Our current $12 billion budget crisis is in large part a result of our state’s inequitable tax code that relies on those with the least to pay the most. It's inefficient and it's unfair.
After a hard fight, WFSE members received an arbitration opinion vindicating our nine Department of Corrections members who teach Defensive Tactics courses who had been unfairly excluded from receiving assignment pay.
Charlene Hunt, a former Labor and Industries activist and member of Local 443 in Tumwater who helped overturn the ban on state employee raffles to raise money for charities, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. She was 68.
Char Hunt was a workers’ compensation adjudicator at L&I in 2007 when she and other L&I members culminated three years of hard work on the raffle bill.
We’re pleased to report that Melinda Brockie, the Federation member shot and wounded in the Las Vegas tragedy came home to the Lummi Reservation in Northwest Washington Oct. 25.
She was honored with a parade and a police escort from the Bellingham International Airport to her home, according to the Bellingham Herald.
We honored George Hartwell at our In Memoriam presentation at our recent state convention. But out of respect to his family, we waited until his official obituary went public before announcing his passing here.
For many outside his family, George’s name faded away 20 years ago. But his story then is still inspiring today for all Federation members.
This month's program features: Coverage of the WFSE convention with AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders and Gov. Jay Inslee. Also, how a so-called right to work (for less) state holds down the workers but also other citizens of the state. In addition, while Labor Day weekend is a fun an relaxing time for many, its benefits aren't extended to 30% of American workers.
