WSE 2/2016

7/24/2019 WSE 2/2016

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The ofcial newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28•AFL-CIO

VOL. 44 NO. 1

FEBRUARY 2016Calling all DSHS WFSE/AFSCME artists!

See page 7.

8Big changes for fairness at theUniversity of Washington and Har-

borview Medical Center. See 8.

w w w . d

i s c o v e r p a s s . w

a . g

o v

Now good on either

of two vehicles!

State Employee

WASHINGTON

INSIDE:

On the front lines at the worksite andLegislature for public services, address-ing recruitment and retention, resourcesfor L&I, Children’s, Mental Health, Ecol-ogy, more. See 2 & 3.

At South Seattle College, custodianslike Terry Tackett and Koss Girre take pride in their work for the stu-

dents and community.

‘You can’t change

anything until you

admit a problem’South Seattle College membersexpose “toxic campus culture”

Despite their commit-ment, the Local 304 members

often meet resistance, ridiculeor worse from management.

It’s about fair treatment,they said.

Tackett and Girre are justtwo of those working to callout management. That in-cluded a press conference andpetition.

They want respect at aworkplace where complaintsabout bullying, harassmentand discrimination seem tohit a brick wall with theirmanagement.

“I want the prob-lems to be recognized andchanged...,” Tackett said.

“You can’t change any-thing until you admit there’s aproblem.”

Tackett, who’s worked at the

main campus for three years,

See SOUTH SEATTLE, page 7

ABOVE: Terry Tackett, Local 304 (left), and

WFSE/AFSCME Council Representative Kaite

Mark at the main campus of South Seattle Col-

LEFT: Council Rep. Mark with

Georgetown Campus custodian

Koss Girre, Local 304 (right).

INSIDE:

IT’S ABOUT SAFETY. Members from Labor and

Industries Division of Safety and Health at

one of their many Lobby Days to address

recruitment and retention.

Who is the ‘Freedom’ Foundation?

These guys aren’t on our side.

Learn more on

pages 4 & 5.

7/24/2019 WSE 2/2016


WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee February 2016

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

Sue Henricksen, President

Greg Devereux, Executive Director

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

WASHINGTON

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OPTION. If you’d 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 you’re a represented non-member fee payer and you don’t wish to receive this publication in any format, e-mail us at con - [email protected], or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

ON THE FRONT LINES WHERE WFSE/AFSCME NEVER QUITS

Walking together beatsstanding alone. And when we join together as the union thatnever quits, we achieve greatthings.

Take the latest victory atWestern State Hospital. Even

with all the attention on thepsychiatric hospital’s recruit-ment and retention, stafngand safety crises, membersstill use their power to winimprovements on the job tomake their work more effec-tive.

The latest victory at West-ern State centers on “vacationsegments.”

Management announcedand attempted to implementa shorter time frame for Local793 members there to requestvacation segments in 2016.

The union enforced mem-

Amid crises, Western State Hospital members win

bers’ contract rights throughwhat is known as the “de-mand to bargain” process.

“We were able to negotiate a better time for submittal,a transparent process andtwo more slots added thanin 2015,” said Sean Dannen,

WFSE/AFSCME’s General

Government strategic coordi-nator.

“And we were able to getmanagement to e-mail all staffabout the change and thatmembers should contact our bargaining team with ques-tions.”

The nal letter of agree-

ment came out Jan. 19.

From left: Reidun MacGregor (WFSE council rep.), Sean Dannen (WFSE GG

strategic coordinator), and Local 793 members Tracy Muntz, Dani Kendall

and John Henson.

Salary survey win at WWU

At Western WashingtonUniversity in Bellingham inDecember, WFSE/AFSCMEresolved a salary surveygrievance that brings 10 Local1381 members a 17.5 percent

salary increase, retroactive to July 1, 2015.

“This really shows thevalue of the union,” saidWFSE/AFSCME Labor Advo-cate Jennifer Dixon.

• • •

Fish & Wildlife Construc-

tion Shop shift premium

Also in late December,some 40 Department of Fishand Wildlife members at the

Lacey Construction Shop inThurston County won a set-tlement agreement over non-payment of “shift premium”pay.

Under the agreement, af-fected staff will receive $20a year for the period Jan. 6,2013, through Jan. 6, 2015(when the union led the de-mand to bargain).

• • •

Some 30-plus member leaders gathered Jan. 9 to continue brain-

storming how to advocate for regional pay equity. They generatedgreat energy and ideas at the meeting at the WFSE/AFSCME’s

Seattle Field Ofce.

Working for regional pay equity

Victories at Western

Washington University,

Fish & Wildlife, Central

Washington University

CWU snow workload

clarication

Custodians at CentralWashington University nowhave clear understandingfrom management on how to balance their workload whensnow removal is literallydumped on them from theskies.

This came in January,thanks to action by CWULocal 330 members, WFSE/AFSCME President Sue Hen-ricksen and Higher EducationStrategic Coordinator MarkHamilton.

The custodians are dedi-cated to making the campusfacilities safe and clean for thestudents.

But they expressed frus-tration about “unclear priori-ties and ambiguous expecta-tions” when Mother Naturesends snow down on campusthat clogs up sidewalks androadways, Hamilton said.

The union suggested thatthe CWU maintenance andoperations department clearly

communicate to custodianshow to factor snow removalinto their workloads.

And on Jan. 12, the uni-versity did just that.

This clear communica-tion won by the union helpsmake clear how important thework of CWU custodians isyear round – and during thesnowy winter season.

New ofcers at Central Washington University Local 330.

Being sworn in on the CWU campus in Ellensburg (from left): Skip Jensen,

vice president; Chris Stebbins, president; Chris Everett, local executiveboard; Tina Diamond, local executive board; and Pat Devlin, treasurer. Not

pictured: Virginia Letson, Secretary; and Betty Hawkins, local executive

board.

STEWARDS IN ACTION: Congratulations to WFSE members who completed

Stewards-in-Action (SIA) training Jan. 23-24 in Smokey Point.

From left: Dan Andreason, Bert Miller, Teresa Allredege, WFSE/AFSCME

Council Representaves Phyllis Naiad and Michael Wilsey, and Michele

Stelovich.

SHOP STEWARD CORNER

Local 443 supports disaster/hardship relief fund

WFSE/AFSCME Local 443 members delivered a donation to the Foundationfor Working Families Jan. 19 at their general membership meeting. Local443 members Ingrid Hansen (left) and Jeff Paulsen (right) presentedthe check to Foundation board member Carol Dotlich (center, a formerWFSE/AFSCME president). Some 112 WFSE/AFSCME members receivedassistance in 2015 from the Foundation. Since 2011, the Foundation hasprovided $110,000 in disaster support to WFSE/AFSCME members.

Learn more about the Foundation for Working Families: wfse.org/foundationfor-working-families.

MEMBERS ONLY BENEFITS CORNERAPPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2016 JERRY BECKEND-

ORF SCHOLARSHIPS —For high school students in Pierce CountyRecognizes outstanding student volunteerism and encouragesfuture generations of union advocates. Open to high school stu-dents in Pierce County whose parents or guardians are veriableunion members. AFL-CIO Community Services and United WayPartnership.

DEADLINE: March 14, 2016.

Download an application and get more details online: http://wfse.org/jerry-beckendorf-community-service-scholarship/

7/24/2019 WSE 2/2016


WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeFebruary 2016

LEGISLATURE 2016: WFSE/AFSCME NEVER QUITS

Stay engaged, informed:

Lobby Days:

http://wfse.org/get-involved/ lobby-days/ Hotline updates:

• Audio – 1-800-562-6102• E-mail – sign up at wfse.org/news/ • Text updates: Text NEWSto 237263• Online: wfse.orgAction alerts: Text wfsec28to 237263

Gov. Jay Inslee Jan. 22toured Western State Hospitalto get a frontline look andhear from Local 793 membersabout the crisis in recruitmentand retention, safety andfunding at the 800-plus bedpsychiatric facility in Lake-wood.

“He made the trip outhere to assess the situation

for himself because we’re ina crisis situation out here,”said Alice Kreiger, a licensedpractical nurse and Local 793member.

“I think that by talking tounion members, I think thathe has a clearer picture ofwhat is going on out here.”

The governor met withabout 30 union members withno management present toget their frank assessment ofthe situation. Then he touredwards to get an even closerlook.

Gov. Inslee tours Western State Hospital, gets frontline look, listens

Local 793 members who represented views of Western State Hospital mem-

bers during governor’s tour (from left): Gina Najolia, James Robinson, Alice

Kreiger, Eliga Sacks and Kathy Seiffert.

Members talk frankly with Inslee (far right) during his Jan. 22 visit to WesternState Hospital.

“He seemed to be listen-ing to a lot of things that weresaid,” forensic evaluator GinaNajolia (Local 793) said.

“I think the consistencyof the message about staff-ing and funding is gettingthrough.”

“I feel hopeful that the

governor came out himselfand really felt it was impor-tant to talk to staff,” psychi-atric social worker KathySeiffert (Local 793) said.

“That really indicates,I think, his commitment tomaybe changing the situation,talking to the people who re-

ally are on hand.“So it’s a hopeful thing

and I really felt glad that hewas here. I really respectedhim for coming out.”

Western is under threat oflosing federal funding for nu-merous safety violations. It’sfacing a severe recruitmentand retention problem withhundreds of staff vacancies.That causes higher work-

loads at dangerous levels andleaves patients and staff evenmore vulnerable to patientassaults.

Top administrators faceda blistering Senate hearing in January over managementlapses. Seiffert and WFSE/AFSCME Lobbyist Matt Zuv-ich testied about the need forresources to solve the recruit-ment and retention crisis.

It’s coming down to the wire on our issues in Olympia

LEFT: Local 843 member

Micah Kurtz (left, with

WFSE/AFSCME’s Sean

Dannen) explains the

recruitment and reten-

tion problem in DSHS

Children’s Administration

to a House committee in

January.

Short session endsMarch 10; budgetdebate ramping upover recruitmentand retention and

funding of publicservices

L&I DOSH Safety

and Health Pro-fessionals on one

of their lobby days

making the case

for recruitment

and retention

funds; From left:

Allen Johnson,

Taylor Weaver,

Gary Osborn,

Amy Davidson

and Edgar

Alvarez.

WFSE/AFSCME members gather for Presidents’ Day Lobby Day Feb. 15 to

take messages to legislators on the need to address recruitment and retention,

part-time workers in Higher Education, outsourcing (the good Taxpayer Protec-

tion Act), retirement stability, and more resources for L&I Safety and Health,

Children’s, mental health, Ecology (Model Toxics Control Act fund), more.

Local 1671 members gather for

Medical Interpreters Lobby Day.

Spokane Local 1221 members on their Lobby Day in January.

Yakima Local 1326 members at their Lobby Day in Olympia Feb. 12. They

gladly let Gov. Jay Inslee photobomb their group pix! From left: Gladi Brinlee,

Alicia Marmaledo, Gov. Jay Inslee, Becky Withrow and Hazel Cromwell.

While legislation impor-tant to WFSE/AFSCME wasstill moving in the 2016 legis-lative session, the debate overthe supplemental budget wasexpected to amp up the weekof Feb. 22 when the Housereleases its budget plan.

Then it’ll be the Senate’sturn.

They may or may not ac-cept the recommendationsput forward by Gov. Jay In-

slee in December.The legislative sessionends March 10.

WFSE/AFSCME members from many agencies andprograms once again haveused a steady stream of LobbyDays to urge lawmakers tomake public services a prior-ity.

Members’ key asks in thesupplemental budget:

Recruitment and retention

Attracting and keepingstate workers to do the tough jobs of protecting those in

need of a hand up and thedangerous jobs of keepingus safe and sound must be apriority in several programs,such as:

• Mental health (psychi-atric hospitals) (see relatedstory below) .

• Children’s Administra-tion. In Children’s, membershave undertaken a number ofstatewide actions and LobbyDays.

High caseloads and work-loads are a big part of theproblem in Children’s.

In a related development,

Gov. Jay Inslee was scheduledto announce a reform initia-tive in Children’s Administra-tion on Feb. 18.

• Labor and Industries

safety and health inspec-

tors. In the L&I Division ofSafety and Health (DOSH),there’s a need for L&I to paycompetitive salaries for its oc-cupational and health profes-

sionals.

Ecology

The Model Toxics Control Actfund needs to be shored up.This is an environmental issue but also a jobs issue – if the

fund is further eroded it could

mean cuts in Ecology staffwho do the work enforcing

the voter-approved act.

7/24/2019 WSE 2/2016


S

o m e o n e ’ s

l o o

k i n g f o r y o u r n

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e y w a n t t h e f r e e d o m t o a t t a c k t h

e p a y , b e n e t s a n d

r e t i r e m e n t o f p u b l i c s e r v a n t s .

W h y ? T o m a k e t h e r i c h r i c h e r .

T h

e y d i d i t i n W i s c o n s i n . N o w t h e y ’ r e a f t e r u s . T h e y w a n t

t o s t a r v e o u r u n i o n .

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w ? T r i c k u s i n t o g i v i n g u p o u r p o w e r b y d r o p p i n g o u r

u n i o n m e m b e r s h i p a n d n o t p a y i n g

d u e s . I n W i s c o n s i n ,

t h o

u s a n d s o f p u b l i c e m p l o y e e s a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s l o s t j o b s ,

b e n e t s , c o l l e g e s a v i n g s , a n d r e t i r e m e n t s .

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p o w e r t o s t o p a t t a c k s o n p u b l i c s e r v i c e s , o u t s o u r c i n g a n d

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o f o u r s t a t e . ” K a c i e ,

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n t s , T h e y h a v e n o i d e a

h o w c o m m i t t e d w e a r e t o o u r w o r k . ”

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n d m e d i c a l c r i s i s

T h e ‘ F r e e d o m

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7/24/2019 WSE 2/2016


The ‘Freedom’ Foundation is trying to get state employees’ personal contact information.

Why do they want to contact you about your Union membership? It’s simple.

We stand in the way. Our union protects public employees and the public good. As long as we’re strong they

can’t get their hands on the billions of dollars invested each year in public services and public education.

They want to dismantle government, cut public services and outsource public jobs to the private sector.

They are a front group for the ultra wealthy and funded by special interests.

GET THE FACTS. Learn more at http://www.FreedomFoundationFacts.com

State Employee

ISSUES HERE’S WHAT OUR

UNION STANDS FOR:

HERE’S WHAT THE

‘FREEDOM’ FOUNDATION

WANTS TO DO:

Fair PayPay that refects our value

Our union advocates for pay increases for state

employees, including cost-of-living raises, step-wage

increases, and market adjustments. Together, we

won raises in July and we’re working for more. State

employees are still dramatically under-paid.

Stop public employee raisesThe ‘Freedom’ Foundation opposes raises, cost-

of-living increases and step-wage increases. They

even oppose paid sick days. They say public

employees are “pilfering the public purse.”

Funding for

Public Services

Services that make

Washington strongOur union supports funding for public services and

protects vital programs. Together, we have savedhundreds of public programs and state services.

Cut vital public programsThe ‘Freedom’ Foundation wants to cut services.

Thousands of vulnerable people could lose services

- even critical programs like L&I and unemployment

benets.

Quality Jobs in

Washington

Public jobs - public good

WFSE opposes outsourcing public services and has

successfully stopped many attempts to cut public

services, saving thousands of jobs. Prots have

no place in the delivery of public services.

Outsource public servicesThe ‘Freedom’ Foundation wants to outsource

public services to corporations for private prot.

They are targeting jobs like park services, social ser-

vices, road maintenance, corrections, IT and human

resources. Thousands of state employee could

lose their jobs.

Pension SecurityRetirement security

Our union has stopped repeated attacks on public

employee pensions and retirement security. Be-

cause of our union membership power, we still have

strong pension benets.

Privatize public pensionsThe ‘Freedom’ Foundation wants to ‘reform’ publicemployee pensions by ending dened-benet

plans and replacing them with risky 401(k) plans.

Affordable

Health Insurance

Affordable health careTogether, we’ve stopped efforts to raise our

monthly health care premiums and stopped their

attempts to remove coverage for our spouses.

This is union power.

Raise health care costsThe ‘Freedom’ Foundation wants state employees

to pay higher monthly premiums. They believe state

employees should pay more for coverage.

FreedomFoundationFacts.com

ISSUES > Fair Pay

FreedomFoundationFacts.comISSUES > Preserving Public Services & Good Jobs


ISSUES > Preserving Public Services & Good Jobs

FreedomFoundationFacts.comISSUES > Retirement Security


ISSUES > Affordable Health Care

Get the facts: http://www.FreedomFoundationFacts.com

7/24/2019 WSE 2/2016


UNION NEWS

SHARED LEAVE

REQUESTS

IN

MEMORIAM

Shannon Henry, a nancialservices specialist 3 withDSHS in Spokane (MapleCSO) and a member of Local1212, is in need of sharedleave because of cancer sur-gery and recovery. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Christina Erickson, a social

service specialist 2 with DSHSin Spokane (Maple CSO) anda member of Local 1212, is inneed of shared leave becauseof a serious medical condition.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Jill Jeffries, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 with DSHSin Bremerton and a member ofLocal 1181, has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact: yourhuman resource ofce.

Toni Mohle, a Community Cor-rections ofcer with the Depart-

ment of Corrections in the DOCPierce County Special NeedsUnit and a member of Local 53,has been approved for sharedleave because of recent brainsurgery and intractable mi-graines. Contact: Diana Whitein DOC payroll or Fran Halpainin DOC Human Resources, oryour human resource ofce.

Lisa McCormick, a programcoordinator with the SystemPolicy and Integrity Opera-tions Division (ESPIOD) at theEmployment Security Depart-ment in Lacey and a memberof Local 443, is still in need of

shared leave because of sev-eral serious medical conditions.She will use all her availableleave for upcoming medicalappointments. Any donationwould be greatly appreciated.Contact: Kathleen Young, (360)902-9538, or your human re-source ofce.

Susan Betts, an industrialinsurance underwriter withthe Department of Labor andIndustries in Tumwater and amember of Local 443, is still inneed of shared leave to coverthe time she will miss during

extended treatment and recov-ery from breast cancer. Susanis expected to continue to be offwork until the end of May. Su-san has used all her availableleave. Contact: Laura Cadwell,(360) 902-5488, or your ownhuman resource ofce.

Sue Martinez, a nancial ser-vices specialist 4 at the DSHSEverett Community ServiceOfce and a member of Lo-cal 948, has a serious healthcondition and is still in need ofshared leave. Contact: Cheryl

Stailey in DSHS Human Re-sources, or your human re-source ofce.

Shaunda Holbrook, a nancialservices specialist 3 with DSHSat Spokane Maple CommunityService Ofce and a memberof Local 1221, is still in need ofshared leave because of a seri-ous medical condition. She hasused all her available leave.Any donation would be greatlyappreciated. Contact: KarlaStewart, (509) 227-2720, or

your human resource ofce.

Corinna Luce, an ofce assis-tant 3 with the Employment Se-curity Department in Spokane,has been approved for sharedleave from Feb. 22 to May 22for a serious health condition.Contact: Kathleen Young, (360)902-9538, or your human re-source ofce.

Gail Ostrander-Etter, a socialservice specialist 2 with DSHSin Spokane (Spokane MapleCSO) and a member of Local1221, is in need of shared leavebecause of a serious medical

condition. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Victoria Nanney, a juvenilerehabilitation counselor at Nas-elle Youth Camp and a memberof Local 2263, is in need ofshared leave as she recoversfrom surgery. Contact: DallasMcKay, (360) 484-3223, or yourhuman resource ofce.

Easter Lynn, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 with DSHS inEverett and a member of Local843, has been approved forshared leave. Contact: your hu-

man resource ofce.

Alisha Gipson, an ofce as-sistant 3 with DSHS in Tacomaand a member of Local 53, isin need of shared leave for aserious health condition. Shedoes not have enough accruedleave to cover all her absences.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Melissa Hartung, a tax spe-cialist 3 with the EmploymentSecurity Department in Olympiaand a member of Local 443,has been approved for sharedleave through March 16. Con-tact: Kathleen Young, (360)902-9538, or your human re-source ofce.

Linda Thys, a Worksourcespecialist 4 with the Employ-ment Security Department inRedmond and a member ofLocal 304, is in need of sharedleave to care for her husband,Barry. He had very serioussurgery in December and shehad to take give weeks off fromwork to provide care for him.She continues to miss some

work for frequent doctor ap-pointments and hospital examsas her husband continuesrecovery. This has caused anancial strain for her and herhusband. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Daran Kravanh, a social ser-vice specialist 2 with DSHSin Tacoma and a member ofLocal 53, has been approvedfor shared leave because of aserious health condition. He willsoon exhaust all of his leave

balances. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Kim T. Nguyen, a social ser-vice specialist 2 with DSHS inOlympia and a member of Lo-cal 443, has been approved forshared leave. Contact: DanielLozano, (360) 533-9788, oryour human resource ofce.

Kayla Van Horn, an ofce as-sistant 3 with DSHS on theTacoma HIU Team, will be offwork for two weeks for surgeryand recovery. Contact: your hu-man resource ofce.

Arshad Khan, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 with DSHS inBellingham and a member ofLocal 1060, has been approvedfor shared leave because ofa serious health condition.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Loretta Rigby, an unemploy-ment insurance specialist 4with the Employment SecurityDepartment in Spokane anda member of Local 1221, is inneed of shared leave. She isrequesting donations of sharedleave to cover time she is miss-

ing while receiving treatmentfor a serious illness. She hasused all her available leave.Contact: Kathleen Young, (360)902-9538, or your own humanresource ofce.

LaVonne Fromm, an excisetax examiner 3 with the Depart-ment of Licensing in Olympiaand a member of Local 443,is in need of shared leave be-cause of an ongoing seriousillness. She is requesting dona-tions of shared leave to covertime she has already missedand will miss during her up-coming surgery and recovery.She has used all her availableleave. Contact: Shelby Krismer-Harada, (360) 902-4060, oryour own human resource of-ce.

Tongata “Tammy” Charamas,

a nancial services specialist3 with DSHS in Seattle and amember of Local 843, has beenapproved for shared leave. Tohelp with a donation of eligibleunused annual leave or sickleave or all or part of your per-sonal holiday, please contact

your human resource ofce.

Carolyn Symons, a DDS ad- judicator 3 with DSHS in Olym-pia, is in need of shared leaveto cover time she will misswhile recovering after break-ing both of her arms and thesubsequent surgeries. She hasbeen off since before Christmasand will not be able to return towork until Feb. 1. Contact: Deb-bie Stallard, (360) 664-7415,or your own human resourceofce.

Ce’cilia Jones, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 with DSHS inRenton and a member of Local843, is in need of shared leaveto cover time she is missingwhile contending with recurringmedical issues. She still is un-able to return to work on a full-time basis. Contact: MarylouBaker, (206) 568-5501, or yourown human resource ofce.

Marie Hammer, an informa-tion technology specialist 3 atSeattle Central College anda member of Local 304, is inneed of shared leave to cover

the time she is out on medicalleave through the end of Janu-ary. Contact: Kathryn Woodley,(206) 934-2028, or your ownhuman resource ofce.

Mari Wyatt, an ofce assis-tant lead with the Departmentof Corrections in Seattle anda member of Local 308, is inneed of shared leave to coverthe time she will miss whilerecovering from rotary cuffsurgery performed on Nov. 11.This surgery was necessitatedby injuries Mari received duringher May car accident. Contact:

Jenny Tan, (206) 516-773, oryour own human resource of-ce.

Isabel Estrada, a social ser-vices specialist 2 with DSHSin Renton and a member ofLocal 843, is in need of sharedleave to cover time she willmiss while recovering from theheart attack she suffered whilerecovering from surgery. She isonly released for part time dutyfor about six weeks. Contact:Marylou Baker, (206) 568-5501,or your own human resourceofce.

Jackie Hilton, a customer ser-vice specialist 2 at the DSHSKelso Community Service Of-ce and a member of Local1400, has been approved forshared leave because of a seri-ous health condition. Contact:Daniel Lozano, (360) 533-9788,or your own human resourceofce.

Alicia Solomon, a nancialservices specialist 4 with DSHSin Bellingham and a memberof Local 1060, is off work be-

cause of surgery and does nothave enough leave to coverher absences. Contact: VickieRothenbuhler, (360) 714-4006.

Terri Butler, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 at the DSHSShelton Community ServiceOfce and a member of Local443, has been approved forshared leave because of theserious health condition of afamily member. Contact: DanielLozano, (360) 533-9788, oryour own human resource of-

ce.

Pat C Havens, a WorkFirstprogram specialist with DSHSin Olympia and a member ofLocal 443, has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact: Dan-iel Lozano, (360) 533-9788,or your own human resourceofce.

Monica Whatley, a WorkFirstprogram specialist with DSHSin Lakewood and a member ofLocal 53, has been approvedfor shared leave because ofa serious medical condition.She will soon exhaust all of her

leave balances. Contact: yourhuman resource ofce.

Jane Zimmer, a support en-forcement ofcer 4 with DSHSin Vancouver and a member ofLocal 313, sends thanks to allwho have donated time already.But she is still recuperatingfrom her serious accident and isagain requesting shared leave.She has used all her availableleave resources. Contact: PamMiller, (360) 397-9704, or yourown human resource ofce.

Debra Browning, a medical

assistance specialist with theHealth Care Authority in SkagitCounty, is in need of sharedleave to cover the time she hasmissed work while caring fora terminally ill family memberand receiving treatments for herinjuries from an automobile ac-cident. Contact: Paula William-son, (360) 725-3805, or yourown human resource ofce.

Eric Roberts, a facility plannerwith the Department of Licens-ing in Olympia and a memberof Local 443, is seeking sharedleave for medical reasons. Con-tact: Shelby Krisner-Harada,(360) 902-4060, or your humanresource ofce.

Felicia Conroy, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 with DSHS inLakewood, has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact: yourhuman resource ofce.Britney DeGuire, a nancialservices specialist 3 with DSHSin Spokane, has been ap-proved for shared leave for Jan.25-April 18. Contact: your hu-man resource ofce.

James Henry “Jim” Crouse, Local1301, Ellensburg, passed away Jan.21 of a sudden heart attack. He was62.

He’d worked for the state for just

over two years, but he was a strongunion activist from the beginning andserved as an ofcer of Local 1301.

Jim worked was a nancial servic-es specialist in the Ellensburg DSHSofce.

His colleagues and union staff-ers who knew him say he was one ofthe sweetest, nicest people they haveknown.

His wife, Dawn,wrote on Facebook:“I lost my bestfriend forever andwe will all will misshim dearly!”

A memorialvisitation tookplace Jan. 27 inEllensburg.

• • •

Ramona Frances Berry, a retiredspecial investigator for the Departmentof Social and Health Services. Shepassed away Jan. 20. She was 72.

Crouse


7/24/2019 WSE 2/2016


WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeFebruary 2016

POSTER CONTEST FOR DSHS MEMBERS, FAMILIES

WHAT:

POSTER CONTEST for WFSE/AFSCME membersin the Department of Social and Health Services(DSHS)

THEME: Fostering DSHS Unity Across Divisions:How We Transform Lives! Our Union Never GivesUp!

WHY:

Winning contribution will be used for DSHS-WFSE/ AFSCME “Unity Poster”

Winning artwork will be chosen by an anonymous“Peoples’ Vote” to take place at opening reception for Art Walk inOlympia in April.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Use any media, sizes 8.5x11 to 24x36 inches.

• By submitting artwork, participants agree to an unconditional releaseof their submissions for use by the Washington Federation of StateEmployees and the American Federation of State, County andMunicipal Employees, including the addition of WFSE and AFSCMElogos in the use of their submissions. All entries become the propertyof WFSE.

Calling all DSHS

WFSE/AFSCME artists!The recent statewide action depicting kids cared forby DSHS members in the Children’s Administration

inspired a wider use of art to publicly depict how vitaltheir services are.

Now all DSHS members and their families are invitedto create and submit posters.

Get out your paints, markers, charcoal pencils, cray-ons or whatever art tools and supplies you use andenter the poster contest for WFSE/AFSCME mem-bers in DSHS.

Tori Byington,

DSHS member of

Olympia Local 443,

is already gear-

ing up to enter the

poster contest.

• We reserve the right to edit out inappropriate language andimagery, and such submissions will not be shown.

• Open to WFSE/AFSCME members and families: All ages welcometo submit artwork!Group 1: Ages 5 years old to 10

Group 2: Ages 11 to 17Group 3: Ages 18 and over(Please indicate age on back of artwork)

DEADLINE:

All art must be received by Thursday, March 31.Send to: WFSE/AFSCME Organizing Department906 Columbia St. S.W., Fourth FloorOlympia, WA 98501

QUESTIONS?

Contact Sarah Buel, Rosemary Sterling or Elizabeth Turnbow at1-866-820-2291. or contact [email protected]

Example of recent artwork that members in DSHS Children’s Administration developed to tell the

story of how many kids are literally in their hands.

tells the story of the colleaguewho asked for a motorized buggy – a mini-truck that canhaul trash and other heavytools and materials custodiansencounter every day.

When the co-worker

showed up at the warehouseto pick up the new buggy, theco-worker was met with aso-called “handicapped three-wheeler” – the kind you see ingrocery stores.

Management had markedthe scooter in a way that ridi-culed the co-workers’ request.

“It was supposed to be a joke, but the joke came fromour higher authority, whichis our management,” Tackettsaid.

The co-worker “took real

offense to it,” he said.Tackett said his co-worker

and the rest of the custodialcrew were offended becausethe incident seemed to be aslam in the face to disabledworkers and students on cam-

pus.That buggy issue is cur-

rently being worked throughthe grievance process andother member workplace ac-tions.

But it illustrates the chal-lenges faced by Local 304members at South Seattle, oneof the most diverse campusesin the state.

Girre, who works on the college’s other campus inGeorgetown (near Boeing

Field), has worked for the col-lege since 2004. An immigrantfrom war-torn Somalia, shesays, “I support my family back home.”

But in her years at the col-lege, she’s weathered at tires(“someone was putting nailsunder my tires,” she said) andother vandalism to her car,and other hair-raising harass-ment. Complaints seem to be

ignored by management, shesaid.

Once, a co-worker toldher that Girre believed “in a bad religion – I am a bad per-son.”

Girre said she is Muslim.“Stop believing some-

body is bothering you,” Girresaid one manager told her onetime.

She said what is hap-pening to her is about “myreligion, my race and where Icame from.”

Despite all they and their co-

workers have been through,Girre, Tackett and other unionmembers are taking the highroad.

“How can we repair thisrelationship?” Tackett asked.

They hope exposing theunfair treatment heals, nothurts, the South Seattle Com-munity.

“I just think they (man-

agement practices) need to beexposed,” Tackett said. “Whyhide it? If you did, be a manor woman of your word, let’sdeal with it and let’s keeprolling.”

In just a few days in early

February, hundreds of work-ers, students and supporterssigned a petition calling for anend to the toxic work environ-ment.

“Both the administrationand the Human Resources

Department have been alertedto many of our concerns, butchoose to be complacent in theface of a toxic campus culturethat has been created by thelack of enforcement aroundongoing problems on cam-pus,” the petition declared.

Management has hired aconsultant to do a workplaceassessment. That included in-terviewing the custodians.

And Tackett and Girre were scheduled to speak at a Feb.19 press conference co-spon-sored by the NAACP and theWashington Federation ofState Employees/AFSCME.

The press conferenceaimed to shed light on thedisconnect at South SeattleCollege between manage-ment and the disrespectfultreatment of custodians andothers.

SOUTH SEATTLE,from page 1

7/24/2019 WSE 2/2016


MEMBERS IN ACTION


With unanimous backing from

the Metropoli-tan King County Coun-cil, Local 1488 membersat Harborview MedicalCenter in Seattle havewon a major change inhow the University ofWashington runs thisregion’s premier traumacenter.

The council Feb. 8 voted9-0 for a new 10-year agree-ment with the UW to runHarborview, which is owned by the people of King County.

The new agreement reas-serts the county’s ownershiprole. The agreement puts theUW on notice the people ofKing County won’t tolerateany more controversial plansto close critical-care and com-munity clinics at the hospitaland they won’t put up withmistreatment of custodians,call-center operators andother employees.

“I’ve witnessed history being

made,” Harborview memberToccara Smith (Local 1488)

said after the vote.“Harborview hospitalis getting back to servingthe people, the community,again.”

Joining Smith and otherWFSE/AFSCME membersfor the council vote was Lo-cal 1488’s Farris Hinton, whoalso works at Harborview.

“On behalf of WFSEmembers of Local 1488 (Har- borview Medical Center), weare glad that the King CountyCouncil and the University ofWashington have come to anagreement,” Hinton said. “Asvice president of HarborviewWFSE Local 1488, I look for-ward to working with leader-

Harborview Medical Center members celebrate big win on how the UW runs the hospital

‘I’ve witnessed history being made’

After the victory on the Harborview management contract, from left: Farris Hinton, Cleeesther Thomas and Toccara

Smith.

What the UW-Harborviewmanagement agreementdeclares on respect forLocal 1488 members’voices:

“The University will ne-

gotiate its collective bar-gaining agreements in aproductive and respectfulmanner and in good faithwith the objective of seek-ing to reach timely agree-ments, prior to the expi-ration of such collectivebargaining agreements.The University shallcomply with its collectivebargaining agreements,and shall not directly orindirectly, interfere with,restrain, coerce, or dis-criminate against Univer-sity Employees working at

the Medical Center in thefree exercise of their rightto organize and designaterepresentatives of theirchoosing for the purposeof collective bargaining, orin the free exercise of anyother right.”

‘Mutual respect’

ship and honoring the new

management agreement.”

Previous councils rubber-

stamped the managementagreements over the past 45years.

But this council, alertedand moved by Local 1488members’ actions and speak-ing out, took a harder line.

The council and CountyExecutive Dow Constantine’sofce worked with membersand hammered out a newagreement that reasserts thehospital’s core mission to pro-vide health care to the most

vulnerable residents of KingCounty.

The agreement recommits

the hospital to provideingcare for a broad spectrum ofpatients from throughout theregion.

“I’m glad you broughtthe mission statement backto Harborview and back tothe people,” WFSE/AFSCMEcouncil representative Cleees-

ther Thomas told the countycouncil before the vote.Thomas is also a former long-time Harborview employee.

Councilmember Larry

Gossett called it an “historicagreement.”

“It really is a new day,”

Councilmember Rod Dem- bowski said before the unani-mous vote.

The nal agreement in-cludes all the principles anddemands that Local 1488

members and WFSE/AFSC-ME laid out in February 2014,including maintaining clin-ics in their current locations,properly stafng Harborviewand setting a new tone on labor relations and bargaining based on “mutual respect.”

The agreement also includes

other accountability measuresto end what has often beencalled the UW’s “business asusual attitude” in employeerelations.

It’s clear that the UW willundertake no major changesin any area unilaterally, butonly with consultation and/or approval of the county ex-ecutive, county council or theHarborview Board of Trusteesappointed by the council.

Collaboration withWFSE/AFSCME members isnecessary.

“We’re very happy tosee this come and that somepeace is coming,” Thomastold the council.

“We look forward to con-

tinuing the work that makes

Harborview the premier insti-tution that it is and partnering(with King County) in makingthe language of the agree-ment not just language, buta reality of the operation ofHarborview Medical Center,”said Mark Hamilton, WFSE/AFSCME’s Higher EducationStrategic Coordinator.

The agreement then wentto King County ExecutiveDow Constantine, the Harbor-view Board of Trustees andthe UW Board of Trustees fortheir approval and signature.

Hamilton addresses council.Thomas

Harborview Medical Center is a

familiar landmark on Seattle’s First

Hill, overlooking the SODO stadiums

where the Seahawks and Mariners

play.

University of WashingtonLocal 1488 is making surenone of its diverse commu-nity is left without a voice.

Members of the local’sEritrean community wereinvited Feb. 8 to meet anddiscuss issues with UWPresident Ana Mari Cauce ata community center in southSeattle.

Local 1488 memberRaeno Alforque spoke ofthe need for inclusion.

Cauce seemed “really

LEFT: Local 1488 member Raeno Alforque speaks for UW members

gathered at Feb. 8 community forum.

ABOVE: UW President Ana Mari Cauce (center) listens. Local 1488 Presi-

dent Paula Lukaszek is at far left.

UW Local 1488 Eritrean

community members

share views with UW

president

impressed and pleased” withthe dialogue and heard themembers’ concerns on howUW labor relations treatsmembers, said Local 1488President Paula Lukaszek.

The Feb. 8 event was partof the local’s ongoing effortto make sure managementdoesn’t intimidate or silencethe voices of any of the di-

verse groups of workers whomake the UW run for stu-dents, faculty and taxpayers,Lukaszek said.

WSE 2/2016

Documents

Transcript of WSE 2/2016