washington state employee 9/2013

7/27/2019 Washington State Employee 9/2013

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The ofcial newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO

VOL. 41 NO. 7

SEPTEMBER 2013

WASHINGTON

StateEmployee

Bargaining updates -- 2

Shared leave requests -- 7

www.d

iscoverpass.w

a.g

ov

Now good on either

of two vehicles!

Dynamic Local 1066 members face off with university to maketreatment of workers World Class -- not just a PR slogan

INSIDE: See pages 4-8

At WSU, actions speak

louder than words

WFSE/AFSCME on

Aug. 23 led anunfair labor prac-

tice complaint chargingWashington State Univer-sity with discrimination forits demotion of longtimesteward and activist Gerry

Stamper.The ULP complaint

led with the Public Em-ployment Relations Com-mission says WSU discrim-

Union moves againstWSU treatment ofkey steward, activist

inated against Stamper for hisunion activities, including asa steward, bargaining teammember and member of theLocal 1066 Executive Board.

The union says WSUsactions were meant to takeaway Stampers bargaining

and contract rights and at-tack his proven effectivenessrepresenting members.

Gerry StamperDemoted to stie his effective

representation of members, union

charges

See STAMPER, page 2

The Public Employment Relations Com-mission on Aug. 15 found WashingtonState University guilty of an unfair

labor practice for bad-faith bargaining in aseries of events prompted by repairs to theWSU presidents residence roof.

PERC ordered WSU to negotiate in goodfaith with the Federation.

PERCs ruling bolstered WSU members

WSU found guilty of unfair labor practicecontract rights and showed the value of hav-ing a collective bargaining agreement to ghtthe kind of management gotchas that arosein this case.

PERC ruled that in the course of eventsover the alleged contracting out in 2010 and2011, WSU raised a 45-day bargaining limita-

See WSU ULP, page 2

WFSE/AFSCME at center of changing face of U.S. labor

WFSE/AFSCME Council Rep Joe Kendo (left) and Journey Organizer

Nikki Diaz at the Scott Walker Not in Our State action Sept. 5 in Seattle.

The AFL-CIO Convention

earlier this month in Los

Angeles changed the face

of labor by forging new ties

to community organizing

and coalition partners.

Nothing new to WFSE/

AFSCME whose members

have pioneered new ways

to expand the ght for the

Middle Class and working

families.

Local

843s

Kevin

Allen at

50th an-

niversary

of March

on D.C.

Wenatchee

Stewards in

ActionFaces of our futureAlthea Lute Scholarship winner

Mesgana Abraham (left) and

father Michael Abraham,

Local 1488.

Details, 8.

Gov. Jay Inslee on Sept. 10unveiled his Results Wash-ington reform plan that histeam says aims to make state

Inslee rolls out Results Washington;

our comments encouraged

government more effective,efcient, accountable andtransparent.

The Governors Ofcesays the goals for ResultsWashington reect whatmatters most to Washingto-

nians. By routinely measuringand monitoring each goal andimplementing improvementplans, we will drive towardproducing results in ve keyareas: world-class education;prosperous economy; sus-tainable energy and a cleanenvironment; healthy and safecommunities; and efcient,effective and accountable gov-ernment.

WFSE/AFSCME mem-bers are encouraged to reviewResults Washington and makecomments. Go to the ResultsWashington website: http://www.results.wa.gov/

Solidarity

around a

campfre

Story on page 3


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Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee September 2013

BARGAINING UPDATES

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

Editor Tim 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.

MORE ONLINE8

Stamper has been ac-tive in otherwise assisting hisunion, and is known to WSU

management to have beenassisting the union, in numer-ous grievances and unfairlabor practice proceedings,the union charges. Stamper

2011, WSU raised a 45-daybargaining limitation after it

STAMPER,from page 1

WSU ULP,from page 1

was the steward assigned toat least nine previous griev-ances submitted by the union.Several of the grievances weregroup grievances pursued onbehalf of many or all of thebargaining unit members.

And, the union says, WSUtargeted Stamper for protect-ing his own contract rightsthrough the unions grievanceprocedure. Stamper has been

a grievant in at least 12 griev-ances against the employer.

On Feb. 7, WSU demotedStamper from a maintenancemechanic 1 to a custodian1. That demotion removedStamper from the bargaining

unit and stripped him of hiscollective bargaining rights. Itwas disproportionate disci-pline compared to disciplineof other employees who have

not been as active in the unionas Stamper, the union says.

The union also chargesthat WSUs timing of its ac-tions against Stamper weremeant to iname other mem-bers to reconsider the union

that other bargaining unitmembers reasonably couldand did perceive that Stamp-ers discipline was in reprisalfor Stampers union activi-

ties and a discouragement ofmembership in the WFSE.

The union asks PERC tond WSU guilty of discrimi-nation and interfering withemployee rights, to cease anddesist from such interference

and to rescind Stampersdemotion and make himwhole as far as lost wages andbenets.

had agreed to negotiations onthe issues.

Gotcha has no placein labor relations and is notconducive to the public in-terest in stable public sectorlabor relationships, PERCruled. In this instance, theemployer invoked the 45-daycontract limitation period af-

ter it agreed to meet with theunion to discuss the demandsto bargain and on the Friday

before the Monday meeting.When the parties were

scheduling the meeting, manyof the demands to bargainwere aging. At no time didthe employer raise its con-cern with the union that thedemands to bargain were out-side of the bargaining period.At no time did the employer

communicate to the unionthat it would begin follow-ing the contractual language.

These behaviors are not evi-dence of an intent to bargainin good faith.

It is incumbent on theparties to a collective bargain-ing agreement to communi-cate. The employer waiteduntil a very late hour to com-municate to the union that itwould not bargain. The record

does not contain evidence ofwhen the employer deter-mined that it would not bar-

National Public Radio interviewed WFSE/

AFSCME Executive Director Greg Devereux earlierthis month about Gov. Jay Inslees raises of 12 of his25 cabinet members -- ranging from 2 percent to 8percent.

The Governors Ofce said it was to bring par-ity with other counterparts.

Devereux said the same market rate parity phi-losophy should extend to the rest of state employ-ees at the bargaining table.

It sounds like they went through a fair, delib-erative process, he told NPR.

Meet market demandsin state employee bargaining

Devereux

to Inslee:Devereux says the

governor should take thesame approach when thetime comes to negotiatenew contracts with stateworkers.

We would hopethat just as cabinet mem-bers salaries have beenadjusted to meet marketdemands that the samething would apply to

Read and/or hear the full NPR report at: http://kplu.

org/post/governor-boosts-salaries-several-cabinet-

positions

According to the mostrecent state salarysurvey, 82 percent ofstate employees earnbelow market rate,with 30 percent fallingmore than 25 percentbehind comparablecounterparts.

FACT:

state worker salary survey issues, he said.

Reminder: Dont hold onto any ideas for the next con-

tract. Bargaining proposals for 2015-2017 contracts

due Oct. 7. Download forms at wfse.org > COLLEC-

TIVE BARGAINING.

Classied staff coveredby the WFSE/AFSCME con-tract at The Evergreen StateCollege in Olympia will get alump sum payment of morethan $550 this November un-der successful wage re-opener

Wage re-opener at Evergreen brings $150,000 in new money for members

provisions for the current,2013-2015 contract.

The agreement came Sept.4 between the FederationTESC Classied Staff Bargain-ing Team and the college.

In addition to 98 per-

cent of TESC Classied Staffreceiving the M Step of 2.5percent within the term ofthe 2013-2015 contract -- anda guaranteed 1 percent cost-of-living-adjustment raise onJuly 1, 2014 -- the TESC team

successfully negotiated over$150,000 in new money.

This will be distributedequally amongst classiedstaff in a lump sum paymentof $551 on Nov. 10, 2013, justbefore the holiday season. The

memorandum of understand-ing with the lump sum pay-ment is subject to approval bythe TESC Board of Trustees,which was scheduled to meetSept. 23.

At press time, Washington StateUniversity members were planning

visibility actions to press their case fora fair wage re-opener package undertheir new 2013-2015 contract.

The contract covers members atseveral WSU locations around thestate, including the main campus inPullman, Puyallup and Spokane.

The WSU Bargaining Team on

Meanwhile, WSU team presses wagere-opener ght with call for audit

Sept. 3 requested an audit of theuniversitys nances to evaluate the

administrations claims on how muchmoney it has for raises for classiedstaff covered by the contract.

The team will return to the bar-gaining table following that audit.

In question are the raises that were ne-gotiated a year ago, requested through

the Legislature but not funded in thenal budget.

To recap, at the end of September 2012

the university made an 11th-hour offerof 8 percent cost-of-living adjustmentsover two years in order to completethe contract in time for the budget of-ce to include it in the state budget.

WSU insists that the request to the

Legislature is all they needed to do tofulll their obligation under the 2013-2015 contract, the team reports.

Though the university has ap-proved a raise of 4 percent for all fac-ulty and administrative staff fundedby WSU, they have not thus far beenwilling to extend the same COLA ben-et to bargaining unit members.

WSU cited a lack of funds toachieve that goal. Thus, the unions au-dit request. The ght for a fair packageunder the wage re-opener negotiationswill continue as the union team press-es the university to provide relevantnancial information.

gain over demands to bargainthat were outside of the 45-day period. The employersactions amount to gotchaand frustrated the bargainingprocess.

PERC also ordered WSUto read the guilty verdict ata meeting of the universitysBoard of Regents.

WSU appealed the deci-sion to Whitman County Su-perior Court Sept. 16.

U.S. Treasury Department rules on same-sex couple IRS lings.In light of Washingtons marriage equality law, many members

have asked about how agencies will deal with them for incometax purposes. The U.S. Treasury Department on Aug. 29 ruled

that legally married same-sex couples will be treated as mar-ried for federal income tax purposes. This comes two monthsafter the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Mar-riage Act.

H E H E

H E H E


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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeSeptember 2013 Page 3

THE FEDERATION COMMUNITY

Sept. 13-15 at Cornet Bay Environmental Learning Center in Deception Pass State ParkAnnual events named in honor of Howard Ocobock, WFSE/AFSCME VP, 2004-2009, who died in 2009

Howard Ocobock Memorial Family Campout

Some 60 Federa-tion members and theirfamilies showed thatsolidarity can comefrom making smoresaround a campfre orhiking, biking and play-ing games.

They were thecampers at this yearsHoward Ocobock Me-morial Family Campoutat the Cornet Bay Envi-

ronmental Living Cen-ter in Deception PassState Park on WhidbeyIsland.

Making the family

campout even coolerwere parks staff andvolunteers like RickColombo, who gave anafternoon interpretivepresentation on the his-tory and uniqueness ofthe park.

Colombo, alongwith parks staffRickBlank (assistant parks

manager), Bill Ruh(senior park aide), Ja-son Stapert (ranger2-seasonal) and SteveShanks (park aide),were the special guestsat the Saturday nightbarbecue.

Im blessed tobe here at this place,said Blank, a 42-yearparks employee (23 atDeception Pass), at theafter-dinner talk arounda warm campfre on a

cool, foggy night.

The annual campouts

were inspired by out-door lover HowardOcobock, WFSE/AF-SCMEs vice president,who died in 2009.

The unions Mem-

bers Only Benefts Com-mittee organizes them.

Committee ChairRandy Kurtz of Local948 dedicated the 2013campout not only toOcobock, but also to thelate Marty Harris, theLocal 313 member and

committee member whopitched in on recentcampouts, and KarenMork, Local 862, anoth-er committee memberunable to attend be-cause of a serious injury(see her shared leaverequest on page 7).

Sharon Maupin and granddaughter Summer Crandell, 2 ,

with pelt that parks interpreter Rick Colombo used as part of his

interpretive talk about the history of Deception Pass, including

its role in the fur trade of the 18 th and 19th centuries. Maupin,

Local 1381, is a custodian at Whatcom Community Collegein Bellingham. Summer is the daughter of Maupins son, Matt

Crandell, Local 1381, a garden and nursery services specialist

at Whatcom CC.

Parks staff surprised campers with the skeleton head of a gray whale that had died in the area.BACK (from left) -- Steve Shanks, park aide; and Joemyah Reed, daughter ofDanvonique Reed,DSHS, Everett. FRONT (from left): Christopher Davis, son ofClare Cash-Davis, Local 948,DSHS, Arlington; Jemyre Reed; Jeremy Reed Jr. (with whales baleen); and Deception Pass parkinterpreterRick Colombo.

Benjamin Hagen, 3 (left) and Tyler Hagen, 6, enjoy breakfast wafes with whipped cream.Theyre the sons ofRick Hagen, a Community Corrections specialist with the Department of Cor-

rections in Olympia, Local 443, and Joice Hagen, a health investigator with the Department of

Health in Olympia, Local 443. Benjie and Tyler ate breakfast with Uncle Bill Copland, a Community

Corrections specialist with DOC in the Tri-Cities, Local 1253.

ABOVE AND LEFT:

Campers listen

intently to Rick Co-

lombos presentation

at campre bowl at

Cornet Bay.

NEXT YEARS CAMPOUT....8If this looks like fun, mark your calendar for Sept. 12-14,

2014, for the 2014 campout at Brooks Memorial State

Parks Environmental Learning Center north of Golden-

dale in south central Washington.

Solidarity

around a

campfre

Locals summer picnics

Ellensburg-area Local 1301 showed the spirit

of many locals this summer as they celebrated

the family side of solidarity at their annual

picnic Aug. 24 at South Cle Elum Park in Cle

Elum. About 30 members and their families

enjoyed food, door prizes and a bouncy house

for the kids. It took a lot of work but the pay off

is these families now appreciate who created

weekends and 40-hour work weeks UNIONS

DID! Local 1301s picnic was just one of sev-

eral sponsored by WFSE/AFSCME locals this

summer.

Harbor Days

The Federation co-sponsored Olympias Harbor Days over Labor Day Weekend and joined with the

Retired Public Employees Council of Washington (RPEC)/AFSCME, Olympia Local 443 and AFSC-

ME International to staff a booth promoting the union and working class American jobs. Kids of all

ages spun a wheel for union-made candy, parents got info on how to buy union candy for Halloween

and children got AFSCME coloring books to learn about unions, Martin Luther King and Memphis

and the Civil Rights Movement. A great community outreach event! Watch the video on our YouTube

Channel: http://www.wfse.org/wfse-and-rpec-members-share-booth-at-harbor-days-event/

At Harbor Days booth

Aug. 30 (from left): Co-

lete Jensen, RPEC; TimWelch, WFSE/AFSCME;

Maria Pedersen, Local

443; and Laura Reis-

dorph, WFSE/AFSCME.


4/8


THE CHANGING FACE OF OUR MOVEMENT

Seattle Times,others use

Auditors ndingsto push closure of

residential habili-tiation centers

MORE ONLINE8

Anti-state employeeforces have embraceda recent state audit

to re-arm their fanatical cru-sade to close this states fourresidential habilitation centers(RHCs) that care for some ofthis states most profoundly

disabled citizens.The corporate Seattle

Times Editorial Board on Aug.24 urged Gov. Jay Inslee andthe Legislature to heed a re-cent audit and work to closeexpensive state institutions.

Dedicated RHC membersand allies shot back.

I see this latest study...being another blueprint tocontinue the attacks on theresidential habilitation cen-ters, Local 1326 member andDD advocate Julianne Mooretold the Joint Legislative Au-dit and Review CommitteeAug. 14.

Moore works at YakimaValley School in Selah, one ofthe four RHCs.

Will Washing-ton go the way ofNew York?

In the wake ofthe recent state au-

dit, will politiciansmove to close our

four state resi-

dential habilitation

centers?RHC members

have a record of

ghting back, but inthe past 20 years,both Interlake

School in MedicalLake and FrancesHaddon Morgan

Center in Bremer-ton have closed.

Will Washing-

ton go the way ofNew York?

State audit blueprint to close

developmental disabilities centers

The offending study camefrom State Auditor Troy Kel-ley in an audit issued July 31.

The union agreed withparts of the study to improve

developmental disabilitiesservices for all who needthem.

But the union rejected theunderlying assumption that

residential habilitation centersare the problem, are segre-gated and that they, perhaps,should be closed.

The idea that peoplewho live in RHCs are segre-gated...is absolutely not true,Moore said. People who livein the RHCs are part of theircommunities.

The four RHCs YakimaVal-ley School in Selah, RainierSchool in Buckley, LakelandVillage in Medical Lake andFircrest School in Shoreline care for some of the statesmost profoundly disabledcitizens.

Spreadsheets based onapples-oranges comparisonoften make RHCs look tooexpensive. But based on acu-ity levels, levels of care and afederal reimbursement of 54percent of the cost, they actu-ally are cost-effective.

Attacking RHCs is thewrong solution. Moore saidall parties need to take a ho-listic approach.

The whole system needsto be looked at..., she said.We who work in the RHCshave advocated that...they be-come Centers of Excellenceto help people in the commu-nity stay in the community.We have extensive training,knowledge and compassionfor the families that get no

services....We want to help those

people but we keep runninginto a brick wall.

Federation Lobbyist MattZuvich said RHC membersstand ready to join a common-sense solution.

We agree...we dontspend enough resources as astate on this vulnerable com-munity..., Zuvich said.

The DD community doesneed more resources. We be-lieve thats the elephant in theliving room.

RHC audit online:http://www.

sao.wa.gov/AuditReports/Au-ditReportFiles/ar1009938.pdf

Julianne Moore of Local 1326 (left) and WFSE/AFSCME Lobbyist Matt Zu-

vich voice concerns Aug. 14 about Auditors ndings attacking Washingtons

four state-run residential habilitation centers -- including Yakima Valley School

where Moore works.

Legislators on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC)

listen to WFSE/AFSCME testimony Aug. 14.

SEE FOR YOURSELF

We have to make sure Washington

doesnt follow New Yorks lead

There, AFSCMEmembers of CSEALocal 1000 were

recently blindsidedby Democratic Gov.

Andrew Cuomosannouncement hewould close fourcampuses caring

for developmentallydisabled citizens.

(Cuomo also

plans to close fourcorrectional facili-ties and consolidate

24 state psychiatriccenters into 15,heavily impacting

long-term and chil-drens mental healthservices.)

New Yorks at-tack on four devel-

opmentally disabledcare campuses is

eerily similar to the

renewed attacks onWashingtons four

residential habilita-tion centers.

As with otherstate agencies, the

(Cuomo) admin-istration has beenmoving rapidly and

many fear, oftenwith inadequateplanning, to down-

size and/or privatizeagencies and jobfunctions throughout

the state, reportersDavid Galarza andTherese Assalian

wrote in the Sep-tember 2103 edition

of CSEAs news-paper, The Work

Force.The nancial

sacrices work-

ers made in recentcontracts to avoidlayoffs combined

with the workloadtheyve had to en-

dure due to lowstafng, is not loston these workers,CSEA reported.

We havedone our part andkept our end of the

bargain, and this iswhat we get, saidFaye Wilkie-Fields,

who cares for devel-opmentally disabledNew Yorkers at a

Brooklyn facility. Itfeels like anotherform of union-bust-

ing.

Our CSEA

brothers and sistersin New York havestarted calling their

governors admin-istration Camp

Runamuck after a

1960s TV comedyabout a dysfunction-al summer camp.

Lets hope Washing-tons leaders dont

use the New York

model and therecent state audit

to run amok over

vital public servic-es for our vulner-

able citizens.

Live from New York: AFSCME CSEA Local 1000 parodies Gov. Cuomos attackon DD and other state institutions -- a tragedy we hope stays in the Empire State.

CourtesyCSEALocal1000AFSCMEThe

WorkForce,9

/13

From left: Leroy Mould, Local 1671; Sarah

Clifthorne, WFSE/AFSCME public service sector

supervisor; and Milena Waldron, Local 1671.

INTERPRETERS LOCAL 1671

Interpreters reach agreement on

overpayment recovery process

WFSE/AFSCME medical interpreter members (Local 1671)on Aug. 22 reached agreement on an overpayment recoveryprocess that will be attached to the 2013-2015 Language Access

Providers collective bargaining agreement.

You can see the memorandumof understanding on the

interpreters contract websiteat: http://www.wfse.org/our-contracts/lap-contract-info/

under MOU overpayments.


5/8



This months AFL-CIO Conven-tion in Los Angeles changed the faceof the labor movement across America.

Organized Labor formally em-braced community organizing and in-vited millions of non-union membersfrom community allies to join a rein-vigorated movement to build a broadcoalition to advance a worker-friendlypolitical and economic agenda, ac-cording to the New York Times

This includes embracing and ex-panding the worker center conceptweve seen with the OURWalmartcampaign, the Seatac affordable wagemovement and the fair wages for fastfood workers.

This may mean campaigns toachieve goals on a fast track without

getting bogged down in the some-times-traditional organizing model ofcard checks, elections and traditionalbargaining.

This convention brings togethercommunity partners with labor tobuild a movement committed to creat-ing shared prosperity for Americasworking class and to organize a collec-tive voice at the workplace and in ourcommunities, WSLC President JeffJohnson reported from Los Angeles.

The goals of the convention areto begin the process of building labor-community density for leveraging real

power to change thepath of our economyand democracy to re-ect the needs of Amer-icas working families.

AFL-CIO delegates

elected Tefere Gebre asexecutive vice presi-dent. Born in Ethiopia,he is the rst foreign-born trade union-ist ever elected to one of the AFL-CIOofcer positions.

Gebre is a member of the United

Food and Commercial Workers, whichjust returned to the AFL-CIO.

But he is most known as head ofthe Orange County (California) Cen-

AFSCME wants your feedback.Working people need a stronger

voice now more than ever. How do we

build a strong labor movement in thesechallenging times?

Take the survey at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/futureoabor

Or click on the Shared Prosperity

icon at afscme.org.

But this kind of outreach is nothing new to the members of theWashington Federation of State Employees. Weve been doing it foryears and now our example is helping transform the face of ourmovement across the US and even the world.

On this page and throughout this edition of the WashingtonState Employee, online at wfse.org and on our social network pagesare some recent examples of WFSE/AFSCMEs leading role in thistransformation.

WFSE/AFSCMEs innovations helped spark AFL-CIO changesJoining forces with common allies to bring a fair helping of decency to working fami-lies is nothing new to WFSE/AFSCME -- because were all in this together

GIVE ONLINE FEEDBACK8

Gebre

tral Labor Council, where he doubledunion membership in one of the mostconservative counties in America.

HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY

Health Care Authority members in Olympia held a visibility eventSept. 5 to reverse a recent management decision to deny themuse of meeting rooms.

There was a great turnout at the HCA job action in front ofCherry Street Plaza, Local 443 member Linda Erickson said.Over 100 people signed a petition today asking management to

respect the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) and work withWFSE to schedule WFSE lunch and learns IN the building.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITYCentral Washington

University members win

three key victories

Members at Central

Washington University inEllensburg have settled anunfair labor practice complaint

and two grievances overcontracting out and safety.

One agreement resolved

a contracting out dispute and the settlement will bringa weeks pay (or 40 hours

pay) to ve CWU Local 330members: ChristopherStebbins, Lyle Rushton,

Larry Townsend, DennisBeckett and DavidCamarata.

That agreement cameAug. 22. It settled a grievanceand unfair labor practice

complaint the union led whenthe university contracted outthe installation of re alarms

in Hebeler Hall on the CWUcampus in Ellensburg.

Under the settlement,

After the three victory settlements (from left): Desiree Desselle, WFSE/AFSC-

ME labor advocate; CWU Local 330 President Chris Stebbins; Local 330 VP

Skip Jensen; and Phedra Quincey, WFSE/AFSCME council representative.

CWU also admitted it didnot follow the collective

bargaining agreement oncontracting out that work, andagreed to honor such contract

rights when the administrationproposes contracting out. Thesettlement agreement will

also go to each CWU cabinetmember.

The university also

commits to engagingunion members in ongoingteam building to foster a

relationship of trust, respect,and mutual cooperation.

As part of the settlement,the Federation withdrew itsgrievance and ULP complaint.

Another agreementsettled a grievance thatsprang from a non-bargaining

unit supervisor doing repairwork on a boiler. Thatsettlement sets up a process

to clarify who does what workunder the contract and ismeant to improve safety.

LOCAL 843State Human Services members of

Local 843 in King County continue

their successful outside the work-

place activities in the community.

That included distributing school

supplies, buttons and stickers at the

2013 Central District Street Fair in

Seattle. Local 843 members also

took part in Seattles march com-

memorating the 50th anniversary

of the March on Washington (see

page 8) and the MLKCLC Labor Day

Picnic.

LUEBLA

The latest group of local executive board members to completethe AFSCME Local Union Executive Board Leadership Academy(LUEBLA) came from Northwest Washington Local 1060 and

Snohomish County State Human Services Employees Local948: Kate Rogers, Kenda Bjerkness, Darlene Espinoza, Mi-chele Stelovich, Susan Martinez, Tracy Wilson, Justin Ayers,Rhonda Nichols and John Randolph.


6/8

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeePage 6 September 2013


ICONIC MOMENTS AS WFSE/AFSCME REACHES OUT

WFSE/AFSCME CouncilRepresentatives Greg Davis andJacqui Tucker led fve participantsthrough the unions Stewards in Actiontraining Aug. 17-18 at the Labor Templein Wenatchee. The participants were:

Tashia Smith-Hankerson, Local 1488,University of Washington, Seattle;Steve Fries, Local 1299, Department

of Transportation, George; SamSchneider, Local 1299, DOT, George;Peter Schneller, Local 1299, DSHS,

Wenatchee; and Vanessa Williams,Local 1299, DSHS, Quincy.

Found in WFSEs Stew-ard Policy are four separategoals. One of these goalsstates: To ensure that allstewards carry out their rolesand responsibilities in a re-sponsible, knowledgeable andeffective manner.

Another goal states: Toensure that stewards fulllthe unions duty of fair repre-sentation (see WFSE StewardHandbook) to every memberof a represented bargainingunit, without exception.

In the workplace, it is im-portant that stewards know

their roles and responsibili-ties. Stewards are to protectthe rights of bargaining unitemployees and the union,by enforcing the collectivebargaining agreement, otherestablished work rules orlaws, and assisting membersin workplace investigations ordisputes.

Stewards are also to rep-resent bargaining unit em-ployees in the formal griev-ance procedure. They mustalways communicate accurateinformation to the bargain-ing unit employees, potential

Role of the

steward in the

workplace

members, other stewardsand local union ofcers. It isalso important that the stew-ards motivate and mobilizemembers to become activelyinvolved in addressing work-place issues and problemsthat affect them.

To become a steward, you

must be a member in goodstanding and then attend theWFSE 16-hour Stewards inAction training and be ap-pointed by the WFSE Presi-dent. All Stewards are alsoencouraged to attend Con-tinuing Steward Educationclasses.

Stewards are there to pro-mote Union values, principlesand ideas in the workplace.

Those values include:service, social justice for all,

treating each person withdignity and worth, valuingrelationships, having integrityand competence and honor-ing condentiality.

Stewards are the voice ofthe workers and strive to im-prove working conditions inall available forums. Stewardscreate, foster and promotesolidarity within the union,including membership andstaff.

While doing all the above,stewards need to be alert and

avoid actual or potential con-

icts of interest. They mustalways focus on transpar-ency and accountability asthe paramount concern whileconducting transactions withmanagement.

Finally, stewards help and

assist when their membersdeal with real life issues.

They can assist a memberwhen dealing with sharedleave, reasonable accommo-dation, the Family Medical

Leave Act, Family Care Act,

domestic violence leave andLabor and Industries laws.

Shop Steward Corner:Wenatchee training

MORE ONLINE8

STEWARD

CENTERwfse

.org

OURWalmart: Supporting red workers

As part of the OURWalmart

community campaign across thecountry, some 13 activists were

arrested and released during

a civil disobedience action at

the Renton Walmart Sept. 5

in support of workers red for

an earlier protest at the mega-

chains Arkansas headquarters. Riot police looked on during the peaceful protest

Walker: Go home!

Dozens of Federation members joined more than 300 who ral-

lied outside the conservative Washington Policy Centers fund-

raiser Sept. 5 in downtown Seattle to tell the group and its star

attraction, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, that Walkers attacks

on collective bargaining, environmental standards, health care

and education do not reect this states values. Our political

leaders say, No, to divisive politics, said David Freiboth, exec-

utive secretary of the Martin Luther King County Labor Council.

Federation members joined hundreds of other working families

and union members Aug. 28 in support of grocery store workers

in contentious contract talks with major chain stores in Pierce,

King, Snohomish and Kitsap counties.

Grocery campaign:

Good turnout at picket lines

The federal government took the

Space Needle to trial Sept. 17

for numerous unfair labor prac-

tice charges. WFSE/AFSCME

members joined workers outside

the courtroom to tell the Space

Needle to nally serve up some

respect and settle a fair contract.

The labor dispute is in its third year, and the Space Needle

management has terminated and suspended union activists,

told workers that they could be replaced, denied overtime pay

to workers, and encouraged workers to resign from the union

and not pay their dues.

Space Needle:

Workers get day

in court as allies

rally outside

WFSE/AFSCME members across the state are weighing in

behind the Seatac Fair Wage Campaign going on the ballot this

November. It doesnt matter if you live in Seatac or not you

can raise your hand to show your support for more full-time jobs

and a livable wage in Seatac. Sign the online petition at wfse.org

to support paid sick leave, more full-time jobs, tip protection and

a livable wage for more than 6,000 hard working men and women

at SeaTac airport and big airport hotels.

Federation members also

supported the Aug. 29 strike

by fast food workers in Seattle

and across the nation for

higher wages. Protesters in

Detroit shut down a McDon-

alds there.

Seatac: Fair wages Fast food workers:Ill have a strike with

a side of fries....


7/8


UNION NEWS

SHARED LEAVE

REQUESTSIf youve been approved toreceive shared leave by youragency or institution, you can

place a notice here. Onceyouve been approved by youragency or institution, WFSE/

AFSCME can place yourshared leave request hereand online. Please include a

contact in your agency, usu-ally in human resources, fordonors to call. E-mail the edi-

tor at [email protected]. Or call1-800-562-6002.

The following could use adonation of eligible unusedannual leave or sick leave or

all or part of your personalholiday:

Karen Mork, a nancial ser-

vices specialist 4 with DSHSin Chehalis and a member

of Local 862, is in need ofshared leave after suffering amultiple fracture of her ankle

and heel. The impairment willkeep her off work for three tosix months. Contact: your hu-

man resource ofce.

Loretta Gutierrez, a

WorkSource specialist 3 withthe Employment Departmentin Renton and a member of

Local 435, will be off worktwo months because of aserious illness. She is in need

of shared leave. Contact:Kathryn Roberts, (253) 804-1151, or your human resource

ofce.

Angie Hansen-Moore, an

ofce assistant 3 at WesternState Hospital in Lakewoodand a member of Local 793,

is continuing her lengthybattle against lung cancer.She has exhausted all leave.

Contact: The Western State

Hospital Human ResourceDepartment, or your human

resource ofce.

Tia Hanke, a support

enforcement ofcer 2 inVancouver and a memberof Local 313, has been

approved for shared leave foran ongoing medical condition.Contact: your human resource

ofce.

Laura Hawks, an attendant

counselor manager forDSHS State Operated LivingAlternatives in Shoreline, is

in desperate need of sharedleave to undergo intensivetherapy and extensive

recovery time for a seriousmedical condition. Contact:Lisa Bonorden at (425) 339-

3987 or [email protected].

Jacinda Chaney, a Workrstprogram specialist with DSHSat the Auburn CSO and a

member of Local 843, hasbeen approved for sharedleave. Contact: your human

resource ofce.

Katherine Mauchamer, a

nancial services specialist

4 with DSHS at the SmokeyPoint Community ServiceOfce and a member of Local

948, has been approved forshared leave. Contact: Yourhuman resource ofce.

Michelle Beckwith, a medicalassistance specialist 3 for

the Health Care Authority in

Olympia, has been approvedfor shared leave through Sept.

30. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Deborah Rustin, apsychiatric social worker 3at Western State Hospital

in Lakewood and a memberof Local 793, has been offwork two months because

of a back ailment. She hasexhausted all leave. Contact:Melvin Weaver in the WSH

Human Resource Departmentat (253) 756-3904, or yourhuman resource ofce.

Alissa Slack, a social servicespecialist 3 with the DSHS

Ofce of Central Intake(Childrens Administration)and a member of Local 843 in

Seattle, is in need of sharedleave because of a seriousmedical condition. Contact:

your human resource ofce.

Amy Bowman, a nancial

services specialist 3 withDSHS in Seattle (BelltownCSO) and a member of Local

843, is in desperate need of

shared leave. Because of aneck injury and upcoming

brain surgery, she has not

worked since Oct. 4, 2012.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Terry Letson, a windowwasher at Central Washington

University in Ellensburg anda member of Local 330,is in need of shared leave

to receive treatment for a

serious health condition.Contact: The CWU Human

Resources Department at(509) 963-1202.

Jim Bullard, a nancialservices specialist 4(administrative hearing

coordinator) for parts of DSHSRegion 2 North and a memberof Local 1060 in Bellingham,

is in need of shared leave fora serious health condition.Contact: your human resource

ofce.

Rachel Saunders, a health

services consultant 3 at theDepartment of Health inTumwater and a member

of Local 443, is still in needof shared leave because ofa serious health condition.

She has exhausted all leave.Contact: Kim Kenderesi, (360)236-4058.

Reginald Reggie Taylor,a developmental disabilities

case resource manager withDSHS in Bremerton and amember of Local 1181, is

requesting shared leave

for a lengthy recovery afterrecent major surgery. He has

exhausted all leave. Contact:

Leona Weltzer, (253) 404-5537, or your human resourceofce.

Mike Cannon, a stationaryengineer 2 at Eastern

Washington University inCheney and a member ofLocal 931, is in need of

shared leave as he recovers

from major surgery broughton by a serious medical

condition. Contact: Vara LynConrath, (509) 359-4300.

Terri Madison, an accountmanager at the Departmentof Labor and Industries in

Tumwater and a member ofLocal 443, is having surgeryand will need at least a

month to recover. She hasexhausted all leave. Contact:DeAnna McIntosh, (360) 902-

5488 or your human resourceofce.

Kathy Stoy, a nancialservices specialist 5 withDSHS in Spokane and a

member of Local 1221, hasbeen approved for sharedleave because of a serious

medical condition. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Diane Lynn Wells, adevelopmental disabilitiescase resource manager

with DSHS in Everett anda member of Local 948, isunder continued medical care

and is in desperate need of

shared leave. Contact: LisaBonorden, (425) 339-3987 or

[email protected].


WFSE/AFSCME Communications Committee joins labor transformation at

labor communications convention; win honors for web, video, newspaper

The Federations Communications Committee, led by President Carol Dot-lich, led a six-person delegation to the Sept. 5-7 convention of the International

Labor Communications Association (ILCA), AFL-CIO. It met on the eve of theAFL-CIO Convention, also in Los Angeles.

The ILCA convention was devoted to successful worker center and commu-

nity coalition communications efforts, like those for car washers in New York City,music video dancers in Hollywood and restaurant workers.

Elected to represent the Federation and AFSCME on the ILCA board in this

cutting-edge transformation of the labor movement and related communicationswas WFSE/AFSCME Public Affairs Director Tim Welch.

Kathy Cummings, the Washington State Labor Councils director of commu-

nications, was elected ILCA president.The Federations Communications Committee-initiated video, digital and print

communications won three ILCA Excellence in Labor Journalism Awards.

From left: WFSE/AFSCME Communications Committee members Rick Hertzog and Larry Flue,

WFSE/AFSCME Public Affairs Director (and incoming ILCA VP) Tim Welch, WFSE/AFSCME

President Carol Dotlich, Public Affairs Assistant Laura Reisdorph and WFSE/AFSCME VP Sue

Henricksen at ILCA Convention Sept. 7 in Los Angeles. A delegation of Japanese union and public ofcials on a leadership program

visited WFSE/AFSCMEs Seattle Field Ofce Aug. 19 for a brieng on labor andpolitics. The three-week leadership program was sponsored by the U.S. State De-partment.

The program chose WFSE/AFSCME in part because one of the programsdelegates was Hiroo Aoba, administrative secretary for Public Services Interna-tional-Japan. PSI is like a worldwide AFSCME its a global trade union federa-

tion that represents 20 million public sector employees in 152 countries. AFSCMEhas been a major participant in PSI for decades. Former AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy served as president of PSI in the 1990s.

In a 90-minute question-and-answer session with WFSE/AFSCME Directorof Public Affairs Tim Welch, it became clear that public employees in Japan facedsimilar challenges with American public workers.

In addition to Aoba, the delegation visiting the Federation were: Two oppos-ing members of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly (similar to our state Legislature)

Hideki Nagafuji of the Osaka Restoration Group and Masaya Nakamura of the

Democratic Party of Japan; and two top aides to members of the Japanese par-liament Satoshi Honjo, policy secretary to a member of Japanese Diet Houseof Representatives, and Taichi Kobayashi, secretary to the Upper House Policy

Committee chairman.

From left: Nagafuji, Nakamura, Welch, Honjo, Kobayashi and Aoba.

WFSE/AFSCME welcomes Japanese labor, public ofcials


8/8


FACES OF OUR FUTURE: 2013 WFSE/AFSCME Scholars (Part 2)

This years recipient of the $5,000 Althea Lute Memorial Scholarship:Althea Lute Scholar

uote: My parents highest hopes for me have al-ways included a life path parallel to their own, Mes-gana wrote in her scholarship essay.

As adolescents in Eritrea, my parents were denied accessto education by a 30-year war of independence, whichforced schools to close in the country. Due to a lack of edu-cation and the need to nancially provide for my immediateand extended family, my father has worked two full-time

janitorial jobs since 1994.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

8Q

-- Mesgana Abraham, 2013 recipient of the AltheaLute Memorial Scholarship, at left in photo, withfather Michael Abraham.

To check for upcomingscholarships for nextyear, go to:wfse.org > MEMBER

RESOURCES > Scholarship Informa-tion (

http://www.wfse.org/member-resources/scholarship-info/).

MORE ONLINE8

UW Local 1488 daughter awarded $5,000 Althea Lute Memorial Scholarship

M

esgana Abraham,daughter ofMichaelAbraham, a custodian

at the University of Washing-ton in Seattle and a member ofLocal 1488, has been awardedthe $5,000 Althea Lute Memo-rial Scholarship for 2013.

Mesgana, 18, graduatedfrom Edmonds-WoodwayHigh School in June with a 3.9grade point average.

She plans to attend theUniversity of Washingtonwith the possible goal of purs-ing a degree in InternationalStudies or Public Health.

The scholarship is namedin honor of Althea Lute, a

longtime Local 1488 activistand Federation staff memberwho died in 2011. She left hermark on the local as well asthe Federations organizing

and political action programs.Its an honor for sure to

win the scholarship, Mes-gana said recently in the liv-

ing room of her familys Ed-monds home while her proudfather looked on.

It helps a lot with my

college fnances, especiallywinning in memory of her

(Althea Lute). I know shesdone a lot for her communityand union.

Im proud for the oppor-tunity to win this scholarship

thank you to the union,father Michael Abraham said.

We appreciate it.Such an opportunity alsounderscores the AmericanDream the Abraham familyhas sought.

Spring and Summer 2013 recipients:Neville B. Crippen Grant-in-Aid Awards

Fourteen WFSE/AFSCME mem-bers have won Neville B. CrippenGrant-in-Aid Awards for spring andsummer quarters 2013.

The Crippen Grants are quarterlyawards to help members advance theireducation or improve their skills.

The latest awards ranged from$100 to $300.

For an application, go to www.wfse.org > Member Info > ScholarshipInfo.

Applications are due at least 30days before a course begins.

The grants are named after Neville

B. Crippen, the unions frst president

who had led the fght to create WFSE/AFSCME.

The grant is overseen by a sub-committee of the WFSE/AFSCMEWomens/Equal Partners Committee.

The Spring 2013 recipients:

Lydia Bulega, Local 793, WesternState Hospital, Lakewood; KambriaDumesnil, Local 970, Labor andIndustries, Aberdeen; Donnelle Han-sen, Local 443, Labor and Industries,Tumwater; Tyrone Mosley Jr., Local

948, DSHS, Lynnwood; Rachel Nev-ille, Local 304, Green River Commu-nity College, Auburn; Amanda Rains,Local 443, Commerce, Olympia; Ni-cole Rice, Local 948, DSHS, SmokeyPoint; Jami Rider, Local 443, DSHS,Olympia; Rebecca Swingle, Local443, South Puget Sound CommunityCollege, Olympia; and Latrice Wil-son, Local 843, DSHS, Seattle.

The Summer 2013 recipients:

Jemal Barkley, Local 793, WesternState Hospital, Lakewood; Lydia

Bulega, Local 793, Western StateHospital, Lakewood; Beth Kenney,

Local 782, Eastern State Hospital,Medical Lake; Mercadee Limbo, Lo-cal 491, Rainier School, Buckley; Ra-chel Neville, Local 304, Green RiverCommunity College, Auburn; MariaSchmid, Local 1671, Interpreters, GigHarbor; and Latrice Wilson, Local843, DSHS, Seattle.

State Reps. Luis Moscoso and Steve Conway joined WFSE/AFSCME members Aug.17 at the Se-attle march marking the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington that catapulted the Rev. Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement into the mainstream. Then and now, AFSCME

has been at the forefront of the civil rights movement. The Seattle march was organized by the

Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, of which Federation members have taken a leading role in this

region.

THE CHANGING FACE OF OUR MOVEMENTWFSE/AFSCME marks 50th Anniversary of March on Washington

The Federation has produced a

YouTube video about the Seattle march

and an interview with Local 53 member

Paulette Thompson (far right in above

photo), the Region 10 representative for

the CBTU. To view it look for the ash

at the top ofwfse.org.

MORE ONLINE8

IN THEIR OWN WORDS8

Q uote: Today, I would say what my father told me years ago. He saidalways remember you have an extra hill to climb. They are going tolook at you as a suspect, not a prospect. Instead of the benet of the

doubt, you will be given doubts without benets.-- Kevin Allen, Local 843, DSHS, Seattle, and member of the SeattleChapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, as quoted by The LanternLit blog during 50th anniversary march in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28.

washington state employee 9/2013

Documents