VOL. 40 NO.

APRIL 2012

www.discoverpass.wa.gov

Still standing
WFSE/AFSCME MEMBERS
Now theyre using the Economic Recovery to try to finish you off. The latest all-out war on public servants to sustain the recovery started in October and ended April 11 with the adjournment of a second special session. But you and a public that likes and respects you pushed back. In the end, youre still standing.

State Employee
WASHINGTON
inflic Repub l t this 24 mor icans w a e y end, ear. You furloug nted to h t -- an heir pla said NO days n we d th ! In er furlo n t ugh e are no t nowhe he s! re addi tion al

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

The politicians have used the Great Recession to try to do you in. They failed. You sacrificed and saved the state.

They w furlo anted to u add m Hou ghs. ore se

The reputation of some politicians may not be.

another ted to cut es and They wan colleg rom state 20% f ies. faculty, universit ents and

For more on what they tried to do to you -- and how it ended up, see this page and page 3.

y stud the Joined b OT AGAIN! In no N you said r Education saw et e dg h end, Hig t, the capital bu / fac a WFSE cuts. In included viso 4) ro illion (SB 607 itiated p 321.4 m heres $ SCME-in view of public AF nd t a re er Ed. A . irecting t in High d igher Ed en ey for H ocurem r mon works p ruction al const in capit

They wanted to cut Medical Interpreters.

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 Coordinator Pam Carl; and Sarah Clifthorne, public service program supervisor.

In the end, the program survived thanks to WFSE/ AFSCME member mobilization and support from key allies, including physicians. A proposal requested by the governor to expand collective bargaining to L&I interpreters passed the House but not the Senate.

UNION NEWS
SHARED LEAVE REQUESTS
SHARED LEAVE THANKS: From Amber Shealy, a mental health technician 2 at Western State Hospital in Lakewood and a member of Local 793, who appealed to WFSE/AFSCME members for shared leave so she could care for her husband, Eddie: Dearest Friends: We cannot express how much your friendship and support has meant to our family during our husband and father Eddies long and difficult battle with cancer. We could not have managed without all that you gave vacation days, generous gifts, offers to help and especially your prayers. We are truly amazed and blessed by your love. Because of you, we were able to be with Eddie during his last days. That is a precious gift that we will treasure forever. Although we can never repay or thank you enough for all that youve done, we hope you know what a difference you have made in our lives. We are honored to call you our friends and will never forget your kindness. With love and gratitude, Amber, Nathaniel, Christian and Thomas Shealy Note: Ambers husband Eddie passed away March 16.
Here are this months shared leave requests. They could use a donation of eligible unused annual leave or sick leave or all or part of your personal holiday: Nadine Griggs, a WorkSource specialist 3 with the Employment Security Department in Everett and a member of Local 1020, has been approved for shared leave through Feb. 25, 2013 for a lengthy medical condition and recovery. Contact: Jeanette Sills, (360) 7259434, or your human resource

FORT WORDEN, from page 4

The group the Fort Worden Public Development Authority (PDA) backed off its campaign to take over the park lock, stock and barrel. Instead, the state Parks Commission March 29 voted to enter into a partnership with the PDA to effectively co-manage the Port Townsend park. Commissioners voted to maintain ownership of Fort Worden State Park and to ensure that Fort Worden remain a state park. As far as this commissioner is concerned, the transfer is off the table not just now, but forever, said Commissioner Mark Brown, as quoted on the Port Townsend Leaders website. Brown is a former L&I director and WFSE/AFSCME deputy director. The commissions vote gives needed time for the union and Fort Worden advocates to have more of a say than has been 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/AFSCME President 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 in the hands of the people of this community and the state of Washington, Dotlich urged the commission. Use the priceless resource of the dedicated state employees who keep it safe and sound for all of us.

Im sad to say Ive lost a lot of friends because Ive stood up and fought for this park, McCullough said. Ive fought for this park because Washington State Parks are good at taking care of Washington state parks. While the union-community coalition has slowed the rush to fully contract out Fort Worden, concerns remain. The fight started five years ago when a task force asked for a new management structure at the old fort. Over the years, its also become home to other partners from meditation to yoga to theater to higher education. 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 surrounding residential neighborhood. While I think that they (the PDA) are a valuable partner, management of this park, of this valuable state resource of serious historical significance, should be managed by a separate entity that is reporting to you, subordinate to this body to occur (so that) the public interest, the preservation and the business needs can be done, the Federations Contract Compliance Manager Jeanine Livingston told the commission March 28. The commission called on the PDA to complete a business plan by Sept. 1. The state Office of Financial Management and a third-party consultant chosen jointly by the PDA and the state would review that. The commission committed to voting to accept or reject the PDA plan by Dec. 31.

office. Brittnie Tooley, a program assistant in the Employment Security Department in Olympia and a member of Local 443, is currently struggling with a serious stomach disease as the result of a complicated chronic condition. She needs more time to work with a specialist to resolve the issue. Contact: Sharon Lindley, (360) 7259440 or slindley@esd.wa.gov. Regina Preciado, a financial services specialist 3 in the DSHS Statewide CSC Change Batch in Lynnwood and a member of Local 948, is recovering from a stroke suffered in February. She has exhausted all leave. Contact: your human resource office. Trina Ray, a mental health specialist 1 at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake and a member of Local 782, is in need of shared leave because of an extended illness. Contact: Laura Fairley, (509) 5654680. Heather Ross, a financial services specialist 3 with DSHS in Tacoma at the Pierce South CSO, has been approved for shared leave to care for a family member in serious condition. She will exhaust all leave. Its expected shell be out intermittently. Contact: your human resource office. Melinda Klossner, a psychiatric security attendant at Eastern State Hospital and a member of Local 782, was seriously injured in an automobile accident on her way home

from work and will be off work for an extended period of time as she recovers from multiple injuries. Contact: Laura Fairley, (509) 565-4680 or laura.fairley@dshs.wa.gov. Susan Martinez, a financial services specialist 4 at the DSHS Everett Community Service Office and a member of Local 948, is in need of shared leave. Contact: your human resource office. Tawnette Harris, a Community Corrections officer 2 with the Department of Corrections in Burien and a member of Local 53, has been approved for shared leave. Contact: your human resource office. Harriet Johnson, an office assistant 3 for the DSHS Customer Contact Center, Statewide HIU Team in King County and a member of Local 843, is in need of shared leave because of a serious medical condition that has caused her leave balances to drop to zero. The donated leave will help her cover her medical insurance. Contact: your human resource office. Lorri-Gagnon Burns, a social service specialist 2 at the DSHS Yakima CSO and a member of Local 1326, has been approved for shared leave. She is being treated for a serious medical condition and is currently going through treatment. Contact: your human resource office. Cheryl Ramirez, an office assistant 3 at the DSHS White Center Division of Children

and Family Services office and a member of Local 843, has been approved for shared leave. Contact: your human resource office. Rick Lee, a financial services specialist 3 at the White Center Community Service Office of DSHS in Seattle and a member of Local 843, is in need of shared leave to care for his mother, who has a serious medical condition. Contact: your human resource office. Noor Gaas, a financial services specialist 3 for the DSHS Customer Service Contact Center in Seattle and a member of Local 843, has been approved for shared leave. Contact: your human resource office. Gayle Chamberlain-Smith, a financial services specialist 3 with DSHS in Yakima and a member of Local 1326, is in need of shared leave as she battles chronic pain caused by numerous back and neck surgeries, including full spinal fusion. Contact: your human resource office. Mari Wyatt, an office assistant lead with the Department of Corrections in Seattle and a member of Local 308, is recovering from total knee replacement surgery and still needs three to four weeks for physical therapy. Contact: your human resource office. Jackie Williams, an attendant counselor 1 at Lakeland Village in Medical Lake and a member of Local 573, is bat-

tling lung cancer and is in need of shared leave. Contact: your human resource office. Marsha Grannis, a Workfirst program specialist 1 with DSHS at the White Center CSO in Seattle and a member of Local 843, has been approved for shared leave. She has exhausted all leave. Contact: your human resource office. Jennifer Piazza, a customer services specialist 2 with the Department of Health in Olympia and a member of Local 443, is in need of shared leave. Contact: your human resource office. Janie Richards, a medical assistance specialist 1 with the state Health Care Authority in Olympia has been approved for shared leave. Contact: Kerri Kallay, 360) 725-3712 or kerri.kallay@hca.wa.gov. Michael Rogers, a safety and health specialist 4 at the Department of Labor and Industries in Seattle and a member of Local 976, has a serious, chronic medical condition. Contact: Michelle Weitzel, (360) 902-5689 or wein235@ lni.wa.gov. Becky Thompson, a health care investigator 3 with the Department of Health in Olympia and a member of Local 443, has been approved for shared leave. Contact: your human resource office.

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

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.

Page 2

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

April 2012

WHAT THEY TRIED TO DO TO YOU...BUT COULDNT!

Remember October and November...
...when the series of legislative sessions began? The governor and legislators wanted to CUT, CUT, CUT. But pushed by WFSE/AFSCME members and allies to close billions in tax loopholes and find revenue, lawmakers largely had to abandon the allout attack on public workers. They closed some loopholes and held hearings on legislation that is a first step to eliminating all loopholes. That initiative continues in future sessions. When revenue forecasts ticked up, they found new revenue, used some windfalls and found accounting tools to generate most of the $500 million needed to close the deficit. However, an 11th-hour corporate coalition led by Sen. Joe Zarelli to promote the gubernatorial candidacy of Republican Rob McKenna derailed even more progress. They succeeded in chipping away early retirement opportunities for new state employees hired after May 1, 2013. But the final pension bill was a shell of what Zarelli originally wanted. (Details below.) It did reveal what he and his team have in mind for state employees if they get their way: less collective bargaining, more contracting out, fewer state employees and higher health costs -- 66 percent higher in McKennas six-point budget blueprint. Stopping and mitigatng the attacks would not have happened without WFSE/AFSCME members and the support of allies and the public who responded to the Federations late-session media blitz.

Washingtons Middle Class is Under 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 lets the politicians postpone funding their pension payment obligations, forcing us to pay more in the future. SB 6378 targets pension benefits for parole officers, park rangers, teachers, nurses and other public servants, instead of eliminating tax breaks for big corporations. And SB 6378 imposes new costs on middle class families who have already made huge sacrifices during these tough economic times.

To fight the attack on pensions -- the Zarelli-McKenna Corporate Coalitions 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.

Call your legislators at 1-800-562-6000.

Tell TheM To rejeCT SB 6378.

Learn more at stoppensioncuts.com
Paid for by the Washington Federation of State Employees

KH032112 The Seattle Times WFSE Ad 10.54x22.04 4/Color NO BLEED

They wanted to renegotiate your health plan...

...so they could cut funding. We refused; youd already sacrificed enough. They ended up cutting their share of contributions to your health package. They argued that usage was down, so it wasnt costing as much. In the final budget, they reduced the employers contribution from $850 per employee per month to $800 per employee per month. They said this wont have any effect on your costs and it allowed them to avoid cuts elsewhere. The Federation argued that if utilization goes up costs would be passed onto you because of the lowered employer contributions. We now have evidence of potential health care deficits in coming years. The health insurance battle now shifts to the bargaining table this spring and summer.

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. PENSION BILL DETAILS. SB 6378 revises early retirement for new state employees hired after May 1, 2013. Pensions would be cut 5% a year for every year an employee with 30 years of service retires between age 55 and 65. Right now, someone in PERS 2 at age 55 with 30 years of service gets a 20% reduction. Under this bill, it rises to 50% for new state employees hired after 5/1/13. Thats lower than the Republicans first call for a 63% cut. The original bill would have skipped payments and closed PERS 2 and 3 completely.

They tried to slash Community Corrections supervision...

They wanted to close Rainier School in Buckley.

In the end, not only does Rainier remain open, but also thanks to the leadership of Sen. Pam Roach (right), a budget amendment studies the best use of Rainier School as a state facility. Plus theres $3 million to renovate and remodel cottages there.

...for dangerous offenders, including murderers, rapists and sex offenders. Thanks to a full-court press by the WFSE/ AFSCME and Community Corrections members, SB 6204 retained current supervision levels, but modified some sanctions to implement the swift and sure violation philosophy.

The fight to save parks.

On this one, all sides worked together. But the job isnt done. Before the session, the Parks Commission cut dozens of positions and made dozens more rangers seasonal. The Discover Pass wasnt bringing in enough money -- with most state funding gone, that was the lions share of their budget. But in the end, the governor signed a law to boost sales of the Discover Pass (above). She also signed a law redirecting fines for not having a Discover Pass from county coffers to the state parks fund. And the Legislature even added $4 million in general fund money to help the transition. But the fight goes on to stop more cuts. April 2012

They wanted to eliminate the Basic Health Plan...

They wanted to close five wards at Western State Hospital and one at Eastern State Hospital.

...thats run so well by our members at the Health Care Authority. In the end, the Basic Health Plan survived for tens of thousands of working families for whom health insurance was unaffordable.

They wanted to close Naselle Youth Camp.

The juvenile rehabilitation campus remains open.

In the end, they closed no mental hospital wards, not a single one, not even the two long-targeted dementia wards at Western. This was confirmed in an e-mail to staff from WSH CEO Jess Jamieson. Western State Hospital Local 793 members were at the Capitol almost every day. Their hard work paid off in winning over legislators to the wisdom of saving vulnerable patients.

They wanted to fast track contracting out of Child Welfare Services...

They wanted to close the Nemah and Samish salmon hatcheries.

They remain open. Plus theres $34 million for hatchery improvements.

...by end-running the unions court victory of last year. In the end, HB 2264 was a consensus bill that kept the original pilot plan just that, a pilot, with implementation delayed until December 2015. Page 3

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

The fight to save Fort Worden

man. But for WFSE/AFSCME members like Local 1466s Terry McCullough, the old coastal defense fort in Port Townsend is hallowed ground. Heritage. History.
A member of the Makah tribe, McCullough said the beaches at Fort Worden were stopping off points for local tribes to gather seafood and berries. In modern times, its been a layover for annual canoe journeys for area tribes. Her mother started that tradition in 1982. Her father was also stationed at the fort and met her mother there. When it was turned into a state park, I remember my mom said it was a relief, said McCullough, a Port Townsend resident and senior park aide at nearby Sequim Bay State Park. Theres a lot of cultural history and military history here and my family is tied to both ends. But now the union and community members are waging a battle to save Fort Worden from business-backed interests who want to turn it into a kind of cultural Disneyland. See FORT WORDEN, page 2

ou know Fort Worden State Park as a popular destination for camping and beachcombing and the setting for the Academy Award-winning Richard Gere movie An Officer and a Gentle-

Terry McCullough, Local 1466 On old parade grounds at historic Fort Worden

UW solidarity!
The work that you guys do is really essential for creating a good learning environment, Professor Lovell said. They delivered the first pledge card to be signed by Political Science Professor George Lovell in his Gowen Hall office. As the students and custodians jammed the hallway outside his office, 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 benefit 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 fighting 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. Some 18 The Evergreen State College Non-Management Exempt staff joined their bargaining team to make a professional presentation 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 classified staff, not good for faculty, then it shouldnt be good for non-management exempt staff, another one of the colleagues said.

Bargaining to end at-will

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 fight to end the ability of management to fire non-management exempt staff The TESC Non-Management Exempt Staff Bargaining Team is negotiating the new units first-ever confor no reason. tract. The unit includes such positions as counselors, advisors and athletics coaches.

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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

April 2012