AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE)'s fight to protect your privacy has shifted to the Legislature to be consistent with our recent court victory
AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) has blocked attempts by the Freedom Foundation to violate your privacy by getting your dates of birth.
The state Court of Appeals in October sided with AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) members and ruled the Freedom Foundation’s request violated state employees’ constitutional rights.
Now, the fight has shifted to the state Legislature where the union is working a pair of bills that could seal the deal by keeping state employees’ dates of birth off limits to the Freedom Foundation-types.
Sen. Patty Kuderer of the 48th Dist. has sponsored Senate Bill 6079 to make dates of birth non-disclosable, protecting your privacy. SB 6079 has been referred to the Senate State Government Committee.
Meanwhile, another bill pending before the House State Government Committee (SHB 1160) would keep passport and visa numbers from unwarranted privacy violations undertaken by the likes of the Freedom Foundation. AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) has also asked the committee to keep existing protections for dates of birth and zip codes.
AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE)'s fight in the courts and the Legislature is so important because in this day and age such private information as dates of birth can be used to unlock so much other private information about state employees.
“We just don’t think that’s safe,” AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) Lobbyist Matt Zuvich told the House committee Jan. 10.
