As you will recall, our HCA-DSHS-DCYF Bargaining Team was elected in mid-December 2023 while the L&I Bargaining Team was elected in early February 2024. In the first week of March the HCA-DSHS-DCYF Bargaining Team went through a 2-day training offered by WFSE and led by WFSE staff Mark Hamilton, our Lead Negotiator. The L&I Bargaining Team underwent the same thing in late April.
Some team members belong to both the HCA-DSHS-DCYF and the L&I bargaining teams. But we represent two distinct bargaining units, established by state law, with two separate bargaining teams elected by union members in two separate elections. A bargaining UNIT is a group of workers with a clear and identifiable community of interests represented by a single labor union, in our case WFSE/AFSCME Council 28. Whereas a bargaining TEAM is a group of workers belonging to the same bargaining unit elected to represent their colleagues when negotiating with the employer, in our case Washington state, in order to obtain a union contract, also known as a collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Currently, negotiations for HCA-DSHS-DCYF and L&I contracts (CBAs) are in full swing.
The HCA-DSHS-DCYF team finalized the vetting of the contract proposals previously submitted by union members on March 22nd, reviewed on April 5th and immediately submitted to the state afterwards.
On April 15th, this team met with the state for the first time.
In this meeting the state brought some L&I employees to "observe," since they are going to negotiate with interpreters soon. Because of this our HCA-DSHS-DCYF team voted to include all members of the L&I bargaining team whenever the state brings L&I members to the HCA-DSHS-DCYF bargaining table. Members of both bargaining teams also unanimously agreed that there will be just one CBA covering both HCA-DSHS-DCYF and L&I interpreters with the specifics for each bargaining unit clearly spelled out in different sections where applicable. Therefore, and ever since, both teams have been together at the bargaining table for negotiations and caucus.
After all, there is only one labor union representing interpreters, WFSE/AFSCME Council 28. Accordingly, a petition has been filed with the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) to merge both bargaining units.
In tandem with the negotiations for the HCA-DSHS-DCYF and L&I contract, we have been busy meeting with the state for a "Demand To Bargain" related to the upcoming change of the coordinating entities, since L& I has informed interpreters that SOSi will replace Interpreting Works in mid-June. Our esteemed member/leader, Masuood Muhammed, is offering his help for registration for this new agency to any interpreters.
At the negotiation table with the state, our bargaining teams are only as strong as the membership and its UNITY. At times we might need to call on all of us for support and a show of strength. So, please stand-by for this call.
Respectfully reported!
HCA/DCYF/DSHS Bargaining Team:
- Norma Verduzco;
- Barbara Robertson;
- Gabriel Oseguera;
- Magda Enriques;
- Masuood Muhammed;
- Quan Tran;
- Arnulfo Ramirez;
- Ismael Mohamed;
- Cora Leigh.
L&I Bargaining Team:
- Quan Tran;
- Luis Borgford;
- Norma Rios;
- Leticia Mares;
- Arnulfo Ramirez;
- Masuood Muhammed;
- Barbara Roberston;
- Magda Enriques;
- Laila Valencia.