HOTLINE 2/13/18

This is the Federation Hotline updated Feb. 13.

Big news as two more priority bills pass

It was a late Monday and early Tuesday at the Capitol as the House passed two more of our priority bills – the part-time employees bill and the Taxpayer Protection Act.

The House Monday night (Feb. 12) passed the bill to leave no doubt and add part-time state employees to civil service. HB 2669 passed on a vote of 50-47. It now goes to the Senate.

And thanks to your phone calls and messages, the House shortly after midnight today (Feb. 13) passed the Taxpayer Protection Act. HB 1851 passed on a vote of 52-45. It now goes to the Senate. HB 1851 would bring transparency and accountability when a state agency is considering outsourcing state jobs.

UPDATE: Town Hall Meetings

The Senate Democrats and House Democrats have updated the town hall meetings they’re taking part in. Find them online:

Here are a few that may involve members from other caucuses:

  • 36th District   Rep. Noel Frame will hold a “Drop-In Town Hall” 4-7 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 18, at Flying Bike Co-op Brewery, 8570 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle.
  • 39th District   Rep. Carolyn Eslick and Sen. Keith Wagoner will host Town Hall Meetings in Sultan and Arlington, this Saturday, Feb. 17: Sultan Town Hall from 10 a.m. – 12 Noon; and Arlington’s Hadley Hall from 4-6 p.m.
  • 1st Legislative District   Rep. Shelley Kloba, Rep. Derek Stanford and Sen. Guy Palumbo will hold a Town Hall Meeting, 3:30-5:30 p.m., this Saturday, Feb. 17, Mobius Hall, Cascadia Community College, 18345 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011.
  • 22nd Legislative District   Rep. Laurie Dolan, Rep. Beth Doglio and Sen. Sam Hunt will hold a Town Hall Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 22, SPSCC Lacey Event Center, 4220 6th Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503. Doors open at 6pm for a social half hour - this will give everyone plenty of time to say a friendly hello to their neighbors, grab a snack, and get situated in their seats. Childcare will be provided.
  • 28th Legislative District   Rep. Christine Kilduff, Rep, Dick Muri and Sen. Steve O’Ban hold a Town Hall Meeting, 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, at Steilacoom Town Hall, 1717 Lafayette Street, Steilacoom, 98388.
  • 43rd Legislative District    Rep. Nicole Macri, Rep. Frank Chopp and Sen. Jamie Pedersen hold a Town Hall Meeting, 1:30-3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave., Seattle.

WFSE/AFSCME activist takes to airwaves this week to explain how we defend our freedoms in the face of new attacks

Michele Stelovich, a Local 1060 member with DSHS in Bellingham and president of the Northwest Washington Central Labor Council, takes to the airwaves starting today to talk about the threats to the freedom of working people to join together in strong unions. See Local 1060 post.

In less than two weeks, on Feb. 26, the United States Supreme Court will hear the Janus case, which wants to do just that. As AFSCME says, this effort uses the false slogan of “right-to-work.”

Stelovich will be interviewed by retired labor activist Lori Province. You can hear her interview on KSVR FM 91.7 FM Skagit Valley Community Radio at 5 p.m., today, Feb. 13, and at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18. Online: http://www.ksvr.org/

Also this week from the Northwest Washington Central Labor Council, a community forum on the guest worker H2A farmworker issues. “No Way to Treat a Guest: A Community Forum on H2A” will be 6-8 p.m., this Thursday, Feb. 15, at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Social Hall 1207 Ellsworth St., Bellingham, WA 98225. The featured speaker is Adrienne DerVartanian, director of immigration and labor rights at Farmworkers Justice. For more information: Betty Pernotto, (360) 647-1752.

That’s it for now.

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