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The ofcial newspaper of the
WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE
EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO
VOL. 40 NO. 3
APRIL 2012
www.discoverpass.wa.gov
Still
standing
WFSE/AFSCME
MEMBERS
The politicians have used the Great Recessionto try to do you in. They failed. You sacricedand saved the state.
Now theyre using the Economic Recovery totry to nish you off.
The latest all-out war on public servants tosustain the recovery started in October andended April 11 with the adjournment of a sec-ond special session.
But you and a public that likes and respectsyou pushed back.
In the end, youre still standing.
The reputation of some politicians may not be.
They wanted to cut Medical Interpreters.In the end, the program survived thanks to WFSE/AFSCME member mobilization and support fromkey allies, including physicians.A proposal requested by the governor to expandcollective bargaining to L&I interpreters passed theHouse but not the Senate.
After April 6 Senate budget hearing, from
left: Nikki Miller, WFSE/AFSCME journey
organizer; Lobbyist Matt Zuvich; Quan Tran,
Paul Natkin and Milena Calderari Waldron,
Interpreters Local 1671; VMO Coordina-
tor Pam Carl; and Sarah Clifthorne, public
service program supervisor.
For more on what they tried to do
to you -- and how it ended up, see
this page and page 3.
WASHINGTON
StateEmployee
Theywantedtoaddmore
furloughs.HouseRepublicanswantedto
inict24morefurloughdays
thisyear.YousaidNO!Inthe
end,theirplanwentnowhere
--andtherearenoadditional
furloughs!
Theywantedtocu
tanother
20%fromstatecollegesand
universities.
Joinedbystuden
tsandfaculty,
yousaidNOTAG
AIN!Inthe
end,HigherEdu
cationsawno
cuts.Infact,the
capitalbudget
(SB6074)include
daWFSE/
AFSCME-initiated
proviso
directingareview
ofpublic
worksprocurem
entinHigherEd.
Andtheres$32
1.4million
incapitalconstru
ctionmoneyforH
igherEd.
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Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee April 2012
UNION NEWS
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 [email protected], or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.
SHARED LEAVE
REQUESTS
SHARED LEAVE THANKS:
From Amber Shealy, a mentalhealth technician 2 at WesternState Hospital in Lakewood
and a member of Local 793,who appealed to WFSE/AF-SCME members for shared
leave so she could care forher husband, Eddie:
Dearest Friends:
We cannot express howmuch your friendship andsupport has meant to ourfamily during our husbandand father Eddies long anddifcult battle with cancer.We could not have managedwithout all that you gave
vacation days, generous gifts,offers to help and especiallyyour prayers. We are trulyamazed and blessed by yourlove.
Because of you, we wereable to be with Eddie duringhis last days. That is a pre-cious gift that we will treasureforever.
Although we can neverrepay or thank you enoughfor all that youve done, wehope you know what a dif-ference you have made inour lives. We are honored tocall you our friends and willnever forget your kindness.
With love and gratitude,Amber, Nathaniel, Christian
and Thomas Shealy
Note: Ambers husband Eddiepassed away March 16.
Here are this months sharedleave requests. They coulduse a donation of eligibleunused annual leave or sickleave or all or part of your per-
sonal holiday:
Nadine Griggs, a WorkSourcespecialist 3 with the Employ-ment Security Department inEverett and a member of Lo-cal 1020, has been approvedfor shared leave through Feb.25, 2013 for a lengthy medicalcondition and recovery. Con-tact: Jeanette Sills, (360) 725-9434, or your human resource
ofce.
Brittnie Tooley, a program as-sistant in the Employment Se-curity Department in Olympiaand a member of Local 443, iscurrently struggling with a seri-
ous stomach disease as theresult of a complicated chroniccondition. She needs moretime to work with a specialistto resolve the issue. Contact:Sharon Lindley, (360) 725-9440 or [email protected].
Regina Preciado, a nancialservices specialist 3 in theDSHS Statewide CSC ChangeBatch in Lynnwood and amember of Local 948, is recov-ering from a stroke suffered inFebruary. She has exhaustedall leave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.
Trina Ray, a mental healthspecialist 1 at Eastern StateHospital in Medical Lake anda member of Local 782, is inneed of shared leave becauseof an extended illness. Con-tact: Laura Fairley, (509) 565-4680.
Heather Ross, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 with DSHSin Tacoma at the Pierce SouthCSO, has been approved forshared leave to care for a fam-ily member in serious condi-tion. She will exhaust all leave.Its expected shell be out inter-mittently. Contact: your humanresource ofce.
Melinda Klossner, a psy-chiatric security attendant atEastern State Hospital anda member of Local 782, wasseriously injured in an automo-bile accident on her way home
from work and will be off workfor an extended period of timeas she recovers from multipleinjuries. Contact: Laura Fairley,(509) 565-4680 or [email protected].
Susan Martinez, a nancialservices specialist 4 at theDSHS Everett Community Ser-vice Ofce and a member ofLocal 948, is in need of sharedleave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.
Tawnette Harris, a Commu-nity Corrections ofcer 2 withthe Department of Correctionsin Burien and a member of Lo-cal 53, has been approved forshared leave. Contact: yourhuman resource ofce.
Harriet Johnson, an ofceassistant 3 for the DSHSCustomer Contact Center,Statewide HIU Team in KingCounty and a member of Local843, is in need of shared leavebecause of a serious medicalcondition that has caused herleave balances to drop to zero.The donated leave will helpher cover her medical insur-ance. Contact: your humanresource ofce.
Lorri-Gagnon Burns, a so-cial service specialist 2 at theDSHS Yakima CSO and amember of Local 1326, hasbeen approved for sharedleave. She is being treated fora serious medical conditionand is currently going throughtreatment. Contact: your hu-man resource ofce.
Cheryl Ramirez, an ofce as-sistant 3 at the DSHS WhiteCenter Division of Children
and Family Services ofceand a member of Local 843,has been approved for sharedleave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.
Rick Lee, a nancial ser-
vices specialist 3 at the WhiteCenter Community ServiceOfce of DSHS in Seattleand a member of Local 843,is in need of shared leave tocare for his mother, who hasa serious medical condition.Contact: your human resourceofce.
Noor Gaas, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 for the DSHSCustomer Service ContactCenter in Seattle and a mem-ber of Local 843, has beenapproved for shared leave.Contact: your human resourceofce.
Gayle Chamberlain-Smith,a nancial services specialist3 with DSHS in Yakima and amember of Local 1326, is inneed of shared leave as shebattles chronic pain causedby numerous back and necksurgeries, including full spinalfusion. Contact: your humanresource ofce.
Mari Wyatt, an ofce assis-tant lead with the Departmentof Corrections in Seattle anda member of Local 308, isrecovering from total kneereplacement surgery and stillneeds three to four weeks forphysical therapy. Contact: yourhuman resource ofce.
Jackie Williams, an attendantcounselor 1 at Lakeland Vil-lage in Medical Lake and amember of Local 573, is bat-
tling lung cancer and is in needof shared leave. Contact: yourhuman resource ofce.
Marsha Grannis, a Work-rst program specialist 1 withDSHS at the White Center
CSO in Seattle and a mem-ber of Local 843, has beenapproved for shared leave.She has exhausted all leave.Contact: your human resourceofce.
Jennifer Piazza, a customerservices specialist 2 withthe Department of Health inOlympia and a member of Lo-cal 443, is in need of sharedleave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.
Janie Richards, a medicalassistance specialist 1 with thestate Health Care Authority inOlympia has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact:Kerri Kallay, 360) 725-3712 [email protected].
Michael Rogers, a safetyand health specialist 4 at theDepartment of Labor andIndustries in Seattle and amember of Local 976, has aserious, chronic medical condi-tion. Contact: Michelle Weitzel,(360) 902-5689 or [email protected].
Becky Thompson, a healthcare investigator 3 with the De-partment of Health in Olympiaand a member of Local 443,has been approved for sharedleave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.
The group the Fort Worden Public Development Author-ity (PDA) backed off its campaign to take over the park lock,stock and barrel.
Instead, the state Parks Commission March 29 voted toenter into a partnership with the PDA to effectively co-manage
the Port Townsend park. Commissioners voted to maintainownership of Fort Worden State Park and to ensure that FortWorden remain a state park.
As far as this commissioner is concerned, the transfer isoff the table not just now, but forever, said CommissionerMark Brown, as quoted on the Port Townsend Leaders web-site. Brown is a former L&I director and WFSE/AFSCMEdeputy director.
The commissions vote gives needed time for the unionand Fort Worden advocates to have more of a say than hasbeen the case recently.
The vote came after months of contentious meetings and forums.
We need to continue the partnership to save Fort Worden,one of our crown jewels of Washington, WFSE/AFSCMEPresident Carol Dotlich told the commission at its March 28
evening public forum in the forts theater.Im asking you to keep Fort Worden in your hands inthe hands of the people of this community and the state ofWashington, Dotlich urged the commission. Use the price-less resource of the dedicated state employees who keep it safeand sound for all of us.
Im sad to say Ive lost a lot of friends because Ivestood up and fought for this park, McCullough said.
Ive fought for this park because Washington StateParks are good at taking care of Washington state parks.
While the union-community coalition has slowed the rush to
fullycontract out Fort Worden, concerns remain.
The ght started ve years ago when a task force askedfor a new management structure at the old fort.Over the years, its also become home to other part-
ners from meditation to yoga to theater to higher educa-tion.
The journey has taken many twists and turns.Fears arose the PDA wanted to turn the revered old fort
into something out of character with its history and the sur-rounding residential neighborhood.
While I think that they (the PDA) are a valuable part-ner, management of this park, of this valuable state resourceof serious historical signicance, should be managed by aseparate entity that is reporting to you, subordinate to thisbody to occur (so that) the public interest, the preservationand the business needs can be done, the Federations Con-tract Compliance Manager Jeanine Livingston told the com-mission March 28.
The commission called on the PDA to complete a busi-ness plan by Sept. 1. The state Ofce of Financial Manage-ment and a third-party consultant chosen jointly by the PDAand the state would review that. The commission committedto voting to accept or reject the PDA plan by Dec. 31.
FORT WORDEN, from page 4
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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeApril 2012 Page 3
WHAT THEY TRIED TO DO TO YOU...BUT COULDNT!
They tried to slash Community
Corrections supervision......for dangerous offenders,including murderers, rapistsand sex offenders. Thanks to afull-court press by the WFSE/AFSCME and CommunityCorrections members, SB 6204retained current supervisionlevels, but modied some
sanctions to implement the swiftand sure violation philosophy.
They wanted to close fve
wards at Western State Hos-
pital and one at Eastern State
Hospital.In the end, they closed no men-tal hospital wards, not a singleone, not even the two long-target-ed dementia wards at Western.This was conrmed in an e-mailto staff from WSH CEO Jess Ja-mieson. Western State HospitalLocal 793 members were at theCapitol almost every day. Theirhard work paid off in winning over
legislators to the wisdom of sav-ing vulnerable patients.
They wanted to eliminate the
Basic Health Plan......thats run so well by our mem-bers at the Health Care Authority.In the end, the Basic Health Plansurvived for tens of thousands ofworking families for whom healthinsurance was unaffordable.
They wanted to close NaselleYouth Camp.The juvenile rehabilitation cam-pus remains open.
They wanted to close Rainier
School in Buckley.In the end, not only does Rainierremain open, but also thanks tothe leadership of Sen. Pam Roach(right), a budget amendment stud-ies the best use of Rainier Schoolas a state facility. Plus theres $3million to renovate and remodel cottages there.
They wanted to close the Nemah
and Samish salmon hatcheries.They remain open. Plus theres$34 million for hatchery improve-ments.
Remember October and November...
...when the series of legislative sessions began? Thegovernor and legislators wanted to CUT, CUT, CUT.
But pushed by WFSE/AFSCME members andallies to close billions in tax loopholes and ndrevenue, lawmakers largely had to abandon the all-out attack on public workers.
They closed some loopholes and held hearingson legislation that is a rst step to eliminating allloopholes. That initiative continues in future sessions.
When revenue forecasts ticked up, they foundnew revenue, used some windfalls and foundaccounting tools to generate most of the $500 millionneeded to close the decit.
However, an 11th-hour corporate coalition ledby Sen. Joe Zarelli to promote the gubernatorialcandidacy of Republican Rob McKenna derailed evenmore progress.
They wanted to renegotiate your health plan...
...so they could cut funding. We refused; youdalready sacriced enough. They ended up cutting their share ofcontributions to your health package. Theyargued that usage was down, so it wasnt costingas much. In the nal budget, they reduced theemployers contribution from $850 per employeeper month to $800 per employee per month. Theysaid this wont have any effect on your costs andit allowed them to avoid cuts elsewhere. The Federation argued that if utilization goes upcosts would be passed onto you because of thelowered employer contributions. We now have evidence of potential health care
decits in coming years. The health insurancebattle now shifts to the bargaining table thisspring and summer.
They succeeded in chipping away early retirement
opportunities for new state employees hired after
May 1, 2013. But the nal pension bill was a shell ofwhat Zarelli originally wanted. (Details below.) Itdid reveal what he and his team have in mind forstate employees if they get their way: less collectivebargaining, more contracting out, fewer stateemployees and higher health costs -- 66 percent
higher in McKennas six-point budget blueprint.Stopping and mitigatng the attacks would nothave happened without WFSE/AFSCME membersand the support of allies and the public whoresponded to the Federations late-session mediablitz.
WasingtnsMidd Cass isUnd Attack!
Instead of making responsible choices to balance
the budget, the politicians in Olympia are trying to ram
Senate Bill 6378 through the special session.
SB 6378 kicks the can down the road. It l ets the politicians
postpone unding their pension payment obligations,
orcing us to pay more in the uture.
SB 6378 targets pension benets or parole ofcers, park
rangers, teachers, nurses and other public servants, instead
o eliminating tax breaks or big corporations.
And SB 6378 imposes new costs on middle class amilies
who have already made huge sacrices during these
tough economic times.
Call your legislators at 1-800-562-6000.
Tell TheM To rejeCT SB 6378.Learn more at stoppensioncuts.com
Paidforby theWashington Federation ofStateEmployees
/
To ght the attack on pensions -- the Zarelli-McKenna Corporate Coali tions
last stand attack against public employees -- the union ran full-page ads in
seven daily newspapers (right), commercials on more than 25 radio stations
and an internet campaign that saw more than 21 million impressions or
views. The public responded -- making pensions the No. 2 hotline call topic in
the last week of the session.
The fght to save parks.On this one, all sides worked together. But the
job isnt done.Be-
fore thesession,the ParksCommis-sion cutdozens of
positionsand madedozensmore rangers seasonal. The Discover Pass wasntbringing in enough money -- with most state fund-ing gone, that was the lions share of their budget.
But in the end, the governor signed a law toboost sales of the Discover Pass (above). She alsosigned a law redirecting nes for not having a Dis-cover Pass from county coffers to the state parksfund. And the Legislature even added $4 million ingeneral fund money to help the transition. But theght goes on to stop more cuts.
They wanted to fast track
contracting out of Child Welfare
Services......by end-running the unions courtvictory of last year. In the end, HB2264 was a consensus bill thatkept the original pilot plan just that,a pilot, with implementation de-layed until December 2015.
PENSION BILL DETAILS. SB 6378 revises early re-tirement for new state employees hired afterMay 1, 2013. Pensions would be cut 5% a yearfor every year an employee with 30 years ofservice retires between age 55 and 65. Rightnow, someone in PERS 2 at age 55 with 30years of service gets a 20% reduction. Underthis bill, it rises to 50% for new state employeeshired after 5/1/13. Thats lower than the Repub-licans rst call for a 63% cut. The original billwould have skipped payments and closed
PERS 2 and 3 completely.
WFSE/AFSCME members jam April 4 House hearing
on pensions. This show of force helped to greatly
mitigate but not completely stop the bad pension bill.
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Page 4 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee April 2012
The fght to save Fort Worden
A member of the Makah tribe, Mc-Cullough said the beaches at Fort Wor-den were stopping off points for localtribes to gather seafood and berries.
In modern times, its been a lay-over for annual canoe journeys for areatribes. Her mother started that traditionin 1982.
Her father was also stationed at thefort and met her mother there.
When it was turned into a statepark, I remember my mom said it
You know Fort Worden State Park as a popular destination forcamping and beachcombing and the setting for the AcademyAward-winning Richard Gere movie An Ofcer and a Gentle-
man.But for WFSE/AFSCME members like Local 1466s Terry
McCullough, the old coastal defense fort in Port Townsend is hallowedground. Heritage. History.
was a relief, said McCullough, a PortTownsend resident and senior parkaide at nearby Sequim Bay State Park.
Theres a lot of cultural history andmilitary history here and my family istied to both ends.
But now the union and communitymembers are waging a battle to saveFort Worden from business-backed in-terests who want to turn it into a kindof cultural Disneyland.Terry McCullough, Local 1466
On old parade grounds at historic Fort Worden
Some 18 The Evergreen State
College Non-Management Exempt
staff joined their bargaining teamto make a professional presenta-
tion to the management side of
the table April 10. They came to
show why they should follow the
TESC Social Contract and end the
at will status of non-management
exempt staff.
As one of the staff said: At-will
equals at-risk. If the at-will status
is not good for classied staff, not
good for faculty, then it shouldnt
be good for non-management
exempt staff, another one of the
colleagues said.
The TESC Social Contract -- blown up to poster size --
was displayed to the management team. It was signed
by dozens of staff. At issue is the ght to end the ability
of management to re non-management exempt staff
for no reason. The TESC Non-Management Exempt Staff Bargaining Team is negotiating the new units rst-ever con-
tract. The unit includes such positions as counselors, advisors and athletics coaches.
Bargaining to end at-will
They delivered therst pledge card to
be signed by Political
Science Professor
George Lovell in his
Gowen Hall ofce.
As the students and
custodians jammed
the hallway outside
his ofce, Lovell and
custodian Francisca
Flores taped a poster
calling for dignity and
respect to his door.
About 20 University of Washington Local 1488 custodians and students staged a
small march for a big cause April 11. Like a lot of UW members, the custodians
are often out of sight, out of mind to the public. So theyre stepping up visibility so
they dont get thrown under the bus because most people dont see them directly
but they benet from the hard work of the custodians. The custodians are asking
faculty, students, staff and boosters to sign pledge cards to support them. The
Local 1488 custodians are ghting budget cuts they say will harm the quality of the
campus. Fewer custodians are doing more work to clean buildings on campus.
Local 1488 joined with United Students Against Sweatshops.
UW solidarity!
See FORT WORDEN, page 2
The work that
you guys do is
really essential
for creating a
good learning
environment,
Professor
Lovell said.
