VOL. 41 NO.

NOVEMBER 2013
www.discoverpass.wa.gov

Now good on either of two vehicles!

State Employee
EXCLUSIVE:
How AFSCMEs clout saved backpay for WFSE/AFSCME members furloughed during federal shutdown. SEE 7

The official newspaper of the WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO

WASHINGTON

Making a difference in dangerous jobs At Echo Glen:

Member lauded for saving colleagues life

Echo Glens Eric Johnson after WFSE/AFSCME President Sue Henricksen presented him the special award.

embers at Echo Glen Childrens Center in Snoqualmie gathered earlier this month to honor one of their own with a Special Award of Merit from WFSE/AFSCME. Eric Johnson, a Local 341 member at the juvenile rehabilitation center for about 150 youthful offenders, performed the Heimlich Maneuver on co-worker Matt Shehi this past July as Shehi choked on a piece of chicken lodged in his throat. Federation President Sue Henricksen presented the award to Johnson honoring his valor and bravery. Matt survived and has said that Erics quick action more than deserves recognition, Henricksen said during the Nov. 4 ceremony in the Echo Glen chapel. Yes, Eric was doing his job. But we often overlook the profound difference members like Eric make who day in and day out do their job. Others joining the Echo Glen members in honoring Johnson included Federation Vice President Thornton Alberg, Local 341 President Dave Greenman and Federation Executive Director Greg Devereux. After the ceremony, the Echo Glen members engaged their visitors in an informal question and answer session, including the PSERS pension bill (see story below).

Members ask for consistency in pension bill

PSERS:
Educating lawmakers on the high-risk nature of their jobs, several Federation members testified at the Legislatures Select Committee on Pension Policy public hearing in Olympia on Nov. 13. Joined by WFSE/AFSCME Lobbyist Matt Zuvich, members spoke on a panel in support of EHB 1923, which would expand PSERS mem-

bership eligibility at the Department of Social and Health Services to include DSHS workers in dangerous jobs who provide direct care, custody, or safety. That would include workers at DSHS institutions, Juvenile Rehabilitation institutions (like Echo Glen, Green Hill and Naselle), JRA parole and community facilities, Special Commitment Center, Child Study and Treatment and Residential Habilitation Centers. It involves employees who provide direct care to ensure the custody and safety of offender or patient populations. During regular session, EHB 1923 passed on the House floor with a 94-3 vote, but received no action in the Senate. PSERS stands for Public

From left: Sobczyk, McDonough, Hertzog, Thompson, Zuber, Hall and Zuvich. Safety Employees Retirement System. WFSE/AFSCME members Robert Hay (Local 341), Gabe Hall (Local 862), Rick Hertzog (Local 793), Patrick McDonough (Local 793), Jerzy Sobczyk (Local 793), Lawrence Thompson (Local 793) and Dana Zuber (Local 341) joined Zuvich in asking legislators for consistency in pension policy with other employees who are already in the plan and who do the same high risk duties that they do. Among other issues, a few members talked about their experiences being assaulted in the workplace and the short and long term impacts of those injuries (see related item below). They work in Juvenile Rehabilitation and mental health facilities, community facilities, juvenile parole and other state-run facilities across the state. Hall who, works at Green

See PSERS, page 2

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

-- Dana Zuber, Local 341, Echo Glen Childrens Center, Snoqualmie, in Nov. 12 testimony on the bill to expand coverage of the PSERS retirement coverage.

I was assaulted and nearly 8 Q uote: killed in my position in 1986. I had

a blanket thrown over my head and was nearly suffocated. Through the support of my co-workers and the kids, I have remained at Echo Glen and we have come up with some really great security tactics through the years to make sure we are safe and secure. Though even in the best of circumstances, those do still occur. One of my co-workers, also age 58, same

as myself, was attacked almost 26 years (from the exact date) that I was assaulted and in almost the same way and she will not be coming back. This happened last Sept. 23.... We work very hard and I will remain there as long as I can. But I will tell you being an older woman in a very high-risk frontline position, is daunting sometimes physically.... I urge your support of this bill. We really need your help and support.

Health Care Agreement ratified

WFSE/AFSCME members have ratified the Health Care agreement. In online voting that closed at 5 p.m., Nov. 6, the

vote was 98.4% to accept and 1.6% to reject. The agreement holds the line on premium share, copays, deductibles and medical

out-of pocket costs in calendar year 2015. Other state employee unions conducted their own respective ratification votes.

PSERS, from page 1

Hill School said: We work with youths who are highly aggressive . . . we need you to support (us) by validating the work we do. Expansion of the policy is not just a about age, its about the totality of a career in high risks jobs, concluded Zuvich. The joint committee is scheduled Dec. 10 to vote on whether to endorse EHB 1923 going into the legislative session.

THE FIGHT FOR YOUR PENSIONS

FAR LEFT: Hertzog (left) and Thompson testify. NEAR LEFT: Zuvich consults with Hay at PSERS hearing.

Supreme Court asked to overturn raw deals on pensions

Washingtons Supreme Court chambers were Ground Zero for the nationwide fight to save public employee pensions Oct. 24 as WFSE/ AFSCME and allies argued against the repeal of PERS 3 gainsharing, for the PERS 2 early retirement factors and against the repeal of the PERS 1 uniform cost-of-living adjustments (or UCOLA). The court didnt indicate when it would issue its decision on the cases. The Supreme Court hearing came as Rolling Stone magazine and others have blown the lid off whos behind the attacks on public employee pensions: the very billionaires who caused the Great Recession in 2008. Theyve waged a campaign to brainwash many politicians so that states all over the country are claiming they not only need to abrogate legally binding contracts with state workers but also should seize retirement money from widows to finance years of illegal loans, giant fees to billionaires...and billions in tax breaks, Rolling Stone reported. The Supreme Court hearing also came the same morning the corporate-dominated Seattle Times editorial board urged the justices to ignore the unions and retirees. The Times said its ok to attack the pensions to fund education and because the pension goodies were not promises. (See related story below.) The Seattle Times, the state and the billionaires all got it wrong. Its about workers rights and having a middle class with benefits, said Gwen Rench, who retired from DSHS and Local 843 in 1997. Rench, now president of the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington (RPEC)/AFSCME, said she was appalled that state attorneys pitted taxpayers against public employees who worked and were promised the benefits. If the state prevails, it will accelerate the push to poverty for retirees. PERS 2 retirees now make about $13,800 a year in pensions not much higher than the federal poverty level, according to RPEC statistics. Rench joined several other retired WFSE/AFSCME members in the courtroom as attorneys for both sides argued their cases and took tough questions from the nine justices. I thought when I retired that I would be getting a COLA for as long as I was retired and now they are taking it away? Not fair, retiree Nell Snodgrass said after the hearAfter Oct. 24 Supreme Court hearing (from left): Anita Hunter, WFSE/AFSCME attorney; M.K. Deacon, Local 843 (retired); Denny Johnston, Local 443 (retired); Maria Britton-Sipe, executive director, RPEC; Gwen Rench, RPEC President and Local 843 (retired); Nell Snodgrass, Local 304 (retired); and Ed Younglove, WFSE/AFSCME attorney. ings ended. She retired from Seattle Community College and Local 304 in 1992. I dont think you can throw a carrot out there and then take it away at a later date, said Denny Johnston, who retired from the Department of Corrections and Local 443 in 2009. Johnston retired under the early retirement factors and is concerned about current state employees who might lose that option if the state prevails in court. Another DSHS retiree from Local 843, M.K. Deacon, said she doesnt know what went through legislators minds when they enacted these pension takeaways. But I think its a raw deal, said Deacon, who retired in 2002. Gainsharing/Early Retirement Factors In light of the drumbeat of attacks on public employee pensions, its important that we now return to first principles and those first principles are the constitutional underpinnings of the Our Supreme Court fight over pensions has unleashed some carboncopy newspaper editorials lobbying the justices to rule against you -- and middle class values. To see more go to: http://www.wfse.org/ the-truth-about-thoseanti-pension-newspapereditorials gainsharing benefits enacted in 1998 but repealed in 2007, said James Oswald, attorney for one group of individual employees who brought suit, along with the Federation and Our case boils down to its essence is people have a reasonable expectation to get what they paid for, Younglove said. These employees have been paying for these benefits for six years now and its totaled $370 million.... This courts focus... should be on what was their reasonable expectation when they worked expecting to be able to take advantage of this early retirement benefit if they qualified. PERS 1 UCOLA On the PERS 1 UCOLA case, RPEC attorney Richard Spoonemore, speaking for the coalition that includes the Federation and WEA, said the UCOLA was a tradeoff. Previous COLAs were repealed and in their place, the Uniform COLA would bring an automatic, annual COLA for PERS 1 retirees. It is paid in the first calendar year in which the recipient turns age 66 and has been retired for one year. The amount of the payment is a fixed dollar amount multiplied by the members total years of service. Some PERS 1 members whove retired have gotten some of that benefit or from previous COLAs, Spoonemore said. But for the 40 percent who havent retired, their benefit will never keep up with inflation if the UCOLA is repealed, he said. PERS 1 covers state employees hired before October 1977.

State Employee
WASHINGTON

Washington State Employee (USPS 981200) is published monthly, except February and July, for $5.08 per year by the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28 AFL-CIO, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E. Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501. Affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Periodicals postage paid at Olympia, WA and at additional offices. Circulation: 42,000. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Washington State Employee, 1212 Jefferson St SE Suite 300 Olympia WA 98501-7501 Carol Dotlich, President Greg Devereux, Executive Director
Editor Tim Welch e-mail: tim@wfse.org Internet: www.wfse.org Member, ILCA

The truth behind these anti-pension editorials

the Washington Education Association. The reduction in a pension benefit violates the contracts clause of the state Constitution, Oswald said. Gainsharing started in 1998 to encourage state employees to join the then-new PERS 3 system. Under it, PERS 3 retirees would share extraordinary investment gains based on a set period of time and exceeding a certain percentage. But the Legislature repealed gainsharing in 2007 and created earlier retirement benefits for PERS 2 members so they could retire at age 62 with 30 years of service with no benefit reduction. WFSE/AFSCME Attorney Ed Younglove urged the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court on the early retirement factors that it was wrong to include a poison pill in the 2007 legislation that said the early retirement would go away if gainsharing were ever reinstated.

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OPTION. If youd like to save paper and postage, you can receive this newspaper electronically. Go to www.wfse.org and hover over NEWS & INFO, located in the top menu bar. Select from the drop-down list: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYEE - Newspaper. Use the form on this page to register for the electronic version. Or e-mail us at info@wfse.org, or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501. If youre a represented non-member fee payer and you dont wish to receive this publication in any format, e-mail us at contactus@wfse.org, or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

November 2013

SHOP STEWARD CORNER

No Empty Green Shirts, PLEASE! by Joe Davenport
WFSE/AFSCME Shop Steward Committee What on earth is the Steward Committee talking about this time?? Well glad you asked! As some you of learned at convention some members and stewards are concerned about grievances not getting support from the council grievance committee. In fact not long before convention members of the Grievance Committee sent a message to the Steward Committee: If all you bring to statewide grievance is management documents, odds are you wont get support. Here are couple of hypothetical examples of what they were talking about: Members A, B, C, D and E are all supervisors covered by our contract. As supervisors they have full internet access at their desk -- line workers only have intranet access to share files and clock in and out. Departmental policy limits internet use to vendor contacts and work orders. B was seen booking a hotel for a vacation. Management has asked for a three-day suspension. C is the steward in the area who last year dealt with D and E for similar violations (D rented a car for a weekend and E ordered a cake for an office party). In each of those cases C arranged for a reprimand with a two-year sunset clause. C appeals the suspension arguing unequal treatment BUT does not include documents proving what happened in the other two cases. Another case: F works in a rural office and has a long commute. A mudslide has forced F to add 10 miles to the commute for two months AND F has kids in grades 3 and 5 who have to catch a rerouted school bus. Management drops a reprimand for multiple days late. Steward A kicks the case to statewide. What A does NOT do is include any documents regarding the mudslide, detours, school changes etc. In both cases the only documentation is managements. We need documentation to effectively argue our case to an arbitrator AND the burden is on the UNION in these cases.

WSU members take wagereopener fight straight to top

Follows recent settlements at WWU, TESC
WFSE/AFSCME members at Washington State University ask the simple question: If faculty and administrative professional staff will get 4 percent acrossthe-board raises in January totaling more than $11 million why wont WSU consider equity for classified staff in ongoing wage reopener negotiations with the Federation? Its such a good question that a delegation of WSU Federation members took it directly to university President Elson Floyds office this past Oct. 25. They rationalizes that classified staff receive step increases, including the new M Step for those who had previously topped out. But classified staff are on the lower end of the pay scale compared to faculty and administrative staff and all have gone without a cost-ofliving adjustment since 2008. I hope President Floyd takes us seriously and gives us the 4 percent raise that he has given the rest of the university, another Local 1066 member, Eric Needham, told the newspaper. In the wake of the WSU members job action, Floyd agreed to meet Federation Executive Director Greg Devereux to discuss the urgency of the situation. sum payment of $551 in Nov. 10 paychecks, thanks to Federation wage reopener bargaining there. This is on top of the new M Step and a guaranteed 1 percent cost-of-living adjustment raise on July 1, 2014.

THE FEDERATION COMMUNITY

From The Daily Evergreen, John Freitag

presented petitions signed by more than 200 workers and supporters (including some gathered at the Federations recent convention). To me, its a slap in the face because you dont feel bargaining table with Western Washington University and The Evergreen State College. WWU. WFSE/AFSCME members at Western Washington University in Bellingham successfully negotiated a lump-sum bonus of 2.2 percent in their Aug. 25 paychecks. Another lump-

like youre appreciated for the hard work that you do here, Local 1066 member Roger Eberhardt told the student newspaper, The Daily Evergreen. The university sum payment of 1 percent is coming Dec. 10, 2014. This is on top of the new M Step that brought a 2.5 percent raise to those whod been at Step L for six years and two more personal leave days. TESC. And classified staff at The Evergreen State College in Olympia received a lump

WSU third of three wage re-opener fights:

WFSE/AFSCME went back to the table under wage re-opener clauses in three higher education contracts. WSU is still unresolved, but thanks to the Federation, fair settlements came at the

Stewards in Action

WFSE/AFSCME had two great groups of stewards in Stewards in Action training Oct. 26-27 in Tacoma (above) and Olympia (right).

Local 1301

Local 970
Local 970 stewards received training on the 2013-2015 General Government contract Oct. 17 in Raymond. At left: Jason Lake, Employment Security; Jeremy Grove, Transportation; Connie McPherson, DSHS; and Jeannie Cornell, DSHS.

Ellensburg Local 1301 elected new officers in September (from left): Trustee Kevin Alder; President Jason Pratt; Executive Board member Kirk Cresto; Vice President Brad Henshaw; Executive Board member Jim Adams; and Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Nicholson. Not available for photo: Executive Board member Jim Ayers and Trustee Troy Beedle.

At right: Kevin McMurry, DSHS; Cathey McMurry, DSHS; and Rod Sauer, DSHS.

November 2013

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

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Policy Committees elect 70-member Executive Board

WFSE/AFSCMEs 10 policy committees on Nov. 2 elected their allotted members to the unions Statewide Executive Board, the highest decision-making body in the union between conventions. With the four statewide officers elected at the convention in October, these 66 newly elected board members bring the board to its full 70-member strength. WFSE/AFSCMEs 10 current policy committees meet to discuss, debate and set policy on issues unique to the employees within their jurisdiction. Under the formula set out in the unions constitution, each of the nine committees gets one board position for every 500 members (rounded to the next highest 500). No committee gets fewer than two seats on the board. These Executive Board board members represent you -- and are accountable to you.

THE FACES OF THE 70 MEMBERS OF YOUR NEW E-BOARD

EMPLOYMENT SECURITY

PUBLIC SERVICE
Public Service Policy Committee officers: Chair -- Alfonso Bautista, Local 1671, Interpreters, Kenmore. Vice-Chair -- Quan Tran, Local 1671, Interpreters, Vancouver. Secretary -- Vacant

Board members elected from the Employment Security Policy Committee (from left): Rosanna Lugo, Local 396, Walla Walla; Ginger Bernethy, Local 443, Olympia; and Joanne Bird, Local 443, Olympia. Employment Security Policy Committee officers: Chair - Cheryl Flynn, Local 443, Olympia; Vice-Chair -- Nancy Thorson, Local 1221, Spokane; and Secretary -- Jean Edwards, Local 443, Olympia.

Members elected from the Public Service Policy Committee (from left): Quan Tran, Local 1671, Interpreters, Vancouver; and Leroy Mould, Local 1671, Interpreters, Olympia.

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Elected to the board from the Institutions of Higher Education Policy Committee (from left): Rick Halverson, Local 1221, Community Colleges of Spokane; Josef Bailey, Local 1381, Western Washington University, Bellingham; Orson Williamson, Local 304, Seattle Community College; Claude Theard, Local 1488, University of Washington, Seattle; Skip Jensen, Local 330, Central Washington University, Ellensburg; Rodolfo Franco, Local 304, Seattle Community College; Quincy Burns, Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney; Max Phipps, Local 1020, Everett Community College; Paula Lukaszek, Local 1488, University of Washington, Seattle; Kathleen Warren, Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney; John Miller, Local 1488, UW-Bothell; Tracy Stanley, Local 1400, Lower Columbia College, Longview; and Tashia Hankerson-Smith, Local 1488, University of Washington, Seattle. Institutions of Higher Education Policy Committee officers: Chair - Kathleen Warren, Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney; Vice-Chair -Matthew Davenhall, Local 304, Seattle Community College; and Secretary -- Lorraine Hill, Local 931, Eastern Washington University, Cheney.

LABOR & INDUSTRIES

Elected to the board from the Labor and Industries Policy Committee (from left): Jess King, Local 1221, Spokane; Imelda Ang, Local 443, Tumwater; Nikki Butler, Local 443, Tumwater; and DeFrance Clarke, Local 443, Tumwater. L&I Policy Committee Policy Committee officers: Chair - DeFrance Clarke, Local 443; Vice Chair - Stacy Copland, Local 1253, Kennewick; and Secretary -- Bridget Flory, Local 443, Tumwater.

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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

November 2013

THE FACES OF THE 70 MEMBERS OF YOUR NEW E-BOARD

CORRECTIONS

Members elected from the Corrections Policy Committee: Alice Rogers, Local 1253, Community Corrections, Tri-Cities; and Bill Copland, Local 1253, Community Corrections, Tri-Cities Corrections Policy Committee officers: Chair - Bill Copland, Local 1253, Tri-Cities; Vice Chair - Billy Smith, Local 53, Tacoma; and Secretary - Richard DeBay, Local 1060, Bellingham.

INSTITUTIONS
Board members elected from the Institutions Policy Committee (from left): Mike Murphy, Local 491, Rainier School, Buckley; Dolly Adeyemi, Local 341, Fircrest School, Shoreline; Kevin Hamel, Local 341, Fircrest School, Shoreline; Michele Stelovich, Local 1060, DD Field Services, Bellingham; James Robinson, Local 793, Western State Hospital, Lakewood; Gabe Hall, Local 862, Green Hill School, Chehalis; Diane Womack, Local 782, Eastern State Hospital, Medical Lake; Julianne Moore, Local 1326, Yakima Valley School, Selah; Lee Malinda, Local 573, Lakeland Village, Medical Lake; Sherry Hewitt, Local 491, Rainier School, Buckley; Craig Gibelyou, Local 793, Western State Hospital, Lakewood; and Bob Overturf, Local 573, Consolidated Support Services, Medical Lake. Not available for photo: Lyn Hofland, Local 482, Veterans Home, Retsil. Institutions Policy Committee officers: Chair - Michele Stelovich, Local 1060, Bellingham; Vice Chair - Lyn Hofland, Retsil, Local 482; Secretary - Eliga Sacks, Local 793, Western State Hospital, Lakewood. Natural Resources Policy Committee officers: Chair - Kerry Graber, Local 872, Ecology, Lacey; Vice-Chair -- Kathy Conaway, Local 1253, Ecology, Tri-Cities; and Secretary -- Susie Rathke, Local 443, Fish and Wildlife, Olympia.

TRANSPORTATION

Elected from the Transportation Policy Committee (from left): Larry Flue, Local 378, Seattle; Roberto Guerrero, Local 1299, Othello; Kate Rogers, Local 1060, Greenbank; and Steve Fries, Local 1299, Moses Lake. Transportation Policy Committee officers: Chair - Larry Flue, Local 378, Seattle; Vice-Chair -- Sam Schnieder, Local 1299, George; and Secretary -- Kate Rogers, Local 1060, Greenbank.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Elected from the Natural Resources Policy Committee (from left): Kathy Conaway, Local 1253, Ecology, Tri-Cities; Kerry Graber, Local 872, Ecology, Lacey; Denis Felton, Local 1466, Parks, Coulee City; Lisa Randlette, Local 443, Natural Resources, Olympia; and Rebekah Padgett, Local 304, Ecology, Seattle

Elected from Miscellaneous (from left): Wendy Conway, Local 443, Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Olympia; Bing Bristol, Local 443, Enterprise Services, Olympia; Brooks Salazar, Local 304, Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, Seattle; Linda Erickson, Local 443, Health Care Authority, Olympia; Jeff Paulsen, Local 443, Consolidated Technology Services, Olympia; Ingrid Hansen, Local 443, Health, Olympia; Terry Nixon, Local 1225, Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss, Vancouver; and Scott Hone, Local 1225, School for the Blind, Vancouver. Miscellaneous Policy Committee Officers: Chair - Bing Bristol, Local 443, Enterprise Services, Olympia; Vice-Chair -- Jeff Paulsen, Local 443, Consolidated Technology Services, Olympia; and Secretary -- Charyn Niemeyer, Local 443, Health Care Authority, Olympia.

MISCELLANEOUS DSHS HUMAN SERVICES

Human Services Policy Committee officers: Chair - Tim Hughes, Local 313, Vancouver; Vice-Chair -- Steve Fossum, Local 443, Olympia; and Secretary -- Cynthia English, Local 53, Tacoma.

Elected from Human Services (from left, taking the oath from WFSE/AFSCME President Sue Henricksen): Tim Hughes, Local 313, Vancouver; Tracy Fosty, Local 1060, Bellingham; Gayle Chamberlain-Smith, Local 1326, Yakima; Tom Tveit, Local 1326, Yakima; John Lindsey, Local 843, Seattle; Jemerica Brown, Local 843, Seattle; Steve Fossum, Local 443, Olympia; Katie Nelson, Local 443, Olympia; Annie Namyniuk, Local 843, Kent; and Ken Blair, Local 53, Tacoma. Not available for photo: Cynthia English, Local 53, Tacoma; and Carol Van Arnam, Local 1299, Wenatchee.

November 2013

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

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Public safety officers gather in Columbus

AFSCME donates $100,000 for national law enforcement memorial, honors members of the Newtown Police Union and Lucasville Corrections Facility.
by Pablo Ros
Courtesy of the AFSCME blog It was a time to come together, to honor the fallen and push forward for safer working conditions for all public safety officers. Judy Kuschel, Vancouver Local 313, attended the AFSCME Public Safety Congress. More than 350 corrections officers and sworn law-enforcement personnel from across the nation gathered in Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 18-20 for the AFSCME Public Safety Congress. Among them were members of the Newtown Police Union, Local 3153, who received the 2013 Law Enforcement Award for their response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. Scott Ruszczyk, president of Local 3153, accepted the award and spoke about the role officers played responding to the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. The perpetrator still had nearly 200 more rounds of ammunition at the time he was killed, Ruszczyk noted. Had first responders not intervened, the tragedy, while horrific, could have been even worse. Members of the Lucasville Corrections Facility in Ohio received the 2013 Corrections Award in recognition of their role quelling a deadly riot 20 years ago that claimed the life of OCSEA member Robert Vallandingham. Accepting the ACU award on behalf of his sisters and brothers, Luke Vansickle, president of Local 7730, presented Pres. Lee Saunders with the roster from the shift when the riot started a document that was been in the locals possession ever since. It will hang in the lobby of AFSCMEs headquarters in Washington, DC. At the event, Saunders announced the donation of $100,000 to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Our National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC, serves to remind everyone every tourist, every family, every resident who has ever called for help of the ultimate sacrifice that too many of our public safety officers make every year, Saunders said. It helps keep those officers in our hearts and minds. Throughout the conference, participants strategized on the common issues their locals confront, such as funding cuts to state prisons and politicians who cater to big businesses at the expense of public workers.

MEMBERS IN ACTION

Mike Fraise, a member of AFSCME Local 2989, Council 61, who works in the Iowa State Penitentiary, said Gov. Terry Branstad is trying to cut staffing to save money. He was particularly interested in sessions on funding for public services. Judy Kuschel, a community corrections officer in Washington state and member of Council 28, said she was drawn to the event by the educational opportunities offered. Its a great place to get more ideas from other people around the country of how they do their jobs, and the kind of training they get, Kuschel said.

Bowling for scholarship dollars

From Nathe Lawver,
Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO WFSE/AFSCME and other labor bowlers raised more than $13,000 at the recent 10th Annual Jerry Beckendorf Community Services Scholarship Bowling Tournament. Beckendorf is a retired member of Federation Local 53 in Piece County who for years was the United Way-AFL-CIO Labor Liaison based at the Pierce County Central Labor Council. Since 2003, the scholarship fund has helped 85 students with $52,720. These are awarded to graduating seniors who have performed at least 50 hours of community service and come from a union family. PICTURED (from left): Jerry Beckendorf, state Rep. Steve Conway and Local 53 President Ken Blair.

Tacoma Field Office, three locals feted for PEOPLE

WFSE/AFSCME staff at the Tacoma Field Office were honored at Policy Committee Nov. 2 for recruiting the most new PEOPLE members. Also honored were three locals with the highest percentage of PEOPLE members: Rainier School Local 491 (31.9%), Western State Hospital/SCC/CSTC/Oakridge Local 793 (29.28%) and Kitsap Local 1181 (25.23%).

King County Human Services Local 842 member Kevin Allen was honored last month with an award for Outstanding Member Leadership from the local chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI). APRI is the home for black trade unionists dedicated to racial equality and economic justice

ABOVE: Local 793 member Eliga Sacks displays his locals PEOPLE award. RIGHT: WFSE/AFSCME Council Representative Dave Pardy hoists the award given to the Tacoma Field Office.

Local 843 member wins prestigious APRI award

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee November 2013

Page 6

Now it can be told:

MEMBERS IN ACTION
AFSCME President Lee Saunders said, following the vote in the House. They allowed a fringe element in their party one vastly out of step with American values and priorities -- to shut our government down and bring the country to the brink of defaulting on its financial obligations. Their actions demonstrated a callous disregard for this nations citizens, businesses and the economy. (AFSCME) will also work to ensure that this does not happen again. Unfortunately, the agreement only funds the federal government through Jan. 15 and suspends the nations debt limit only through Feb. 7, so another government shutdown crisis still looms. There are solutions to this governing-bycrisis madness. Polls show that most Americans support changes that would end the extreme partisanship that Congress has found itself locked into because of redistricting rules and voting restrictions. AFSCME agrees that such changes are needed if we are to avoid future shutdowns.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

EXCLUSIVE: AFSCMEs role in getting back pay for furloughed Employment Security and other employees

Heres a full inside account of AFSCMEs role from AFSCME Legislative Director Chuck Loveless:

he AFSCME Green Power made a difference in erasing pay cuts that came with temporary pink slips given some WFSE/ AFSCME members because of the federal shutdown. State employees in Employment Security, the Military Department and elsewhere who were furloughed during the recent federal shutdown are getting back pay thanks to AFSCMEs leading role in Washington, D.C. AFSCME worked diligently to insure that public employees funded by federal dollars not lose any paychecks due to the irresponsible brinksmanship, Federation Executive Director Greg Devereux said. AFSCMEs role wasnt well known in the hectic days after the shutdown ended Oct. 16. As AFSCME Works re-

ports: A provision of the agreement that AFSCME championed will assure that thousands of furloughed state and local government employees, who are compensated with federal funds, also will get back pay, as will federal workers. This will ensure fairness to all public service workers furloughed during the government shutdown. This shutdown, which has been so harmful to the nations fragile economic recovery, did not have to happen. For two weeks, Republican congressional leaders were derelict in their duty,

AFSCME played an instrumental role in lobbying for and securing congressional passage of important federal legislation that extended back pay to federally funded state and local workers who were furloughed during the shutdown of the federal government. Building on the support and a strong likelihood that back pay for federal workers would be included in any final agreement AFSCME was able to win passage of the provision for federal funded state and local workers. Although federal workers had been compensated in the past for other government shutdowns there had not been any precedent for extending back pay to state and local workers. On Oct. 17, 2013, the president signed into law Public Law No: 113-46a making continuing appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2014. The result was an end to the 16-day federal government shutdown, by providing appropriations until Jan. 15, 2014 at final FY 2013 levels. Also added to the legis-

lation was a provision reimbursing states for costs incurred for operating federal programs during the shutdown, including reimbursement for furloughed employees (Sec. 116). Under this provision, states (or other federal grantees, which is defined as including local governments and non-profit organizations) will be reimbursed for expenses that would have been paid by the federal government for federal programs that the state (or other grantees) had been carrying out prior to the shutdown. In addition, furloughed state employees who are funded in part or whole by the federal government must be compensated at their standard rate during such period (furloughed federal government and District of Columbia employees are also compensated). For reimbursement, states may use funds available to them under the specific programs, combined with any interested accrued under 31 USC 6503(d). These provisions would also cover future funding lapses in FY 2014 should they occur, although states would not get reimbursed until appropriations are in place. The adoption of this provision was a tremendous victory for state and local workers thanks in large part to the work of AFSCME.

Legislative Summit on Racial Equity

SAVE THE DATE!

Local 573
Local 573 at Lakeland Village in Medical Lake recently did something that I thought was very touching. Arlene Bryant, a 573 member (Attendant Counselor 1) of many years, had to retire early to take care of her ailing husband (who had Alzheimers); he then passed away about six months later. This long-time member/coworker did not have enough money to have her husband cremated. Local 573 donated the money necessary for his cremation to an account that had been established in the members name.
-- from Electra Jubon, WFSE/AFSCME Council Representative (Spokane)

Local 1326

Join the Race and Social Justice Community Roundtable and community partners as we share the 2014 Racial Equity State Legislative Agenda with state legislators. When: 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3 Where: New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118 Register online: surveymonkey.com/s/LegSummit For more information: rachaeldecruz@ washingtoncan.org On the WFSE/AFSCME website: http://www. wfse.org/ai1ec_event/racial-equity-legislativesummit/?instance_id

LOCAL 1326 GIVES BACK. Local 1326 in Yakima donated new coats, boots and scarves for all the children at the domestic violence shelter from Nov. 1-13. What a great way to keep kids warm as the weather turns cold. been approved for shared leave. Contact: your human resource office. Alissa Slack, a social service specialist 3 with the DSHS Office of Central Intake (Childrens Administration) and a member of Local 843 in Seattle, is still in need of shared leave because of a serious medical condition. Contact: your human resource office. Jennifer Hinson-Currin, an adjudicator 3 with DSHS in Tumwater and a member of Local 443, is still in need of shared leave. She has been off work since July. She says: My being out has caused a huge financial strain on my family. Contact: your human resource office. Rachel Saunders, a health services consultant 3 at the Department of Health in Tumwater and a member of Local 443, is still in need of shared leave because of a serious health condition. She has exhausted all leave. Contact: Kim Kenderesi, (360) 236-4058.

SHARED LEAVE REQUESTS

If youve been approved to receive shared leave by your agency or institution, you can place a notice here. Once youve 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 tim@wfse.org. Or call 1-800-562-6002.
Bart Olmsted, a customer services specialist 2 with DSHS in Spokane and a member of Local 1221, has been approved for shared leave. Contact: Enola Kaplan, (509) 299-1024.

Theresa Bowman, an agricultural inspector 4 with the Department of Agriculture in Brewster and a member of Local 1299, has been approved for shared leave for a serious medical condition. Contact: your human resource office. Diana L. Perez, a medical assistance specialist 3 with the Health Care Authority in Olympia, has been approved for shared leave through Jan. 1. Contact: Nicole Rivera, (360) 725-2134. Andrew Good, a habilitation plan administrator at Western State Hospital in Lakewood and a member of Local 793, is in need of shared leave because of residual stroke issues. Contact: Kelly Goodspeed, (253) 756-2503.

Kathy Stoy, a financial services specialist 5 with DSHS in Spokane and a member of Local 1221, is still in need of shared leave. Shes been off work since July 26. Shes had four surgeries in the past year. Shes in dire need of shared leave to maintain her state health care coverage. Shes expected off work until Dec. 1. Contact: Karla Stewart, (509) 227-2720. Shawnie McAdams, a WorkSource specialist 4 with the Employment Security Department in Everett and a member of Local 1020, is in need of shared leave because of a medical condition. Contact: your human resource office. Kathryn Rhodes, a support enforcement officer 2 with DSHS in Vancouver and a member of Local 313, has

IN MEMORIAM
Trish Solt, a secretary senior with the Department of Corrections in Mount Vernon and a member of Local 1060, was found dead at her home Oct. 11. She was 69. She had been a WFSE/AFSCME member since June 1984. The entire Federation family mourns her passing.

November 2013

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

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STAFF CONTACT : Brandon Anderson 800-562-6002 or brandona@wfse.org | Interested in serving on the Council 28 Next Wave Committee? Contact Brandon to learn more.