Fairfax Worker’s Coalition (703)-383-1200 10500 Sager Ave. Suite C Fairfax, VA 22030WWW.FFXWC.ORG

JANUARY / 2020

NEWSMEET YOUR FWC MEMBERS

ARTHUR PASLEYArthur has been a long time worker at the Newington facility. In April of last year, Arthur hurt his wrist while work-ing on a trash route.

Risk Management denied his claim, and he was barred from working any alter-native duty. For 8 months, he was kept out of work. His electricity was turned off, he ran low on food, and almost lost his home.

FWC members pulled together to help Arthur. They helped with his expenses, conducted food drives, and helped get him to appointments (Arthur has no car, and for over 15 years has gotten up at 4 AM to take buses to Newington to work on a trash route all day.)

FWC provided Arthur with expert legal counsel, and we are hopeful of prevail-ing in his VWC Hearing this month.

Arthur will tell you: “I belonged to the other group, they never did anything to help me. FWC has been like family.”

Please let us know if you can help Arthur. Call Dave at 571-991-5386 or Jon at 703-867-4034

FLOR GIBSON (LOUDOUN COUNTY)Flor has been struggling with keeping her job with Loudoun after contracting viral meningitis. She approached us for help after being forced from work because of her medical condition. Although we don’t seek members in Loudoun, this was a special case because she said her former union’s (here in Fairfax) member services people told her “she was just an “employee at will” and she “needed to bring us more members” if she expected help. A former Fairfax worker sent Flor to us.

We are helping Flor without cost with her EEOC because she is unable to work and has alleged dis-crimination against her on the basis of her disability.

We don’t turn people away, and we don’t condition help on what you can do for us. And by the way, government employees are not just “employee at will”, even in Virginia.

SOVANNORITH DUONGSovannorith (known to his co-work-ers as “North”) is a now retired mechanic from DVS. You might remember our earlier story, telling how North was seriously hurt while working on a school bus and denied coverage by his employer for ques-tionable reasons.

FWC stepped in with legal help that resulted in a large and fair settlement for North and his family. He still cannot work, and suffers daily from his wrongful treatment by the County.

Fair treatment in workers compensa-tion claims is a fundamental right of all county employees. FWC will be there every time, not just to offer advice but to fight for your rights.

FELECIA RICHMONDFelecia is a former DFS employee who was fired by the Agency for question-able reasons. She was a member of SEIU, but they refused to help her. In a letter from its Member Services Direc-tor, they told her she had no case.

Felecia came to FWC for help. Without charge, we appealed he case to the Civ-il Service Commission. Eventually the matter was settled. Felecia no longer wanted to work for the County because of her experience here, and we settled the grievance.

“They turned me down. They never met with me, just a phone call and the letter saying they wouldn’t help. FWC was there for me, and I’m staying as a member.”

AUTHOR: DAVE LYONS

Having issues in the workplace? • Workplace Bullying • Discrimination • Unfairness • Disciplinary Action

Contact us! We’re here to help!

JANUARY / 2020

Fairfax Worker’s Coalition (703)-383-1200 10500 Sager Ave. Suite C Fairfax, VA 22030WWW.FFXWC.ORG

FWC HOLIDAY PARTY A TRUE HAPPENING

On December 6th FWC held its an-nualholiday event at Brion’s Grill in Fairfax. By all accounts, it was the best of all time.

Over 120 members jammed into Brion’s party room to celebrate the FWC family, led by new President Jon Miskell and our own DJ, “Buck” who put down a great collection of tunes.

Retired members Brian Martin and former board members Joan Maguire and Kirt Cleveland were honored.

Over 20 giveaway packages were delivered, including a big screen TV. Appetizers and a full dinner were served.

FWC is about caring for our own workers. It’s real unionism that isn’t corporate and catering to an outside political agenda. Come join us and ex-perience the FWC difference of caring and commitment.

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Fairfax Worker’s Coalition (703)-383-1200 10500 Sager Ave. Suite C Fairfax, VA 22030WWW.FFXWC.ORG

JANUARY / 2020

WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT THERE:

HOUSING: Position Losses Continue, Telework RestrictedAn estimated 15-20% of housing va-cancies continue unfilled as new senior management continues its program of

RACIST REMARKS AT NEWINGTON SOLID WASTE BRINGS ANGER, “APOLOGIES” Confirmed reports from the Newington Solid Waste Facility show that a senior supervisor referred to African Ameri-can employees as “monkeys” causing concern and anger among workers there- and fear.

A recently promoted senior supervi-sor made the racist remark to another employee, heard by several others. Offi-cials went into damage control mode immediately, and the African Amer-ican employee was told to keep quiet about what he had heard. The supervi-sor apologized, but his promotion and position were unaffected. Subsequently, all the facility’s supervisors were told the issue was “over”.

It’s not over. This is just wrong. FWC is pushing for a full and fair investiga-tion by an independent entity, and it’s our understanding it’s happening. No one should be afraid to tell the truth. No one should be subjected this to kind of treatment. FWC will keep fighting to make sure it happens.

AUTHOR: DAVE LYONS

“restructuring”. Employees, especially those in the Rental Assistance Divi-sion, continue to be asked to perform double duty without additional com-pensation. In addition, telework has been restricted because of security concerns, and the squeeze on employ-ees gets more intense every work day. People that can leave and retire are doing so as contracting out and shrink-age continues.

FWC will continue to fight for work-ers’ basic rights and their jobs. Current practices are causing much anxiety and harm to Agency workers.

HERRITY BUILDING ISSUES MUST BE RESOLVEDFor many years, workers in various parts of the Herrity building have been subjected to conditions that run from irritating to just unsafe.

Workers have often complained of odors permeating the building when-ever roof work is performed, as well as other maintenance actions.

Now multiple workers are noticing low pressure sound waves that causes headaches, vertigo, nausea, and other symptoms. Workers comp claims have been filed but not yet resolved. A safe-ty grievance has been filed.

A brief sampling by FMD established the sounds were present, but little has been done. It has long been suspected that the issues lie in the ventilation system.

FWC wants anyone who has experi-enced these conditions to report them. We will be there to help. Every worker has an absolute right to a safe environ-ment.

DVS, I 66 WORK-ERS GET THE HEAT BACK ONWorkers at the West Ox DVS facility have been suffering from a lack of heat during the winter. The system needs some work, and is dependent on its supply from the I 66 Transfer station just above them. There seems to be a need to revamp the current system to develop a better source of recyclable energy.

Our members at 66 and DVS brought this to our attention. The 66 team and DVS management worked together to get the heat restored while planning to convert the system to a natural gas basis.

Problem solving begins with co-operation. Workers figuring things out together often works better than just waiting for a bureaucracy to move. Thanks to all the great folks who pushed on this- after, all heat in winter is pretty basic, especially with a wrench in your hand trying to fix a school bus.

DFS ISSUES: SELF SUFFICIENCY WORK-ERS OVERWHELMEDA number of workers in this division have asked for voluntary demotions because of the stress caused by severe-ly increased work demands. Processing

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cont. page 5

JANUARY / 2020

Fairfax Worker’s Coalition (703)-383-1200 10500 Sager Ave. Suite C Fairfax, VA 22030WWW.FFXWC.ORG

CIRCUS

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Once again, it’s almost that time of year: to beg the Board of Supervisors to give us a full Merit Rate Adjustment (MRA) in accordance with it costs just to keep up as a Fairfax County employ-ee.

And it’s already started: the other union is out with a blatantly false state-ment regarding pay increases.

They’re claiming that they “doubled” the MRA last year- and they’ll do it again! No such thing happened. In 1984ish fashion, they claimed credit for what was already done, and hoped no one would figure out the truth.

FACTS:

1. Last year’s MRA was 2.51%.2. The County Executive proposed

1% on February 19th.3. Everyone knew- including the CE

and all the BOS members- that we were getting 2% and told all the employee groups within days of the 1% “proposal” that the MRA would be 2%.

4. We got 2.01%, just as planned and budgeted.

5. The other merit additions and lon-gevity were approved by the Coun-ty Executive and the BOS well before the budget was announced and were in the original proposal.

Yet…..here they come, claiming they “doubled” the MRA, (which would

IT’S TIME FOR THE COMPENSATION CIRCUS! CAN WE DO IT HONESTLY THIS TIME?

have 5.02%) which is plainly untrue, unless you can’t add and subtract. At FWC, we tell the truth and we don’t use fake propaganda to fool people. We think using false information to get people to join is wrong and immoral; it also shows contempt for the intelli-gence of the people you’re supposed to serve.

Our position is simple. Fund the MRA for real, and develop a reserve com-pensation fund, like for every other county function so the annual circus becomes a real, predictable and trans-parent process. Maybe then we can focus on health care, pensions, safety and dignity at work.

It’s way too serious to clown around with your future.

There has been a lot of talk about the County’s plan to convert a number of non-merit, or limited term positions, to full time merit positions. This is a laud-able effort and could help many people, and many organizations are working on this. But it’s important to know exactly what this means- and what it doesn’t mean.

The County has approximately 1,200 of these positions. Some people have been in limited term status for years. This means you don’t receive any kind of leave (other than LWOP), no insurance or on third funded health insurance, retirement, or really anything else,

LIMITED TERM TO MERIT CONVERSIONS: WHAT’S THE DEAL?

including grievance rights. Generally, the maximum amount of hours you can work in a year is 1,560.

So far, about 235 of these positions have been targeted for conversion, and some of the processes are already going forward.

It’s being talked about that these are position upgrades, and implying people in the positions currently will get the new jobs. While that’s the hope, these positions will be subject to advertise-ment and interview processes like any other job opportunity. In other words, people currently in these jobs will have

to compete with whoever is eligible to apply. They will have to apply for the jobs they hold now, possibly against other merit employees. In addition, the positions are not funded for 40 hours - that will be up to the individual agencies to fund the additional hours if any.

FWC has shied away from signing up limited term employees, unlike some folks, because we know we cannot provide them with full representation. Although some belong, we have never falsely implied they have grievance rights just to increase our rolls. While we welcome them, we’re honest with them.

Everyone who seeks these positions, we wish them the best of luck and

Fairfax Worker’s Coalition (703)-383-1200 10500 Sager Ave. Suite C Fairfax, VA 22030WWW.FFXWC.ORG

JANUARY / 2020

FWC conducted contested elections for top positions through its first ever electronic balloting process. This was highly successful and secure method helped reach more people and made it a fair, expeditious, secure and cost effec-tive process.

Jon Miskell has been elected President and Carol Taylor is now Vice President. Nicole Daly is the Secretary Treasurer.

Because of rapid growth, FWC is ex-panding its board. Dave Lyons will be serving as Acting Executive Director.

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENTELECTED

We are looking for members to step up to serve before Director positions are elected in September. Contact any of us (Dave 571-991-5386), Jon (703-867-4034) or Carol (703-401-3131) if you’re interested. We’re looking at Member Services, Communications, Safety, Member Assistance and other positions.

Join the movement to provide non-cor-porate, independent, honest, and trans-parent union representation to Fairfax County workers today.

claims for human services has be-come difficult for the HSWs who are overwhelmed by Medicaid expansion and percentage standards. We have received reports from workers who are being denied overtime and work-ing without compensation after hours and weekends.

This needs to stop. Remember, DON’T WORK FOR FREE. Make the Agency do the right thing. Pay overtime or hire enough people to do the job.

RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUES ITS BATTLEThe change in top leadership in Risk Management continues to cause havoc in the lives of county workers. Recent-ly, just before Thanksgiving, they at-tempted to get a Personnel Regulation change placed on the Board’s agen-da that would restrict injury leave. Denials continue, appeals to the state increase, and workers are losing their jobs. RM complained about “malin-gers” in the County workforce without providing any evidence.

Getting injured at work is hard enough. Having to fight for your basic right to fair compensation is wrong and hurts workers and their families. FWC will keep fighting these cases as long as it takes. We used to have a fair system. We can have one again. We have expert legal representation and want all our members to let us know immediately if they’re hurt on the job.

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are happy to assist in any way legally permissible. We know some groups are trying to pressure DHR to provide job description information prior to posting to help their members. Many people have worked for years without adequate benefits. But we cannot allow for the merit system to be undermined for the benefit of any one individual. If the County wants to upgrade someone, let them just do it.

For more information on these posi-tions, go to http://fairfaxnet.fairfax-county.gov/Dept/DHR/Pages

This will list the positions being converted and how to apply. Get your information from County DHR on this important issue and don’t depend on outside sources that might not be valid.

CONT. DFS ISSUES

Having issues in the workplace? • Workplace Bullying • Discrimination • Unfairness • Disciplinary Action

Contact us! We’re here to help!

CONT. LIMITED TERM TO MERIT CONVERSIONS

JANUARY / 2020

Fairfax Worker’s Coalition (703)-383-1200 10500 Sager Ave. Suite C Fairfax, VA 22030WWW.FFXWC.ORG

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Fairfax Worker’s Coalition (703)-383-1200 10500 Sager Ave. Suite C Fairfax, VA 22030WWW.FFXWC.ORG

JANUARY / 2020

FWC continues to be actively engaged in our community. On November 25, 2019, we participated in the annual Good Shepherd Church (Burke, VA) Thanksgiving Basket Drive. In addi-tion to a donation, FWC members used volunteer leave to assist the church with putting together 266 baskets to be distributed to local families for Thanks-giving. We also made a donation to the South County Cares Church who used the donation to purchase food and assist with its distribution at area homeless shelters on Thanksgiving Day.

In addition, FWC made a donation and volunteered our time for the Fairfax County Mason District Police Station annual Toys for Tot Drive. (See photos) In 2020, we will expand our volunteer-ism and donations to a variety of com-munity initiatives and hope that you will consider participating in these important endeavors.

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IN THE COMMUNITYAUTHOR: JON MISKELL

JANUARY / 2020

Fairfax Worker’s Coalition (703)-383-1200 10500 Sager Ave. Suite C Fairfax, VA 22030WWW.FFXWC.ORG

Fairfax Workers Coalition Authorization for Deduction of Dues Active County Employees

The Fairfax Workers’ Coalition (FWC) is an independent voice for all Fairfax County employees, not affiliated or controlled by any outside organization. Its purpose is to give Fairfax County workers a true voice in a group that is transparent, open to all, truly run by its members and democratic in every aspect of its operations. All financial statements will be open, and deci-sions will be made by the membership. We need an independent voice that truly represents the needs of Fairfax employees.

Please join us today in this effort to bring democracy back to Fairfax County workers’ representation.

I, the undersigned, hereby apply for membership in the Fairfax Workers’ Coalition (FWC) as my duly authorized representa-tive on matters relating to my workplace issues, pay, benefits, retirement and health care. Please consider this your authority to abide by the Constitution and By Laws of FWC.

I hereby authorize my employer, the Fairfax County government, to deduct from my earnings the current dues of $10 per pay period, only subject to change by an open membership vote in accordance with FWC’s Constitution and By Laws.

Fairfax Workers Coalition Authorization for Deduction of Dues Active County Employees

I hereby certify that the regular dues of this organization for the above-named member are currently established at $10.00 biweekly.

WELCOME TO YOUR INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR FAIRFAX COUNTY WORKERS!

FOR USE BY FFXWC OFFICIAL

NAME OF EMPLOYEE Last Name, First Name, Middle COUNTY AGENCY & FOCUS I.D. #

MAILING ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP

HOME PHONE MOBLE PHONE EMAIL ADDRESS (non-county)

SIGNATURE OF EMPLOYEE DATE PRINTED NAME

SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED UNION OFFICIAL DATE

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