyou in the last couple of yearsand that’s a deep sense of dis-illusionment in what has hap-pened in state leadership,” hesaid.

Collective bargaining

Inslee said the ght toprotect collective bargaining

rights is a ght to save themiddle class.“This is an American

value and needs to be respect-ed,” he said.

He put an exclamationpoint on that at the end of hisremarks to the board, which

Inslee frst major candidate

to seek WFSE/AFSCME forumwas meeting in Seatac.“I view that organization-

al rights, collective bargainingrights, the right to be heardin state government is funda-mental to the preservation of the middle class,” Inslee said.

Privatization and recent

agency consolidation

He said as governor he’dconsult state employees about

better ways of getting the job

done, but he’s skeptical of the promises of privatization.He cited the contracting outof airport security, which, hesaid, brought “lousy service,we got less security and wereally got no savings for thetaxpayers.

“And we cannot allowpeople to spread rose petalson the path to privatizationthat ends up not saving a

buck and actually diminish-ing services.”

He was asked if he’d takea look at the recent legisla-tion that consolidated several

agencies into the Departmentof Enterprise Services andConsolidated TechnologyAgency. Inslee reeled off num-

bers and facts that showed hehad studied up on the issue.He voiced grave concernsabout stripping away collec-

tive bargaining rights frommore than 100 employees andprohibiting employees in thenew agency from competingfor work proposed for priva-tization.

“Now, if there’s some ra-tional necessity for doing that(taking away those collective

bargaining rights), I haven’theard that,” he said. “UntilI hear it, I think we shouldhave those collective bargain-ing rights restored.”

The employees in the new

DECISION 2012

Inslee received a standing ovation after the 2012 gubernatorial candidate

visited the WFSE/AFSCME Executive Board July 16.

Inslee said he empathizes with the

“deep sense of disillusionment” felt

by state employees.

DECISION 2011

The Executive Board also voted

to oppose two measures on

the November General Electionballot: Tim Eyman’s Initiative

1125, the anti-highway funding

scheme; and Initiative 1183, an-

other attempt at liquor privatiza-

tion. Details in upcoming issues.

Local 1020 DOT

member seriously

injured when pinned

in 3-car crash

At press time Aug.17, Local 1020 Departmentof Transportation memberTerry Linder remained inSeattle’s Harborview Medi-cal Center after being seri-ously injured after beingpinned in a three-car crashon Camano Island.

Linder, a signal supervisor1 with DOT, was nishing upmaintenance work on a traf-c signal shortly after noonAug. 16 at the intersectionof Highway 532 and SunriseBoulevard. That’s when a

pickup truck rear-endeda sedan stopped at ared light and then veeredto the right, hit Linder’struck and pinned Linderbetween his truck andthe light pole, accordingto kirotv.com.

Linder was airliftedto Harborview with a se-rious leg injury and otherpossible life-threateninginjuries, but was report-ed in serious but stablecondition.

kirotv.com photo

Meeting and TravelCoordinatorOlympia Headquarters

This position is responsiblefor negotiating contracts withvendors for all WFSE con-ferences, meetings and theBi-annual WFSE Convention;coordinating preparation ofagenda, materials, and equip-ment for meetings, confer-ences, training sessions andconvention; making travel ar-rangements for members andstaff to WFSE events; prepar-ing materials for meetings,

conferences, and convention.Some evening and week-end meetings and travel re-quired. Preferred MinimumQualifcations: Two years ofexperience negotiating ven-dor contracts, coordinatingconferences or other events,making travel arrangementsfor air, rail, charter bus rental,hotel/conference arrange-ments. Knowledge and use ofWORLDSPAN a plus. Abilityto work with others effectively.Must have a valid driver’slicense, use of personal ve-hicle, and valid vehicle insur-ance. Excellent benetspackage provided. Beginningsalary: $47,280 annually.

Open until further notice or until flled.

Associate (AccountingDepartment)

Olympia Headquarters

This position processes duesreceipts, transaction prepara-tion/data entry; document andreconcile reports; maintainother accounting data; cor-respond with members, staff,and state agencies. Mini-mum Qualifcations: Oneyear of professional account-ing experience; strong Exceland computer prociency;excellent analytical ability;

professional verbal and writ-ten communication skills andsound judgment. Databaseand Human Resources expe-rience are desired. Must havea valid driver’s license, useof personal vehicle, and validvehicle insurance. Excellentbenets package provided.Beginning salary: $33,368 annually. Open until Sep- tember 16, 2011.

IMPORTANT!For all positions listed in the

job announcements on pages2 and 3, send a cover letterclearly indicating the positionor positions you wish to applyfor, and your resume, to:

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2Kathy Andruss, HR ManagerWashington Federation ofState Employees1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite300Olympia, WA 98501OR e-mail to: [email protected] FAX to: (360) 754-9228

See INSLEE, page 5




2012 HEALTH PLANS

In the end, bargaining blocked huge increases inyour premium shares.

They’ll still go up formost plans.

But the jump from 12 per-cent to 15 percent of premiumcosts is much less than the 26percent share the state rstproposed at the bargaining

table a year ago.Some legislators wanted

employee premiums shares to be even higher than that.

The facts

• The Public EmployeesBenets Board on July 20adopted the state employeehealth plans for 2012.

• The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

• Open enrollment whenyou can change plans if youwant will be in November.

• In a small but signi-cant victory thanks to yourobjections, the board revisedits proposed rates for diagnos-tic services in Group Health.After objections from Local443 member Katie Nelson and PEBB members – includ-ing WFSE/AFSCME Execu-tive Director Greg Devereux, state Personnel Director EvaSantos and former HCA Ad-ministrator Margaret Stanley-- the board recessed and

consulted with actuaries andcame back with the revision.Under the package adopt-

ed by the board, the co-paysfor MRIs, CTs and PET scanswill now be in line with theco-pays proposed for special-ists of $30 in Group HealthClassic and $40 in GroupHealth Value. The originalproposal was to impose $100co-pays for diagnostics inGroup Health.

In the end, the changehad little impact on proposed

Benefts board OKs 2012 health plans

Here are 2012 health premium shares adopted by PEBB 7/20/11

Benet changes effective 1/1/12(adopted by PEBB 7/20/11)

Group Health Classic

Group Health Valuepremium rates.

Nelson, Devereux object

• Nelson was the onlymember of the public to com-ment on the diagnostics andalso the new health savingsaccount options, dubbed

“Consumer Directed HealthPlans.”

She said diagnostic test-ing helps in early detectionand keeps costs down in thelong run.

“When you put a $100co-pay on a diagnostic test,you will price many state em-ployees out of the market…,”Nelson said.

“I nd that unaccept-

See PEBB, page 5



WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeAugust 2011

2012 HEALTH PLANS

from $6,000 to $4,000. Butthe co-pays for several otherservices will increase or start:dialysis (to $30); radiation (to$30); chemotherapy (to $15);ambulatory surgical center (to$150); and emergency room(to $150).

For all benets changes toGroup Health Classic, Group

Health Value, UMP Classicand Kaiser Classic, see chartson pages 4 and 5.

Risky health savings ac-

able.”

• Devereux questionedwhy the health care com-panies needed more moneywhen state employees are bat-tling the recession with pay

cuts and other sacrices.“I don’t know why pro-

viders need to get increasesduring this time period,” hesaid.

“It is just surprising tome. And ultimately I think there will be a tremendous

backlash.”

• Devereux voted to op-pose all of the increases foractive state employees.

Other Group Health changes

• The board did OK bringing co-pays for radiationand chemotherapy in GroupHealth in line with co-paysfor other services -- $30 forradiation in Group HealthClassic and $40 in the valueplan, and $15 for chemo inGHC Classic and $20 in GHCValue. But it took it a lot of objections and explanation byHealth Care Authority staff

before it came to a vote.

Premium shares

• Under your negotiated

contracts – and as a sign of the times – premium sharesfor all plans and all tiers willgo up (except for Kaiser Clas-sic, which will drop). They’llreect the 25 percent changein premium share from thecurrent 12 percent to 15 per-cent of total premium costs.Because of weighted averag-ing and medical ination, thedollar increase varies fromplan to plan and tier to tier.See chart on page 4 for de-tails.

Out-of-pocket costs

• The benets board alsoOK’d changes to some otherout-of-pocket costs, loweringsome while raising others.Most of those changes comein Group Health. GroupHealth deductibles will notchange in 2012.

For instance, in GroupHealth Classic, ofce visit co-pays for primary care, urgentcare and mental health willdrop from $25 to $15, whilethe co-pay for specialists willincrease to $30.

The out-of-pocket maxi-

mum for families will drop

Benet changes effective 1/1/12(adopted by PEBB 7/20/11)

Kaiser Classic

Uniform Medical

Plan Classic

Look before you leap to new ‘Consumer Driven Health Plans’

counts adopted

• The board also ap-proved the legislativelymandated health savings ac-counts, renamed “ConsumerDirected Health Plans.” Theidea is those who choose thisrisky option get $700 to spendon health costs. If they don’tget sick, they keep the money.

• But if they roll the diceand do get sick, they’d facedeductibles as high as $2,800

and, in Group Health, totalout-of-pocket costs would

be capped only after they hit$10,200.

• WFSE/AFSCME is de-veloping information on thepros and cons of the healthsavings accounts to help youmake an informed decisionwhen open enrollment rollsaround in November. Wedon’t want you to roll thedice, lose and get eeced with

extraordinarily high health

costs under these new healthsavings accounts.

• Nelson, who is also amember of the union State-wide Executive Board, calledthese health savings accounts“health insurance lottery”that “prey on the innocence of our youngest employees.”

• More information is on-line at http://www.pebb.hca.wa.gov/.

Source for charts: PEBB

PEBB, from page 4

consolidated agency should also beable to compete for contracted outwork under existing law and collec-tive bargaining provisions, he said.

“I cannot understand why if you’re going to have an open bid-ding process, you essentially takeone team out of the bidding and say

they’re ineligible…,” Inslee said. “If you’re going to have a fair bid, whywould you take one team out of the

bidding process – the team that actu-ally has expertise in the work?”

Pension fund investments

Questioned about media reports of his supposed position on pension fund

investment, Inslee welcomed the op-portunity to set the record straight.

He said he never said he’d takeany funds away from pensions toinvest in companies in Washington,

but only ask the pension board if theyshould slightly increase the percentageof investments made by the board inWashington state private equity fundsto help boost this state’s economy.

He said 98.6 percent of the fundsinvested by the pension board in pri-vate equities goes out of state. Insleesuggested boosting the investment inWashington private equity from thecurrent 1.4 percent to 2 percent.

“But the question is where do weinvest?” he said. “Do we invest allin California or New York, or do weinvest some of it here.”

INSLEE, from page 3

NOTE: The only benet changes in UMP Classic are the prescription rates listed below. Out-of-pocket maximums, deduct-

ibles, ofce visit co-pays and other co-pays will not increase in 2012.




UNION NEWS

SHARED LEAVE

REQUESTS

If you’ve been approved to

receive shared leave by your agency or institution, you can

place a notice here. Once you’ve been approved by your

agency or institution, WFSE/ AFSCME can place your

shared leave request here and online. Please include a contact

in your agency, usually in human resources, for donors to

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

• The following could use a do -

nation of eligible unused annual leave or sick leave or all or part

of your personal holiday:

Harriett Martin, a social worker3 with the Department of Early

Learning in Kent and a mem-

ber of Local 843, has beenapproved to receive sharedleave. Her husband just had

unplanned open-heart surgery.Contact: Lisa Emmett, (360)

725-4933, or Tami Schultz,(360) 725-4924.

Denise Avery-Baeten, a nan-

cial services specialist 4 withDSHS in Shelton and a mem-ber of Local 443, is caring for

her husband, who is in the nalstages of terminal lung cancer.

She has exhausted all leave.Contact: Your human resource

ofce.

Marta Petrie, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 with DSHS

in Everett and a member ofLocal 948, has been approved

for shared leave. Contact: Yourhuman resource ofce.

Carolyn Dorsey, a nancial

services specialist 3 with DSHSin Everett and a member of

Local 948, has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact: Yourhuman resource ofce.

Connie Sheets, a social worker

3 with DSHS in Centralia, is inneed of shared leave because

of her recent diagnosis withamyotrophic lateral sclerosis

(ALS) – sometimes called “LouGehrig’s Diesease.” Contact:

Your human resource ofce.

Diana Smith, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 with DSHS

in Lynnwood and a member ofLocal 948, is in need of shared

leave. Contact: Your humanresource ofce.

Diane Pilling, a nancialservices specialist 2 with DSHS

in Seattle and a member ofLocal 843, has been approved

for shared leave. Contact: Your

human resource ofce.

Randy Kurtz, a nancial ser-

vices specialist 3 with DSHSin Everett and a member of

Local 948, has been approvedfor shared leave because of

ongoing treatment for cancer.Contact: Your human resource

ofce.

Florinda DeLaGarza, anancial services specialist

3 with DSHS in Bellinghamand a member of Local 1060,has been approved for shared


Kellie Karr, a business process

specialist with the EmploymentSecurity Department in Olym-

pia and a member of Local443, is in need of shared leavebecause of chronic neuropathy.

She is expected to be out of the

ofce intermittently though Oc-tober. Contact: Kathleen Young,(360) 725-9416 or kyoung@

esd.wa.gov.

Sarah Drecksel, a support en-forcement ofcer 3 with DSHS

in Tacoma and a member ofLocal 53, is in need of shared

leave while recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident.

She has exhausted all leave.Contact: Carol Murray, (253)

476-7663.

Cheri Siegfried, a nancialservices specialist 3 with DSHSin Goldendale and a member of

Local 716, has been approvedfor shared leave because of

a health condition. She hasexhausted all available leave.

Contact: Your human resourceofce.

Mary Craig, an information

technology systems/applica-tion specialist with the Depart-

ment of Services for the Blindin Olympia and a member of

Local 443, is recovering froma serious head injury suffered

in a horseback riding accidentin June. Contact: Rose Shultz,

(360) 725-0201 or [email protected].

Regina Pugh, a patient ser-vice representative at the UW

Medical Contact Call Center inSeattle and a member of Lo-

cal 1488, has been approvedfor shared leave from Aug. 8

to Sept. 19, 2011. Contact: Di-ane Pyzik, (206) 744-9228 or

[email protected].

Julie (Julia) Mullins, a nan-cial services specialist 3 with

DSHS in Clarkston and a mem-ber of Local 1300, is in need of

shared leave to recuperate fromupcoming surgery, which will

take several weeks of recoverytime. Contact: Your human re-source ofce.

Chris Rentschler-Traub, a s-

cal analyst 1 at Yakima ValleySchool in Selah and a member

of Local 1326, is in need ofshared leave to care for a fam-

ily member. Contact: YVS Per-sonnel Ofce, (509) 698-1251.

Tobin Lowe, a laundry worker

3 at Rainier School in Buckleyand a member of Local 491,

has been diagnosed with aserious medical condition that

requires her to be off work at

this time. Contact: Jill Larsen,(360) 829-4951 or [email protected].

William Schuler, an attendantcounselor 2 at Rainier School

in Buckley and a member ofLocal 491, is battling multiple

sclerosis and has not been ableto work since May 4. Contact:

Sarah at the Rainier Schoolhuman resource ofce, (360)

829-1111.

Jessica Peterson, a health

services consultant 1 with theDepartment of Health in Tum-

water and a member of Local443, has been approved for

shared leave because of recov-ery from injuries suffered in a

car accident. Contact: Your hu-man resource ofce.

Victor Velasquez, an imaging

technologist 2 at Western StateHospital in Lakewood and amember of Local 793, has been

approved for shared leave fora lengthy recovery from a heart

attack. He has exhausted allleave. Contact: Tina McDonald,

(253) 761-3361.

Roberta “Bert” Reynolds, anancial services specialist 4

with DSHS in Aberdeen and amember of Local 970, has been

approved for shared leave.Contact: Your human resource

ofce.

Regina Eilers, a WorkSource

specialist 4 in Auburn with theEmployment Security Depart-

ment and a member of Local435, has been approved for

shared leave. Contact: Kath-leen Young, (360) 725-9416.

Su Le, a social worker 2 with

DSHS in Olympia and a mem-ber of Local 443, is currently

under his physician’s carebecause of a serious medical

condition. Contact: Your humanresource ofce.

Ursula Cox, an ofce assistant

3 with the Department of Cor-rections in Seattle and a mem-ber of Local 308, has a severe

health issue and is also dealingwith the recent death of her

husband. Contact: Your humanresource ofce.

Lillian Rambus, a support

enforcement ofcer 2 at DSHSin Seattle and a member of

Local 843, has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact: Your

human resource ofce.

Eilani Wright, a nancialservices specialist 3 with the

DSHS District 6 Call Center inLewis County and a member of

Local 862, has been approvedfor shared leave because ofsurgery and extended recovery.

Contact: Your human resourceofce or Grace Chambers,

[email protected].

John Creekmore, an unem-ployment specialist 3 with the

Employment Security Depart-ment in Spokane and a mem-

ber of Local 1221, has beenapproved for shared leave for

multiple surgeries on his neck,back and left arm because of

problems caused by militaryservice and a car accident. He

needs shared leave to cover

the surgery and lengthy recov-ery time. Contact: Your humanresource ofce.

Karla Pennington, a Work-Source specialist 4 in Port

Angeles and a member of Lo-cal 1463, has been approved

for shared leave. Contact: Yourhuman resource ofce.

Tammie Meyers, a scal ana-

lyst 3 with the Department ofFish and Wildlife in Olympia

and a member of Local 443,

suffered a head injury in a car

accident and is unable to return

to work. Contact: Tracy Wolfe,(360) 902-2284.

Wendy McCombs, a correc-tional records technician 1 with

the Department of Correctionsin Tacoma and a member of

Local 53, is in need of sharedleave because of a seriousmedical condition that will re-

quire a lengthy recovery time.Contact: Your human resource

ofce.

WFSE/AFSCME members inthe state Health Care Author-

ity in Olympia have asked forshared leave donations for

Gary S. Farrior, a providerenrollment supervisor in the

Medical Assistant CustomerService Center. He has Stage

4 colon cancer and is currentlygoing through chemotherapy.

Contact: Your human resourceofce.

Peter Barabasz, a nancialservices specialist 3 with DSHS

at the Sky Valley CSO and amember of Local 948, is still

in need of shared leave in his2-year battle with cancer. He

has no leave. He needs leave

so he may attend weekly che-

motherapy treatments and beat home to recuperate from histreatments. Contact: Your hu-

man resource ofce.

Marie Davis, an ofce as-sistant 3 with the Washington

State Patrol in Olympia and amember of Local 443, has beenapproved for shared leave.

Contact: Joel Reinier, (360)704-2318 or joel.reinier@wsp.

wa.gov.

Cephus Nicholson, a mentalhealth technician 2 at Western

State Hospital in Lakewood anda member of Local 793, will be

off the job an extended periodas he recovers from extensive

knee surgery (caused by anon-the-job injury) and a heart

attack suffered while recoveringfrom his rst surgery. Contact:

Tina McDonald, (253) 582-8900Ext. 2574.

Shayla McKnight, a health in-surance benets specialist with

the state Health Care Authorityin Lacey and a member of Lo-

cal 443, has been approved for

Tell us where this worksite is and which WFSE/AFSCME members

work there. Send your guesses by e-mail to [email protected] or regular mail: Editor, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

Include your name and mailing address. Deadline: Sept. 9. The frst 10

readers with the correct answer who include their name and mailing

address will receive a prize.

Answer to June’s “Where’s this

Worksite?”

The last mystery worksiteshowed the Interstate 90bridge over the ColumbiaRiver just east of Vantage.It’s maintained by Local 1299Department of Transportationmembers primarily out of theGeorge Shed.

But correct guesser Rudy Trevino, who works at theGeorge Shed, said members at other area DOT shedsall “worked at this location at some time or anotherand should all get the same credit” for working there.Good point. So from Rudy’s e-mail submission, heregoes: George Shed – Rudy Trevino, Alex Hernandez,Dean Alexander, Sam Schneider, Steve Fries; EphrataShed – Rick Grubb, Scott Schutt, Kevin Hinkle, RandyGunderson; Othello Shed – Bob Guerrero, Bob Garrett,Dale Schoessler, Rolando Cerrillo; Moses Lake Shed

– John Wiersma, Billy Barger, Gary Castle, GeorgeDeMaris, Les Vorwork.

Another correct guesser, John McGinness (Local

1299, DOT, Wenatchee) pointed out that the photoincluded, in the far right, the “Vantage RWIS station,cameras and several variable speed and/or messagesigns maintained by Mats Gustafson, Trevor Brandt, TimDavison, Tim Hein and probably many others.”

(The other acceptable answer was Wanapum StatePark, which appears in the background across the river;Local 1466 members work there).The rst 10 readers with correct answers were: BillCopland; Jenna Durkee; Bob Guerrero; KandiHartman; John McGinness; Dave Roe; BretShackelford; Sam Schneider; Diane Storms; and RudyTrevino.

Where’s this

worksite?

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7



August 2011 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

UNION NEWS

shared leave. Contact: Oanh

Pham, (360) 923-2881.

Three attendant counselorsand members of Local 491 at

Rainier School in Buckley arein need of shared for medi-

cal conditions. They are WesSonmore, Richard JohnstonSr. and Annette Ramsdell.

Contact: Your human resource

ofce.

Tracy Littles, an administrative

assistant for the Department ofLicensing, is recovering from

breast cancer surgery and isundergoing a longer-than-ex-

pected second round of chemo-therapy. Contact: Lonnie Stikes,

(360) 664-1394.

Karen Smith, a nancial ser-vices specialist with DSHS in

Yakima and a member of Local

1326, is caring for her husband,who has been diagnosed with

aggressive pancreatic cancerthat has spread to his liver. She

is assisting in his treatments.Contact: Your human resource

ofce.

Kimberly Morris, a nancialservices specialist 3 with DSHS

in Omak, is having surgery andwill be off work several days.

She has exhausted all leave.Contact: Your human resource

ofce.

Pat Havens, a WorkFirst pro-gram specialist with DSHS in

Olympia and a member of Lo-cal 443, has been approved

for shared leave. Because ofa serious health condition, shewill require a period of recovery.

Contact: Your human resource

ofce.

Roxy Kozlowski, a health in-

surance benets specialist withthe state Health Care Authority

in Lacey and a member of Lo-cal 443, has been approved for

shared leave. Contact: OanhPham, (360) 923-2881.

Frances Woody-Smith, a

nancial services specialist 2with DSHS in Vancouver and a

member of Local 313, is still in

need of shared leave because

of recovery from pancreatic cystsurgery. Contact: Steve Fettig,

(360) 725-4810.

Tina Rodriguez-Berg, a -nancial services specialist 4 atthe DSHS Smokey Point CSO

in Snohomish County and amember of Local 948, has been

approved for shared leave.Contact: Your human resource

ofce.

Bruce C. Zeller, a transporta-tion systems technician B with

the Department of Transporta-

tion in Olympia and a memberof Local 443, has been ap-

proved for shared leave for therest of the year as he battles

multiple sclerosis. Contact: Em-ily Hindman, (360) 705-7249.

Judith Harrell, an attendantcounselor 3 at Rainier School

in Buckley and a member ofLocal 491, is on extended leave

because of a medical conditionand is still in need of shared


Take this survey online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wfseweb-language

Your WFSE/AFSCME Communications Committee wants to know about language needs of members.

Language Access Assessment Survey

1. Tell us what languages - other than English - are spoken as a pri-

mary language at your workplace.

2. What is your worksite county?

3. What agency do you work for?

4. Please estimate the number of employees at your worksite whospeak this language as their primary language.

5. May we contact you? Please provide us with your name and

phone/email.

Languages other than English

spoken in Washington state:

This list is not exhaustive.

Amharic | Arabic | Armenian | Bosnian

Bulgarian | Burmese | Cambodian

Chinese Mandarin | Chinese Cantonese

Croatian | Czech | Farsi

French | German | Hindi | Hungarian

Ilocano | Indonesian | Italian | Japanese

Kirundi | Korean | Loatian | Marshallese

Mongolian | Nepali | Oromo | Persian

Polish | Portuguese | Punjabi

Romanian | Russian | Serbo Croatian

Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Tagalog

Thai | Tigringa | Turkish | Ukranian

Vietnamese

Cut out & mail the survey to:

WFSE Communications

Committee

1212 Jefferson St SE #300

Olympia WA 98501

This information may be used to determine if translations of union mate-

rials are needed, and if so, in which languages and at what locations.

If you are aware of groups of members with limited English who would

benet from translated union materials, please take our survey.

SHARED LEAVEcontinued from page 6

1

2

3 4

5

6

WFSE’s Summer

Warriors

There were no summer doldrums forWFSE/AFSCME members as theystaged signcant job and contract

actions:

1. About 100 day shift and swingshift Local 793 members rallied June29 outside Western State Hospital

in Lakewood. They protested theclosure of the S-4 Ward and movingthose patients with privileges intothe community to the high-securityForensics Ward – a move that jeop-ardizes security of patients, the staffand surrounding neighborhoods andschools.

2, 3, 4. The powerful University ofWashington Board of Regents andnew UW President Michael Youngwelcomed a delegation of WFSE/AF-SCME Local 1488 members to their

22nd oor meeting room July 21 as

the Local 1488 members urged the re-gents to drop the university’s appeal ofthe state order reinstating call centerworkers’ collective bargaining rights.

The call center workers, formerly lo-cated at the UW-run Harborview Medi-cal Center in Seattle, had their rightsstripped last year when the universitymerged them with another call centeroperation in downtown Seattle.

“We’ve been through a lot,” call centermember Regina Pugh (in photo 3above) told the Board of Regents.“We’ve been stripped of things, but ourmain focus is our patients.”

5, 6. WFSE/AFSCME-representedmedical interpreters ratied their rst-

ever – and groundbreaking – contractwith the state with a 99 percent yesvote.

The vote was 256 to accept and 3to reject, with 30 ballots voided. Ittook effect July 1. It’s the rst-ever

such agreement in the nation forindependent contract interpreters.The pact covers about 2,000 inde-pendent interpreters under contractwith the state. These “languageaccess providers” help doctors andothers communicate to patients andclients for whom English is a secondlanguage.

The elections committee countedthe ballots June 28 at WFSE/AFSC-ME headquarters in Olympia. Fromleft in photo 5: Interpreters NarscisaHodges, Magde Rojas and KathyGuttromson.

Their new Local 1671 quickly set upa committee to write their rst local

constitution (photo 6).

ELECTED: Julianne Moore,

a Local 1326 member at

Yakima Valley School in Selah,was elected to the board of

the Washington State Labor

Council, AFL-CIO, Aug. 3. She

flls a vacancy in the 4th District

of Central Washington. Shebecomes the fourth WFSE/

AFSCME member of the WSLC

board, along with Kandy Kraig,

Lee Malinda and Mari Wyatt.



back and say, ‘Well done.’ Iwas glad I had to opportunityto be involved in that.”

She retired from the union in2006 after 13 years.

In retirement, she wonelection as president of herchapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists andwas active in the Foster Par-ents Association of Washing-ton State.

She also helped her oldlocal during various contractcampaigns. And the former

organizing director returnedto the WFSE/AFSCME con-vention in October 2007 topresent the biennial organiz-ing award.

When she retired, shesaid: “I never say, ‘Goodbye,’I say, ‘See you later.’”

Althea was loved by all, amentor to hundreds, and hertireless devotion has left itsmark on thousands of stateemployees past, present andfuture. She will be missed.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

“I was able to show members they had the power, theycould take on the boss whendealing with labor-manage-ment issues…,” she said in2006.

“They could see whatthey could do by standing upand ghting back. That’s re-ally what kept me going allthose years.”

As organizing director,Lute helped incorporate thenew concept of home visits towin several campaigns.

Over the years, she also

mentored countless other Lo-cal 1488 members, ofcersand fellow colleagues onunion staff.

Some 300 Policy Commit-tee delegates stood for a mov-ing moment of silence the Sat-urday after her death in honorof how she had touched theirlives.

“That day, I lost a mother,I lost a friend, I lost a mentorand most of all I lost my big-gest fan,” said John Frazier,one of Althea’s successors aspresident of Local 1488 at theUniversity of Washington and

Harborview Medical Center.The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists will have aspecial tribute to Lute at theirSept. 3 banquet. She was aformer president of the localCBTU chapter. See box, page 1.

Lute came to work for the

University of Washingtonin 1972, earned her collegedegree and devoted her lifeto improving the lives of UWand all state employees.

Althea was born Feb. 5,1951, in Seattle and attendedGareld High School before

starting work on the nightshift at the UW while attend-ing college. She earned adegree from Seattle CentralCommunity College.

At the UW and Harbor-view Medical Center, Altheaquickly became a shop stew-ard – and later president – forLocal 1488.

From there, Althea wonelection as WFSE/AFSCME’sstatewide vice president in1992. She was the rst Afri-can-American elected to hold

that post.Within six months, she

stepped down as VP and lefther Harborview patient regis-tration representative positionto take a job as an organizer

ALTHEA LUTE’S LASTING LEGACY

ALTHEA,from page 1

with WFSE/AFSCME. Sheeventually became organizingdirector and then legislativeand political action eld coor-dinator.

One of her biggest ac-

complishments was theunion’s successful ght tosave Fircrest School, the resi-dential habilitation center inShoreline caring for some of this state’s most profoundlydevelopmentally disabledcitizens.

Althea helped provideresources to Local 341, forgeda coalition of support fromother residential habilitationcenters, and helped coordi-nate a series of job actions,rallies and Olympia visitsstarting in 2003.

Her last day on the jobwith the union before goingon extended sick leave pre-ceding her ofcial retirementwas a town hall meeting onFircrest in November 2005.

“I dedicated myself tosaving Fircrest,” she said in2006. “I learned so much fromthe workers and residents. Itwas a top priority to me. Itwas about the residents, it re-ally was.

“In retirement, I can look

Mobilizing members and moving management one job action at a time. LEFT: Master of Ceremonies Althea Lute leads thousands in chants at July 2004 Westlake Center rally in Seattle during the

National Governors’ Conference to pressure the state for fair rst contracts. CENTER: Calling for workload relief at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, October 2003. RIGHT: Leading bipartisan com-

munity coalition at May 2004 rally to save Fircrest School in Shoreline.

Lute is sworn in as WFSE/AFSCME

vice president in Tacoma in October

1992.

Organizer Lute after winning con-

tract rights for Harborview patient

services reps Eva Leverett and QuinWomack, June 1995.

Lute meets with Tom McArthur, EWU

Local 931, before February 2001

legislative hearing on bid limits bill.

AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Wil-

liam Lucy presents award to Lute at

CBTU event in 1997.

VP Lute opposes contracting out on

KOMO-TV’s “Town Meeting” in Janu-

ary 1993 with host Ken Schram.

Picketing at Harborview Medical

Center, April 1989.With Gov. Gary Locke and

WFSE/AFSCME Lobbyist Bev

Hermanson, August 1998.

The union’s former organizing director presentsHoward Jorgenson Organizing Award to Local 308’s

Ton Johnson at October 2007 WFSE/AFSCME

Convention in Spokane.

“I never say, ‘Goodbye,’ I say, ‘See you later.’”

Althea Lute in a familiar role at

an April 1997 rally in Olympia.

August 2011

washington state employee, august 2011

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