Public Service Recognition Week honors the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees.
In Washington, this event is sponsored by the Washington State Productivity Board, through the Washington Secretary of State.
In Olympia, Local 443 sponsored a booth, emphasizing the current Health Care Campaign and providing information and resources about WFSE/AFSCME to local members.
“This is a tribute to the 524 whose quality of life has forever been changed.”
Western State Hospital Local 793 members marked Workers Memorial Day 2008 with a solemn commemoration Monday on the grounds of the mental health facility in Lakewood. They placed 524 targets on the lawn in front of the Administration Building to signify the 524 co-workers assaulted on the job at WSH in the past year.
“This is a tribute to the 524 whose quality of life has forever been changed,” WFSE/AFSCME President Carol Dotlich told the crowd of about 150.
Rep. Steve Conway, chair of the state House Commerce and Labor Committee, called Western State Hospital “the most dangerous worksite in the state.”
He said lawmakers would continue to attack the “unacceptable” situation that leads to employee assaults, including mandating safe employee-to-staff ratios.
Rep. Troy Kelley said the 524 targets that stretched across the lawn reminded him of the old Army saying about never leaving a soldier behind.
“I have a feeling we’ve left some workers behind and that’s unacceptable,” Kelley said.
The members concluded the ceremony by walking up and down the rows of 524 targets.
“It’s a longer walk than you thought,” Dotlich said.
The Spokane office of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) held a lunch-time Unity Rally for the General Government Bargaining Team. This was part of a State wide DVR Unity Rally held simultaneously in Spokane, Moses Lake, Omak, and Seattle.
General Government Bargaining Team
May 13, 2008
Pipefitters Hall (Southwest Washington Training Center/UA Plumbers/Pipefitters Hall) 8501 Zenith Court NE, Lacey, WA 98516-1324.
