www.ickr.com/photos/ occupywfsec28 The ofcial newspaper of the WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES/ AFSCME Council 28•AFL-CIO VOL. 39 NO. 10 NOVEMBER 2011 FACING THE SPECIAL LEGISL A TIVE SESSION KICKS OFF NOV. 28Cut tax breaks to raise revenue. Take the vote. FIND LINKS ON WFSE.ORG TO VIEW OR ADD YOUR PHOTO-MESSAGES | SIGN-UP TO A TTEND SPECIAL SESSION DIRECT ACTIONS AT TAKEACTION.WFSE. ORG WASHINGTON StateEmployee Members tell lawmakers: Tell legislators to take a vote to cut taxbreaks to raise revenue Legislature convenes in special session starting Nov. 28! Will consider deep cuts to public safety, public services and higher education to fll the new $2 billion defcit! What you can do: • Get information on the “Week of Action” at the Capitol, Nov. 28-Dec. 2. Go to www.wfse.org. • Take Action with regular online messages to the governorand legislators. Go to www.wfse.org. Federation Information Hotline FLASH! • Call 1-800-562-6000 • E-mail your legislators -- see contact information on pages 4 & 5. • Take online action. Go to www.wfse. org • Use your smart phone to send a photo message to legislators. Go to www.wfse.org • Who says cutting tax breaks can’t be done? 3 • Faces of the 99%. WFSE/AFSCME members appeal to the public. 3, 8. • Faces of the 147 who’ll decide state’s fate. 4-5. INSIDE THIS SPECIAL ISSUE:
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NOVEMBER 2011FACING THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION
KICKS OFF NOV. 28
Cut tax breaks to
raise revenue.
Take the vote.
FIND LINKS ON WFSE.ORG TO VIEW OR ADD YOUR PHOTO-MESSAGES | SIGN-UP TO ATTEND SPECIAL SESSION DIRECT ACTIONS AT TAKEACTION.WFSE.ORG
WASHINGTON
State EmployeeMembers tell lawmakers:
Tell legislators to
take a vote to cut tax
breaks to raise revenueLegislature convenes in special
session starting Nov. 28!
Will consider deep cuts to publicsafety, public services and
higher education to fll the new$2 billion defcit!
What you can do:• Get information on the “Week of Action” at the Capitol,
Nov. 28-Dec. 2. Go to www.wfse.org.
• Take Action with regular online messages to the governor
and legislators. Go to www.wfse.org.
• Call our Federation Information Hotline (1-800-562-6102) for up-to-the-minute news and calls to action.
• Take part in local job actions.
FLASH!
• Call 1-800-562-6000• E-mail your legislators -- see contactinformation on pages 4 & 5.• Take online action. Go to www.wfse.org• Use your smart phone to send aphoto message to legislators. Go towww.wfse.org
Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee November 2011
UNION NEWS
StateEmployee
Washington State Employee (USPS 981-200) is published monthly, except Februaryand July, for $5.08 per year by the Washing-ton Federation of State Employees/AFSCMECouncil 28 • AFL-CIO, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E.Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501. Afliated withthe American Federation of State, Countyand Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and theWashington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Periodicals postage paid at Olympia, WAand at additional ofces. Circulation:
42,000.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes toWashington State Employee, 1212 JeffersonSt SE Suite 300 Olympia WA 98501-7501
Carol Dotlich, President
Greg Devereux, Executive Director
Editor Tim Welche-mail: [email protected] • Internet:www.wfse.orgMember, ILCA
WASHINGTON
SHARED LEAVE
REQUESTSIf you’ve been approved to receive shared leave by your agency or institution, you can place a notice here. Once you’ve been approved by your agency or institution, WFSE/AFSCME can place your shared leave request here and online. Please include a contact in your agency, usually in human resources, for donors to call. E-mail the editor at [email protected]. Or call 1-800-562-6002.
• The following could use a dona- tion of eligible unused annual leave or sick leave or all or part
of your personal holiday:
Lisa Sibrava, a social worker 3with DSHS in King County anda member of Local 843, hasbeen approved for shared leave.Contact: Your human resourceofce.
Bruce Hamlett, a nancialservices specialist 3 with theDSHS Statewide Triage PhoneTeam B in Bremerton and amember of Local 1181, is in need
WFSE JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS
of shared leave because of aserious medical condition. Hehas exhausted all leave. Contact:
Your human resource ofce.
Tamara Marshall, a nancialservices specialist 2 with theDSHS Statewide CSC TriagePhone Team B in Tacoma and amember of Local 53, is in needof shared leave because of herpending childbirth requiring aC-section. Contact: Your humanresource ofce.
Charles Stockton, anadministrative assistant 4 withthe DSHS Division of VocationalRehabilitation headquarters inOlympia, has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact: Yourhuman resource ofce.
Shawna Benitez, an ofceassistant 3 with the Departmentof Labor and Industries inTumwater and a member ofLocal 443, is undergoing surgeryand will be unable to work forthree weeks to a month. She hasexhausted all leave. Contact: BillChrisman, (360) 902-5520.
Julie Gonzales, a WorkFirstprogram specialist with DSHSin Vancouver and a member ofLocal 313, needs shared leaveto care for her husband, whowas badly injured in a vehicleaccident. To date, he has had
15 surgeries with more to come.Contact: Your human resourceofce.
Kathi K. Holmes, a nancialservices specialist 3 with DSHSin Olympia and a member ofLocal 443, is in need of sharedleave because of a serious
medical condition. Contact: Yourhuman resource ofce.
Shavana Howard, a WorkFirstprogram specialist with DSHSin Tacoma and a member ofLocal 53, has been approved forshared leave for her service inthe uniformed services. Contact:Your human resource ofce.
Florinda Delagarza, a nancialservices specialist 3 with DSHSin Bellingham and a memberof Local 1060, is recoveringfrom a stroke and is in need ofshared leave. Contact: VickiRothenbueler, (360) 714-4006.
Carroll Alzaarir, a scal analyst3 with DSHS in Seattle, hasexhausted all leave because ofa serious health condition and isin need of shared leave. Contact:Your human resource ofce.
Kimberly Gilbert, a procurementand supply support specialist2 with DSHS in Olympia anda member of Local 443, hasbeen approved for sharedleave because of a back injury.Contact: Your human resourceofce.
Elsa Tapia, an ofce assistant3 with the DSHS Statewide HIUTeam and a member of Local1181, is in need of shared leavebecause of a serious medical
condition that has caused herleave balances to drop to zero.Contact: Your human resourceofce.
Mickey Whitman, a nancialservices specialist 3 with theDSHS Statewide Child Care CallCenter Team in Spokane and
a member of Local 1221, is in
need of shared leave because ofa painful, incapacitating healthcondition that severely hindersher ability to work full time.Contact: Your human resourceofce.
Michael Benton, a nancialservices specialist 3 with theDSHS Statewide Triage PhoneTeam B in Tacoma and a memberof Local 53, is in need of sharedleave because of a seriousmedical condition. Contact: Yourhuman resource ofce.
Debra Jackson, a WorkFirstprogram specialist with DSHSat the Lakewood Community
Service Ofce (CSO) and amember of Local 53, has beenapproved for shared leavebecause of a serious medicalcondition. She will soon exhaustall her leave balances. Contact:Your human resource ofce.
Sara Rieker, a nancial services
specialist 3 with the DSHS CSDCustomer Service Center HIUTeam and a member of YakimaLocal 1326, has been approvedfor shared leave because of aserious health condition. Sheexhausted all of her paid leavebalances in September. Contact:Your human resource ofce.
Tracy Boose, a nancialservices specialist 3 with theDSHS CSD Customer ServiceCenter HIU Team and a memberof Tacoma Local 53, is in needof shared leave because of aserious medical condition thathas caused her leave to drop toa zero balance. Contact: Your
human resource ofce.
Linda Jorza, a nancial servicesspecialist with DSHS in Tacomaand a member of Local 53, isrecovering from major surgeryand is need of shared leave.Contact: Tina Brown, (206) 716-2301.
Labor AdvocateOlympia Headquarters
This position in the eld“technical expert” of theWashington Federation of
State Employees (WFSE),AFSCME, Council 28. Thesestaff are primarily responsiblefor grievance arbitrationsand contract and mid-termnegotiations. Advocate/ne-gotiators perform advancedrepresentational work forthe organization. Representthe WFSE in presentation ofgrievances to Pre-ArbitrationReview Meetings (PARM)or Public Employment Rela-tions Commission (PERC)mediation; represent WFSEin all aspects of grievancearbitration for disciplinary and
non-disciplinary cases includ-ing selection of arbitrators,obtaining evidence, conduct-ing research, preparation ofpleadings, oral presentationof the case, brief writing, andpossible settlement agree-ments; investigates, prepares,and presents grievance-related Unfair Labor Practicecomplaints before the PERC;attends and presents repre-sentational matters related to
Personnel Resources Board(PRB) hearings; representsWFSE in agency-wide UnionManagement CommunicationCommittee meetings; actsas Chief Negotiator in bien-
nial contract negotiations andrepresent WFSE in mid-termmandatory subjects negotia-tions with full decision-makingauthority.
Desired Minimum Qualica-tions: Graduation from anaccredited four-year collegeor university with relevantcourse work in labor relations,law, social sciences or alliedeld. Substantial paid workexperience in related eldmay be substituted for educa-tion. Knowledge of principlesand procedures of negotia-
tion, arbitration, and admin-istrative hearings; workingknowledge of general man-agement principles, state andfederal laws related to laborand public employment, andWashington AdministrativeCodes. Outstanding oral andwritten advocacy skills; excel-lent judgment and discretion,ability to compare and evalu-ate possible courses of action,interests of members, and the
WFSE’s strategic goals. Abil-ity to prioritize work; evaluateand solve problems; workindependently and as a team;be reliable in completing workand meeting deadlines is criti-cal. Have a reliable personalvehicle, valid driver’s licenseand valid vehicle insurance isrequired. Beginning salary is
$66,165 annually. Position ispermanent, full-time, overtimeexempt, and often requireswork beyond a 40-hour workweek. Includes an excellentbenets package.
Cover letter (clearly indicat-ing position applying for) andresume must be received viamail to Kathy Andruss, HRManager, 1212 Jefferson St.SE, Suite 300, Olympia, WA98501, or fax to (360) 754-9228, or e-mail to [email protected] no later than 5:00p.m., December 9, 2011.
AssociateSeattle Field Ofce
This position is for two ofthree Associates supportingthe Seattle Field Ofcestaff. This job requiresexcellent communicationsskills and the ability to usegood judgment in evaluatingsituations and makingdecisions. Must be able to
prepare correspondenceand reports independently.Knowledge of ofce practices,procedures and equipment;professional businessEnglish and letter writing,punctuation and spelling isrequired. Experience withWord and Excel is preferable.Familiarity with Washington
State government and laborunions are pluses. Requiresvalid driver’s license, use ofpersonal vehicle, and validvehicle insurance.
Beginning salary $33,638 peryear. Position is permanentand full-time and includes anexcellent benets package.
Cover letter (clearly indicatinglocation and position applyingfor) and résumé must bereceived via mail to KathyAndruss, HR Manager, 1212Jefferson ST SE STE 300/
Olympia WA 98501, or fax to(360)754-9228, or email [email protected] no laterthan 5:00 p.m., December9, 2011.
Database SpecialistOlympia Headquarters
This position is responsiblefor data management andintegrity of member/non-member data entering and
residing in LaborPower.Works with softwaredevelopers to design andimplement data processingupgrade and automationprojects. Develops complexreports as needed; writesspecications for LaborPowersystem changes; works withemployers to receive and
import member/non-memberdata. Provides technicalsupport and trains staff on theuse of LaborPower. DesirableQualications: Two yearsexperience querying, reportwriting, and maintaining dataintegrity in complex databasesusing SQL. Experiencedesigning user-friendly dataentry screens and databasesin Microsoft Access. Havea valid driver’s license andvalid vehicle insurance isrequired. Beginning salary is$47,191 annually. Positionis permanent, full-time, and
overtime eligible; includes anexcellent benets package.
Cover letter (clearly indicatingposition applying for) andresume must be received viamail to Kathy Andruss, HRManager, 1212 Jefferson St.SE, Suite 300, Olympia, WA98501, or FAX to (360) 754-9228, or e-mail to [email protected], no later than 5:00p.m., December 9, 2011.
Terry McLafferty, a retiredLocal 843 member with theDSHS Divi-sion of ChildSupport inSeattle anda memberof the sec-ond GeneralGovernmentBargainingTeam, diedlate last
month. He was 64. He wasan active member of the localand Human Services PolicyCommittee. A graveside ser-vice was held Nov. 3, in Kent.
Longtime Local 1299 Depart-ment of Agriculture memberAugustine (Augie) Rios died Oct. 25. He was 64. Hewas an agricultural inspector3 in Adams County.
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 [email protected], or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.
WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee Page 3November 2011
THE FACES OF THE 99%
27 WAYS TO CUT THE DEFICIT BY CUTTING TAX BREAKSHere are just 27 tax breaks that six groups propose cutting. The special legislative session could raise $2.3 billion byclosing them. That’s more than enough to cover the $2 billion budget defcit. There may be some overlap. WFSE/AFSCME
members may not support them all. But we can all agree—cutting tax breaks is better than devastating cuts to public safety,public services and higher education.
GROUP/IDEA SAVINGS
Economic Opportunity Institute1
Repeal 1st mortgage deduction $ 50.8 millionRepeal 1st mortgage deduction for banks in more than 10 states 20.0 millionSales tax exemption on custom software 31.2 million
In the special legisla-tivesessionstartingNov.28,it’stimefor
legislators to TAKE THE
VOTE, cut tax breaks toraiserevenuebecausethe proposed cuts area bad idea. They harmpublicsafety,public
servicesandhighereducation.
WFSE/AFSCME members from
some of the areas facing the big-gest hits tell why the public should
be concerned.
COMMUNITY
CORRECTIONS
Tim FoleyDOC Community Corrections
Local 1221, Spokane
Cutting supervision of
felons released from
prison is a bad idea.
“They need to be heldaccountable.…I wouldbe(scared).Iliveinthesame community youdo and it concerns me.That’swhyI’vebeeninthebusinessforover30years is I want to makesure our community issafe.”
“It impacts publicsafety. Our modelis to not create anymorevictims....Andifyoucutcom-munitysupervision,wecannotpreventmorevictimsfrombeingvictimized.”
Iris Peterson
DOC Community
Corrections
Local 308, Seattle
“High-riskfelonsinvaryingcrimesfromsexcrimes,toassaultive,murders,rap-ists....willhavenoaccountabilitywithnobodywatchingoverthem.…I’dbescaredforeverybody....There’sgoingtobesomebodyrightclosebythat’sgoingto be a criminal that should be on DOCprobationandbeingmonitoredandit’s justnotgoingtohappen.”
Chris Perez
DOC Community Corrections
Local 1326, Yakima
RAINIER
SCHOOL
Diane Rauschenberg
Rainier School
Local 491, Buckley
Closing
Rainier
School is a bad
idea.
“Wehave538developmental-ly disabled adults and the bulkofthemaremedicallyfragile,behaviorallychallengedorareunable to be supported in thecommunity.”
BASIC HEALTHPLAN
Ending the Basic Health
Plan is a bad idea.
“Well,we’retakingawaythe
medicalcoverageforstudentsthatneedthattogotoschool,we’retakingitawayfromworking families who cannotafford other types of medi-calcoverage.We’retakingitaway from the population be-tween60and62and65,whohaveworkedalltheirlivesandnowcannotaffordtohavehealth care.”
Page 6 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee November 2011
THE FACES OF THE 71 MEMBERS OF YOUR NEW E-BOARD
Policy Committees elect 71-member Executive Board
Board members from Miscellaneous
(from left): Bing Bristol, Local 443,Enterprise Services, Olympia; Linda
Erickson, Local 443, Health Care Authority, Olympia; Jeff Paulsen,Local 443, Consolidated Technology Services, Olympia; Shellie Sav-age, Local 443, Ofce of the Insurance Commissioner, Tumwater;Terry Nixon, Local 1225, Center of Childhood Deafness and HearingLoss, Vancouver; Scott Hone, Local 1225, Washington State Schoolfor the Blind, Vancouver; Ingrid Hansen, Local 443, Health, Olympia;and Natasha Pranger, Local 304, State Patrol, Seattle.
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY
Elected to the board from the Employment Se-curity Policy Committee (from left): top - StevePointec, Local 443, Olympia; Phil Huber, Local443, Olympia; bottom - Loretta Gutierrez, Lo-cal 435, Renton; Diana Smith, Local 396, WallaWalla.
CORRECTIONS
The Corrections PolicyCommittee elected itsthree members (from left):Bill Copland, Local 1253,Tri-Cities; Tim Foley, Local1221, Spokane; and AliceRogers, Local 1253, Tri-Cities.
WFSE/AFSCME’s nine policy committees on Nov. 5 elected their allottedmembers to the union’s Statewide Executive Board, the highest decision-makingbody in the union between conventions. With the four statewide ofcers electedat the convention in October, these 67 newly elected board members bring theboard to its full 71-member strength.
WFSE/AFSCME’s nine current policy committees meet to discuss, debate
MISCELLANEOUS
Miscellaneous Policy Committee Ofcers: Chair - Shellie Savage, Local 443,Olympia; Vice Chair - Robert (Bing) Bristol, Local 443, Olympia; Secretary - Charyn Niemeyer, Local 443, Olympia.
Employment Security Policy Committee ofcers: Chair - Cheryl Flynn, Local 443, Olympia; Vice Chair - Lorretta Gutierrez, Local 435, Renton; Secretary - Sarah C Wilson,
Local 443, Olympia.
Elected from Higher Education (fromleft, being sworn in by WFSE/AFSCMEPresident Carol Dotlich): Brett Clubbe,Local 53, Washington State University,Puyallup; Lin Crowley, Local 443, TheEvergreen State College, Olympia;John Miller, Local 1488, University ofWashington, Bothell; Quincy Burns,Local 931, Eastern Washington Uni-versity, Cheney; Jesse Dailey, Local1488, University of Washington, Se-attle; Brandon Taylor, Local 1381,
Corrections Policy Committee ofcers: Chair - Bill Copland, Local 1253,Tri-Cities Vice Chair - Billy Smith, Local 53, Tacoma Secretary - Ginger Richardson, Local 308, Seattle
and set policy on issues unique to the employees within their jurisdiction.Under the formula set out in the union’s constitution, each of the nine commit-
tees gets one board position for every 500 members (rounded to the next highest500). No committee gets fewer than two seats on the board.
These Executive Board board members represent you -- and are accountableto you.
INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
Western Washington University, Bellingham; Josef Bailey, Local 1381, Western Washington University, Bellingham; Rick Halverson,Local 1221, Community Colleges of Spokane; Nellie Reynolds, Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney; Todd Henderson, Local 304, Green River Community College, Auburn; Rodolfo Franco, Local 304, Seattle Community College; James Grady, Local1488, University of Washington, Seattle; and Leon Norton, Local 1488, University of Washington, Seattle.
Institutions of Higher Education Policy Committee ofcers: Chair - Lin Crowley, Local 443, The Evergreen State College, Olympia; Vice Chair - Matthew Davenhall, Local 304, Seattle Community College; Secretary - Lorraine Hill, Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney.
Industries PolicyCommittee (from left):Don Cline, Local 443,Tumwater; Nikki Butler,Local 443, Tumwater;Thornton Alberg, Local443, Tumwater; andTerri Hall, Local 443,Tumwater.
Executive Board members elected from the Natural ResourcesPolicy Committee (from left): Susie Rathke, Local 443, Fishand Wildlife, Olympia; Kerry Graber, Local 443, Ecology, Lacey;Kathy Conaway, Local 1253, Ecology, Tri-Cities; Terry Mc-
Cullough, Local 1466, Parks and Recreation Commission, PortTownsend; and Don Hall, Local 1466, Parks and RecreationCommission, Wenatchee.
Natural Resources Policy Committee ofcers: Chair - Scott Mallery, Local 1221, Spokane; Vice Chair - Don Hall, Local 1466, Wenatchee; Secretary - Kerry Graber, Local 443, Lacey.
Page 7WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeNovember 2011
THE FACES OF THE 71 MEMBERS OF YOUR NEW E-BOARD
Human Services Policy Committee delegates elected their 12allotted seats on the Executive Board. Because of the lateness ofthe hour when their elections wrapped up at 10:30 p.m. Nov. 5,new Policy Committee Secretary Cindy English of Local 53 tookher oath of ofce along with the board members.
Pictured, from left: Gayle Chamberlain-Smith, Local 1326,Yakima; Tim Hughes, Local 313, Vancouver; Tony Gorini, Local313, Vancouver; Katie Nelson, Local 443, Olympia; English; TomTveit, Local 1326, Yakima; Steve McGillis, Local 313, Vancouver;Annie Namyniuk, Local 843, Kent; Karen Mork, Local 313, Van-couver; Randy Kurtz, Local 948, Everett; and John Lindsey, Lo-cal 843, Seattle. Not available for group photo: Dan Petruso, Lo-cal 1221, Spokane and Carol Van Arnam, Local 1299, Wenatchee(in le photos at right).
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Policy Committee ofcers: Chair - Rodney Jarrells, Local 1020; Vice Chair - Sue Tellesbo, Local 1020; Secretary - Georgina Willner, Local 443.
Board members elected from the Institutions Pol-icy Committee (from left): Henrietta Armstrong,Local 341, Fircrest School, Shoreline; Diane Wom-ack, Local 782, Eastern State Hospital, MedicalLake; Devon Ellis, Local 793, Western State Hos-pital, Lakewood; Rick Hertzog, Local 793, WesternState Hospital, Lakewood; Lyn Hofand, Local 482,
Veterans’ Home, Retsil; Julianne Moore, Local1326, Yakima Valley School, Selah; Sherry Hewitt, Local 491, Rainier School, Buckley; Dolly Adeyemi,Local 341, Fircrest School, Shoreline; Ted Olson, Local 573, Consolidated Support Services, Medi-cal Lake; Mike Murphy, Local 491, Rainier School,Buckley; Gabe Hall, Local 862, Green Hill School,Chehalis; and Lee Malinda, Local 573, Lakeland Vil-lage, Medical Lake. Not available for photo: MicheleStelovich, Local 1060, DD Field Services, Belling-ham (pictured at left).Partially obscured (behind Hewitt) is the policy com - mittee’s new secretary, Areanna Dickerson, Local 341, Fircrest School, Shoreline, who took her oath at the same time as the board members.
DSHS HUMAN SERVICES
Human Services Policy Committee ofcers: Chair - Gayle Chamberlain-Smith, Local 1326, Yakima; Vice Chair - Tim Hughes, Local 313, Vancouver; Secretary - Cindy English,Local 53, Tacoma.
“We were the rst to get cut(in 2009). A lot of the kidswho were scheduled to be onenhanced parole wound upnot getting parole. And I sawmany of their names on thecriminal sentencing page ofthe (Spokane) Spokesman-Review. And some of themI know just died from gang
ghts.”
Morton
Alexander
JuvenileRehabilitation
ParoleLocal 1221,
Spokane
“Cuts in JRA will harm pub-lic safety. It truly is aboutthe safety of the public andcontinuum of care. Mixingpopulations interferes withany chance of rehabilitation.So we’re cutting services, andwe’re cut-ting jobswithin ourcommunitythat sup-port the lo-
cal econo-mies. ….
“(We can’tlet politicians play one JRAgroup off against another)because we are one body thatrepresents the entire state ofWashington. Our residents ineach institution are from everyarea of the state of Washing-ton and when they’re releasedwithout rehabilitation theycontinue to be at risk.”
Patty Erhardt
JRA/Green Hill School
Local 862, Chehalis
WESTERN STATE
HOSPITAL
Closing fve wards at
Western State Hospital
is a bad idea.
“The rst two wards that arebeing targeted at Western areour two dementia wards. Ourprobably most vulnerable...patients that we have in thehospital. And we’ve seen overthe last several years that alot of the placements of thesefolks have been completely in-
Craig GibelyouWestern State
Hospital
Local 793,
Lakewood
adequate. We’ve had many ofthese people have really neg-ative con-sequencesonce theyleave the
hospital,going into acontractedenviron-ment, whoare goinginto a lowerlevel ofcare thanwe provideat the hos-
pital. Andit’s just further dismantling of
the safety net and our com-mitment to taking care of themost vulnerable citizens ofthis state and we’re not doingthat at this point.
“We’re talking about closingthree more adult psychiatricunits. What that will do withoutproper placements, and thebeds simply do not exist in thecommunity – and we’ve seenthis already – where folks arebeing discharged into grouphomes, motels, completelyinadequate environments toprotect the safety of the com-
munities in which they reside.”
EASTERN STATE
HOSPITAL
Closing a ward at
Eastern State Hospital
is a bad idea.
“Well the one ward that theywant to close is our geriatricward. It’s people who havedementia and Alzheimer’s andare just unable to take care ofthemselves. I believe that theywon’t receive the care thatthey get at the hospital now
Dianne
WomackEastern State
Hospital
Local 782,
Medical Lake
in the private sector becausethey just don’t have the facili-ties and they don’t have thetraining or the wherewithalto take care of these people.I just think it’s a bad idea....And so these people that theyare going to be releasing, howlong are they going to last?They’re much, much less ableto take care of themselves orbe productive citizens of thesociety. It’s horrible.”
MEDICAL
INTERPRETERS
Cutting the medical
interpreter program is a
bad idea.
“Cutting the state medical interpreter programwill literally cost lives and cost the state moremoney when mistakes are made. The patientshave told me they will feel abandoned andhelpless. They are scared.”
Community Corrections members inYakima and the Tri-Cities have been
visible enlisting public support to fght the
devastating cuts that could end com-munity supervision of dangerous felons
released from prison. Clockwise from top
left: In Yakima Oct. 27, in Tri-Cities Nov. 3,
in Yakima Oct. 15 and, on KIT radio Nov. 4
with Local 1326 member Chris Perez.
Legislators miffed be-cause the administrationcut the bargaining and civilservice rights of about two-thirds of the new Consolidat-ed Technology Services (CTS)agency may lead the chargeto push the undo button androll back the exemptions of more than 150 front-line in-formation technology work-ers.
The push to pause theCTS job exemptions, whichallow the agency to re them
at will for no just cause, wasaired at the Oct. 19 hearing
before the House GeneralGovernment Appropriationsand Oversight Committee.
“It actually costs the statenothing to push pause, letsome of this play out, andlet you guys reconvene in
January to gure out some of these ner details and howit’s coming, how it’s evolvingand the shape it’s taking,”Federation Lobbyist AliaGrifng urged the committee.
Committee Chair Rep.Zack Hudgins of the 11th Dis-trict agreed.
“I am surprised at thenumber of folks that fell un-der the exempt job descrip-tions...,” Hudgins told CTSDirector Mike Ricchio. “SoI’m sure there is going to belegislation to hem that in alittle bit. So I hope you havean undo button somewherein your agency you might roll
back if the Legislature ndsthe will to do so.”
At the same hearing,plans to consolidate severalnatural resource agencieswere probed.
But Spokane Local 1221Ecology member Scott Mal-lery, chair of the union’s Natu-ral Resources Task Force, toldthe committee the Legislatureshould look at streamliningmanagement rst so “youmight be able to get morepeople on the ground to getthe job done.”
IT, natural resources consolidations
probed by House oversight panelLocal 443’s Jeff Paulsen, one of the