Remembering Sue Henricksen
WFSE Remembers former President Sue Henricksen
Sue Henricksen was a lifelong union leader and tireless advocate for working people whose leadership profoundly shaped WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 and public-sector bargaining in Washington state.
A WFSE member since 1982, Sue dedicated more than four decades to public service and union leadership. She worked as a case resource manager with the DSHS Division of Developmental Disabilities in Tacoma and previously served at Rainier School, where she was active in Local 491.
Her professional work supporting individuals with developmental disabilities reflected the same commitment and compassion that defined her union service.
Sue served her union in nearly every leadership capacity. She was President of WFSE Local 53 for six years, served as WFSE Local 53 Vice President, and was a longtime shop steward.
At the council level, she served on the WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 Executive Board, held two terms as Vice President, and was elected Council President in October 2013, serving multiple terms. Her leadership was marked by strength, persistence, and an unwavering focus on member rights.
Watch Sue honor Lisa Tavarez, a DOC member from Yakima Local 1326, who survived a gunshot wound while apprehending a suspect in a drive-by shooting.
Sue speaking at a rally in support of Wisconsin public workers in 2011 after their union rights were stripped by Gov. Scott Walker.\
One of Sue’s most lasting legacies was her role in collective bargaining.
From 1989 when our convention unanimously voted to pursue full-scope collective bargaining until we ultimately won it in 2002, Sue was out at worksites across the state talking to members and getting them involved in the fight. We wanted collective bargaining, not "collective begging," as we called it.
She had the rare distinction of serving on every General Government bargaining team from 2004 through 2018, spanning the entire era of full-scope collective bargaining in Washington state.
She was a major force in shaping how public-sector bargaining evolved statewide, earning a reputation as one of the toughest and most determined labor leaders in the state. The gains that have been made at the bargaining table by WFSE members in the past few cycles are a key part of Sue's legacy.
WFSE officers remember Sue
Former WFSE President Carol Dotlich
"Sue Henricksen and I travelled a long road together," said former WFSE President Carol Dotlich (right). "She tackled life with strong resolve and determination. She was fearless in the face of adversity. The members came first with Sue and when she saw them mistreated or treated unfairly, she was determined to do everything she could to address it.
"I was honored to hand the President’s gavel to Sue as I retired from service. Sue fought hard for WFSE members and workers across the state. It made no difference to her whether you were a WSDOT worker, a Community Corrections Officer, a higher ed employee worker, an Ecology member or any job class at all. She believed we were all a family and deserved respect. She will long be remembered as a tough fighter for working people in Washington state."
WFSE President Mike Yestramski
"We all knew Sue the fighter, and quite the powerful fighter she was," said current WFSE President Mike Yestramski of Western State Hospital. "But she was also a mentor and a teacher who went out of her way to open doors and provide opportunities for other people to shine.
"She supported and encouraged my leadership path at every step of the way and when I thought that I might have gone too far at times, she pushed me to go farther. The labor movement has lost Sue, but we will always have her spirit with all of us."
WFSE Vice President Ashley Fueston
"I will forever be grateful that she saw me as more than a new member with a loud mouth and took the time to teach me," said current WFSE Vice President Ashley Fueston, who works at ESD. "She will be deeply missed by all who had the honor of knowing her."
Sue Henricksen is remembered as an extraordinary leader, a fierce defender of workers, and a mentor to countless union members. Her impact on WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 and the lives of working people across Washington will endure.
Let's win it for Sue
Lastly, Sue was a passionate Seahawks fan. Right up until the end, surrounded by family and fellow union siblings, she left no doubt the Seahawks have to beat the Patriots—soundly—in the Super Bowl to avenge their loss at Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.
So, in Sue’s honor—Go Hawks.
AFSCME Council 28/WFSE
Speaking Up for Our Jobs, Families & Communities
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