Thousands march for universal health care - Seattle PI article.
May 31, 2009
May 27, 2009
May 30 March in Seattle for Health Care
HAVE YOU MADE PLANS FOR THE MAY 30 HEALTH CARE RALLY IN SEATTLE
More buses have been added to get folks to this Saturday’s big “Health Care for All” march and rally in Seattle to promote national health care reform.
Ten buses on seven routes have been arranged by the Washington State Labor Council: one from Tri-Cities and Yakima; two from Spokane; one from Vancouver/Kelso/Longview/Centralia/Lacey; one from Lacey/Olympia; two from Tacoma; two from Bellingham/Mount Vernon; and one from Everett. To download the updated bus schedules and to get other information, log onto www.may30march.org.
The Federation and more than 150 organizations come together this Saturday to organize this major march and rally in Seattle to support the goal of winning quality, affordable health care for everyone in 2009.
The “Health Care for All” march and rally will start at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 30, at Pratt Park at 20th Ave. S. and E. Yesler Way in Seattle. The march will end with a rally at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is scheduled to speak.
More buses have been added to get folks to this Saturday’s big “Health Care for All” march and rally in Seattle to promote national health care reform.
Ten buses on seven routes have been arranged by the Washington State Labor Council: one from Tri-Cities and Yakima; two from Spokane; one from Vancouver/Kelso/Longview/Centralia/Lacey; one from Lacey/Olympia; two from Tacoma; two from Bellingham/Mount Vernon; and one from Everett. To download the updated bus schedules and to get other information, log onto www.may30march.org.
The Federation and more than 150 organizations come together this Saturday to organize this major march and rally in Seattle to support the goal of winning quality, affordable health care for everyone in 2009.
The “Health Care for All” march and rally will start at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 30, at Pratt Park at 20th Ave. S. and E. Yesler Way in Seattle. The march will end with a rally at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is scheduled to speak.
Community Corrections Member Vote WFSE/AFSCME!
Department of Corrections members in Community Corrections, Pine Lodge, Ahtanum View and elsewhere have rejected efforts to give up their Federation representation and contract after votes were counted May 22 at the Public Employment Relations Commission in Olympia.
The vote was:
So DOC members have spoken. A strong majority voted to keep the union. Now it is time to put differences aside and come together to build a stronger union with the Federation.
The truth is, the attempt to decertify WFSE/AFSCME spawned an unprecedented campaign that has revitalized DOC membership and built a strong base for the future of Community Corrections, Pine Lodge, Ahtanum View and the entire bargaining unit. Thanks to all who worked so hard to back up our DOC members in their daily fight to protect public safety.
“Launch” meetings to start to generate ideas and plans for an even stronger DOC union are planned for June. DOC members should watch for details. Now is the time to unite to protect the future of DOC, save jobs and negotiate improvements for DOC employees.
The vote was:
- WFSE/AFSCME – 565
The Guild – 479
No Union – 20
So DOC members have spoken. A strong majority voted to keep the union. Now it is time to put differences aside and come together to build a stronger union with the Federation.
The truth is, the attempt to decertify WFSE/AFSCME spawned an unprecedented campaign that has revitalized DOC membership and built a strong base for the future of Community Corrections, Pine Lodge, Ahtanum View and the entire bargaining unit. Thanks to all who worked so hard to back up our DOC members in their daily fight to protect public safety.
“Launch” meetings to start to generate ideas and plans for an even stronger DOC union are planned for June. DOC members should watch for details. Now is the time to unite to protect the future of DOC, save jobs and negotiate improvements for DOC employees.
Contract Ratification in Full Swing
Most members are voting by mail on the re-negotiated 2009-2011 contracts brought on by these tough economic times.
And the value of having a contract is never more important than right now as demands to bargain over layoffs have amped up. The ability to bargain those impacts and mitigate job losses would not be possible without a contract.
Ballots for General Government, Washington State University and the 13 Higher Education Coalition campuses voting by mail have all been sent out, all with a due date of June 12. The ballot count for General Government will start June 15. The ballot count for the other mail ballots will start June 18.
Everett Community College votes onsite June 16, with the ballot count the same day.
Western Washington University is also voting onsite, but the date hasn’t been set yet.
Here’s the status of the other Higher Education contracts:
For information and summaries of the re-negotiated contracts, go to the Federation website at www.wfse.org > Contract Center.
And the value of having a contract is never more important than right now as demands to bargain over layoffs have amped up. The ability to bargain those impacts and mitigate job losses would not be possible without a contract.
Ballots for General Government, Washington State University and the 13 Higher Education Coalition campuses voting by mail have all been sent out, all with a due date of June 12. The ballot count for General Government will start June 15. The ballot count for the other mail ballots will start June 18.
Everett Community College votes onsite June 16, with the ballot count the same day.
Western Washington University is also voting onsite, but the date hasn’t been set yet.
Here’s the status of the other Higher Education contracts:
- Washington State University. Mail ballots went out May 26 with a due date of June 12. The vote count is June 18.
- Eastern Washington University BU I and BU II will vote onsite but the date hasn’t been set yet.
- UW Police Management reached final agreement yesterday, May 26. The date of the onsite vote hasn’t been set yet.
- The University of Washington contract is still in mediation.
For information and summaries of the re-negotiated contracts, go to the Federation website at www.wfse.org > Contract Center.
Blog post of the week - Next Wave!
Some 20 members of the Federation’s Next Wave movement for 35 and under activists will attend AFSCME’s first Next Wave Conference June 18-21 in Chicago. They’ll provide real-time updates, videos and photos via the WFSE/AFSCME Next Wave Blog. For more, go to:
http://wfsec28-nextwave.blogspot.com/2009/05/next-wave-conference-in-chicago.html
http://wfsec28-nextwave.blogspot.com/2009/05/next-wave-conference-in-chicago.html
May 22, 2009
Community Corrections members reject effort to give up their WFSE/AFSCME representation and contract.
BULLETIN 5/22/09 12 NOON
Community Corrections members have rejected efforts to give up their WFSE/AFSCME representation and contract after votes were counted this morning at the Public Employment Relations Commission in Olympia.
The vote was:
WFSE/AFSCME - 565
The Guild - 479
No Union - 20
The attempt to decertify WFSE/AFSCME spawned an unprecedented campaign that has revitalized DOC membership and built a strong base for the future of Community Corrections. Thanks to all who worked so hard to back up our Community Corrections members in their daily fight to protect public safety.
May 19, 2009
Excitement Building for May 30 Health Care Rally in Seattle
As debate in the United States Congress heats up over health care reform, a coalition of unions and other advocates is gearing up for a massive march and rally May 30 in Seattle.
On Saturday, May 30, the Federation and more than 150 organizations will come together to organize a major march and rally in Seattle to support the goal of winning quality, affordable health care for everyone in 2009.
“Health Care for All” march and rally will start at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 30, at Pratt Park at 20th Ave. S. and E. Yesler Way in Seattle. The march will end with a rally at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is scheduled to speak.
The Washington State Labor Council has arranged buses from Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver and Bellingham. To download the bus schedules and to get other information, log onto www.may30march.org.
On Saturday, May 30, the Federation and more than 150 organizations will come together to organize a major march and rally in Seattle to support the goal of winning quality, affordable health care for everyone in 2009.
“Health Care for All” march and rally will start at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 30, at Pratt Park at 20th Ave. S. and E. Yesler Way in Seattle. The march will end with a rally at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is scheduled to speak.
The Washington State Labor Council has arranged buses from Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver and Bellingham. To download the bus schedules and to get other information, log onto www.may30march.org.
Governor Signs Parks Opt-Out, WMS Transparency Bills; Also Signs Child Welfare Privatization Bill
The governor in the past few days has signed key bills important to you:
• Federation Parks Statewide Local 1466 President Brian Yearout (second from left in photo above) was on hand May 15 when the governor signed SHB 2339, the parks opt-out funding bill. The bill adds $5 to the license tab renewal fee, unless drivers “opt out,” to keep state parks open. This cuts the number of job cuts in parks, but there will be some because the agency’s capital budget took almost a 50 percent hit.
• And Gov. Gregoire yesterday (May 18) signed ESHB 2049, the Federation-initiated bill bringing transparency to the Washington Management Service, which has mushroomed since it was created in 1993. ESHB 2049 requires the Director of the Department of Personnel to report to the governor and Legislature annually on the number of classified, Washington Management Service, and exempt employees; the number of bonuses and performance-based incentives awarded to agency staff; and the cost of each bonus or incentive awarded. It also makes it easier to appeal attempts to exempt vacant positions.
On hand for the signing of ESHB 2049 was Federation President Carol Dotlich who afterwards told a reporter: “There should be sunlight in the dark halls of management.”
• On the downside, the governor today (May 19) also signed into law the improved but still dangerously flawed 2SHB 2106, the bill privatizing about 30 percent of Child Welfare Services over the next few years. The new law sets up two demonstration sites where case management and other CWS functions will be contracted out. Gov. Gregoire did veto three sections of the bill: Section 1, the intent section, as implying a new entitlement; Section 14 on unfounded child abuse claims; and Section 19 on new forensic techniques because no funding was provided for it. We now work to mitigate the impacts of this unwise piece of legislation.
The governor on Monday also signed:
• ESHB 2245 to preserve state employee health insurance eligibility rights and maintains the standard that benefits must remain substantially equivalent to 1993 levels.
• And she signed three bills expanding domestic partner benefits: E2SSB 5688, further expanding the rights and responsibilities of state registered domestic partners; ESHB 1445 relating to domestic partners under the Washington State Patrol retirement system; and EHB 1616 relating to the state pension benefits of certain domestic partners. A big victory for civil rights and worker rights.
• The governor was also set May 19 to sign the “all-cuts” state operating budget, ESHB 1244.
• Federation Parks Statewide Local 1466 President Brian Yearout (second from left in photo above) was on hand May 15 when the governor signed SHB 2339, the parks opt-out funding bill. The bill adds $5 to the license tab renewal fee, unless drivers “opt out,” to keep state parks open. This cuts the number of job cuts in parks, but there will be some because the agency’s capital budget took almost a 50 percent hit.
• And Gov. Gregoire yesterday (May 18) signed ESHB 2049, the Federation-initiated bill bringing transparency to the Washington Management Service, which has mushroomed since it was created in 1993. ESHB 2049 requires the Director of the Department of Personnel to report to the governor and Legislature annually on the number of classified, Washington Management Service, and exempt employees; the number of bonuses and performance-based incentives awarded to agency staff; and the cost of each bonus or incentive awarded. It also makes it easier to appeal attempts to exempt vacant positions.
On hand for the signing of ESHB 2049 was Federation President Carol Dotlich who afterwards told a reporter: “There should be sunlight in the dark halls of management.”
• On the downside, the governor today (May 19) also signed into law the improved but still dangerously flawed 2SHB 2106, the bill privatizing about 30 percent of Child Welfare Services over the next few years. The new law sets up two demonstration sites where case management and other CWS functions will be contracted out. Gov. Gregoire did veto three sections of the bill: Section 1, the intent section, as implying a new entitlement; Section 14 on unfounded child abuse claims; and Section 19 on new forensic techniques because no funding was provided for it. We now work to mitigate the impacts of this unwise piece of legislation.
The governor on Monday also signed:
• ESHB 2245 to preserve state employee health insurance eligibility rights and maintains the standard that benefits must remain substantially equivalent to 1993 levels.
• And she signed three bills expanding domestic partner benefits: E2SSB 5688, further expanding the rights and responsibilities of state registered domestic partners; ESHB 1445 relating to domestic partners under the Washington State Patrol retirement system; and EHB 1616 relating to the state pension benefits of certain domestic partners. A big victory for civil rights and worker rights.
• The governor was also set May 19 to sign the “all-cuts” state operating budget, ESHB 1244.
May 15, 2009
Health Care for All campaign and march.
You can help in the fight to win -
Health Care for All
We simply cannot fix the economy without fixing health care.
We need quality, affordable health care for all that protects good health benefits, stops cost-shifting, and provides comprehensive coverage options to insured and uninsured families -- including a choice of a secure public health insurance plan.
Public health insurance plans are less costly to administer. Including them in the mix with private plans will create competition that will lower costs. Plus, a public plan gives families peace of mind, knowing that there is always a quality plan available should something happen to their private insurance.
Campaign and March in Seattle information.
Health Care for All
We simply cannot fix the economy without fixing health care.
We need quality, affordable health care for all that protects good health benefits, stops cost-shifting, and provides comprehensive coverage options to insured and uninsured families -- including a choice of a secure public health insurance plan.
Public health insurance plans are less costly to administer. Including them in the mix with private plans will create competition that will lower costs. Plus, a public plan gives families peace of mind, knowing that there is always a quality plan available should something happen to their private insurance.
Campaign and March in Seattle information.
WMS, Child Welfare privatization bill set for governor's action Monday
We have just gotten word from the governor's office that she will take action Monday on two key bills we've been following-one good, one bad.
The governor is set to sign into law ESHB 2049, the Federation-initiated bill bringing transparency and accountability to the Washington Management Service.
She is also set to take action on 2SHB 2106, the bill creating pilot projects that would privatize about 30 percent of Child Welfare Services within the Department of Social and Health Services. Your action made this bad bill better, but we have still urged the governor to veto it. Continue your calls to the legislative message center at 1-800-562-6000 to urge the governor to veto HB 2106.
The governor can sign, partially veto or completely veto legislation. On 2106, we'll finally know for sure on Monday.
The governor's bill actions are set for 3 p.m., this Monday, May 18, in the Governor's Conference Room at the state Capitol.
The governor today (Friday, May 15) is set to sign SHB 2339, the parks funding "opt out" bill keeping all state parks open.
The governor is set to sign into law ESHB 2049, the Federation-initiated bill bringing transparency and accountability to the Washington Management Service.
She is also set to take action on 2SHB 2106, the bill creating pilot projects that would privatize about 30 percent of Child Welfare Services within the Department of Social and Health Services. Your action made this bad bill better, but we have still urged the governor to veto it. Continue your calls to the legislative message center at 1-800-562-6000 to urge the governor to veto HB 2106.
The governor can sign, partially veto or completely veto legislation. On 2106, we'll finally know for sure on Monday.
The governor's bill actions are set for 3 p.m., this Monday, May 18, in the Governor's Conference Room at the state Capitol.
The governor today (Friday, May 15) is set to sign SHB 2339, the parks funding "opt out" bill keeping all state parks open.
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