SPECIAL ISSUE

Your FUTURE VICTORIES TOOLKIT. See below, 4-8.

VOL. 43 NO. 6

State Employee
AUGUST 2015

The official newspaper of the

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE
EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO

WASHINGTON

You made it about more than our contracts. The Unity events thrust WFSE/AFSCME members into the public eye as guardians of public services Washingtonians depend on to keep this state
great. From left: June 18 Unity events at Employment Security in Everett; DSHS-Health in Tumwater; and Childrens workers at MLK Way Seattle. Right bottom: Inslee signs Gen. Gvt. contract.

We saved the state

We need to build
on the victory, work
on unity within.
Theres more to do
and theres more
at stake. -Kevin
Allen, DSHS,
Seattle, Local 843

FSE/AFSCME members
stopped a group of powerful
state senators and with Unity
events, won funding of our contracts,
stopped a scheme to take away our
hard-won rights and made sure
there was no state shutdown. In
doing so, WFSE/AFSCME members
showed theyre the most powerful and
credible advocates for public services
a growing population demands and
needs.

The Unity Rallies are important because they show we do important work
serving the citizens. A lot of times its
not just the pay. We just love what we
do....Our goal is to be the best state
workers we can be. But we need funding to do that. -Kellie OHair, UW,
Local 1488

Russell Glatt, a DSHS member in

Kennewick (Local 1253) who coordinated his offices June 18 Unity
event, was one of dozens of WFSE/
AFSCME members across the state
who was interviewed on TV about
how a shutdown would hurt more
than state employees. We want our
offices to continue, Glatt told KNDU
TV.

More on 4-8

HIGHER EDUCATION BARGAINING UPDATES

TESC S4U members ratify contract

Members of The Evergreen State
College Student Support Services Staff
Union (S4U) bargaining unit on July 13
ratified their new contract, 24-0.
The TESC S4U team reached tentative agreement July 2.

Here are some of the highlights:

3% increase in 2015; 1.8% in 2016.
Increases effective July 1 of each year.
One lump-sum payment to all bargaining unit members of $500; this
amount increases to $750 for employ-

Benefits board sets August vote on 2016

premium rates, other benefits upgrades

Rate increases in just three plans; you stopped higher costs

The Public Employees

Benefits Board (PEBB) was

set to vote
on health
insurance
premium
rates and
other benefit plan
changes
Aug. 6.
The
PEBB on
July 22 reviewed the propsed changes
to health care premium rates
for calendar-year 2016 based
on the employee-employer
share (15 percent by the employee and 85 percent by the
state) negotiated in our contracts.
While employees continue to pay 15 percent of the
cost of premiums, the total
cost may go up, down or stay
even depending on the overall cost of premiums.

Health
care
matters

Monthly premium rates for

three plans would go up,
three would go down, the
Uniform Medical Plan Classic wouldnt change and two
new plans would be offered.
Health insurance rates
are set for the calendar year
(January to December), unlike
our contracts that run on the
fiscal year (July to June).
WFSE/AFSCME member actions last summer stopped
management proposals to
make you pay a higher percentage premium rate.
And actions this legislative session stopped a Senate
leadership plan to impose
additional health insurance
surcharges, including forcing
20,000 state employee spouses
off health care.
If approved at the August
PEBB board meeting, 2016
rates for Group Health Value

ees who have 10 years of service with

the college, and to $1,000 for employees with 19 years or more with the
college.
Agreement to meet to discuss periodic increments, the structure of the
salary grid, and to review pay categories for various classifications with

and Classic plans and Kaiser

Classic would increase; Consumer-Directed Health Plans
(CDHPs) for Group Health,
Kaiser and UMP would decrease; Uniform Medical Plan
(UMP) Classic remains unchanged; and two new plans
Group Health SoundChoice
and UMP Accountable Care
Program are added.
More details online of the
proposed changes:
Chart comparing 2015
with the proposed 2016 premium contributions: http://
wfse.org/wp-content/
uploads/2015/07/EmployeeContribution.pdf
Comparative chart of
key plan features: http://
wfse.org/wp-content/
uploads/2014/07/PEBB2016BenefitDesign.pdf
Tobacco and spouse surcharges continue unchanged.
We continue to object to
surcharges (because) we see
them as an end run around
our contracts and we continue
the grievance process on surcharges, said Greg Devereux,
WFSE/AFSCME executive

See TESC S4U, page 3

director and a PEBB board

member.
All PEBB plans would now
cover:
End-of-life counseling
Short Term Brief Intervention Referral and Treatment (SBIRT) for alcohol and
substance abuse
Tobacco cessation quit
medications and aids
Eight new no-cost
preventative services. See
list here online: http://
wfse.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ServicesNowCovered.pdf
ALSO NEW: State employees
enrolled in Tricare may now
waive enrollment in PEBB.
Online: The full premium
overview slides from the
PEBB presentation - http://
wfse.org/wp-content/
uploads/2015/07/PremiumOverview.pdf
The PEBB benefits affect state
agency and higher education
state employees; they dont apply to our Public Service Sector
members, like medical interpret-

THE CORNER PAGE

RPEC CORNER

AFSCME retiree strong

Online: rpecwa.org

At the AFSCME Retiree

Convention held in Washing-

SAFETY CORNER
Another in a series of Safety doesnt happen by accident memes.

ton, D.C. July 1012, Retired

Public Employees Council of
Washington (RPEC) joined
AFSCME Retirees from
around the country to address
the new challenges to our
union.
We acknowledged the
ability and the obligation of
retirees to educate workers
and retirees about the threats
to the democratic foundations
of strong public sector unions
and a potential decision in
Friedrichs v. California.
Therefore, AFSCME Retirees set a new course that
includes:
A well-coordinated organizing effort to allow creative exchange across retiree chapters
and with the International
Union through its Retiree Department and staff.
A redoubled commitment to
the achievement of PEOPLE
participation goals.

AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders (center) praises the work of AFSCME

retirees at the Retiree Council meeting. (Photo courtesy Clyde WeissAFSCME)
Communications that build
allegiance among members
and support for unions
among a general public hungry for solutions to an economic and political system
rigged against them.
Structural changes where it
makes sense to help us meet
the challenges of the future.
A commitment to organizing and using the best prac-

STEWARD
CENTER

SHOP STEWARD
CORNER
SHARED LEAVE
REQUESTS
Stephanie Dennis, a medical
assistant at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and a
member of Local 1488, is requesting shared leave to cover
her time off for surgery and
recuperation. She expects to
be off for a month. She has
used all her available leave resources. Contact: Lori Howard,
(206) 744-9228, or your own
human resource office.
Antionette Hamilton, a financial services specialist 3 with
DSHS in Everett and a member of Local 948, has been
approved for shared leave because of a serious health condition. Contact: Vicki Rothenbuhler, (360) 714-4006.
Christine Magnuson, a financial services specialist 3
with DSHS in Mount Vernon
and a member of Local 1060,
has been approved for shared
leave because of a serious
health condition. Contact: Vicki
Rothenbuhler, (360) 714-4006.
Doreen Chielens, an atten-

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
Sue Henricksen, President
Greg Devereux, Executive Director
Editor Tim Welch
e-mail: tim@wfse.org Internet: www.wfse.org
Member, ILCA

Page 2

dant counselor manager with

DSHS at Fircrest School in
Shoreline and a member of
Local 341, is in need of shared
leave. She has used all her
available leave sources. Any
donation would be greatly
appreciated. Contact: Nanci
Hammond at (206) 361-3007
or by email: nanci.hammond@
dshs.wa.gov or your own human resource office.
Mona Bahnam, an attendant
counselor 1 with DSHS at
Fircrest School in Shoreline
and a member of Local 341,
is continuing to be in need of
shared leave. She has used
all her available leave sources.
Any donation would be greatly
appreciated. Contact: Nanci
Hammond at (206) 361-3007
or by email: nanci.hammond@
dshs.wa.gov or your own human resource office.
Asiya Budden, a patient
services specialist 2 with the
University of Washington in
Seattle and a member of Local 1488, is requesting shared
leave to cover her time off
while she is out of state caring
for her mother, who has cancer. She expects to be gone
until Sept. 1. She has used all
her available leave resources.
Contact: Kim Francis at (206)
744-9229, or your own human
resource office.
Debbie Joseph, an office assistant 3 with Contact Center
HIU Team in Mount Vernon
and a member of Local 948, is
in need of shared leave to care
for a family member who has a
terminal illness. Contact: Connie Weedin at (509) 225-7931,
or your human resource office.
Haregewoin Lingerew, a

licensed practical nurse 4 at

Fircrest School in Shoreline
and a member of Local 341, is
in need of shared leave. Contact: Nanci Hammond at (206)
361-3007, or your human resource office.

wfse
.org

human resource office.

Judy Bartley, an information
technology specialist 2 with
Consolidated Technology Services in Olympia and a member of Local 443, is in need of
shared leave to cover time she
is missing while recovering
from surgery for degenerative
disc disease of the cervical

Daisha Gomillion of DSHS

in Olympia is still in need of
shared leave. Contact: your

tices.
The Retired Public Employees Council of Washington is dedicated to achieving
the goals set forth by AFSCME International. We are
doing this by reaching out to
WFSE locals to offer support
and information on retirement
security and the current legislative attacks against retirees
that often times also affect
working members.
We are hosting more
booths and presentations than
ever. We are also providing
the ability for working members to experience RPEC by
signing up for an associates
membership once they are
within 18 months of retirement. This free membership
puts them on our mailing list
and they begin to learn about
the current attacks that could
affect them.

spine. She has been out of

work since May 28 and not expected to return until Sept. 1.
She has used all her available
leave sources. Contact: Rebecca Brown in CTS Human
Resources at (360) 407-8785,
or your own human resources.

See SHARED LEAVE, page 3

Get on standby list for the

WFSE/AFSCME Howard Ocobock Memorial FAMILY CAMPOUT

Sept. 11-13, 2015 Cornet Bay Environmental Learning/Retreat Center
at Deception Pass State Park
Were sold out -- at full capacity. To get on the standby list in case of
cancellations, fill out and return the form below by Aug. 21
IMPORTANT: If youve already registered and need to cancel, please do so
by the Aug. 21 deadline so those on the waiting list can take your place.
QUESTIONS? Contact Tavie Smith at 1-800-562-6002 tavies@wfse.org
REGISTER ONLINE at WFSE.org/family-campouts/ or mail this form to WFSE HQ*

Deadline to register: Aug. 21, 2015

This campout requires a minimum number of campers. In the event the minimum isnt reached, you will be refunded your money.
If you register and need to cancel, please do so by the Aug. 21 deadline so those on the waiting list can take your place.

LOCAL#:

NAME
Street
(

Home phone

City

State

Zip

Cell Phone

What activities are you interested in?

Home e-mail address

How many family members or guests will you

be bringing? ____________

Hiking

Birdwatching

Fishing on lakes

Interpretive Center

Basketball

Baseball

Horseshoes

Kayaking and canoeing

Volleyball

Soccer

Please be prepared to pay $11.23 for each participating family member/guest when you arrive at the campout.

*Mail this form to: WFSE/AFSCME Campouts, 1212 Jefferson St SE #300, Olympia WA 98501

Washington Federation of State Employees AFSCME Council 28 AFL-CIO www.wfse.org

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.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

August 2015

HIGHER EDUCATION BARGAINING UPDATES

RTC members ratify new contract. Members at Renton Technical College (left) on
June 22 unanimously voted to ratify their new 2015-2018 collective bargaining
agreement.
The tentative agreement includes some major improvements to the RTC
contract, including: additional personal convenience days; improved vacation
scheduling protections; workplace behavior language; increased training funds;
improved schedule flexibility; removed restriction concerning placement on the
salary scale; removed requirements to provide two weeks notice to receive accrued, unused vacation leave; and a wage re-opener in 2016.

Equity adjustment achieved for TCC Student Support Staff members. Education
planners, coordinator of Running Start
and coordinator and family support
specialist at Tacoma Community College will receive a 2 percent equity
adjustment, retroactive to December
2014 based on an agreed-upon salary
survey.
They are members of the Federations Student Support Staff Bargaining Unit at TCC.

The college fulfilled the terms of a

memorandum of understanding in the
contract by conducting a salary survey
for the respective job classes. The parties met and agreed upon comparable
higher education institutions before
conducting the survey.
The 2 percent equity adjustments
will go back to Dec. 14, 2014, the date
these TCC members first contracts
were ratified and signed.

Memorandum of Understanding boosts

pay about 13% for WWU plumber/pipefitter/steamfitters.
A memorandum of understanding at
Western Washington University has
been signed that aims to recognize
the value of retaining the current
employees and assist the employer in
recruitment for future vacancies in
plumber/pipefitter/steamfitter job
classes.
The MOU boosted the pay of those

in the job classes of plumber/pipefitter/steamfitter and plumber/pipefitter/steamfitters lead by five ranges.

Because of how its calculated, that
will work out to a salary increase of
about 13 percent for these Local 1381
members. The boosts are retroactive to
May 15.
The MOU becomes part of the
WWU contract. The MOU was signed
June 8.

TESC S4U,

bationary period from 12 months to 10

months for all new hires.
Stronger new employee orientation
language.
Now allows all disciplinary suspensions to be appealed to the Disciplinary Review Panel.

Protected Personal Leave day removed sunset language.

All terms retroactive to July 1.
Said bargaining team member
John Ford:
Did we get the sun, the moon
and the stars? No, but we never do.

We did get significant changes in policies and procedures. We also got some
compensation that we liked.
For more on their contract gains,
go to: http://wfse.org/tesc-s4u-reaches-tentative-agreement/

from page 1

data from the pending Exempt Salary

Study.
Reduction in the length of the proSHARED LEAVE, from page 2
Patricia Shives, a support
enforcement officer 2 with
DSHS in Fife and a member of
Local 53, undergoes a second
surgery July 21 and is in need
of shared leave while she recovers. Contact: your human
resource office.
Lesanne Liz Martin-Stewart, a health services consultant 1 with the Department
of Health in Tumwater and
a member of Local 443, had
major surgery June 8 and will
exhaust all leave. She will be
in recovery until at least Aug. 8
and possibly longer. Contact:
Kim Kenderesi at (360) 2364400, or your human resource
office.
Kimberlee Stanley, a WorkFirst program specialist with
DSHS in Shelton and a member of Local 443, has been
approved for shared leave
because of a serious medical condition. Contact: Daniel
Lozano at (360) 533-9788, or
your human resource office.
April Elium-Allan, a financial services specialist 3 with
DSHS in Chehalis and a mem-

ber of Local 862, has been

approved for shared leave because of a serious health condition. Contact: Vickie Rothenbuhler at (360) 714-4006, or
your human resource office.
Daren Carstens, a DD case
resource manager with DSHS
in Mount Vernon and a member of Local 1060, is in need
of shard leave to care for his
mother. Contact: your human
resource office.
Elizabeth Butterfield, a financial services specialist 4 with
DSHS in Shelton and a member of Local 443, is in need of
shared leave because of a serious health condition. Contact:
Daniel Lozano at (360) 5339788, or your human resource
office.
Paige Groner-Himes, a
research analyst 2 with the
Washington State Patrol in
Olympia and a member of Local 443, has been approved
for shared leave. Contact: your
human resource office.
Rich Paige, an attendant
counselor 1 at Lakeland Village in Medical Lake and a

IN MEMORIAM
William Daniel Bill Longnecker, one of the leaders of
the drive to bring nearly 300
information technology workers under WFSE/AFSCMEs
first-ever master contract
in 2004, died last month in
Olympia. The retired Local
443 member was 68.
Longnecker stood as one
of the leading forces in the
landslide June 2004 union
election (66 percent Yes
margin) that brought contract rights and protections to
Longnecker and his co-workers at the old Department of
Information Services (DIS has

August 2015

Bill Longnecker
since been folded into other
agencies).
Longnecker and his DIS
colleagues were part of the
doubling of union membership as workers in agency
after agency clamored to be

member of Local 573, is undergoing major heart surgery

and will be off work for an extended period of time. Contact:
your human resource office.
Chuck Gallagher, a support
enforcement officer 2 at DSHS
Division of Child Support in Tacoma and a member of Local
53, underwent surgery June 26
and will need up to four weeks
to recover. Contact: Carol
Murray at (253) 476-7663, our
your human resource office.
Janel Whittaker, an attendant
counselor 3 at Lakeland Village in Medical Lake and a
member of Local 573, has a
medical condition and is on
extended leave. Contact: your
human resource office.
Natasha Pacis, a financial
services specialist 3 with
DSHS in Bremerton and a
member of Local 1181, is in
need of shared leave because
of a serious medical condition.
Contact: Clarissa Cretella at
(253) 476-7078, your human
resource office.

DSHS in Wenatchee and a

member of Local 1299, is
undergoing surgery and is in
need of shared leave. Contact:
Tessa Woodsworth at (509)
568-3779, or your human resource office.
Mirna Patricia Giron-Roque,
a financial services specialist
3 with DSHS in Chehalis and
a member of Local 862, has a
serious health condition and is
in need of shared leave. Contact: Daniel Lozano at (360)
533-9788, or your human resource office.
Deandra Standley, a financial services specialist 3 with
DSHS Pierce North CSO in
Tacoma and a member of Local 53, has been approved for
shared leave. Contact: Clarissa Cretella at (253) 476-7078,
or your human resource office.

Andrea Shae, a support

enforcement technician with

Dennis Peltier, an office

assistant 3 with DSHS in Arlington (Smokey Point) and
a member of Local 948, will
need to take time off work
for surgery and recovery and
will not have enough accrued
leave to cover all of his threemonth absence. Contact: Con-

covered by WFSE/AFSCME
after passage of the 2002 Personnel System Reform Act.
Longnecker later served
on the WFSE/AFSCME Executive Board.
A celebration of Longneckers life took place July 27
at the VFW Hall in Olympia.

heart, said Becky Stephens,

who was Bruners lead worker before becoming a WFSE/
AFSCME council representative.
We all had a great deal
of respect and affection for
Karen and she will be dearly
missed.

Karen Bruner, a secretary senior with DSHS in Kelso and

a member of Local 1400, died
July 18 in Longview. She was
61.
Bruner worked for the
state more than 20 years.
Karen was an extremely
hard worker who loved her
family, loved classic rock
and had an enormously big

Benito Benny Enrique, a

licensed practical nurse 2 at
Rainier School in Buckley and
a member of Local 491, died
June 27. He was 30. Services
were held July 2 in Auburn.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

nie Weedin, (509) 225-7931,

or your HR office.
Kirsten Moylan, a financial
services specialist 3 at the
DSHS Kent Community Service Office, has been approved
for shared leave. Contact: your
human resource office.
Denise Threlkeld, a fiscal
analyst 2 with the Department
of Ecology in Lacey and a
member of Local 872, suffers
from Lyme Disease and will
go back into treatment Aug. 1.
She needs 97 hours of shared
leave. Contact: your human
resource office.
Grace Campbell, a customer
services specialist 2 with
DSHS in Snohomish County
and a member of Local 948,
has been approved for shared
leave. Contact: your human
resource office.
Harpreet (Sandy) Sandhu,
a maintenance mechanic 4
with the Department of Transportation in Skagit County
and a member of Local 1060,
is in need of shared leave to
cover time he is missing while
caring for his ill son. His son
developed a serious lung infection that required surgery.
Complications have developed
that now require 24/7 at home
care. The doctor has projected
the sons recovery will be at
least through the end of July.
Harpreet has been off work
since late May caring for his
son. He has used all his vacation and sick time. Contact: the
Department of Transportation
HR or your own human resource office.
To add your request here, call
Tim Welch or Tavie Smith at
1-800-562-6002, or e-mail
tim@wfse.org. Online: http://
wfse.org/shared-leave

Page 3

Page 4

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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
BIENNIAL CYCLE
FALL

Bargain team elections, propsals submitted

SUMMER

Proposals refined

WINTER

SUMMER
Negotiations supported by job actions

SPRING

Contract ratification

FALL

SPRING
Member lobbying & contract funding

WINTER

FIELD OFFICE LOCATIONS: SEATTLE 206-525-5363 SMOKEY POINT 360-659-4333 TACOMA 253-581-4402 OLYMPIA 360-786-1303 VANCOUVER 360-735-1115 SPOKANE 509-326-4422 YAKIMA 509-452-9855

WFSE.org Facebook.com/wfsec28 Twitter.com/wfsec28 800-562-6002

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES AFSCME Council 28

Tell us your ideas or request a Victory Break meeting at your worksite:

http://wfse.org/contactus/

Your voice counts. Text WFSEc28 to 69866 to receive information about how to take
action; text CB to 69866 to receive text messages about collective bargaining.

Public Service Matters

)c
e
tia
to rati
v
fy (appro
m
tio
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sup
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Contract documents and updates

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WFSE.org/contracts/

RESPECT
eg

em

Co
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ntracts fu

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Res
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t
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Collective Bargaining
Its how we win

FUTURE VICTORIES TOOLKIT: PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERSYOUR VOICE COUNTS

POSTER OF THE MONTH

August 2015

Respect

FUTURE VICTORIES TOOLKIT: WE MADE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH UNITY

The
challenge
we faced:

Together, what we
accomplished:

What we did:

4.8

Summer 2014:

After 7 years with no pay raise

and 2 years of pay cuts, the state
came to the table with insulting
1% cost-of-living adjustment
offer.

SEPTEMBER 2014:
Management got the
message. Member tenacity
won 4.8%* raises over 2
years and a hold-the-lineon-health-care package
(dropping any plans to force
an increase in the 15%
premium share we pay).

Members united at worksites around

the state to support bargaining teams
as they held tight for fair pay.
*Some higher ed agreements
had a slightly different mix of pay
raises. See wfse.org/contracts/

2015 Legislature - Jan.-May 2015:

Sen. John
Braun

Sen. Jan
Angel

Sen. Mike
Hewitt

Sen. Randi
Becker

Sen. Mike
Padden

Sen. Michael
Baumgartner

Sen. Judy
Warnick

Senate leaders took aim at us:

Sen. John Braun (20th Dist.) sponsored or cosponsored 8 of 9 measures1 that aimed to silence
our voice by choking off the very bargaining rights
that won our fair contracts. Sens. Angel, Becker,
Baumgartner, Hewitt, Padden and Warnick were
prime sponsors of the others. All were proposed
or pushed by a special-interest think tank, the
Freedom Foundation.
Braun also sponsored 2 pension bills2 that
would have raised the retirement age to 67 and
changed pension calculations for future state
employees -- changes that would have harmed
the pension funds of current state employees.
1
2

Everett CC members before the

March 24 hearing
on Brauns two
bad pension bills.
Thanks to members like them,
neither bill got out
of committee.

SBs 5237, 5552, 5602, 5671, 5979, 6098, 6126, 5226, 5045
SBs 5982, 6005

Members took action because what

the Senate leaders & their specialinterest allies wanted wasnt right.

Legislators of both parties heard lots from us

on these bills and others:
Some 349 members made 565 visits to legislators in Olympia.
Grassroots phone banks reached 1,096 members in 8 targeted districts, generating more
pressure on Senate leaders.
By March, members had generated more
than 7,300 e-mails to legislators. Thousands
more followed through July.
Members flooded social media with common
sense reasons why the Senate leaders were off
base.

All of Brauns and Senate leadership/special-interest think tank

bills died. The only measure that even passed the Senate (but
died in the House) was the lone non-Braun bill!
Even other colleagues from Brauns own leadership team realized the folly of the measures. Thats a point raised by WFSE/
AFSCME members and communicated via our lobbyists to the
Senate.
We cant understand why youre continuing to take away
benefits from public employees in order to solve other funding
problems when our system works pretty well now, WFSE/
AFSCME Lobbyist Matt Zuvich testified on Brauns two bills that
would harm the financial health of our pension funds.
We know of no other legislation in the country that curtails
creativity and restricts bargaining in such a manner, WFSE/
AFSCME Executive Director Greg Devereux testified on Brauns
last (and unsuccessful) attempt to make it harder for us to
negotiate for pay raises and the rest of our contracts in the
future.

ct
e
p
s
e
R
Unity...wins respect & more

WFSE/AFSCME
newspaper ad
that helped turn
the ride against
shutdown.

2015 Legislature - March-June 2015:

The Senate leaders scheme to take away our

voice and our future failed -- we stood together
because its better than walking alone.

At hundreds of worksites and communities and the

state Capitol, with support from allies and small
businesses, more than 12,000 WFSE/AFSCME
members engaged in Unity events that affirmed
that PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS.
The message in every corner of the state: The attempt to scuttle our contracts harmed Middle
Class workers; and a shutdown of the services
state employees provide would endanger the
vulnerable, the disabled, the environment and
community safety.

Sen. Andy Hill

Senate leaders tried to reject

contracts, forced near-shutdown

Senate leaders, led by Senate Ways

and Means Chair Sen. Andy Hill (45th
Dist.), rejected our negotiated pay raises,
then agreed to the 2-year raises ONLY IF
we permanently gave up many of the key
bargaining rights that won those raises
and other improvements.
This was part of their budget impasse
that came within a few days of forcing a
state shutdown and the temporary layoffs
of some 25,000 state employees.

August 2015

Kennewick
Lacey (ESD)

Corrections
Longview

Ecology
Bellevue

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

In the end, our actions stopped the shutdown,

the contracts were funded with no conditions
(and saved health care for 20,000 state employee
spouses). Victory sealed when Gov. Jay Inslee
signed the budget in late June and the General
Government contract July 6 (followed by enactment
of higher ed contracts at their respective institutions). Member action won new budget money for
state parks, upgrades in mental health, 40-plus new
Childrens Services workers and for infrastructure.

Page 5

FUTURE VICTORIES TOOLKIT: BARGAINING 2017-2019

BARGAINING STRUCTURE
for all WFSE contract terms beginning between the years 2016-2018
The Washington Federation of State Employees Executive Board has established
the following structure for bargaining and ratification of contracts covering
members of a WFSE bargaining unit. The Executive Board has the specific power
to call a strike, following a strike authorization vote, and to order a return to work
from a strike. This document establishes the structure for negotiation of the following contracts:
2016-2018 and 2018-2020 American Behavioral Health Systems
2018-2021 American Friends Service Committee
2017-2019 Central Washington University
2017-2019 Community College Coalition
2017-2019 Eastern Washington University
2017-2019 General Government
2017-2019 Health Care Coalition
2017-2019 Language Access Providers
2018-2021 Renton Technical College
2017-2019 Tacoma Community College Student Support Services Unit
2017-2019 The Evergreen State College Classified
2017-2019 The Evergreen State College SSSSU
2017-2019 University of Washington/HMC
2017-2019 University of Washington Police Management
2017-2019 Washington State University
2017-2019 Western Washington University

BARGAINING TEAMS
Only WFSE members in good standing in the appropriate bargaining units will be
eligible to nominate and/or vote in the election of any bargaining team member.
Members must be currently employed in a WFSE bargaining unit and members in
good standing in the appropriate bargaining unit to serve on a bargaining team. A
member may not nominate, vote for, or be elected to serve as a bargaining team
member for a contract under which they are not covered.
Responsibilities of the bargaining team:
The bargaining teams will develop the initial bargaining proposal to be presented
to the employer, and then negotiate with the Employer. The bargaining teams approve final contract language and recommend membership ratification or recommend rejection of the final employer offer. The bargaining teams at the table have
the power to alter, modify, change, or concede on all issues to obtain the best
possible language, and reach a tentative agreement, or declare that the team has
reached an impasse. The bargaining teams have the power to refer specific issues to supplemental committees as applicable.
Responsibilities of individual bargaining team members:
Bargaining team members are to be accountable, committed to the process, open-minded and realistic, available, to identify experts or specialists in specific agency issues, contracting, classifications, and other subject matters.
The bargaining team members will be responsible for direct communication with members and reporting out in worksites regarding the progress
of negotiations.
Bargaining team members must be willing to share their contact information with the members they are representing at the table.
Bargaining team members will be responsible for communicating with assigned groups of employees.
Bargaining team members will work with WFSE field staff in scheduling
meetings and will be accountable for content, update, and mobilization,
as determined by the bargaining team.
Bargaining team members are required to spend additional time educating the membership when they are not at the bargaining table.
Bargaining team members must abide by all rules of conduct established
by their respective teams.
Being a bargaining team member means spending a lot of time over
many months (sometimes late into the evening) negotiating, researching,
and communicating.
Bargaining team members will also be required to travel as necessary.
When travel is required, WFSE will assist with making travel arrangements and will pay for travel expenses in accordance with the WFSEs
member expense policy.
Bargaining team members may also be authorized time loss in accordance with WFSE policy to aid them in fulfilling these responsibilities.
Careful and serious consideration should be given to these responsibilities
before any member considers serving on the bargaining team.
Voting by the bargaining teams during negotiations will be one (1) vote for each
bargaining team member present.
The four (4) WFSE officers will be automatic members of their respective bargaining team, with an equal voice and vote. The WFSE officers may attend bargaining
sessions of any other bargaining team, as the President deems necessary.
The WFSE President may remove any bargaining team member who, after careful investigation, is determined to have violated the bargaining teams rules of
conduct, the responsibilities of bargaining team members as described in this
document or the AFSCME International Constitution (see Article X, Section 2), or
who has acted inappropriately as a bargaining team member.
Any bargaining team member removed from a bargaining team may appeal the
decision of the WFSE President to the WFSE Executive Committee plus one bar-

Page 6

gaining team member chosen by the appellants bargaining team.

ELECTION OF BARGAINING TEAM MEMBERS
Except where specified otherwise, election of bargaining team members will be
completed no later than September 15, 2015. The Collective Bargaining Committee (CBC) will review the election process for bargaining teams.
American Behavioral Health Systems (ABHS):
WFSE members in good standing in the ABHS bargaining unit will elect up to
seven (7) bargaining team members to their bargaining team.
Four (4) of the positions will be filled by ABHS members in good standing employed at the Spokane ABHS facility/ies. Members in good standing employed at
the Spokane ABHS facility/ies will be eligible to nominate and/or vote for the four
(4) positions representing the Spokane area.
Three (3) of the positions will be filled by ABHS members in good standing employed at the Chehalis ABHS facility. Members in good standing employed at the
Chehalis ABHS facility will be eligible to nominate and/or vote for the three (3) positions representing the Chehalis area.
The WFSE President may appoint bargaining team members to fill vacant seats.
Team members will be nominated and elected by the WFSE members in their respective election group as outlined above.
Ties will be decided by run-off. Election of bargaining team members from the
ABHS bargaining unit will occur at the appropriate time in their negotiating cycle.
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC):
WFSE members in good standing in the AFSC bargaining unit will elect up to
three (3) bargaining team members to their bargaining team.
Positions will be filled by AFSC members in good standing employed in a WFSE
bargaining unit position with AFSC. Members in good standing employed in a
WFSE bargaining unit position with AFSC will be eligible to nominate and/or vote
for the three (3) positions representing AFSC.
Ties will be decided by run-off. The WFSE President may appoint bargaining
team members to fill vacant seats. Election of bargaining team members from the
AFSC bargaining unit will occur at the appropriate time in their negotiating cycle.
Higher Education:
Community College Coalition: WFSE members in good standing in all WFSE
bargaining units in each Institution of Higher Education bargaining in a coalition
will elect bargaining team members to the coalition bargaining team(s) based on
the number of bargaining unit employees in each institution as follows:
Number of Bargaining Unit Employees
in the Institution

Number of Team Members

1-200 1 team member

201-400 2 team members
400 or more 3 team members.
Each Higher Education Institution (in the Coalition) should have at least one representative at the table.
The coalition bargaining team will, in addition, have one at-large representative
who is a part-time/hourly employee.
Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College Classified, Washington State University, and Western
Washington University:
WFSE members in good standing in WFSE bargaining units in each of the above
Institutions of higher Education will elect up to nine (9) bargaining team members to their respective bargaining team. One of those nine (9) positions will be
reserved for a part-time/hourly employee. An additional one of those nine (9)
positions will also be reserved for a law enforcement/public safety employee. The
remaining seven (7) positions will be at large.
University of Washington:
The number and geographic representation of bargaining team members will be
elected by WFSE members in good standing in bargaining units at the University
of Washington in accordance with Article IX, Sections 2 and 3 of the Local 1488
constitution.
Renton Technical College and The Evergreen State College SSSSU:
WFSE members in good standing in WFSE bargaining units in each of the above
Institutions of Higher Education will elect up to five (5) bargaining team members
to their respective bargaining team. Election of these bargaining teams will occur
at the appropriate time in their respective negotiating cycles.
Tacoma Community College SSSSU:
WFSE members in good standing in the TCC Student Support Services bargaining unit may elect up to three (3) bargaining team members. Election of bargaining team members from the TCC Student Support Services bargaining unit will
occur at the appropriate time in their negotiating cycle.
The Council President may appoint bargaining team members to any Higher Education bargaining team from any bargaining unit within that Higher Education Institution not represented on the elected team or to fill vacant seats.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

August 2015

FUTURE VICTORIES TOOLKIT: BARGAINING 2017-2019

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
General Government:
The bargaining team will consist of Council officers who work in General Government and members elected from within a bargaining unit under the jurisdiction of
each General Government policy committee. Except for Human Services and Institutions (policy committees), the number of members elected from within a bargaining unit under the jurisdiction of each General Government policy committee
will be based on the following ratio:
Number of bargaining unit employees
represented by Policy Committee

Number of team members

1-1,999 bargaining unit employees

2,000-3,999 bargaining unit employees
4,000-5,999 bargaining unit employees
6,000-6,999 bargaining unit employees
7,000 or more bargaining unit employees

1 team member
2 team members
3 team members
4 team members
5 team members

Human Services Policy Committee will have five (5) (bargaining team member)
positions. One position will be designated for a member employed in a bargaining unit in each of the following groups: Childrens Administration, Community
Services Division, Division of Child Support, and Home and Community Services.
One position will be at-large.
Institutions Policy Committee will have five (5) positions. One position will be
designated for a member employed in a bargaining unit in each of the following
groups: State Hospitals, Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation (includes Special
Commitment Center), and Department of Veterans Affairs. Two positions will be
designated for a member employed in a bargaining unit in the following group:
Developmental Disabilities Administration (includes CMO, RHCs, DD Field, and
SOLA).

ing team. In addition, each of the Higher Education bargaining teams representing
more than one hundred (100) bargaining unit members will select one (1) member, and the General Government team will select three (3) members. Bargaining teams representing less than one hundred (100) bargaining unit members
will share one (1) additional position. If there is no member willing to serve from
one (1) or more of the Higher Education bargaining teams, the WFSE President
may appoint a member from the associated Higher Education bargaining team
institution(s).
PROPOSALS
Contract proposals may be submitted by: locals; UMCC (Union Management
Communication Committee) teams, the WFSE Executive Board, WFSE Executive Board Committees, the WFSE Policy Committees, and the WFSE Executive
Director. Proposals must be adopted by a majority vote of the membership body
submitting them. Proposals may be submitted by WFSE staff and are subject to
approval by the WFSE Executive Director. WFSE bargaining teams and staff will
use surveys of the bargaining unit employees as needed during bargaining.
Contract proposals must be submitted to the WFSE Headquarters office
by 5:00 p.m. November 30, 2015 (see form on page 8, or online at http://
wfse.org/contracts/ [http://wfse.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ContractPropsals-2017-19.pdf]).
Contract proposal collection pertaining to the American Friends Service Committee, American Behavioral Health Systems, Renton Technical College, TESC
SSSSU, and TCC Student Support Services contracts will occur concurrently at
the appropriate time in their respective negotiating cycles.

Team members will be nominated and elected by the WFSE members who are
employed in a bargaining unit within the jurisdiction of their Policy Committee.
Ties will be decided by run off. The WFSE President may appoint additional members to the team as needed.

Proposals must be submitted on the WFSE contract proposal form and should
include:
(1) the contract article to be changed or an indication that it is a new concept;
(2) any documentation or examples that are available to support the proposal;
(3) the problem the proposal is meant to fix;
(4) the name and signature of the Chair or President of the membership body
submitting the proposal, and
(5) the number/name of a resource person that can clarify the proposal or provide
additional information as needed.

Should a member of the bargaining team need to be replaced, the position will be
filled by the next runner-up from the original election. If there is no runner-up, the
WFSE President will appoint the replacement.

Each contract proposal form will be assigned a tracking number so that it can be
followed through the negotiating process. Contract proposal forms must be filled
out as completely as possible and will not be provided to the Employer.

Language Access Providers (LAP):

WFSE members in good standing in the LAP bargaining unit will elect up to eleven (11) bargaining team members to their bargaining team based on the following
allocation and election groups:

WFSE staff will assess contract proposals for legality and consolidate duplicate
proposals. The resulting proposals will then be passed on to the appropriate bargaining team(s) for debate, possible revision, and a vote to support or reject. Proposals referred for contract enforcement, legislative action, or as a UMCC issue
will be routed to the appropriate staff for action not later than January 15, 2016.

Group 1: All interpreters in Clark and Skamania counties = 1 bargaining team position
Group 2: All interpreters in Clallam, Cowlitz, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Kitsap,
Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties = 1 bargaining team
position
Group 3: All interpreters in Pierce county = 1 bargaining team position
Group 4: All interpreters in King county = 2 bargaining team positions
Group 5: All interpreters in Snohomish county = 1 bargaining team position
Group 6: All interpreters in Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties = 1
bargaining team position
Group 7: All interpreters in Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas,
Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima counties = 1 bargaining team position
Group 8: All Interpreters in Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln,
Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties = 1 bargaining team position
Group 9: All Interpreters in the bargaining unit whose primary working language is
not Spanish or Russian = 2 bargaining team positions
Candidates may run for only one Election Group.
Election Groups 1-8:
Candidates for bargaining team positions in Election Groups 1-8 will be nominated and elected by WFSE members in the LAP bargaining unit who reside in the
counties specified for each Election Group. The Interpreters primary residential
address shall be used to determine which Election Group an Interpreter belongs
to. Only in cases where the Interpreter does not have a primary address shall post
office mailing boxes be used for the basis of determining Election Group membership. If an eligible Interpreter lives outside of the State of Washington, they shall
be considered part of the Election Group with the county geographically nearest
to their primary residence address.
Election Group 9:
Candidates for bargaining team positions in Election Group 9 will be nominated
and elected by all WFSE members in the LAP bargaining unit. To be eligible to
be nominated and run for a position in election group 9, the candidates primary
working language cannot be Spanish or Russian.
Ties will be decided by run off. Should a member of the bargaining team need to
be replaced, the position will be filled by the next runner-up in that election group
from the original election. If there is no runner-up, the WFSE President will appoint the replacement.
HEALTH CARE COALITION
The WFSE President or designee will serve on the Health Care Coalition bargain-

August 2015

COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS

Informing and involving bargaining unit members during the bargaining process
is critical to winning support for a strong contract and ratification of a final agreement.
A communication strategy will be developed involving frequent dissemination of
information from each bargaining team to a wide net of leaders including stewards, activists, local officers and board members, WFSE executive board members and WFSE committee members.
The e-mail network, website and hotline will be available to provide immediate
communication. When necessary, staff may distribute a press release to the mainstream media.
All WFSE Offices will be hubs for distribution of information materials and tools for
job actions.
At the conclusion of negotiations, contract negotiations staff will communicate the
disposition of all proposals to the member submitting the proposal upon their request.
At the conclusion of bargaining, a debriefing will occur with all bargaining team
members to discuss the process. A copy of this document will remain available
through the close of the debriefing for members to propose amendments to be
submitted to the CBC for consideration.
SUPPLEMENTAL BARGAINING
Where management agrees to supplemental bargaining, the applicable bargaining teams will establish rules.
Supplemental team members will be appointed by the WFSE President and will
include team members from the main tables as appropriate. Runners-up in the
elections for bargaining team members will be given first consideration for appointment to supplemental bargaining teams established for the bargaining unit in
which they are employed.
All appointed supplemental bargaining team members will have the same expectations as those elected to the bargaining team and should have knowledge and
expertise of the matters over which they are appointed to bargain.
Adopted by Council 28 Collective Bargaining Committee 6/1/2015
Adopted by Council 28 Executive Board 7/11/2015

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

Page 7

FUTURE VICTORIES TOOLKIT: BARGAINING 2017-2019

Your contracts matter as a way of standing up for the public services you provide. Clockwise from top left: Standing up for public services and your contracts at June 18 Unity events in Bellingham (Samish Way), DSHS Lynnwood, Employment Security Call Center in Spokane, Shoreline Community College and DSHS-Home & Community Services in Seattle.

ts never too early to begin work on making our

contracts better for a stronger voice at work and
for better pay, benefits and working conditions.

The current, 2015-2017

collective bargaining agreements just took effect July 1,
2015.

This came about after

two years of commitment by
members in every corner of
the state.

We should enjoy that victory. But the hard work begins

again on the next contracts
that would take effect July 1,
2017, and expire June 30, 2019.
Heres a look ahead:
Bargaining team elections. Infor-

mation on how to nominate

members to serve on your
respective bargaining teams
went in the mail to full members July 17. Those nominated
(and who accept) will stand
election to serve on the bargaining teams negotiating

CONTRACT PROPOSAL FORM

WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES
WFSE/AFSCME/COUNCIL 28 ~ AFL-CIO

USE THIS FORM FOR ALL WFSE CONTRACTS

(For contract terms that begin in 2016, 2017, or 2018)
Use this form to have a voice in strengthening your contract!
Name of person making proposal: ________________________________________________________
Your employer (including agency, division, location etc.): _____________________________________
Your contract please mark next to the appropriate Contract (See reverse for more information):
16-18 ABHS
18-21 AFSC
17-19 CWU
17-19 HE CCC
17-19 EWU

17-19 TESC Classified

17-19 TESC SSSSU
17-19 GG
17-19 LAP (Interpreters)
18-21 RTC

17-19 TCC SSSSU

17-19 UW/HMC
17-19 UWPM
17-19 WSU
17-19 WWU

Article/section your proposal affects: ___________ Has a grievance been filed? (Yes/No): __________

Proposal idea/s (conceptual is fine, you do not need to write

contract language):
__________________________________________________________________
___________
__________________________________________________________________
___________
__________________________________________________________________
___________
Problem your proposal solves:
__________________________________________________________________
___________
__________________________________________________________________
___________
__________________________________________________________________
___________
Proposal resource person and contact information:
__________________________________________________________________
___________
Membership group submitting proposal: ____________________________________________________
(Local, UMCC team, WFSE Executive Board, WFSE E-Board Committee, WFSE Policy Committee)
Attach additional sheets and/or resource information as appropriate. This form will be used by the Bargaining Teams for the
purpose of developing initial proposals it is for internal WFSE use only and will not be submitted to the Employer.
Opeiu8/aflcio
Form also online at http://wfse.org/contracts/ (http://wfse.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ContractPropsals-2017-19)

Page 8

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee

the next, 2017-2019 contracts.

That bargaining starts in 2016.
Those nominations are due
Aug. 17. Elections will then
take place, wrapping up by
Sept. 15 (unless specified otherwise). Information is also
online at: http://wfse.org/
bargaining-team-nominations-elections/
Learn about your bargaining process
On pages 6-7: The bargaining structure adopted
by the WFSE/AFSCME
Executive Board July 10 a
structure that aims to keep
you informed, involved and
engaged in this important effort to improve your wages,
health care, hours and working conditions.
Online: http://wfse.org/
bargaining-structure/
Have an idea for the next contract? The bargaining structure
explains how you can propose
an idea for your next contract.
See the PROPOSALS box on
page 7.
Contract proposals must be
submitted to the WFSE Headquarters office by 5 p.m. Nov.
30, 2015.
For convenience, weve
provided a copy of the Contract Proposal Form at left. Or
you can download at: http://
wfse.org/contracts/

But to take part....

To take part fully,
you must be a full
member of the
Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME
Council 28.
If youre not a
member, find out
how you can join
this movement
where 40,000 other
state employees
stand together because public service
matters.
Go to:
http://wfse.org/join/

August 2015