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The official newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO

Appeals Court victory for WFSE/AFSCME.Judges overturn contracting out rules. Details, page 8

VOL. 37 NO. 8

OCTOBER 2009

If youre a represented non-memberfee payer and you dont wish toreceive this publication, e-mail us

at wfse@wfse.org, or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E.,Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501

WASHINGTON

StateEmployeeFALL ALERTS!

With all due

respect

Gov. Gregoire listens to Scott Mallery, Ecology, Local 1221, explain the harm of possible consolida-tion of natural resources agency functions. Proposed cuts to natural resources agencies would harmthe quality of life in Washington state, Mallery said.

STATE CONVENTION 2009

Conversation with governor sparks dialogueon cuts, consolidation and contracting out

The WFSE/AFSCMEConvention Oct. 3 gave Gov.Chris Gregoire a unique wel-come.

Seven delegates from tar-geted programs escorted thegovernor to the floor of theconvention hall at a SeaTachotel, then individually wel-comed her with pleas for herto stop the bleeding.

The cordial conversa-tion came days before the

governors budget office wasto issue a report mandated bythe Legislature on possibleclosure of juvenile rehabilita-tion, developmental disabili-ties and Corrections institu-tions.

Greeting the governorwere:Julianne Moore from

DD; UrsulaPetters fromChild Wel-fare Services;Alice Rog-ers fromCorrections;Greg Davisfrom Men-tal Health; Pam Carl fromHigher Education; Gabe Hallfrom Juvenile Rehabilitation;and Scott Mallery from Natu-

ral Resources.They politely welcomedthe governor and asked Gre-goire, with all due respect,to recognize the harm of cuts,consolidation and contractingout.

Please find an-

other way to pre-

serve these vital,

quality services

for the public.

Julianne Moore,Local 1326,

Yakima Valley School

Please join

us in restoring

these cuts be-

fore a tragedy

occurs.

Alice Rogers,

Local 1253,

Corrections

The cuts are

a recipe for

disaster.

Gabe Hall,Local 862,

Green Hill School

Gregoire

See RESPECT, page 4

Times are tough enough.

Lets not make

them worse.On your absentee

ballot or at the pollsNov. 3, WFSE/AFSCME

recommends...

Details, page 3

On your absentee ballot or at the pollsNov. 3, WFSE/AFSCME recommends

a YES vote on Referendum 71.Details, page 3

In case of Green River Valley flooding...

State, local

and federal

officials are

coordinat-

ing plans

for possible

winter flooding in the Green River Valley below the Howard Hanson Dam.

Some 800 WFSE/AFSCME families potentially sit in harms way in the fol-lowing zip codes: 98001, 98002, 98055, 98030, 98031, 98057, 98092 and

98188. Several state offices, including three DSHS CSOs and a Division of

Vocational Rehabilitation Office, also sit in the flood zone.

Your agency may have specific flood plans. But a good source of general

flood information is on the state Emergency Management Website at

http://www.emd.wa.gov/

Swine flu information

http://www.emd.wa.gov/

At press time, the report mandatedby the Legislature on possibleclosures and/or cuts to institutions

and Corrections had not yet beenreleased. But WFSE/AFSCMEmembers have wasted no time

mobilizing. See convention story

above and stories on pages 2 & 8.

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Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee October 2009

MEMBERS IN ACTION

StateEmployeeWashington State Employee(USPS 981-200) s pub shed monthy, except Februaryand Ju y, for $5.08 per year by the Wash ng-ton Federat on of State Empoyees/AFSCMECounc 28 AFL-CIO, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E.

Su te 300, Oymp a, WA 98501. Affi ated w th

the Amer can Federaton of State, Countyand Mun c pa Empoyees (AFSCME) and theWash ngton State Labor Counc , AFL-CIO.

Periodicals postage paid at Olympia, WA

and at additional offices. Circulation:40,000.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes toWash ngton State Emp oyee, 1212 JeffersonSt SE Su te 300 O ymp a WA 98501-7501

Carol Dotlich, Presdent

Greg Devereux, Execut ve D rector

Editor im Welche-mail: tim@wse org Internet: wwww seorgMember, ILCA

WASHINGTON

Third in a series

Yakima Employment Security

members protest bullyingLocal 1326 stood with its Employment Security members in Yakima Sept. 24

as they picketed against a mean-spirted management that has brought intimi-

dation, unwise changes to policies and procedures and other issues that have

destroyed morale in the high-pressure office.

Legislators step up support at latest Western State job actionArea legislators continued their show of support

to reverse the recent wave of cuts and layoffs at

Western State Hospital in Lakewood.

Rep. Tami Green (far left in photo at near right) said

shed use her influence to get the hospital CEO

to the table. We cant be penny-wise and pound-

foolish, Green said at the Sept. 2 event. We have

to protect the community.

For recreational staffKim and Danny Campbell

(far right), the husband and wife team face layoff

after a combined 48 years at WSH. Its a sad day

when you give half your life here, Kim Campbell

said.

Two maintenance me-chanics at Western Washing-ton University in Bellinghamgot a nice addition to theirwallets.

It came in the wake ofcontracting out of someremodeling work they shouldhave done.

Tim Harvey, a main-

tenance mechanic 2, andStephen Sutterman, a main-tenance mechanic 3, each

WWU members win cash for contracted out work they should have donereceived checks for $369.12 tocompensate them for the lostwork.

It came as a settlementover the work done in the OldMain building on the WWUcampus.

The two Local 1381members were pleasantlysurprised by the victory and

the cash settlement.Its nice to be reimbursed

for work we shouldve done,Harvey said.

WFSE/AFSCME CouncilRepresentative Addley Toleand Local 1381 PresidentBrandon Taylor presented thechecks to Harvey and Suter-man Sept. 21.

FROM LEFT: WFSE/AFSCME

Council Rep. Addley Tole, Local

1381 President Brandon Taylor, TimHarvey and Stephen Sutterman

Member outrage triggers possible changes after escape, capture of Eastern State hospital criminally insane murderer

Members in mental health haveunited in sharing the publics outrageover the escape of an Eastern State

Hospital criminally insane murdererduring a field trip to the SpokaneCounty Fair Sept. 17.

When state officials and mediaoutlets started the typical scapegoatingof WFSE/AFSCME members given animpossible job, Eastern State Hospitalmembers struck back.

They issued the following state-ment that was carried by media

around the world:In the Phillip Paul incident, thehospital workers on the scene at thefair, as they were instructed to do,

notified their chain of command withintwo to three minutes of discoveringPauls escape. It was the administra-

tion in Medical Lake that waited sometwo hours to notify law enforcement

authorities.The ward workers, members of

Local 782 of the Washington Federa-

tion of State Employees, have repeat-edly over the years opposed the ad-ministration policies and practices thatallow the kinds of field trips like theone Paul took to the fair. They believehe was an extreme escape risk and

the administration should never haveallowed him on the field trip. The work-ers have unsuccessfully fought to stopthe outings for murderers, rapists andpedophiles committed to the hospitalas criminally insane.

Media outlets across the countrycarried the members concerns, run-ning stories with headlines like this:Wash. Union says it warned about

field trip danger. Greg Davis, anEastern State Hospital worker andpresident of Local 782 in Medical Lake,appeared on ABCs Good MorningAmerica Sept. 21.

And when DSHS Secretary SusanDreyfus issued her preliminary reportOct. 2, she agreed that the workers onthe scene not once, but twice, askedtheir management to call 911 imme-

diately. And, Dreyfus said, they weretold not to return to the hospital im-mediately after the escape.

Both were significant break-downs, state Mental Health DirectorRichard Kellogg said.

The head of Eastern State Hospi-tal, Hal Wilson, resigned in the wakeof the controversy.

Important date change! November

policy committee meetings moved

to Nov. 21

If youre a Policy Committee del-egate or alternate, please note that the

November meetings originally sched-uled for Saturday, Nov. 14, have beenmoved to the following Saturday, Nov.21, at the SeaTac Airport Hilton. Thechange came to avoid a conflict withthe AFSCME Public Safety Congress.

The Nov. 21 Policy Committees areimportant because thats when del-egates to the nine respective commit-tees will elect their representatives tothe Federations Statewide ExecutiveBoard.

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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee Page 3October 2009

NO ON 1033!

Why NO! on Initiative 1033?

WFSE/AFSCME 2009 VOTERS GUIDE www.wfse.org

Times aretough enough.

Lets not makethem worse.

Despite a growing senior population, funding for nurs-ing homes, in-home care and adult day health servicesare being cut - and 40,000 Washington residents ofall ages may lose their Basic Health Plan coverage.

Eymans TABOR plan will make our health care crisismore severe.

Initiative 1033 is a failed out-of-state idea

imported by Tim Eyman.I-1033 places arbitrary limits on revenue and spending which will slow our economic recovery

and force deep additional cuts to public services. In Colorado, a similar measure did so much

damage to the economy that the citizens voted to suspend it. We are already struggling through tough times

in Washington. 1-1033 will only make things worse.

N ! Vote on 1033

Tim Eymans latest initiative uses the same failed for-mula as the TABOR law passed in Colorado,whichled to deep cuts to public schools, roads and high-ways, childrens health care and other public services.

By 2015, Tim Eymans Initiative 1033 would slash staterevenues by $5.9 billion, according to the Office ofFinancial Management. Were already facing morelayoffs, closures, consolidations and contracting

out with a $1 billion deficit. Eymans initiative will

only make things worse--and make it harder for us todig out of the recession.

This year weve slashed school funding by $1.5 billion,and as many as 3,000 teachers and education em-

ployees are facing layoffs. The Eyman TABOR plan willtake even more resources away from Washingtonsclassrooms - and Washingtons kids.

Help save the Domestic Partnership Law There are more than 12,000 people in Washington registered indomestic partnerships. Domestic partnership families need the laws Ref. 71 would pre-serve to provide essential protections for their families. Families with children need the protections provided by domes-tic partnership laws, especially when a parent dies. Seniors need the protections provided by domestic partnershiplaws. Police officers and firefighters who risk their lives to protect ourcommunities need domestic partnership laws if they are hurt or

killed in the lineof duty, so thattheir families aretaken care of bytheir pension orworkers com-pensation. By voting to approve Referendum 71, you will vote to ensure thatall families should be treated fairly, especially in times of crisis.Ref. 71 was endorsed by the WFSE/AFSCME E-board Oct. 1.

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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeePage 4

STATE CONVENTION 2009

October 2009

WFSE/AFSCME Presi-dent Carol Dotlich presentedthe governor with hundreds

of letters from members anddelegates respectfully plead-ing with her to nd alterna-tives to an all cuts approachto lling another $1 billiondecit.

Gregoire responded, Iget it, but added, Youllhave to tell me where to cut.

Delegates quickly shout-ed, Administration! andWMS!

She still praised WFSE/AFSCME members.

Delegates sought her outto shake her hand at the endof the cordial exchange.

I know I am proud tohave you as my partners, shesaid.

She said the past legisla-tive session was ugly, ugly,ugly.It was the worst legis-lative session Id ever seen.

Were going to getthrough these tough times,but it isnt going to be easy,Gregoire added.

Providing other serviceshas become much like

spreading hard butter onuntoasted white bread.The support we need to

do our jobs effectively isno longer there. Please

nd another way to pre-serve these vital, qualityservices for the public.

Ursula Petters,

Local 1181

DSHS Childrens Services

Because of the severe

budget cuts in higher ed, weare not able to offer enoughclasses for students, and we

dont have enough staff andservices to assist students.Therefore, we have a lot of

unhappy students, parentsand community membersout there because we cannot

physically do more with less.

Pam Carl,

Local 862,

Centralia College

Our mental health institutions

work, theyre friendly, efcient

and human. Please join usin making them stronger, not

weaker.

Greg Davis,

Local 782,

Eastern State Hospital

A subdued convention listens respectfully to Gregoires remarks Oct. 3, pro-

jected on three huge screens for all delegates to see.

Delegates respected Gregoire for coming to hear their concerns. Delegates

like Local 443s Joe Mihelich sought her out for her handshake after her Oct.

3 speech.

When delegates to the 2009 WFSE/AFSCME

Convention stood up Oct. 4 and sang along with Lo-

cal 53 member Bruce Withams (left) anthem, Stand

Strong, they summed up the biennial gathering in

SeaTac of more than 400 delegates.

They acted on constitutional amendments and

resolutions and elected ofcers.

But the convention also served as a high-powered

morale booster where members come together to

show solidarity and recharge their batteries for the

tough ghts ahead.

Here are reports from Convention 2009:

ABOVE: Anna Inthavong, Local 53.

RIGHT: Paul Bentson, Local 1488,at Steward Committee booth.

RESPECT,from page 1

Among the locals at the con-

vention was Spokane Local

1221 (right), which continued

its tradition of decorating itstable.

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Page 5WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeOctober 2009

STATE CONVENTION 2009

WFSE/AFSCME maybe the only AFSCME councilwith an all-female slate of topofcers.

Sue Henricksen, a DDcase resource manager in Ta-coma and president of Local53, got convention delegatesnod as vice president.

She joins re-elected

incumbents President CarolDotlich (Local 793, WesternState Hospital, Lakewood),Secretary Lee Novak (Local1400, Community Correc-tions, Longview/Kelso) andTreasurer Rosemary Sterling(Local 1381, Whatcom Com-munity College, Bellingham).

Henricksen prevailed in a

Henricksen elected WFSE/AFSCME VP

WFSE/AFSCME Executive DirectorGreg Devereux administers the oath of ofce to (from left): Vice President Sue Henricksen, Local 53; President Carol Dot-

lich, Local 793; Secretary Lee Novak, Local 1400; and TreasurerRosemary Sterling, Local 1381.

two-way race with incumbentVice President Bill Copland ofLocal 1253.

Dotlich won re-election aspresident in her race againstJohn Frazier, UW Local 1488.

Novak won a run-off inthe secretary race againstSteve McGillis, Local 313. Theother nominee, Shellie Savage

(Local 443), nished third inthe rst round of balloting.

Sterling was the solenominee for WFSE/AFSCMEtreasurer. She was declaredre-elected by acclamation.

The four ofcers willserve until the next WFSE/AFSCME convention in 2011.

Convention acts

on several amend-

ments, resolutions

Shortly after theirconversation with Gov.

Chris Gregoire, delegatesto the 2009 WFSE/AFSC-ME Convention approved

a resolution to use anyand all remedies to stopthe closure of Pine Lodge

Corrections Center forWomen and other stateinstitutions.

Resolution No. 4 wasjust one of several consti-tutional amendments and

resolutions adopted bydelegates.

Several mostly

housekeeping constitu-tional amendments wonapproval, including one to

allow an earlier start forofcer elections startingwith the 2011 convention.

Constitutional amend-

ments adopted:

Constitutional Amend-ment 4 Clarifying theability to publish anddistribute (including

electronically) the WFSE/AFSCME newspaper.Constitutional Amend-ment 5 Strengtheningprocess for submittingand reviewing proposed

constitutional amend-ments and resolutions.Constitutional Amend-ment 6 Allowing ofcerelections to start as earlyas 7 a.m. on the Sunday

of convention.Constitutional Amend-ment 7 Clarifying that

constitutional changesare adopted by the con-vention.

Constitutional Amend-ment 8 Updating theconstitution to include the

name Human ServicesPolicy Committee, whichhas been used for some

20 years.Constitutional Amend-ment 9 Giving con-

vention delegates morenotice of appointment toconvention committees

and clarifying that the Ex-ecutive Board shall selectthe city and dates of the

biennial convention.Constitutional Amend-ment 11 Tightening up

timeframes for conventionminutes.Constitutional Amend-ment 17 Prohibitsmembers from the samelocal or policy committee

as a member chargedwith violating Article X ofthe AFSCME Constitu-

tion from serving on theaccused members trialbody.

See ACTS, page 6

Delegates at the 2009 Convention honored members for anumber of accomplishments.

And they feted a legislator for the kind of courage that so fewlawmakers show today. More awards on page 6.

The convention

honors

Medal of Valor Award:To Local 443s Jon Brogger and Sonja Sunny Hawkins (nominator Margaret Kemrer acceptedfor Sunny). In a surprise, the award was presented to them by Charyn Niemeyer, the co-workerwhose life they saved by performing CPR. Sunny and Jon are more than deserving in my book,

Niemeyer told delegates at the convention banquet Oct. 2.

From left at Oct. 2 Medal of Valor Award presentation: VP Bill Copland; Tim Foley, Local 1221, chair of the Medal ofValor Committee; recipient Jon Brogger, Local 443; Charyn Neimeyer, whose life the recipients saved; Margaret Kem-

rer, nominator who accepted the award forSunny Hawkins; and President Carol Dotlich.

George Masten

Courage Award:To recipient outside Council

28 who has stood up for stateemployees:State Rep. Brendan Wil-liams of the 22nd District.

Williams was honoredfor joining the unions lawsuit

against the governor for notforwarding a funding requestfor WFSE/AFSCMEs con-

tracts; voting no on the all-cuts budget; publicly criticiz-

ing the budget and hikes instate employee health cuts;and working to undo the dam-

age with a recent forum on

the budget in Olympia.

Boy I really am honoredto receive this award, saidWilliams, who had been told

he was presenting an awardto someone else.

Williams praised WFSE/

AFSCME members as the of-ten unseen force that keepsthis state running.

Public employees are thesolution, Williams said.

Howard Ocobock PEOPLE Award(for the local with the highest PEOPLE MVP membership):Rainier School Local 491.Other PEOPLE Awards: Six locals were honored for having signed up at least 15 per-

cent of their members for PEOPLE: Local 341, Fircrest School;Local 482, Veterans Home (Retsil); Local 491, Rainier School;Local 793, WSH/CSTC/SCC/Oakridge; Local 1181, Kitsap

County; and Local 1291, Transportation, Pasco. The PEOPLE Committee honored the WFSE/AFSCME TacomaField Ofce with an award for its work recruiting new PEOPLE

members.

The Local 491 convention delegation brought their PEOPLE awards back tothe local meeting Oct. 8 in Buckley to personally award to Kellie Klimczak, thesteward largely credited with the locals success recruiting PEOPLE sign-ups.

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Page 6 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee October 2009

AFSCME is standingwith Council 28 in battlingTim Eymans Initiative 1033that would choke off fundingfor public services.

In his address to the

WFSE/AFSCME ConventionOct. 3, Lee Saunders, execu-tive assistant to the AFSCMEpresident, delivered a checkfor $200,000 to go the No on1033 campaign.

We have beaten him(Eyman) before and I guesswere just going to have tokick his a- - once more,Saunders said.

Saunders also handedover a check from AFSCMEfor $35,000 to Council 28scampaign to grow the ranksof PEOPLE contributors.

These are smart strategicmoves to help ll the recentpolitical vacuum marked bydeep budget cuts and attackson state employees, he said.

When it comes to po-

The 2009 WFSE/AFSCME Convention opened Oct. 3 with an address from AFSCMEs Lee Saunders.

Saunders: Council 28s activism lling political vacuum

STATE CONVENTION 2009

litical leadership in the lastsession, there was a huge po-litical vacuum in Washington

state, Saunders said.But youre reacting tothat vacuum.(Youve said)Enough is enough.

We are tired of politi-cians taking our money and

walking away from us.

Council 28 is sending a

strong message to politicians,he said.Not one dime will you

get from this union until youprove yourself to us, Saun-ders said.

Saunders enlisted Council28 members to step up theght for national health care

reform.A health reform packagemust include three core prin-ciples: a public health option;an employer mandate; and notaxation of benets.

Lucy: Were doing our best

to ease the pain of our

members in tough timesCouncil 28 isnt resting on

its laurels and is on the cut-ting edge of the labor move-ment in recognizing trendsoverlooked by other unionsand building a strongerunion, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy toldWFSE/AFSCME delegates atthe convention banquet Oct.2.

Lucy also applaudedWFSE/AFSCME for re-think-

ing how we use our political

power, including on endorse-ments.

The key to 28s strengthis the power of politicalstrength and the ability touse it wisely on behalf ofmembers, Lucy told about700 delegates, alternates andguests.

He said WFSE/AFSCMEsnew strategies on bargaining

also will help the union con-

tinue to grow for the benetof state employees.

Were not going to sit onour behinds proud of some-thing we did 20 years ago,Lucy said.

Were going to keep astrong union, he added.

We are the front line ofdefense for decency in oursociety.

Delegates rejected nine

other proposed amend-ments, including onesthat would have changed

the unions dues struc-

ture, governance and gu-bernatorial endorsements

process. One proposedamendment was ruledout of order.

Resolutions adopted:

Resolution 2 Seeking

a legislative change towaive the actuarial reduc-tion of income for state

employees forced to re-tire on a disability beforethe age of 62 because

of medical or physical

requirements.

Resolution 4 Work-ing to stop the closureof Pine Lodge and other

state institutions.

Resolutionsreferred:

Delegates voted torefer two resolutions.

Resolution No. 1on safeguarding debateon measures before the

AFSCME Conventionwas referred to AFSCMERegional Vice Presidents

Greg Devereux and KenAllen and the 2010 AF-SCME Convention.

Resolution No. 3 re-garding stronger contract

language on assignmentpay and special payprovisions, was referred

to WFSE/AFSCMEsbargaining teams.

ACTS,from page 5

WFSE/AFSCMEs keyally, Oregon AFSCME Coun-cil Executive Director KenAllen, praised the partnershipbetween the two councils thathas pioneered the Next Wavemovement and grown thePEOPLE program.

Next Wave, the under-35program to energize youngactivists, came out of theAFSCME Northwest Region.Allen and Council 28 Execu-tive Director Greg Devereuxare NW Regional VPs.

These two councils start-ed this (Next Wave) togetherand we should be proud ofthat, Allen told conventiondelegates Oct. 3.

The Northwest Region isalso home of the fastest-grow-ing PEOPLE program in all ofAFSCME, he said.

He pledged his support toCouncil 28 on upcoming leg-islative and contract battles.

Stand up and be theleader that you can be andght for a better union, Allensaid.

Allen praises

Council 28-

Council 75

partnership

Howard Jorgenson Organizing Award:Julianne Moore, Local 1326, for mobilizing her members to ghtthe closure of Yakima Valley School.

Were not out of the woods yet, it may be targeted again,

said former WFSE/AFSCME President Howard Jorgenson inpresenting the award. But our recipient has set the standard forhow to ght off these ill-advised, mean and nasty attacks on our

members.Were all in this together, Moore said in accepting the

award.

Rosella Charvet Leadership Award:Rick Hertzog, Local 793, for leadership bringing the uniondirectly to the worksites of Western State Hospital, Child Study

and Treatment Center, Oakridge Group Home and Special Com-mitment Center.In accepting his

award from 2007winner KandyKraig (Local

1221), Hertzoghonored WFSE/AFSCMEs late

Vice PresidentHoward Ocob-ock.

I just try tolive up to whatHoward would do

on a daily basis,Hertzog said.

Job Action of the Year Award:Local 793 for its many job actions against cuts to Western StateHospital and other institutions in its local.

Their job actions spotlight nonsensical management initia-tives that if left unchallenged threaten the quality of care, saidVP Bill Copland, Local 1253, in presenting the award to the Lo-

cal 793 delegation Oct. 4.

Other awards:

Next Wave Logo DesignContest: Joseph Wells, Lo-

cal 793 (recently laid off from

Western State Hospital). Coalition of Black Trade

Unionists rafe: Joy Cage,Local 491, Rainier School.

Other awards:

Most LaborWeb local web-site sign-ups: Rainier SchoolLocal 491.

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Page 7WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeOctober 2009

MEMBERS ONLY BENEFITS UPDATE; UNION NEWS

A new MEMBERS ONLY BENEFIT for WFSE/AFSCME members and their families!

Financial Wellness

SHARED LEAVE

REQUESTS

If youve been approved toreceive shared leave by youragency or institution, you canplace a notice here. Onceyouve been approved by youragency or institution, WFSE/AFSCME can place yourshared leave request hereand online. E-mail the editor attim@wfse.org. Or call 1-800-562-6002.

The following could use a

donation of eligible unusedannual leave or sick leave orall or part of your personalholiday:

Donald Minter, a FinancialServices Specialist 3 in MountVernon and a member of Local1060, is dealing with personalhealth issues after the recentdeath of his wife. Contact:Vickie Rothernbuhler, (360)714-4006.

Robert Steele, an informa-tion technology specialist 3with DSHS in Olympia and amember of Local 443, is suf-fering from Mortons Neuroma,a condition that prevents himfrom walking without pain.He has used up all his leave.Contact: Gayle Hateld athatga@dshs.wa.gov or JudiRogers at rogerja3@dshs.wa.gov.

Pamela Edmison, a food ser-vice worker at the Universityof Washington and a member

of Local 1488, is recoveringfrom breast cancer surgeryand radiation treatments. Sheis in dire need of shared leave.Contact: Jean Swarm at (206)685-9012.

Rhenda Stewart, a nancialservices specialist 3 withDSHS and a member of Local1299 and now caring for herseriously ill husband in PortAngeles, is in need of sharedleave. Contact: Bonnie Schuchat (509) 764-5608.

Gary Jefferson, a truck driver2 at the University of Wash-ington and a member of Local1488, is undergoing treatmentfor stomach cancer. He is onextended leave for surgeryand continued radiation andchemotherapy treatments. Hewill be off the job at least sixmonths. Contact: JoAnn Wuts-chik at (206) 543-2805.

Liane Calamayan, a sup-port enforcement ofcer 2with DSHS Division of ChildSupport in Kennewick and a

member of Local 1253, will beundergoing neurosurgery andcould be off work for severalmonths, not including follow-up treatment. Contact: KristiChristensen, (509) 374-2035.

Barbara Maasch, an unem-ployment insurance specialist4 with the Employment Secu-rity Department in Spokaneand a member of Local 1221,is recovering from surgery andis in need of shared leave.Contact: Kathleen Young at(360) 902-9413.

Craig Harrington, a correc-tions/custody ofcer 3 at PineLodge Corrections Center forWomen in Medical Lake anda member of Local 782, isrecovering from a heart attackand is in need of shared leave.Contact: Julie Holford at (509)299-2303.

Michele Mallery, a programspecialist 3 with the Secretaryof States Ofce (ArchivesSection) in Olympia and amember of Local 443, is still in

need of shared leave for ad-ditional knee surgery. Contact:Terri Parker at (360) 236-5071or tparker@secstate.wa.gov.

Wendy Hogan, a medi-cal assistance specialist 1with DSHS in Olympia anda member of Local 443, is inneed of shared leave to carefor her sister who has beendiagnosed with cancer. Sheonly has about two weeks ofleave left and will likely need amonth more of leave. Contact:Joanne Fulton at (360) 725-1082.

Luana Gilley, an unemploy-ment insurance specialist 3with the Employment SecurityDepartment at the King CountyTelecenter in Seattle and amember of Local 435, is stillin dire need of shared leave.She has been hospitalized andis recovering from surgeriesand. She wants co-workersto know that even one hourcan help, as she is within 3.33hours of having her Septembermedical leave covered. Butshe will need time in October

to maintain her benetsOctober is when her nextsurgery is scheduled. She hasbeen forced to use her FMLALWOP back-to-back insteadof intermittently, so she hasexhausted it long before herend date. She has been re-fused approval of other LWOPleave. She is concerned if shedoesnt maintain her benets,she will be forced out of her

job, where she has built up20 years of seniority. Contact:Kathleen Young at (360) 902-

9413.

Carol A. Smith, a mentalhealth technician 1 at WesternState Hospital in Lakewoodand a member of Local 793, isbattling a very serious medi-cal condition and is in need ofshared leave. Contact DaveWiggen at (253) 761-3366.

Denise Auve, a laundry work-er 1 at Western State Hospitalin Lakewood and a member ofLocal 793, is in need of sharedleave for surgery and recovery.Contact: Dave Wiggen at (253)

761-3366.

Amy Brady, a nancialservices specialist 3 with theDSHS Region 7 Call Centerin Port Angeles and a mem-ber of Local 1463, has beenapproved for shared leave.Contact: Lynn Logelin at (360)565-2190.

Sandra Bazan-Molnar, anancial services specialist atthe DSHS White Center CSO,has been approved for sharedleave. Contact: Shearun Fai-

son at (206) 760-2336.

Mary Luxa, a medical assis-tance specialist 3 with DSHSin Olympia and a member ofLocal 443, is still in need ofshared leave as she recoversfrom surgeries that will keepher off the job until mid-No-vember. Contact your humanresources ofce.

Ann Hill, a support enforce-ment technician in the DSHSDivision of Child Support in

Olympia, will soon exhaust allher leave because of an ongo-ing medical issue. Contact:Patti Clark at (360) 664-5030or pclark@dshs.wa.gov.

Diana DePontee, a nancialservices specialist 3 withDSHS in Olympia, has beenapproved for shared leave.Contact: Grace Chambers at(360) 725-6627 or chambge@dshs.wa.gov.

Spokane Veterans HomeLocal 1221 members M. KayKroiss, a nursing assistant,

and Soa Alexander, a foodservice worker, have beenapproved for Shared Leave.Contact: Sandie Wollan, (509)344-5777.

Lisa Walsh, an ofce assistant3 in the DSHS Division of ChildSupport in Olympia and amember of Local 443, will soonexhaust all leave because ofany ongoing medical issue.Contact: Patti Clark, (360) 664-5030 or pclark@dshs.wa.gov.

A new MEMBERS ONLY BENEFIT for WFSE/AFSCME members and their families!

Dental emergencies should

never be ignored. Emergencyand walk-in patients are al-

ways welcome at Bright Now!Dental so members and theirfamilies can get the care they

need right away.

Here are a few tips on whatto do until you can reach

your Bright Now! Dentalofce:

Toothache:Rinse your mouth with warm

water and gently remove anyfood particles with dentaloss. Apply a cold compress

to your cheek to controlswelling and pain. Never putaspirin or any other painkiller

directly against the tooth as itmay burn the sensitive gumtissue.

Knocked-out tooth:

After rinsing with water, gentlytry to put the tooth back into

the socket. If the tooth cannotbe inserted, put it in a smallcontainer of milk or cup of

water that contains a pinchof salt. You have the highestchances of saving the tooth

if it is reinserted within onehour so see your Bright Nowdentist right away.

Lost llingAs a temporary measure,

stick a piece of sugarlessgum into the cavity (sugar-lled gum will cause pain) or

use over-the-counter dentalcement.

Lost crown

If possible, slip the crownback over the tooth. Before

doing so, coat the inner

surface with an over-the-counter dental cement,toothpaste, or denture

adhesive, to help hold thecrown in place. Do not usesuper glue!

Broken braces brackets orwires

Use a small piece oforthodontic wax to cover asharp or broken bracket or

wire. Never cut a wire, as youcould end up swallowing it orbreathing it into your lungs.

With same-day appointments,as well as evening and Sat-

urday appointments and afterhour emergency care, littleemergencies stay little. Call

1-888-BRIGHT NOW or logon to www.brightnow.com tond one of the 11 convenient

ofces near you.

Another dental health tip from

With same-day appointments,

little emergencies stay little

WSECU provides a wide range of nancial wellness classes for WFSE/AFSCME members. Schedule a class today. Edu-

cators will come to your worksite or local meeting. Groups of at least 15 participants preferred, but there are exceptions.For more information, or to schedule a class, call 1-800-562-0999, Ext. 10101.

New

staff

hired

Several new WFSE/AFSCME staff have been hired.Tim Tharp, Ann Marie Dietz and Lauren Berkowitz have

joined the organizing staff.New council representatives hired:

Smokey Point -- Phyllis Alexander.

Seattle -- Britt Kauffman and James Dannen (formerlywith the Organizing Department); Robin Ledbetter (formerly

temporary staff in Seattle); Joe Kendo (formerly temporary staffin Smokey Point); and Anne-Marie Cavanaugh.

Olympia -- Perry Gordon.Meghan Elliot, formerly a temporary associate, has be-

come a permanent associate in Seattle.

Tharp Dietz Berkowitz

FROM LEFT:

Alexander,Kauffman,

Dannen

FROM LEFT:

Ledbetter,

Kendo,

Cavanaugh

FROM LEFT:

Gordon, Elliot

8/14/2019 Vol. 37 No. 8

8/8

Page 8 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee October 2009

UNION NEWS

Can you guess where the worksite above is and what WFSE/AFSCME

members work there? Send your guesses by e-mail to tim@wfse.org

or regular mail: Editor, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA

98501. Include your name and mailing address. Deadline: Nov. 10. The

frst 10 readers with the correct answer who include their name and

mailing address will receive a prize.

Wheres this worksite?

Answer to Augusts Wheres this

worksite?:

The mystery worksite pictured

in the August WashingtonState Employee showed theInterstate 90 oating bridges

across Lake Washingtonfrom Seattle to Mercer Island. Members of Seattle Depart-

ment of Transportation Local 378 keep trafc owing andthe bridges oating. The readers who submitted a correctguess were: Derrick Guthrie, Jim Hudson, Frank ONeal,Larry Skoglund and Todd Zey.

Answer to Septembers

Wheres this worksite?:

The mystery worksite inthe September Washing-ton State Employee was

the Cowlitz/WahkiakumWorkSource center (Em-

ployment Security) where Local 1400 members provide

unemployment and training services. The readers whosubmitted a correct guess were: Randy Bateman, Jen-nifer Beverage, Bill Copland, Deanna Duggan, Tyson

Graham, Jodi Murphy and Tom Patterson.

The unions steering com-mittee on the proposed twopilot privatization projects inChild Welfare Services metover the convention weekendand committed to expandingits outreach and communica-tion activities with affectedmembers.

Its part of the researchthe committee continues todo as part of its next stepstrategies in dealing with theproposed privatization.

The steering committeealready has a Facebook pageand a blog. To request ininvitation to the secure blog,e-mail Jeanine Livingston atjeaninel@wfse.org.

Meanwhile, the stateTransformation Design Com-mittee, the formal name forthe task force on the CWSprivatization pilots, met Sept.16 and 17.

The committee dealt withmany technical issues. Butred ags went up again when

The state Court of Ap-peals has agreed with WFSE/AFSCME and struck downthree of the states contractingout rules.

The court upheld the 2008ruling made by a ThurstonCounty Superior Court judgeon the lawsuit against therules led by the Federation.

The rules came from the

Appeals Court sides with WFSE/AFSCME,

strikes down contracting out rulesDepartment of General Ad-ministration.

But the appeals court ruled

Sept. 15 that GA had exceededits authority when it wrotethe restrictive rules aboutwhich employees could offeralternatives to contracting outor bid for projects.

The Legislature in 2002

said employees whose posi-tions or work would be dis-placed would be allowed tooffer alternatives.

The appeals court ruledthose rules restricted the op-portunity only to employeeswho lose their jobs or whowould be reassigned.

The state may appeal tothe state Supreme Court.

The unions Natural Re-sources Task Force was set tomeet Oct. 16 to craft a formalresponse to the Natural Re-sources reform report.

The governors subcabi-net of natural resource agencyheads issued a list of possibleideas Sept. 14. It put the ideas

out for public comment.The WFSE/AFSCME

Natural Resources Task Forceset up is own survey to pres-ent to the governor.

The ideas rolled out Sept.14 are just that. They are notrecommendations. They arenot options. Many contradicteach other. Many are cost-prohibitive.

The ideas are groupedinto four broad categories:organizational, with ideasranging from consolidation

Natural Resources Task Force crafting

response to consolidation report

into two agencies to inter-agency collaboration in thecurrent structure; sharingservices and resources, withemphasis on data, nancialand law enforcement services;improving permitting; andstreamlining the quasi-judicialhearings process.

But theres been externalpressure for the governorto leapfrog the process andmake some of the costly ideasreality on policy, not scalgrounds.

Thats why the union taskforce takes them so seriously.

The WFSE/AFSCME task

force includes representativesfrom several natural resourceagencies, including Ecol-ogy, Parks and Recreation,Fish and Wildlife, NaturalResources, Agriculture andHealth.

It met Sept. 11 to go overa preliminary matrix of ideas.

They got a brieng from JohnMankowski, the governorsnatural resource liaison.

And they talked to MartyBrown, director of the gover-nors legislative affairs ofce.

The summary judgment hearing on the unions gainsharingpension lawsuit originally scheduled for Oct. 30 has been

stricken.

Technically, the Dec. 1 trial date remains, but likely will also

not take place. No new dates have been set.

Members from the DSHS Community Services Division andcall centers caucused during convention weekend at SeaTac

and aired concerns directly to their division director LeoRibas and administrator Vicki Hobbs. Members reported talkswill continue.

State task force on child

welfare privatization meetsDSHS Secretary Susan Drey-fus addressed the task force.She said shed gotten thegovernors approval to bebold and innovative withher intentions to increasecapacities in the communi-ties and incorporate greaterstakeholder input.

Reading between thelines, that was taken by someto mean the state is interestedin privatizing more of DSHSChildrens Administration

than just the two pilot demon-stration sites in Child WelfareServices.

The state panel meetsagain Dec. 14 and 15. Sub-committees, including the oneon site selection co-chairedby Livingston, have begunmeeting.

All information on thestate committees business,including data, agendas andminutes, can be found onlineat www.accountabilityin-childwelfare.org.

CSO staff airs concerns at convention caucus

RTC bargaining starts

Members at Renton Technical College, which negotiatesunder a different collective bargaining law than other stateemployees represented by WFSE/AFSCME, have set bar-

gaining dates.A job action in support of bargaining was set for Oct. 12.The RTC team recently completed a two-day training on

Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB). The rst bargaining sessiontook place Sept. 21. They agreed on ground rules and setbargaining dates through December: Oct. 12 and 22; Nov. 2

and 16; and Dec. 3 and 15.

Gainsharing hearing postponed

The WFSE/AFSCME Col-

lective Bargaining Committeeand Executive CommitteeOKd the process for electingmembers of any supplemental

bargaining teams.

The joint committees onSept. 9 adopted a processcalling for election of teammembers as soon as possible

after the respective statewide,

coalition or institution-widebargaining team assigns anysupplemental issues.

Each supplemental teamwill have up to six electedmembers.

Elections will be by mailballot.

This is not to be confusedwith the in-progress electionsfor members of the main bar-gaining teams. The deadlinefor the main bargaining teamsnominations closed Oct. 5.Ballots for the main bargain-ing teams are due out the

week of Oct. 22 and must bereturned by Nov. 13.

Supplemental bargaining team elections process set

Fun in the sun at the Local 1221 picnicSpokane Local 1221 always puts on a good spread and this years annual

picnic in August was no different. It was a time for members and their families

to enjoy fun, food and fellowship.

Local 843 strikes blow

for health care reformMembers from King County Human

Services Local 843 joined thousands of

others at the Sept. 2 rally in downtown

Seattle to push for national health care

reform.

You can keep up to date online at

www.wfse.org.