washington state employee - nov 2014

8/13/2019 Washington State Employee - Nov 2014

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The ofcial newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO

VOL. 41 NO. 9

NOVEMBER 2013

WASHINGTON

StateEmployee

EXCLUSIVE:

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iscoverpass.w

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Now good on either

of two vehicles!

uote: I was assaulted and nearlykilled in my position in 1986. I hada blanket thrown over my head and

was nearly suffocated. Through the sup-port of my co-workers and the kids, I haveremained at Echo Glen and we have come

up with some really great security tacticsthrough the years to make sure we aresafe and secure.

Though even in the best of circumstanc-es, those do still occur.One of my co-workers, also age 58, same

IN THEIR OWN WORDS 8 Q-- Dana Zuber, Lo-

cal 341, Echo GlenChildrens Center,Snoqualmie, in Nov.12 testimony on thebill to expand cover-age of the PSERSretirement cover-age.

Health Care

Agreement

ratied

Making a difference

in dangerous jobs

M

embers at Echo Glen Childrens Center in Snoqualmie gatheredearlier this month to honor one of their own with a SpecialAward of Merit from WFSE/AFSCME.

Eric Johnson, a Local 341 member at the juvenile rehabilitation centerfor about 150 youthful offenders, performed the Heimlich Maneuver onco-worker Matt Shehi this past July as Shehi choked on a piece of chickenlodged in his throat.

Federation President Sue Henricksen presented the award to Johnsonhonoring his valor and bravery.

Matt survived and has said that Erics quick action more than de-serves recognition, Henricksen said during the Nov. 4 ceremony in theEcho Glen chapel. Yes, Eric was doing his job. But we often overlook theprofound difference members like Eric make who day in and day out dotheir job.

Others joining the Echo Glen members in honoring Johnson includedFederation Vice President Thornton Alberg, Local 341 President DaveGreenman and Federation Executive Director Greg Devereux.

After the ceremony, the Echo Glen members engaged their visitors inan informal question and answer session, including the PSERS pension

bill (see story below).

At Echo Glen:Member lauded for saving colleagues life

Educating lawmakerson the high-risk nature of

their jobs, several Federationmembers testied at the Leg-islatures Select Committee onPension Policy public hearingin Olympia on Nov. 13.

Joined by WFSE/AF-SCME Lobbyist Matt Zuvich,members spoke on a panel insupport of EHB 1923, whichwould expand PSERS mem-

PSERS:Members ask for

consistency in

pension bill

bership eligibility at the De-partment of Social and HealthServices to include DSHSworkers in dangerous jobswho provide direct care, cus-tody, or safety.

That would include work-ers at DSHS institutions, Juve-nile Rehabilitation institutions(like Echo Glen, Green Hilland Naselle), JRA parole andcommunity facilities, SpecialCommitment Center, ChildStudy and Treatment and Res-

idential Habilitation Centers.It involves employees

who provide direct care toensure the custody and safetyof offender or patient popula-tions.

During regular session,EHB 1923 passed on theHouse oor with a 94-3 vote,but received no action in theSenate.

PSERS stands for Public

Safety Employees RetirementSystem.

WFSE/AFSCME mem-bers Robert Hay (Local 341),Gabe Hall (Local 862),RickHertzog (Local 793),PatrickMcDonough (Local 793),Jerzy Sobczyk (Local 793),Lawrence Thompson (Local793)and Dana Zuber (Local341) joined Zuvich in asking

legislators for consistencyin pension policy with otheremployees who are already inthe plan and who do the samehigh risk duties that they do.

Among other issues, afew members talked abouttheir experiences being as-saulted in the workplaceand the short and long termimpacts of those injuries (see

related item below).They work in Juvenile

Rehabilitation and mentalhealth facilities, communityfacilities, juvenile parole andother state-run facilities acrossthe state.

Hall who, works at Green

WFSE/AFSCME mem-bers have ratied the HealthCare agreement.

In online voting thatclosed at 5 p.m., Nov. 6, the

vote was 98.4% to accept and1.6% to reject.

The agreement holds theline on premium share, co-pays, deductibles and medical

out-of pocket costs in calen-dar year 2015.

Other state employeeunions conducted their ownrespective ratication votes.

Echo Glens Eric Johnson af-

ter WFSE/AFSCME President

Sue Henricksen presented

him the special award.

From left: Sobczyk, McDonough, Hertzog, Thompson, Zuber, Hall and Zuvich.

as myself, was attacked almost 26 years

(from the exact date) that I was assaultedand in almost the same way and she willnot be coming back. This happened last

Sept. 23....We work very hard and I will remain thereas long as I can. But I will tell you being an

older woman in a very high-risk frontlineposition, is daunting sometimes physi-cally....

I urge your support of this bill. We reallyneed your help and support.

See PSERS, page 2

How AFSCMEs clout saved backpay for

WFSE/AFSCME members furloughed during

federal shutdown. SEE 7


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Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee November 2013

THE FIGHT FOR YOUR PENSIONS

StateEmployeeWashington State Employee(USPS 981-

200)is published monthly, except Februaryand July, for $5.08 per year by the Washing-ton Federation of State Employees/AFSCMECouncil 28 AFL-CIO, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E.Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501. Afliated 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

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

WASHINGTON

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OPTION. If youd like to save paper and postage, you can receive this newspaper electronically. Go to www.wfse.org and hoverover NEWS & INFO, located in the top menu bar. Select from the drop-down list: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYEE - Newspaper. Use the formon this page to register for the electronic version. Or e-mail us at [email protected], or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300,Olympia, WA 98501. If youre a represented non-member fee payer and you dont wish to receive this publication in any format, e-mail us at [email protected], or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

Washingtons SupremeCourt chambers were GroundZero for the nationwide ghtto save public employeepensions Oct. 24 as WFSE/AFSCME and allies arguedagainst the repeal of PERS 3gainsharing, for the PERS 2early retirement factors andagainst the repeal of the PERS1 uniform cost-of-living ad-justments (or UCOLA).

The court didnt indicatewhen it would issue its deci-sion on the cases.

The Supreme Court hear-ing came as Rolling Stonemagazine and others haveblown the lid off whos be-hind the attacks on publicemployee pensions: the verybillionaires who caused theGreat Recession in 2008.Theyve waged a campaignto brainwash many politi-cians so that states all overthe country are claiming theynot only need to abrogate le-gally binding contracts withstate workers but also shouldseize retirement money fromwidows to nance years ofillegal loans, giant fees tobillionaires...and billions intax breaks, Rolling Stonereported.

The Supreme Court hear-ing also came the same morn-ing the corporate-dominatedSeattle Times editorial boardurged the justices to ignorethe unions and retirees. TheTimes said its ok to attack

Supreme Court asked

to overturn raw deals

on pensions

After Oct. 24 Supreme Court hearing (from left): Anita Hunter, WFSE/AFSCME attorney; M.K. Deacon,Local 843

(retired); Denny Johnston,Local 443 (retired); Maria Britton-Sipe,executive director, RPEC; Gwen Rench,RPEC

President and Local 843 (retired); Nell Snodgrass, Local 304 (retired); and Ed Younglove,WFSE/AFSCME attorney.

the pensions to fund educa-tion and because the pensiongoodies were not promises.(See related story below.)

The Seattle Times, the state

and thebillionaires all got itwrong.

Its about workers rightsand having a middle classwith benets, said GwenRench,who retired fromDSHS and Local 843 in 1997.

Rench, now president ofthe Retired Public Employ-

ees Council of Washington(RPEC)/AFSCME, said shewas appalled that state at-torneys pitted taxpayersagainst public employeeswho worked and were prom-ised the benets. If the stateprevails, it will accelerate thepush to poverty for retirees.

PERS 2 retirees now makeabout $13,800 a year in pen-sions not much higher thanthe federal poverty level, ac-cording to RPEC statistics.

Rench joined severalother retired WFSE/AFSCMEmembers in the courtroomas attorneys for both sidesargued their cases and tooktough questions from the ninejustices.

I thought when I retired that

I would be getting a COLAfor as long as I was retiredand now they are taking itaway? Not fair, retiree NellSnodgrass said after the hear-

ings ended. She retired fromSeattle Community Collegeand Local 304 in 1992.

I dont think you canthrow a carrot out there and

then take it away at a laterdate, said Denny Johnston,who retired from the Depart-ment of Corrections and Local443 in 2009. Johnston retiredunder the early retirementfactors and is concerned aboutcurrent state employees whomight lose that option if thestate prevails in court.

Another DSHS retireefrom Local 843, M.K. Deacon,said she doesnt know whatwent through legislatorsminds when they enactedthese pension takeaways.

But I think its a rawdeal, said Deacon, who re-tired in 2002.

Gainsharing/Early Retirement

Factors In light of the drum-beat of attacks on publicemployee pensions, its im-portant that we now return torst principles and those rstprinciples are the constitu-tional underpinnings of the

gainsharing benets enactedin 1998 but repealed in 2007,said James Oswald, attorneyfor one group of individualemployees who brought suit,

along with the Federation and

the Washington Education As-sociation.

The reduction in a pen-sion benet violates the con-tracts clause of the state Con-stitution, Oswald said.

Gainsharing started in1998 to encourage state em-ployees to join the then-newPERS 3 system. Under it,PERS 3 retirees would shareextraordinary investmentgains based on a set period oftime and exceeding a certainpercentage.

But the Legislature re-pealed gainsharing in 2007and created earlier retirementbenets for PERS 2 membersso they could retire at age 62with 30 years of service withno benet reduction.

WFSE/AFSCME Attor-ney Ed Younglove urged theSupreme Court to overturnthe lower court on the earlyretirement factors that it waswrong to include a poisonpill in the 2007 legislationthat said the early retirementwould go away if gainsharingwere ever reinstated.

Our case boils down toits essence is people have areasonable expectation to getwhat they paid for, Young-love said. These employees

have been paying for thesebenets for six years now andits totaled $370 million....

This courts focus...should be on what was theirreasonable expectation whenthey worked expecting to beable to take advantage of thisearly retirement benet if theyqualied.

PERS 1 UCOLAOn the PERS1 UCOLA case, RPEC at-torney Richard Spoonemore,speaking for the coalition thatincludes the Federation and

WEA, said the UCOLA wasa tradeoff. Previous COLAswere repealed and in theirplace, the Uniform COLAwould bring an automatic,annual COLA for PERS 1retirees. It is paid in the rstcalendar year in which therecipient turns age 66 and hasbeen retired for one year. Theamount of the payment is axed dollar amount multi-plied by the members totalyears of service.

Some PERS 1 memberswhove retired have gottensome of that benet or from

previous COLAs, Spoone-more said.

But for the 40 percentwho havent retired, theirbenet will never keep upwith ination if the UCOLAis repealed, he said.

PERS 1 covers state em-ployees hired before October1977.

Our Supreme Courtght over pensions hasunleashed some carbon-

copy newspaper editorialslobbying the justices to ruleagainst you -- and middleclass values.

To see more go to:

http://www.wfse.org/the-truth-about-those-anti-pension-newspaper-editorials

The truth behind

these anti-pension

editorials

Hill School said: We work withyouths who are highly aggressive . . .we need you to support (us) by vali-dating the work we do.

Expansion of the policy is not justa about age, its about the totality of acareer in high risks jobs, concluded

Zuvich.The joint committee is scheduled

Dec. 10 to vote on whether to endorseEHB 1923 going into the legislativesession.

FAR LEFT:

Hertzog (left) and

Thompson testify.

NEAR LEFT:Zu-

vich consults with

Hay at PSERS

hearing.

PSERS,from page 1


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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeNovember 2013 Page 3

THE FEDERATION COMMUNITY

WFSE/AFSCMEmembers at Washington StateUniversity ask the simplequestion:

If faculty andadministrative professionalstaff will get 4 percent across-the-board raises in January totaling more than $11million why wont WSU

consider equity for classiedstaff in ongoing wage re-opener negotiations with theFederation?

Its such a good questionthat a delegation of WSUFederation members tookit directly to universityPresident Elson Floydsofce this past Oct. 25. They

WSU members take wage-

reopener ght straight to topFollows recentsettlements atWWU, TESC

WSU third of three wage

re-opener ghts:

WFSE/AFSCME went

back to the table underwage re-opener clausesin three higher educationcontracts. WSU is stillunresolved, but thanksto the Federation, fairsettlements came at the

presented petitions signed bymore than 200 workers andsupporters (including somegathered at the Federationsrecent convention).

To me, its a slap in theface because you dont feel

like youre appreciated forthe hard work that you dohere, Local 1066 memberRoger Eberhardttold thestudent newspaper, The DailyEvergreen.

The university

rationalizes that classiedstaff receive step increases,including the new M Step forthose who had previouslytopped out.

But classied staff are onthe lower end of the pay scalecompared to faculty andadministrative staff and allhave gone without a cost-of-living adjustment since 2008.

I hope President Floydtakes us seriously and givesus the 4 percent raise that

he has given the rest of theuniversity, another Local1066 member, Eric Needham,told the newspaper.

In the wake of the WSUmembers job action, Floydagreed to meet FederationExecutive Director GregDevereux to discuss theurgency of the situation.

bargaining table with WesternWashington University andThe Evergreen State College.

WWU.WFSE/AFSCMEmembers at WesternWashington University inBellingham successfullynegotiated a lump-sum bonusof 2.2 percent in their Aug.25 paychecks. Another lump-

sum payment of 1 percent iscoming Dec. 10, 2014. This ison top of the new M Step thatbrought a 2.5 percent raiseto those whod been at StepL for six years and two morepersonal leave days.

TESC. And classied staff atThe Evergreen State Collegein Olympia received a lump

sum payment of $551 inNov. 10 paychecks, thanksto Federation wage re-opener bargaining there.This is on top of the newM Step and a guaranteed1 percent cost-of-livingadjustment raise on July 1,2014.

SHOP STEWARD

CORNER

No Empty Green Shirts,

PLEASE!

by Joe DavenportWFSE/AFSCME Shop Steward

Committee

What on earth is theSteward Committee talkingabout this time??

Well glad you asked! Assome you of learned at con-vention some members andstewards are concerned aboutgrievances not getting supportfrom the council grievancecommittee.

In fact not long beforeconvention members of theGrievance Committee senta message to the StewardCommittee: If all you bring tostatewide grievance is man-agement documents, oddsare you wont get support.

Here are couple of hypo-thetical examples of what theywere talking about:

Members A, B, C, D andE are all supervisors coveredby our contract. As supervi-sors they have full internetaccess at their desk -- lineworkers only have intranet ac-cess to share les and clockin and out.

Departmental policy limitsinternet use to vendor con-tacts and work orders. Bwas seen booking a hotel fora vacation. Management hasasked for a three-day suspen-sion.

C is the steward in thearea who last year dealt withD and E for similar viola-tions (D rented a car for aweekend and E ordered acake for an ofce party). Ineach of those cases C ar-

ranged for a reprimand with atwo-year sunset clause.

C appeals the suspen-sion arguing unequal treat-ment BUT does not includedocuments proving what hap-pened in the other two cases.

Another case: F worksin a rural ofce and has a longcommute. A mudslide hasforced F to add 10 miles tothe commute for two monthsAND F has kids in grades3 and 5 who have to catch arerouted school bus.

Management drops a rep-rimand for multiple days late.Steward A kicks the caseto statewide. What A doesNOT do is include any docu-ments regarding the mudslide,detours, school changes etc.

In both cases the onlydocumentation is manage-ments.

We need documentationto effectively argue our caseto an arbitrator AND the bur-den is on the UNION in thesecases.

From The Daily Evergreen, John Freitag

Stewards in Action

WFSE/AFSCME had two great groups of stewards in Stewards in Action training Oct.

26-27 in Tacoma (above) and Olympia (right).

Local 1301

Ellensburg Local 1301 elected new ofcers in September (from left): Trustee

Kevin Alder;President Jason Pratt;Executive Board member Kirk Cresto;

Vice President Brad Henshaw;Executive Board member Jim Adams;and

Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Nicholson. Not available for photo: Executive

Board member Jim Ayersand Trustee Troy Beedle.

Local 970Local 970 stewards received training on the 2013-2015 General Government

contract Oct. 17 in Raymond.

At left:Jason Lake,

Employment Security;Jeremy Grove,Transporta-

tion; Connie McPherson,

DSHS; and Jeannie

Cornell, DSHS.

At right: Kevin McMurry,

DSHS; Cathey McMurry,

DSHS; and Rod Sauer,

DSHS.


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Page 4 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee November 2013

THE FACES OF THE 70 MEMBERS OF YOUR NEW E-BOARD

Policy Committees elect 70-member Executive BoardWFSE/AFSCMEs 10 policy committees on Nov. 2 elected their allotted mem-

bers to the unions Statewide Executive Board, the highest decision-making bodyin the union between conventions. With the four statewide ofcers elected at theconvention in October, these 66 newly elected board members bring the board toits full 70-member strength.

WFSE/AFSCMEs 10 current policy committees meet to discuss, debate and

Employment Security Policy Committee ofcers: Chair - Cheryl Flynn,Local 443, Olympia; Vice-Chair -- Nancy Thorson, Local 1221, Spokane; andSecretary -- Jean Edwards, Local 443, Olympia.

set policy on issues unique to the employees within their jurisdiction.Under the formula set out in the unions constitution, each of the nine commit-

tees gets one board position for every 500 members (rounded to the next highest500). No committee gets fewer than two seats on the board.

These Executive Board board members represent you -- and are accountableto you.

Institutions of Higher Education Policy Committee ofcers: Chair - Kathleen Warren, Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney; Vice-Chair --

Matthew Davenhall,Local 304, Seattle Community College; and Secretary -- Lorraine Hill,Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney.

L&I Policy Committee Policy Committeeofcers: Chair - DeFranceClarke, Local 443; Vice Chair - Stacy Copland,Local 1253, Kennewick;and Secretary -- Bridget Flory, Local 443, Tumwater.

LABOR & INDUSTRIES

PUBLIC SERVICE

Board members elected from the Employment Security Policy Committee(from left): Rosanna Lugo,Local 396, Walla Walla; Ginger Bernethy, Local443, Olympia; and Joanne Bird,Local 443, Olympia.

Members elected from the Public Service PolicyCommittee(from left): Quan Tran, Local 1671,Interpreters, Vancouver; and Leroy Mould, Local 1671,Interpreters, Olympia.

EMPLOYMENT

SECURITYPublic Service

Policy Committeeofcers:

Chair -- Alfonso

Bautista,Local1671, Interpreters,

Kenmore.Vice-Chair -- QuanTran,Local 1671,

Interpreters,Vancouver.Secretary -- Vacant

INSTITUTIONS OFHIGHER EDUCATION

Elected to the board from the Institutions of Higher Education Policy Committee(from left): Rick Halverson, Local 1221, Community Colleges of Spokane;Josef Bailey, Local 1381, Western Washington University, Bellingham; Orson Williamson,Local 304, Seattle Community College; Claude Theard,Local 1488,University of Washington, Seattle; Skip Jensen,Local 330, Central Washington University, Ellensburg; Rodolfo Franco,Local 304, Seattle Community College;Quincy Burns,Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney; Max Phipps,Local 1020, Everett Community College; Paula Lukaszek,Local 1488, Universityof Washington, Seattle; Kathleen Warren,Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney; John Miller,Local 1488, UW-Bothell; Tracy Stanley,Local 1400,Lower Columbia College, Longview; and Tashia Hankerson-Smith, Local 1488, University of Washington, Seattle.

Elected to the board from the Labor and Industries PolicyCommittee(from left): Jess King,Local 1221, Spokane; ImeldaAng,Local 443, Tumwater; Nikki Butler,Local 443, Tumwater;and DeFrance Clarke,Local 443, Tumwater.


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Miscellaneous Policy Committee Ofcers: Chair - Bing

Bristol,Local 443, Enterprise Services, Olympia; Vice-Chair-- Jeff Paulsen,Local 443, Consolidated Technology Ser-

vices, Olympia; and Secretary -- Charyn Niemeyer, Local 443,Health Care Authority, Olympia.

Natural Resources PolicyCommittee ofcers:Chair-Kerry Graber,Local 872,Ecology, Lacey; Vice-Chair

-- Kathy Conaway,Local1253, Ecology, Tri-Cities;and Secretary -- SusieRathke,Local 443, Fishand Wildlife, Olympia.

Page 5WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeNovember 2013

THE FACES OF THE 70 MEMBERS OF YOUR NEW E-BOARD

Transportation Policy Committee ofcers: Chair - Larry Flue,Lo-cal 378, Seattle; Vice-Chair -- Sam Schnieder, Local 1299, George;and Secretary -- Kate Rogers,Local 1060, Greenbank.

DSHS HUMAN SERVICES

Human Services Policy Committeeofcers: Chair - Tim Hughes,Local

313, Vancouver; Vice-Chair -- SteveFossum,Local 443, Olympia; andSecretary -- Cynthia English,Local

53, Tacoma.

Institutions Policy Committee ofcers:Chair - Michele Stelovich,Local 1060, Bellingham; Vice Chair - Lyn Hoand,Retsil, Local 482; Secretary - Eliga Sacks,Local 793, Western State Hospital, Lakewood.

Board members elected from the Institutions Policy Committee(from left): Mike Murphy,Local 491, Rainier School,Buckley; Dolly Adeyemi,Local 341, Fircrest School, Shoreline; Kevin Hamel,Local 341, Fircrest School, Shoreline;Michele Stelovich,Local 1060, DD Field Services, Bellingham; James Robinson,Local 793, Western State Hospital,Lakewood; Gabe Hall,Local 862, Green Hill School, Chehalis; Diane Womack,Local 782, Eastern State Hospital, Medi-cal Lake; Julianne Moore,Local 1326, Yakima Valley School, Selah; Lee Malinda,Local 573, Lakeland Village, MedicalLake; Sherry Hewitt,Local 491, Rainier School, Buckley; Craig Gibelyou,Local 793, Western State Hospital, Lakewood;and Bob Overturf,Local 573, Consolidated Support Services, Medical Lake. Not available for photo: Lyn Hoand,Local482, Veterans Home, Retsil.

INSTITUTIONS

CORRECTIONS

Corrections Policy Committeeofcers:Chair - Bill Copland, Local 1253,

Tri-Cities; Vice Chair - Billy Smith,Local 53, Tacoma; and Secretary

- Richard DeBay,Local 1060,Bellingham.

Members elected from theCorrections Policy Committee:Alice Rogers, Local 1253,Community Corrections, Tri-Cities;and Bill Copland,Local 1253,Community Corrections, Tri-Cities

Elected from Human Services(from left, taking the oath from WFSE/AFSCME President Sue Henricksen): Tim Hughes,Local 313, Vancouver; Tracy Fosty,Local 1060, Bellingham; Gayle Chamberlain-Smith,Local 1326, Yakima; Tom Tveit,Local 1326, Yakima; John Lindsey,Local 843, Seattle; Jemerica Brown,Local 843, Seattle; Steve Fossum,Local 443,Olympia; Katie Nelson,Local 443, Olympia; Annie Namyniuk,Local 843, Kent; and Ken Blair,Local 53, Tacoma. Notavailable for photo: Cynthia English,Local 53, Tacoma; and Carol Van Arnam,Local 1299, Wenatchee.

MISCELLANEOUS

Elected from Miscellaneous(from left): Wendy Conway,Local 443, Ofce of the Insurance Commissioner, Olympia;Bing Bristol,Local 443, Enterprise Services, Olympia; BrooksSalazar,Local 304, Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals,Seattle; Linda Erickson,Local 443, Health Care Authority,Olympia; Jeff Paulsen, Local 443, Consolidated Technology

Services, Olympia; Ingrid Hansen,Local 443, Health, Olympia;Terry Nixon,Local 1225, Center for Childhood Deafness andHearing Loss, Vancouver; and Scott Hone,Local 1225, Schoolfor the Blind, Vancouver.

TRANSPORTATION

Elected from the Transportation Policy Committee(from left):Larry Flue, Local 378, Seattle; Roberto Guerrero,Local 1299,Othello; Kate Rogers,Local 1060, Greenbank; and Steve Fries,Local 1299, Moses Lake.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Elected from the Natural Resources Policy Committee (from left): Kathy Conaway,Local 1253, Ecology, Tri-Cities; Kerry Graber,Local 872, Ecology, Lacey; DenisFelton,Local 1466, Parks, Coulee City; Lisa Randlette,Local 443, Natural Resources,Olympia; and Rebekah Padgett,Local 304, Ecology, Seattle


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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeePage 6 November 2013

MEMBERS IN ACTION

by Pablo Ros

Courtesy of the AFSCME blog

It was a time to come together, tohonor the fallen and push forward forsafer working conditions for all publicsafety ofcers.

Public safety ofcers gather in ColumbusAFSCME donates $100,000 for national law enforce-ment memorial, honors members of the Newtown Po-lice Union and Lucasville Corrections Facility.

More than 350 corrections ofcers

and sworn law-enforcement person-nel from across the nation gatheredin Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 18-20 for theAFSCME Public Safety Congress.

Among them were members of theNewtown Police Union, Local 3153,who received the 2013 Law Enforce-ment Award for their response to themassacre at Sandy Hook Elementaryin Newtown, Conn.

Scott Ruszczyk, president of Local3153, accepted the award and spokeabout the role ofcers played respond-ing to the Sandy Hook Elementaryshooting. The perpetrator still hadnearly 200 more rounds of ammuni-tion at the time he was killed, Ruszc-

zyk noted. Had rst responders notintervened, the tragedy, while horric,could have been even worse.

Members of the Lucasville Cor-rections Facility in Ohio received the2013 Corrections Award in recognitionof their role quelling a deadly riot 20

years ago that claimed the life of OC-SEA member Robert Vallandingham.

Accepting the ACU award on be-half of his sisters and brothers, LukeVansickle, president of Local 7730,presented Pres. Lee Saunders withthe roster from the shift when the riotstarted a document that was been inthe locals possession ever since. It willhang in the lobby of AFSCMEs head-quarters in Washington, DC.

At the event, Saunders announcedthe donation of $100,000 to the Nation-al Law Enforcement Ofcers MemorialFund.

Our National Law EnforcementMemorial in Washington, DC, servesto remind everyone every tourist,every family, every resident who hasever called for help of the ultimatesacrice that too many of our publicsafety ofcers make every year, Saun-ders said. It helps keep those ofcers

in our hearts and minds.Throughout the conference, par-

ticipants strategized on the commonissues their locals confront, such asfunding cuts to state prisons and poli-ticians who cater to big businesses atthe expense of public workers.

Mike Fraise, a member of AF-SCME Local 2989, Council 61, whoworks in the Iowa State Penitentiary,said Gov. Terry Branstad is trying tocut stafng to save money. He wasparticularly interested in sessions onfunding for public services.

Judy Kuschel,a community cor-rections ofcer in Washington stateand member of Council 28, said she

was drawn to the event by the educa-tional opportunities offered.Its a great place to get more

ideas from other people around thecountry of how they do their jobs, andthe kind of training they get, Kuschelsaid.

Judy Kuschel,

Vancouver Local

313, attended the

AFSCME Public

Safety Congress.

From Nathe Lawver,Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

WFSE/AFSCME and other labor bowlers raised more than $13,000 at the recent 10thAnnual

Jerry Beckendorf Community Services Scholarship Bowling Tournament.Beckendorf is a retired member of Federation Local 53 in Piece County who for years was theUnited Way-AFL-CIO Labor Liaison based at the Pierce County Central Labor Council.Since 2003, the scholarship fund has helped 85 students with $52,720. These are awardedto graduating seniors who have performed at least 50 hours of community service and comefrom a union family.

PICTURED(from left): Jerry Beckendorf, state Rep. Steve Conway and Local 53 President Ken Blair.

Bowling for scholarship dollars

Tacoma Field Ofce, three

locals feted for PEOPLEWFSE/AFSCME staff at the Tacoma Field Ofce were honored at Policy CommitteeNov. 2 for recruiting the most new PEOPLE members. Also honored were three locals

with the highest percentage of PEOPLE members: Rainier School Local 491 (31.9%),

Western State Hospital/SCC/CSTC/Oakridge Local 793 (29.28%) and Kitsap Local 1181

(25.23%).

ABOVE:Local 793 member

Eliga Sacksdisplays his locals

PEOPLE award.

RIGHT: WFSE/AFSCME Council

Representative Dave Pardy

hoists the award given to the

Tacoma Field Ofce.

Local 843 member wins

prestigious APRI award

King County Human Services Lo-

cal 842 member Kevin Allenwas

honored last month with an award

for Outstanding Member Leader-ship from the local chapter of the

A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI).

APRI is the home for black trade

unionists dedicated to racial equality

and economic justice


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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeNovember 2013 Page 7

MEMBERS IN ACTION

SHARED LEAVE

REQUESTS

If youve been approved toreceive shared leave by your

agency or institution, you canplace a notice here. Onceyouve been approved by your

agency or institution, WFSE/AFSCME can place yourshared leave request here

and online. Please includea contact in your agency,usually in human resources,

for donors to call. E-mail theeditor at [email protected]. Or call1-800-562-6002.

Bart Olmsted,a customerservices specialist 2 withDSHS in Spokane and amember of Local 1221, hasbeen approved for sharedleave. Contact: Enola Kaplan,(509) 299-1024.

Theresa Bowman,anagricultural inspector 4 withthe Department of Agriculturein Brewster and a memberof Local 1299, has beenapproved for shared leave fora serious medical condition.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Diana L. Perez,a medicalassistance specialist 3 with

the Health Care Authority inOlympia, has been approvedfor shared leave through Jan.1. Contact: Nicole Rivera,(360) 725-2134.

Andrew Good, a habilitationplan administrator at WesternState Hospital in Lakewoodand a member of Local 793,is in need of shared leavebecause of residual strokeissues. Contact: Kelly Good-speed, (253) 756-2503.

Kathy Stoy, a nancial ser-vices specialist 5 with DSHSin Spokane and a member ofLocal 1221, is still in need ofshared leave. Shes been offwork since July 26. Shes hadfour surgeries in the past year.Shes in dire need of sharedleave to maintain her statehealth care coverage. Shesexpected off work until Dec. 1.Contact: Karla Stewart, (509)

227-2720.

Shawnie McAdams, a Work-Source specialist 4 with theEmployment Security Depart-ment in Everett and a memberof Local 1020, is in need ofshared leave because of amedical condition. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Kathryn Rhodes, a supportenforcement ofcer 2 withDSHS in Vancouver and amember of Local 313, has

The AFSCME GreenPower made a differ-ence in erasing pay cuts

that came with temporarypink slips given some WFSE/AFSCME members because ofthe federal shutdown.

State employees inEmployment Security, theMilitary Department andelsewhere who were fur-loughed during the recentfederal shutdown are gettingback pay thanks to AFSCMEsleading role in Washington,D.C.

AFSCME worked

diligently to insure thatpublic employees fundedby federal dollars not loseany paychecks due to the ir-responsible brinksmanship,Federation Executive DirectorGreg Devereux said.

AFSCMEs role wasntwell known in the hectic daysafter the shutdown endedOct. 16.

As AFSCME Works re-

EXCLUSIVE: AFSCMEs role in getting backpay for furloughed Employment Security andother employees

Now it can be told:

Local 1326

LOCAL 1326 GIVES BACK.Local 1326 in Yakima donated new coats, boots andscarves for all the children at the domestic violence shelter from Nov. 1-13.

What a great way to keep kids warm as the weather turns cold.

ports:A provision of the

agreement that AFSCMEchampioned will assure thatthousands of furloughedstate and local governmentemployees, who are compen-sated with federal funds, also

will get back pay, as will fed-eral workers. This will ensurefairness to all public serviceworkers furloughed duringthe government shutdown.

This shutdown, whichhas been so harmful to the na-tions fragile economic recov-ery, did not have to happen.

For two weeks, Repub-lican congressional leaderswere derelict in their duty,

AFSCME President Lee Saun-ders said, following the votein the House. They allowed afringe element in their party one vastly out of step withAmerican values and priori-ties -- to shut our governmentdown and bring the countryto the brink of defaultingon its nancial obligations.

Their actions demonstrated acallous disregard for this na-tions citizens, businesses andthe economy.

(AFSCME) will alsowork to ensure that this doesnot happen again. Unfortu-nately, the agreement onlyfunds the federal governmentthrough Jan. 15 and suspendsthe nations debt limit onlythrough Feb. 7, so anothergovernment shutdown crisisstill looms. There are solu-tions to this governing-by-crisis madness. Polls show

that most Americans supportchanges that would end theextreme partisanship thatCongress has found itselflocked into because of re-districting rules and votingrestrictions. AFSCME agreesthat such changes are neededif we are to avoid future shut-downs.

been approved for sharedleave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Alissa Slack, a social servicespecialist 3 with the DSHSOfce of Central Intake (Chil-drens Administration) and amember of Local 843 in Se-attle, is still in need of sharedleave because of a seriousmedical condition. Contact:

your human resource ofce.

Jennifer Hinson-Currin,anadjudicator 3 with DSHS inTumwater and a member ofLocal 443, is still in need ofshared leave. She has beenoff work since July. She says:My being out has caused ahuge nancial strain on myfamily. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Rachel Saunders, a healthservices consultant 3 at the

Department of Health inTumwater and a memberof Local 443, is still in needof shared leave because ofa serious health condition.She has exhausted all leave.Contact: Kim Kenderesi, (360)236-4058.

Trish Solt,a secretary seniorwith the Department ofCorrections in Mount Vernonand a member of Local 1060,was found dead at her homeOct. 11. She was 69. Shehad been a WFSE/AFSCMEmember since June 1984.The entire Federation familymourns her passing.

IN

MEMORIAM

Heres a full inside account

of AFSCMEs role from AFSCME

Legislative Director Chuck Love-

less:AFSCME played an in-

strumental role in lobbying forand securing congressionalpassage of important federallegislation that extended backpay to federally funded stateand local workers who werefurloughed during the shutdownof the federal government.Building on the support and astrong likelihood that back payfor federal workers would beincluded in any nal agreementAFSCME was able to win pas-sage of the provision for federalfunded state and local workers.Although federal workers hadbeen compensated in the pastfor other government shut-downs there had not been anyprecedent for extending backpay to state and local workers.

On Oct. 17, 2013, thepresident signed into law Pub-lic Law No: 113-46a makingcontinuing appropriations forscal year (FY) 2014. The re-sult was an end to the 16-dayfederal government shutdown,by providing appropriations untilJan. 15, 2014 at nal FY 2013levels. Also added to the legis-

IN THEIR OWN WORDS8lation was a provision reimburs-ing states for costs incurredfor operating federal programsduring the shutdown, includingreimbursement for furloughedemployees (Sec. 116).

Under this provision,states (or other federal grant-ees, which is dened as includ-ing local governments andnon-prot organizations) will bereimbursed for expenses thatwould have been paid by thefederal government for federalprograms that the state (orother grantees) had been carry-ing out prior to the shutdown. Inaddition, furloughed state em-ployees who are funded in partor whole by the federal govern-ment must be compensated attheir standard rate during suchperiod (furloughed federal gov-ernment and District of Colum-bia employees are also com-pensated). For reimbursement,states may use funds availableto them under the specic

programs, combined with anyinterested accrued under 31USC 6503(d). These provisionswould also cover future fundinglapses in FY 2014 should theyoccur, although states wouldnot get reimbursed until ap-propriations are in place. Theadoption of this provision wasa tremendous victory for stateand local workers thanks inlarge part to the work of AF-SCME.

Local 573Local 573 at Lakeland Villagein Medical Lake recently didsomething that I thought wasvery touching. Arlene Bryant,a 573 member (AttendantCounselor 1) of many years,had to retire early to takecare of her ailing husband(who had Alzheimers); hethen passed away about sixmonths later. This long-timemember/coworker did nothave enough money to haveher husband cremated. Local573 donated the money nec-essary for his cremation to anaccount that had been estab-

lished in the members name.-- from Electra Jubon,WFSE/AFSCME

Council Representative (Spokane)

SAVE THE DATE!

Legislative Summit on Racial Equity

Join the Race and Social Justice CommunityRoundtable and community partners as we sharethe 2014 Racial Equity State Legislative Agendawith state legislators.

When: 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3Where:New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32ndAve. S.,Seattle, WA 98118Register online: surveymonkey.com/s/LegSummitFor more information:[email protected] the WFSE/AFSCME website: http://www.

wfse.org/ai1ec_event/racial-equity-legislative-summit/?instance_id


8/8

STAFFCONTACT:BrandonA

nderson800-562-6002orbrandona@

wfse.org|Interestedinservingon

theCouncil28NextWaveCommittee

?ContactBrandontolearnmore.

washington state employee - nov 2014

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