Washington State Employee March 2012

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The ofcial newspaper of theWASHINGTON FEDERATION OF STATE

EMPLOYEES/AFSCME Council 28AFL-CIO

VOL. 40 NO. 2

MARCH 2012

WASHINGTON

StateEmployeeSee page 4.

The evils of pension reformSee page 5

PARK RANGER ED JOHANSON 1967-2012

A nal salute to a fallen hero

Law enforcement ofcers salute the remains of Local 1466 member EdJohanson, a 20-year-plus park ranger at March 2 memorial in Poulsbo. Re-ported the North Kitsap Herald: Johansons son, Brandon, speaking with hisbrother Nicholas at his side, said it was appropriate for their fathers ashes tobe placed in one of his beloved ranger cookie jars as his nal resting place.Johanson died Feb. 24 in Seabeck on his way home from work when struck bya driver suspected of vehicular homicide while under the inuence of narcotics.

Local 1466 mem-ber Ed Johanson,44, rememberedfor his passion forparks -- and twoexemplary sons

Ed Johanson

The death of Park Rang-er Ed Johanson wasanother tragedy for

WFSE/AFSCME members ina month of violence in Kitsap

County.Friends

and fellow stateemployees fromGov. Chris Gre-goire on downremember himfor his more

than 20 years ofservice, includ-ing the Local 1466 membersemphasis on recreation andturning Kitsap Memorial StatePark into a niche as a localefor weddings.

But his greatest legacy his shining lights arehis sons, Brandon, 20, andNicholas, 18. They proudlyled hundreds of mournerswho celebrated their dads lifeat his March 2 memorial atGateway Fellowship Churchin Poulsbo.

Hes provided us a

foundation for which we will

build our lives, Brandon toldthe gathered, as reported bythe North Kitsap Herald.

These boys are Edslegacy, he raised them well,brother Ray Johanson said, as

reported in the Kitsap Sun.

Ed Johanson, 44, waskilled Feb. 24 while drivinghome from his recent new as-signment at Kanasket-PalmerState Park in the Green River

PhotocourtesyTheNorthKitsapHerald2012

See JOHANSON, page 8

Gainsharing

WFSE/AFSCME is ap-pealing a judges rulingagainst the unions ght toretain earlier retirement for

those in the PERS 2 pensionsystem.The ruling came in the

second phase of the some-times-complicated gainshar-ing lawsuit.

King County SuperiorCourt Judge Richard Eadie onJan. 30 ruled against the Fed-eration, the Washington Edu-

Judge rules against WFSE/AFSCME insecond phase of gainsharing case butunion appealing

cation Association and severalindividual plaintiffs on thesecond phase of the gainshar-ing class action lawsuit the

part dealing with the earlierretirement factor, primarilyfor those in PERS 2.

Once a nal order fromthe judge on both the gain-sharing issue (on which theunion prevailed) and the ear-lier retirement factor portion,then appeals can be led.

At press time, a hearingon a nal order hadnt beenset.

Its expected the state willappeal the gainsharing deci-sion against them.

The statute continuesthe PERS 2 earlier retirement

until a nal decision has beenrendered on gainsharing. Itshard to tell when that wouldbe.

Members contemplatinguse of that benet basicallyallowing full retirement at age62 for eligible PERS 2 mem-bers are advised to contactthe Department of RetirementSystems to conrm their op-tions. Its believed earlierretirement will be in place forthe foreseeable future, butDRS is the best authority.

See GAINSHARING, page 3

OUR BEST CHOICE IN 2012

Jay Insleeendorsedfor governorT

he Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Executive Board members elected to rep-resent all groups of members endorsed Congress-

man Jay Inslee for governor.The Feb. 9 vote to endorse was 51-8.The Washington State Labor Council followed suit

days later as Inslees momentum continued to build.

See INSLEE, page 3

Congressman Jay Inslee has represented the 1st Congressional District since 1999. He has a 96% Right vot-ing record on your issues.


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Page 2 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee March 2012

MEMBERS IN ACTION

StateEmployeeWashington State Employee(USPS 981-

200) is published monthly, except Februaryand July, for $5.08 per year by the Washing-ton Federation of State Employees/AFSCMECouncil 28 AFL-CIO, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E.Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501. Afliated withthe American Federation of State, Countyand Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and theWashington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Periodicals postage paid at Olympia, WAand at additional ofces. Circulation:42,000.

POSTMASTER:Send address changes toWashington State Employee, 1212 JeffersonSt SE Suite 300 Olympia WA 98501- 7501

Carol Dotlich, President

Greg Devereux, Executive Director

Editor Tim Welche-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.wfse.orgMember, ILCA

WASHINGTON

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OPTION. If youd like to save paper and postage, you can receive this newspaper electronically. Go to www.wfse.org and hoverover NEWS & INFO, located in the top menu bar. Select from the drop-down list: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYEE - Newspaper. Use the formon this page to register for the electronic version. Or e-mail us at [email protected], or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300,Olympia, WA 98501. If youre a represented non-member fee payer and you dont wish to receive this publication in any format, e-mail us [email protected], or write: WFSE/AFSCME, 1212 Jefferson St. S.E., Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501.

OUTGOING LOCAL 1221 OF-

FICERS HONORED:

Spokane Local 1221 Dec. 13

honored outgoing local treasurerKay Halpain (left) and outgoinglocal president Kandy Kraig(right). Kraig, a support enforce-ment ofcer 3 for DSHS, waslocal president for 10 years, start-ing in November 2001. Halpain,a customer service specialist withthe Department of Labor andIndustries, was treasurer from2007 to 2011.

Here come the WFSE Warriors!

The WFSE Warriors the unions grassroots corps of activists mobilizing the kinds of job actions we need to win the ght in the Legislature and beyond at Feb.11 training in Seatac. The WFSE Warrior program is sponsored by the unions Internal Organizing Committee.

Committed corps of grassroots activists to fan outacross the state and coordinate job actions big andsmall. Phone banks against Zarelli Pension Billshowed rst big impact. More coming!

Recent WFSE Warrior-inspired job actions -- Dare to Wear Your Flair Daysat the Bellingham DSHS Childrens Administration ofce (left) and Everett CA(above).

Phyllis Naiad photo

PhyllisJeanAlexanderphoto

KayHalpainphoto

SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS

-- SORT OF. Local 1221 memberLinda Hartsell, a customer servicesspecialist 2 with the Department ofLabor and Industries in Spokane,used her arts and crafts talents tostrike a blow against an annoy-ing management edict that sawco-workers remove plants and otherpersonal decorations from cabinets.So Hartsell took union buttons andmade them into a ower arrange-ment and placed them in a potadorned with a WFSE rain poncho.She took action in a way that istherapeutic and is within limits fordecorations, because the 3-foot higharrangement is sitting on her desk,said colleague Kay Halpain, Local1221 (and a WFSE Warrior).

LOCAL FOCUS: MEDICAL INTERPRETERS LOCAL 1671

New policy committee, new board members, new round of bargaining

Medical Interpreters Local 1671 is chugging right along, including at the rst meeting of the locals district chairs Jan.28 (above). The rst meeting of the new policy committee that includes them, the Public Service Policy Committee,met Feb. 4 in Seatac and elected Local 1671 members Quan Tran and Edmundo Cavazos as its rst-ever repre-sentatives on the WFSE/AFSCME Statewide Executive Board. Ballots for their 2013-2015 bargaining team go out theweek of April 2.

Edmundo

Cavazos

New boardmember

Quan TranNew boardmember

SarahClifthornephoto

Trades Committee meetsWFSE/AFSCMEs new Trades Committee met Feb. 17 in Seatac. This is oneof the unions newest committees, dealing with issues central to Trades mem-bers in General Government and Higher Education.

PhotocourtesyBobOverturf,Local573

Local 1400 made a difference this holiday season

Longview-Kelso Local1400 donated funds tothe Jumbo toy drive fordisadvantaged childrenin their area. Lower Co-lumbia College stewardsMolly Howard and PeterHansen shopped anddropped off the toys Dec.10.

Photo courtesy Local 1400


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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee Page 3March 2012

The Legislature in 2007granted the earlier retirementfor PERS 2 members as atradeoff for ending gainshar-ing for PERS 1 and PERS 3members.

(Gainsharing refers to thesharing of extraordinary in-vestment gains based on a setperiod of time and exceedinga certain percentage.)

But the Federation andothers sued to restore gain-sharing and won. However,the original law said if gain-

sharing were ever restored,the earlier retirement wouldbe repealed. Those whod al-ready retired under that pro-vision wouldnt be affected.

The Federation and othersargued that poison pill pro-vision was illegal.

Judge Eadie acknowl-

edged that PERS 2 enrolleeshave been assessed increasedcontribution rates to theirretirement system becauseof the benets that are nowrepealed. But, he said, thatfullled the test that the ad-ditional contributions mightoffset additional employee

contributions in the future.The legislative intent

was clear; there was to begainsharing or the replace-ment of benets, but notboth, Eadie ruled.

So in short, the gainshar-ing issue is as clear as mudand far from over.

GAINSHARING,from page 1

RTC Team reaches tentative

agreement on 2012-2015 contract.The Federations bargain-ing team at Renton TechnicalCollege on Feb. 29 reachedtentative agreement on a new,three-year contract.

RTC bargains under a dif-ferent law than most WFSE/AFSCME members, so theircycle and term of agreementcan be different.

The term of this new con-tract, if ratied by the RTC

membership, will be fromJuly 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015.Among the major high-

lights: In an appendix, the

longevity pay bonus require-ment has been reduced from15 years to 10 years. All RTCmembers who have beenemployed by the college forat least 10 years will receivethe annual longevity bonus of$300. That means the annuallongevity bonus will now begiven to almost 30 percent ofRTC members, up from 15percent.

Under RTC Article 10,members will be able to cashout Personal ConvenienceLeave once a year. Previously,it had a use it or lose it sta-tus.

Under RTC Article 9,there will be improved vaca-tion scheduling. Previouslyvacations were limited to theend of the school year andbefore the new school year.

The onsite RTC ratica-tion vote is set for May 1.

Tentative Agreement reached

with American Behavioral HealthSystems. WFSE/AFSCME onMarch 9 reached a tentative

agreement (TA) on a rst-evercollective bargaining agree-ment for the more than 240employees at ABHS, whichprovides substance abusetreatment services; that in-cludes work for the state De-partment of Corrections andDSHS.

If ratied, the new agree-ment would run from April 1,2012 to March 31, 2014.

The rst-ever agreementincludes:

Improvements on eco-nomics. It includes a wageincrease of 1.5 percent. Theunion and ABHS will returnto the bargaining table in Junewhen the status of the con-tract with DOC is clearer tonegotiate wages and benetspast July 1.

Affordable health care.ABHS management agreedto fully absorb the increasein employee health costs thattook effect March 1.

Signicant improve-ments to working conditions,

including hours of work andscheduling, overtime, hiring,training and policies.

The ABHS onsite ratica-tion vote was set for March30 in Chehalis and SpokaneValley.

ABHS members negotiateunder the umbrella of the Na-tional Labor Relations Act.

The Evergreen State College Ex-

empt Bargaining Team nishedits fourth day of bargainingMarch 1. In that last bar-gaining round, managementhad presented 12 initial

and/or counter proposals.The WFSE/AFSCME teamreached tentative agreementon 2 more articles: SharedLeave and Savings Clause.Unfortunately, weve yet toreceive counters from man-agement on our union mem-bers highest priority issues,the team reported. They wereset to bargain again March14. We are gaining strengthevery day, the team says. TheTESC Exempts bargain undera different law than for mostother WFSE/AFSCME mem-

bers.

Medical Interpreters. Ballots forthe Medical Interpreters 2013-15 Bargaining Team will go inthe mail April 2. The deadlineto get them in is April 30.Interpreters bargain under adifferent law than most otherWFSE/AFSCME members.

General Government and Higher

Education

This bargaining cycle forthe General Government and

Higher Education bargainingteams (under the 2002 bar-gaining law) ofcially beganJan. 23 when the Federationnotied the respective man-agements with the requireddemands to bargain the next,2013-2015 collective bargain-ing agreements. The demand-to-bargain requests coveredGeneral Government, Uni-versity of Washington, UWPolice Management, Washing-ton State University, WesternWashington University, TheEvergreen State College, Cen-

tral Washington University,Eastern Washington Univer-sity and the Community Col-

lege Coalition.

This will be the fth con-tract for each of these teams.

Most are scheduling teammeetings to go over bargain-ing proposals and bargainingdates. At press time:

General Government. The teamwas to meet March 20 and21. The rst of 14 scheduledbargaining dates will start

May 1. All General Govern-ment bargaining will be at theThurston County Fairgroundsin Lacey, except for the July 10and 11 session in Olympia.

University of Washington. Teammeetings were set for March14 and 20.

Community College Coalition.Team meetings are set forApril 20 and May 1.

Western Washington University.

Team meetings are set for

April 6 and 17.

BARGAINING UPDATES

Learning to use and enforce the contracts. Stewards from Locals 304, 976 and 1060 pore over their respective contracts at recent Steward in Action training atWFSE/AFSCMEs Smokey Point Field Ofce.

ELECTION 2012

An independent NorthCarolina polling rm -- runby a Democrat but histori-cally biased toward Republi-cans -- found that in just oneweek, Democrat Inslee haderased a 10-point decit and

pulled into a tie with Re-publican Attorney GeneralRob McKenna in the race forgovernor.

The survey of 1,264Washington voters fromFeb. 16-19 showed Insleeand McKenna tied at 42 per-cent each, with 16 percent ofthe voters undecided.

But the WFSE/AFSCMEboard was swayed by In-slees quarter century of

support for public employees.That included strong and con-sistent support for pay andbenets, collective bargainingrights and worker health andsafety in the state Legislatureand for the past 15 years inthe U.S. Congress.

Hes also voted againstcontracting out of public em-

ployee jobs.And he opposed the Wall

Street bailout.Inslee has a 96 percent

Right voting record on ourissues.

McKenna has publiclyattacked pay, health benets,seniority and workers com-

pensation. McKenna wantsto cut the number of stateemployees by 5 percent to10 percent. McKennas givenspeeches supporting con-tracting out and privatiza-tion. And as a King Countycouncilman, McKenna vetimes opposed collectivebargaining agreements forpublic workers.

More online at www.wfse.org.

Inslee has shown a vision for the state and has met regularly with groups ofWFSE/AFSCME members over the years including a 2007 session with Ecol-ogy members in Lacey (above and above right).

INSLEE, from page 1


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WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee Page 5March 2012

STAY UPDATED: WFSE/AFSCME Hotline: 1-800-562-6102Website: wfse.org (with links to Facebook, Flickr, YouTube & Twitter)

What you need to know about

the evils of pension reform

FACT: Washington has one of thebest-funded pension systems inthe nation -- 97% funded. Thisscheme could drop the funded statusbelow 60% .

SOURCE: State Actuarys Fiscal Note for SB 6378, 2/9/12, p. 1 of 23

FACT: Under this pension scheme:The State Investment Board(couldnt)invest members denedcontribution funds as efciently asthe dened benet plan funds, be-cause (theyd have to) invest dened

contribution moneys in more liquidinvestments with lower returns.

SOURCE: Senate Bill Report, ESB 6378, pages 3-4

SOURCE: State Actuarys Fiscal Note for SB 6378, 2/9/12, p. 1 of 23

FACT: Closing PERS 2 enrollment,forcing new hires into PERS 3,cutting early retirement and skip-ping a payment to the PERS 1 un-funded liability may add $3.3 billionin costs to taxpayers.

Close PERS 2 to new hires

Force new hires into PERS 3

End early retirement for those forced intoPERS 3

Suspend payments to the PERS 1 unfund-ed liability for one year

It harms the viability of all pension plans

By forcing more dened contributions,the State Investment Board would have toinvest in more liquid investments with lowerreturns.

Zarelli-style pension reform is a bad deal:

Higher risk. Higher costs.Even higher PERS 2 contribution rates --

and less take-home pay!

Dont gamble awayour pensions!

Sen. Joe Zarelli Late in the regular session of the Legislature, a coalition of sena-tors resurrected the bad pension reform bill pushed by Sen. JosephZarelli of the 18th District. Zarelli and his allies made this ill-advisedreform scheme a major demand in the special session that startedMarch 12. The special session could last until April 10. At press timeMarch 15, it wasnt known if the special session would still be goingwhen you receive this newspaper.

But whether the special session is still going when you read this, this evilconcept of pension reform will likely not die quickly. Heres what you

need to know now and for the future about why its so bad for all pub-lic employees, no matter what pension plan theyre in.

Zarellis pensionreform bill (SB6378) would:

These changesharm all of us --

not just new hires.Heres why:

The scheme would take our pension system from 97% funded allthe way down to 60%

PERS 2 members would have even more money deducted from pay-checks -- another pay cut. According to the state actuary: Under ex-pected conditions, (PERS 2) contribution rates will increase higherunder this bill (for about 20 years).

Pension reform harms state pension funds for 150,000 public servants

When you mess around with pensions, you are messing around

with the long-term economic health of our state, with job cre-

ation, and the respect and security of retirees.

John Burbank,

Executive Director, Economic Opportunity InstituteEverett Herald guest editorial, 3/14/12

If the special legislative session is still going when you read this,

call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your legislators to oppose the bad

Zarelli Pension Reform Bill (ESB 6378)


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SHARED LEAVEREQUESTS

If youve been approved toreceive shared leave by youragency or institution, you can

place a notice here. Once youvebeen approved by your agencyor institution, WFSE/AFSCMEcan place your shared leave

request here and online. Pleaseinclude a contact in your agency,usually in human resources, fordonors to call. E-mail the editorat [email protected]. Or call 1-800-

562-6002.

The following could use a do-nation of eligible unused annualleave or sick leave or all or part

of your personal holiday:

Loni Nelson-Bounds, a -nancial services specialist 3at the DSHS Bremerton CSOand a member of Local 53,has been approved for sharedleave because of a seriousmedical condition. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Sheila Martin, a Worksourcespecialist 2 with the Employ-ment Security Departmentwhos been off work since No-vember with a serious illness,is in need of shared leave.She was a Local 53 memberin Tacoma. Contact: Kathleen

Young, (360) 725-9416.

Lula Smith, a social worker3 with DSHS in Seattle anda member of Local 843, is inneed of shared leave. Con-tact: Mark Lacy at (206) 923-

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeePage 6 March 2012

WFSE/AFSCME MEMBERS-ONLY BENEFITS UPDATE

4930 (Mondays) or (206) 760-2468 (Tuesdays-Fridays).

Sue Clemenson, a socialworker 2 at the DSHS Bell-town CSO in Seattle and amember of Local 843, has ex-hausted all leave while caringfor her husband, Nick, also aDSHS employee, who is bat-tling a life-threatening illness.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Robin Hicks, a social worker2 with DSHS in Olympia anda member of Local 443, hasexhausted all leave becauseof a serious medical condition.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Mary Benton, an ofce as-sistant 2 with the state HealthCare Authority in Olympia anda member of Local 443, hasbeen approved for sharedleave because of a potentiallylife-threatening medical con-dition. Contact: Kerri Kallay,(360) 725-3712.

Angelica Rainey, an ofceassistant 3 with DSHS inTumwater and a member ofLocal 443, has been approvedfor shared leave because of ahigh-risk pregnancy. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Peggy Pattok, a social work-er 3 at the DSHS BellinghamChildrens Administration of-ce and a member of Local1060, is in need of sharedleave because of a medical

issue. Contact: your human

resource ofce.

Jessica Egleston, a cus-tomer services specialist 3with the Department of Healthin Tumwater and a member ofLocal 443, has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact:Skyler Jones, (360) 236-4409.

Brandy Mester, a nancialservices specialist 3 withDSHS at the Lakewood CSO

and a member of Local 53,has been approved for sharedleave because of a seriousmedical condition. She hasexhausted all leave. Contact:

your human resource ofce.

Kathy Livingston, a nan-cial services specialist 3 withDSHS at the Pierce SouthCSO and a member of Lo-cal 53, has been approvedfor shared leave because ofa serious medical condition.She has exhausted all leave.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Feleni Schuster, a nancialservices specialist 3 withDSHS in Olympia and a mem-ber of Local 443, has beenapproved for shared leave totake care of her mother andmother-in-law, who live withher and are suffering fromserious medical conditions.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Brenda Olson, a nancialservices specialist 3 for the

DSHS Statewide CustomerService Contact Center inPierce County and a mem-ber of Local 53, is in need ofshared leave because of aserious medical condition of afamily member who is in needof her assistance. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Keona Tulloch, a nancialservices specialist 3 for theStatewide Triage Phone TeamB in Pierce County and a

member of Local 53, is in needof shared leave because ofsurgery that has caused herleave balances to drop to zero.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Jennifer Pelletier, a socialworker 2 with DSHS in Kelsoand a member of Local 1400,has been approved for sharedleave because of a seriousmedical condition. Contact:

your human resource ofce.

Christie Hayner, a WorkFirstprogram specialist at theDSHS Alderwood CommunityService Ofce and a mem-ber of Local 948, has beenapproved for shared leave.Contact: your human resource

ofce.

Paulette Blain, a tax special-ist 3 with the Employment Se-curity Department in Olympiaand a member of Local 443,was scheduled for shoulderreplacement surgery Feb. 16and will need shared leave tocover her two-month recovery.

STEWARDCORNER

by Tim Foley

Member, WFSE/AFSCMESteward Committee

When looked up in

Websters Dictionary, theword Condential means1) secret, or 2) entrustedwith private matters.

If one accepts these de-scriptions and then appliesthem to union shop stew-ards, you end up with whatis called privileged com-munication. This specialcommunication is part ofthe process of representingbargaining unit employeesin formal grievance proce-dures or while assisting unitmembers with investigating

workplace issues or prob-lems. During these proce-dures, all stewards mustabide by the WFSE/AF-SCME Policy on PrivilegedCondential Communication(found in the Policy for Pro-cessing Grievances).

While protecting therights of bargaining unitemployees and the union,stewards must apply con-dentiality to all communica-tion, whether oral, signed(for hearing-impaired) or

written (electronic or oth-erwise). It is the position ofthe Washington Federationof State Employees that anycommunication betweena Federation member andhis/her union representa-tive, which is intended tobe private and condentialregarding representationalmatters, is a privilegedcommunication. Privilegedcommunication is one whichmay not be disclosed to athird party (i.e. non-repre-sentatives). The privilegebelongs to the member.

Divulgence of a privilegedcommunication with a mem-ber should be made onlypursuant to a memberswaiver of the privilege oran appropriate court order,where the court has ruledeither that the communica-tion is not privileged or thatthe communication must bedivulged despite the privi-lege.

Finally, located in thePrinciples section of theCode of Ethical Conduct

for Stewards, it clearlystates that stewards willhonor condentiality. Thisrule must be followed at alltimes, in order to hold instewardship, the welfare ofthe membership of WFSE.Stewards actions shouldalso be consistent with thespirit as well as the letter ofthis code.

STEWARDCENTER wfse.org

Join us for fun in the sun!

WFSE/AFSCME HOWARD OCOBOCK MEMORIAL

Family Campout at Sun LakesCamp Delany - Sun Lakes State Park

Picnics

Hikes

Barbeques

Games

Solidarity

Camp Delany/Sun Lakes offers cabins and a full

kitchen for group dining. RV hookups and tent

camping are also available in the park.

In-park attractions:

Pristine chain of lakes,

freshwater marshes andmagnifcentbasaltrock

formations.

Hiking,fshing,swimming,

waterskiingandgolfng.

400-foot-high, 3-mile-wide

Dry Falls once the

worlds greatest waterfall.

Nearby attractions:

Grand Coulee Dam.

Casino near Electric City.

north of Ephrata and Soap Lake

Coordinated by theMembers Only Benets Committee

WFSE/AFSCME

www.wfse.org

September 21-23, 2012

Sign up online at wfse.org

Watch for registration form in next months newspaper

Proposed Federation Motor-

cycle Rally.

Several WFSE/AF-SCME members haveasked the unionsMembers Only Ben-ets Committee aboutthe idea of sponsoringa Federation Motor-cycle Rally that con-verges on Olympia tojoin a huge picnic.

If youre interested,the committee wouldlike to know.

Contact Com-mittee Chair RandyKurtz (Local 948)at (425) 870-1456or [email protected].

Interested

in a union

motorcycle

rally?


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3 OPTIONS! A MEMBERS ONLY BENEFIT for

WFSE/AFSCME members and their families!Dental HealthFor those in the Uniform Dental Plan.

WFSE/AFSCME Washington State EmployeeMarch 2012 Page 7

WFSE/AFSCME MEMBERS-ONLY BENEFITS UPDATE

Contact: Kathleen Young,(360) 725-9416.

Karen Parker, a nancialservices specialist 4 withthe DSHS Statewide CSDCustomer Service ContactCenter Medical Phone andBatch Team in King Countyand a member of Local 843,has been approved for sharedleave due to a serious medicalcondition. Contact: your hu-man resource ofce.

Cora Rudisill, a social worker2 at the DSHS LakewoodCommunity Service Ofce anda member of Local 53, is inneed of shared leave becauseof a serious medical condition.She has exhausted all leave.Contact: your human resourceofce.

M. Kay Kroiss, a nursingassistant at the SpokaneVeterans Home, has beenapproved for shared leave.Contact: Sandie Wollan, (509)

344-5777.

Nicole Foos, a medical as-sistance specialist 3 with theHealth Care Authority in Olym-pia and a member of Local443, has been approved forshared leave. Contact: AprilYancey, (360) 725-2134 [email protected].

Cecilia Benitez-Whidden, anancial services specialist 3with the DSHS Contact Cen-ter-Medical Team in Seattleand a member of Local 843,

has been approved for sharedleave because of a serioushealth condition. She hasexhausted all leave. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Claudette Gales, an unem-ployment insurance specialist3 with the Employment Se-curity Department in Seattleand a member of Local 435,has been approved for sharedleave. Contact: KathleenYoung, (360) 725-9416.

Alexander Neuland, a nan-cial services specialist 3 at theDSHS North Smokey Point

Community Service Ofceand a member of Local 948,has been approved for sharedleave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Sandra Schmaltz, a DD caseresource manager for DSHSin Longview and a memberof Local 1400, is in need ofshared leave because of amedical issue. She has ex-hausted all leave. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Janet Karnas-Holst, a Work-First program specialist at theDSHS Chehalis Community

Service Ofce and a memberof Local 862, is in need ofshared leave as she recoversfrom surgery. Contact: GraceChambers, (360) 725-6627 [email protected].

Dara Brooks, an informationtechnology specialist 4 withthe Washington State Patrol

in Olympia and a member ofLocal 443, has been approvedfor shared leave. Contact:Renee Eggleston, (509) 249-

6729.

Terrilyn Coleman, a nan-cial services specialist 3 withDSHS in Seattle and a mem-ber of Local 843, has beenapproved for shared leave.She has exhausted all leave.Contact: your human resource

ofce.

Robin Thomas, a nancialservices specialist 4 at theDSHS Alderwood CommunityService Ofce and a mem-ber of Local 948, has beenapproved for shared leave.She has exhausted all leavebecause of her health issuesand continued health issuesafter the death of her hus-band. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Cynthia (Cindy) Hernandez,a nancial services specialist3 with the DSHS Southwest

CSC Triage A in Kelso and amember of Local 1400, hasbeen approved for sharedleave because of a medicalcondition. She has exhaustedall leave. Contact: your hu-man resource ofce.

Peter Barabasz, a nancialservices specialist 3 at theDSHS Sky Valley CommunityService Ofce and a member

of Local 948, is still in needof shared leave becauseof ongoing treatment in his

long battle with cancer. Hestill needs leave for severalmonths because of the ongo-ing treatments. Contact: your

human resource ofce.

Adriana Pimentel, a nan-cial services specialist 3 inMoses Lake with the DSHSStatewide Triage Team A Callcenter and a member of Lo-cal 1221, is caring for her fa-ther, who recently underwentsurgery for a life-threatening

condition requiring ongoingtreatment and assistance. Hercare and support is crucial toher fathers recovery and well-being. She has depleted allleave. Contact: your humanresource ofce.

Lori Smart, a nancial ser-vices specialist 3 in Spokanein the DSHS Statewide CSCChild Care Team, is in needof shared leave because of aserious disabling health con-dition that makes it difcult forher to work a full schedule.She has exhausted all leave.Contact: your human resourceofce.

Tom Pierce Jr., a nancialservices specialist 3 at theDSHS Lakewood Community

Service Ofce and a memberof Local 53, has been diag-nosed with Stage 4 esopha-geal cancer. He is undergoinghis second chemotherapytreatment and will be off workat least until June. He has ex-hausted available leave time.Contact: your human resource

ofce.

Audrey Ahrens, an ofce as-sistant 3 at Rainier School inBuckley and a member of Lo-cal 491, is undergoing surgery

for a brain tumor. Contact:your human resource ofce.

Trish Havens, a WorkFirstprogram specialist at theDSHS Olympia Community

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tact: your human resourceofce.

Kathi K. Holmes, a nancialservices specialist 3 at theDSHS Olympia CommunityService Ofce and a mem-ber of Local 443, is in needof shared leave because ofa serious medical condition.Contact: your human resource

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Scholarship application reminders

The application deadline for the three $1,000 Norm Schut Scholarshipsand the $2,500 Younglove & Coker Scholarship is April 30. Applicationsappeared in the January edition of this newspaper. You can also downloadapplications online at www.wfse.org > Member Info > Scholarship Informa-tion.


8/8

Page 8 WFSE/AFSCME Washington State Employee March 2012

IN MEMORIAM

Public employees, particularly those who work in state government, can beexcused for feeling a bit under siege lately.

These days, they shoulder too much blame for budgets that are out ofwhack. Whether its over collective bargaining rights, pension benets or healthinsurance plans, state employees are unfairly singled out as a problem.

The overwhelming majority of them deserve the gratitude of the public

they serve. Despite unpaid furloughs that have lightened so many of theirpaychecks in recent years, and layoffs that -- like workers in the private sector-- have forced them to do more with less, most continue to work hard and withpride delivering the services we all depend on but so often take for granted.

It was a state employee, Tony Radulescu, whose loss was mourned at a pub-lic gathering Thursday in Kent. The veteran Washington State Patrol trooperwas shot to death during a trafc stop last month, reminding us of other of-cers lost in the line of duty, and of the risks police at the state, county and citylevels take protecting us every day.

It was another state employee, Department of Corrections Ofcer JaymeBiendl, who was slain while at her post in the chapel of the Washington StateReformatory in Monroe just over a year ago.

Also last year, Department of Natural Resources worker Sam Gaydeski waskilled accidentally while clearing brush in Jefferson County, and Department of

Reprinted by permission of The (Everett) Daily HeraldOriginally published: Sunday, March 4, 2012

Transportation worker Billy Rhynalds died after being struck by a wind-toppledtree while directing trafc around a ooding roadway.

Ed Johanson, a 20-year state park ranger, was killed in a trafc collisionwhile driving home from work last month. The driver of the other vehicle wasarrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, and authorities say drugs or al-cohol may have been involved. Johanson wasnt killed on the job, but he had

recently taken a job at a park two hours away from his home because of depart-ment downsizing, making for a long commute.

And memories are still painfully fresh of the shooting death of NationalPark Ranger Margaret Anderson, killed in January by a suspect involved in anearlier shooting.

To be sure, public-employee compensation and benets are legitimate andserious policy issues. Government budgets must serve a variety of needs andbe sustainable.

But as debates continue over these issues, lets keep in mind the peoplebehind the budget numbers, those who have answered a call to public service.The great majority perform their jobs well, and with pride. They deserve ourrespect, and our thanks.

Copyright 2012 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA (Used by permission)

In our view / Public employees

More thanks, less blame

Gorge area. Police saya 35-year-old CentralKitsap man crossed thecenterline of Holly Roadin Seabeck and hit Jo-

hansons personal carhead on. The man wasarrested on suspicion ofvehicular homicide; po-lice believe he was underthe inuence of narcotics,according to the Sun.

Even though Johan-son didnt die on the job,the Parks and RecreationCommission treated it assuch in how they carriedout his memorial. Crisplyuniformed colleaguesand other law enforce-ment professionals, lastsalutes, emotional words

from the agency directorand governor.

Ed wanted peopleto love the parks theway he did and get asmuch out of their parkexperience as possible,said agency director DonHoch. Thats passion foryou.

Johansons deathended a string of trag-edies in Bremerton andKitsap County, includingserial murders, a schoolshooting and the murder

of State Trooper TonyRadulescu.

To the communityhere, on behalf of 6.7million people, we standwith you, Gregoiresaid, as reported by theHerald. We are sorry forwhat youve had to putup with over the last fewweeks.

Kathy Andruss,WFSE/AFSCMEs direc-tor of human resources,worked with Johansonon an issue in 2004 whenshe worked in stateParks HR department.He was the epitome ofa park ranger he lovedparks, he loved talking tovisitors, walking around,visiting campsites, An-druss recalls.Its sad to lose some-body like that who caresso much about the jobthey do, she added.

I think hell bemissed greatly.

A memorial ac-count, the Ed Jo-hanson MemorialFund, has beenestablished at KeyBank, for dona-tions to help his

family.

Local 1466 member Ed Johansonspent most of his career at KitsapMemorial State Park.

Johansons sons Nicholas, 18, left, and Brandon, 20, right, calledtheir dad their best friend. Coach Dad was a positive role model in[our] life, Brandon said, as reported by the North Kitsap Herald.

Some 250 mourners, including Gov. Chris

Gregoire (upper right, with husband, Mike),

turned out for Ed Johansons memorial

service March 2 in Poulsbo.



JOHANSON,from page 1

WFSE/AFSCME members joinwith the Washington State PatrolTroopers Association in mourningthe Feb. 23 murder ofTrooperTony Radulescu, 44. He waskilled in an early morning trafcstop near Gorst on State Route 16south of Bremerton. His assailantlater died of a self-inicted gunshotwound. Donations to the AnthonyRadulescu Memorial Fund may bemade at any Key Bank to help hisfamily. His funeral was March 1 in

Kent.Photo courtesy Washington State Patrol Troop-ers Association

DIANA PARKISON 1945-2012Retired Olympia Local 443 memberDiana Parkison, who representedHealth Care Authority memberson the WFSE/AFSCME ExecutiveBoard from 1999 to 2003, diedFeb. 13 in Olympia. She was 66.Parkison later was active in the Retired PublicEmployees Council of Washington/AFSCME. Herfuneral was Feb. 21 in Lacey followed by a mili-tary internment service at Tahoma National Cem-etery in Kent. A Navy veteran, Parkison worked28 years for the state. She continued in the NavalReserves. She was a Red Cross volunteeer in theaftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Memorials sug-gested to Red Cross or any cause in her name.

Parkison (right) at head of march from Tumwater to the

Capitol on Day 3 of the 2001 strike, 4/20/01.

The photos of Ed Johansons memorial service are reprinted here with permission of the North Kitsap Herald. Theywere taken by reporter/photographer Megan Stephenson. 2012 The North Kitsap Herald.

Washington State Employee March 2012

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Transcript of Washington State Employee March 2012