HOTLINE News 1/8/18

This is the Federation Hotline updated Jan. 8.

On today’s sad news out of Pierce County

Our thoughts and prayers go to the family, colleagues and friends of Deputy Daniel A. McCartney, gunned down and killed in the line of duty this morning while responding to a burglary call in south Pierce County. Our hearts break whenever a public servant anywhere gives their life in the line of duty.

Gov. Jay Inslee spoke for all of us when he said we “are saddened and praying for the deputy’s young family as they grieve the loss of their husband and father.”

WFSE/AFSCME members hit the ground running for Legislature 2018

The gavel comes down on the short 60-day session of the state Legislature at 12 noon today (Jan. 8). To review what’s on tap this week, see our The Week Ahead - What's on tap?

As individuals we are powerless. But together as our union, we have true political strength for the good of all.

Don't forget: Every day is Lobby Day. RSVP today.

Member lobbyists got a jump start at great Lobby Training 2018 Saturday in Seattle.

WFSE/AFSCME member lobbyists got bipartisan advice from five great lawmakers on how to tell our stories one-on-one to senators and representatives during the legislative session that starts today.
 
On hand for the practice sessions were: Rep. Roger Goodman, D-45th Dist.; Rep. Zack Hudgins, D-11th Dist.; Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-48th Dist.; Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-35th Dist.; and Rep. Beth Doglio, D-22nd Dist.

The Lobby Training also made news when the State Senate’s Capital Budget leader Sen. David Frockt vowed quick action on the state Capital Construction Budget in first two weeks of session that starts today.

“The No. 1 thing that we’ve got to do in this state is we must pass the state construction budget immediately in the first week or two weeks of the session,” Frockt said in his keynote address to the WFSE/AFSCME member lobbyists. 

The old Senate Majority had held the Capital Construction Budget hostage over an unrelated water rights issue.

Frockt said the new Senate majority also rejects the notion held by many in the old majority that state employees are “whipping boys and whipping girls” to blame.

Frockt said the new Senate majority views every state employee as a partner.

“You’re not nameless and you’re not faceless,” Frockt said.

Saturday’s Lobby Training and Lobby Days starting this week are vital because there is no workforce in Washington that has more at stake in legislative decisions than state employees like us.

Keep up to date on our issues with our HOTLINE News Service:

Mark your calendars for three big events coming up:

Before the hustle and bustle of the legislative session gets underway later today, we thought this was a good time to give you a heads up on three important dates coming in the next few weeks.

Annual Martin Luther King Day Rally and March in Seattle next Monday

  • Join WFSE in our fight for Equality! MLK Day Rally & March 
    Next Monday, Jan. 15 @ Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98122
    WEAR YOUR GREEN SHIRT! WFSE/AFSCME members will gather at 12:15 p.m. in front of Ezell's Chicken before the march. If you have any questions, please contact your shop steward or our Member Connection Center at 833-MCC-WFSE. 

Moment of Silence Feb. 1 on 50th anniversary of Memphis tragedy

  • From AFSCME President Lee Saunders: To honor the 50th anniversary of the tragic events that touched off the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike, we are asking the entire union to join with our members in Memphis in observing a moment of silence on February 1, 2018.

    On February 1, 1968, a storm forced sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker to seek shelter in the back of their truck. The workers’ repeated warnings to management about faulty equipment proved tragically prophetic that day when the truck’s compactor kicked on, crushing the two men to death.

    Their coworkers decided they had had enough. They voted to strike, and despite facing racial hatred and disrespect, they bravely continued their strike for more than two months. They were supported by their AFSCME sisters and brothers from across the country, and by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who traveled to Memphis to march in solidarity, where he ultimately gave his life for their cause.

    As part of our union’s I AM 2018 initiative honoring the legacy of those brave strikers and Dr. King, I urge you to ask all of your affiliates to organize a moment of silence in memory of Brothers Cole and Walker on February 1, 2018.  We strongly encourage you to share your plans publicly at: https://www.iam2018.org/events/moment-of-silence-host

AFSCME Northwest Region Public Safety Conference

  • March 9-11, 2018, Vancouver, WA
    RSVP ONLINE: https://wfse.org/news/public-safety-conference-march
    DEADLINE FEB. 16   The 2018 AFSCME NW Region Public Safety Conference will be held Saturday, March 10 - Sunday, March 11, 2018, at the Vancouver Hilton. Located at 301 West 6th Street, Vancouver, Washington 98660. A reception will take place the evening of March 9.

    This an opportunity for Law Enforcement members to join with other LE union brothers and sisters at the Biennial AFSCME Northwest Public Safety Conference. Attendees will hear about issues important to public safety employees, discuss what’s going on around the Northwest, and hear advice to help deal with stresses encountered in a law enforcement or public safety career.  

Shared leave requests:


STILL IN NEED OF SHARED LEAVE: Roxanne Childress, a disability determination adjudicator 3 with DSHS in Tumwater and a member of Local 443, is still in need of shared leave as she cares for her husband who has pancreatic cancer. To help with a donation of eligible unused annual leave or sick leave or all or part of your personal holiday, contact Debbie Stallard at (360) 664-7415 or your human resource office. 

IN NEED OF SHARED LEAVE: Harold “John” Barringer, a food service worker at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake and a member of Local 782, has been approved for shared leave. He is requesting shared leave to cover the time he will be out of the office an undetermined time during lengthy recovery from his second round of chemotherapy. To help with a donation of eligible unused annual leave or sick leave or all or part of your personal holiday, contact Katie Gustafson at (509) 565-4461, or your human resource office. 

That’s it for now.


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