Unity — Strength — Action Unity — Strength — Action UNION SPOTLIGHT AFT , AFL-CIO wa.aft.org Like us on Facebook and Twitter @aftwa August 2016

Photo Credits: David Ayala Zamora and Sylvia Watson Meeting with Candidates

What’s at Stake in this AFT and WSLC Inside Year’s Election?...... Page 4 Convention Amendments.... Page 6 2016-17 Education 2016 General Labor Archives Scholarship Winners...... Page 2 Election Endorsements...... Page 4-5 of Washington...... Page 7 Calendar...... Page 2 Fight Like Hell for the Living...... Page 6 President’s Column...... Page 3

Union Spotlight | 1 2016-17 Education Scholarship Winners AFT Washington By Christine Landon, Data Manager & member of AFT Everett Local 1873. Executive Board Communications Assistant Lee has been accepted at San Diego State University, where he plans to President hree deserving winners Karen Strickland study business administration; and Thave each received $1,000 Vice President At-Large Pos. 1 AFT Washington/Schwerin Kathryn Severson, also a previous Vacant Campbell Barnard Iglitzin & Lavitt winner in 2015-16, is the daughter Vice President At-Large Pos. 2 Barbara Randall-Saleh scholarships in support of their of Cascadia Community College Vice President At-Large Pos. 3 higher education goals this coming Federation of Teachers Local 6191 Richard Moore year. We congratulate: member Heather Severson. Kathryn Vice President for Community and is studying at Everett and Edmonds Technical Colleges Council Marisela Baca, a previous winner Simone Terrell Community Colleges, completing in 2014-15, is the daughter of prerequisites for entering the Vice President for School-Related AFT Yakima Local 1485 retired Personnel Council ­ paramedicine program at Central Janet Watson local president (and current AFT Washington University. Vice President for 4-Year Council Washington lobbyist) Dr. Bernal Elizabeth Williamson Baca. She plans to attend Renton Our thanks to all of the members Vice President for Contingent Faculty Technical College to complete and locals who donated to support Michael Boggess her AA degree in preparation for this year’s scholarships, and VP for Legislative Affairs baccalaureate nursing studies; particularly to our generous friends Vacant and allies at Schwerin Campbell Vice President for Higher Ed Lee Bruemmer, a new winner this Classified Personnel Barnard Iglitzin & Lavitt, LLC. year, is the son of John Bruemmer, Vacant Vice President for Paraprofessional Classified Personnel Janet Morgan Vice President for Legal Defense September 24 (no meeting on October 1) Margaret West Classified Council and CTC Council Meetings Vice President for Human Rights @ Best Western Executive Inn, Tracy Lai September 24-25 Vice President for COPE Todd Hahn Executive Board Retreat Secretary @ Best Western Executive Inn, Seattle Lila Harper September 26, 11:45 AM – 1:30 PM Treasurer Protecting, Strengthening, and Expanding Social Security and Kenneth Pimpleton Medicare for All Generations Retiree Chapter President @ Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St., Kent Ross K. Rieder RSVP to Susan Levy at [email protected] or Parliamentarian K. Ann McCartney 206-448-9646 October 22-23 Board meetings are usually held on the Powerful Locals Leadership Retreat first Saturday of the month except for Location TBD holidays and summer months. Board members are elected to two-year terms. December 9-11

CALENDAR The 2016 Emerging Leaders Conference AFT Washington represents over 6,500 members South Seattle College Georgetown Campus, Bldg. C in early childhood education, K-12, and higher education in Washington State and is affiliated 6737 Corson Ave. So. Seattle with the American Federation of Teachers, which $150 Registration includes all meals, snacks, workshops, & more) represents 1.6 million members nationwide. Sponsored by the Labor Education and Research Center and Editor, Sylvia Watson [email protected] Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders (YELL) Photos by Sylvia Watson unless otherwise noted. Contact Kelly Coogan-Gehr for more information at 206-242-4777 ext. 8084 Toll free: 1-866-99-AFTWA [email protected] or 206-934-6859

2 | Union Spotlight President’s Column Taking a Deeper Dive Toward Addressing Inequities

We know that we have work to do Why is this a priority now? Events within our organization and within the in recent years have highlighted the communities and institutions in which shortcomings of our society when it we live and work. comes to achieving racial equity. The Karen Strickland Occupy Movement made “the 1%” an We have long taken an active role in everyday concept, and an important advocating for racial equity in various FT Washington is made up of one. Yet when we dig into the disparity ways, such as providing financial and/ members who work in education between the 1% and the 99%, we find A or staff support to organizations such and are also family members, parents, alarming differences in income and as Equity in Education Coalition, The community members, students, and wealth based on race within the 99%. Racial Equity Team, the Asian Pacific more. As such, we can see how our According to a study by the public American Labor Alliance, Coalition schools and colleges both perpetuate policy organization Demos (http:// of Black Trade Unionists, A. Philip racial inequity and possess enormous www.demos.org), the median wealth Randolph Institute, Pride at Work, and potential to reclaim the promise of of White households in 2011 was more. We have also participated over racial equity. Our work is to overcome $111,146, for Black households it was the years in the May Day Immigration the challenges and realize our $7,113, and for Latino households it March, the Pride Parade, and actions aspirations of racial equity. was $8,348 (Asian-Pacific Islanders, in support of legislation and policy Native Americans and other group By challenges, I mean disparate promoting equity and social justice. data wasn’t included). Because homes discipline practices, lower graduation are a dominant source of wealth for We have begun elevating this work rates, lower college enrollment rates, middle America, the disparate rates of to a higher priority and examining and underrepresentation of teachers home ownership (73%, 45% and 47% deeply what we must do to achieve of color in K-12 and higher education. respectively) , are a significant factor . racial equity within our organization, Outside the schoolhouse, I mean police our workplaces, and our communities. violence, community violence, pay Another problem called out in The staff has engaged in conversation and wealth inequity, and uneven rates recent years is the “school-to-prison and training on the subject of racial of unemployment and engagement of pipeline.” Discipline policies are equity to deepen our understanding people of color in our union. unevenly applied, with students of and ability to achieve our aspirations. color disproportionately suspended I aspire to full participation of all Another step in this process is a series and expelled. Add to that an increased people regardless of skin color, gender, of articles in the Spotlight over the presence of law enforcement in country of origin, or age, in our next year, in which we’ll focus on race the schools and the result is the communities and our union. I aspire to and racism in the interest of gaining criminalization of young people and a world in which we recognize, value, clarity on this issue and what we can students of color on a path to prison and create space for the differences do to address it. We recognize that instead of college, apprenticeship, and among us, understanding that these inequity occurs on the basis of other other life-enriching opportunities. differences are a source of powerful characteristics, e.g. gender identity, ideas and solutions, and that we are and that our members belong to more And none of us can see the all too Stronger Together. than one group that experiences frequent and horrifying police disparate treatment. Understanding shootings of Black and Brown men and At AFT Washington, we recognize this intersectionality is necessary to boys without recognizing that we all that our union has an essential role in our work and won’t be lost, even as we must play a role in ensuring a society building a more just and fair society. zero in on race. (Continued on pg. 8)

Union Spotlight | 3 Fight Like Hell for the Living

Photo credit: Christine Landon

By Richard Burton, Internal Organizer form of several actions: • testimony before local city councils, his year’s winner of the • “Work to Rule” campaign, • opinion pieces published in Washington State Labor countless protest rallies, and T local newspapers, Council’s Mother Jones Award for demonstrations at the meetings a collective group is the United of the college’s Board of • Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Faculty of Green River College Trustees, filings, Local 2195, jointly represented by • open letters to college • three Votes of No Confidence in AFT Washington and WEA. The administration, President Ely and one such Vote Mother Jones Award is given by the against the college’s Board, State Labor Council to recognize • campus-wide public forums, • a one-day walkout, and members and organizations who are • securing the passage of a struggling for dignity and respect for supportive resolution from the • a strike, for the first time in 40 all workers. Washington State Labor Council years. (WSLC), While they succeeded in securing Dating back at least to the Fall the resignation of President Ely in of 2012, faculty at Green River • flash mobs, June, their struggle continues. These College have been subjected to • a Grinch “Lump of Coal” faculty – strengthened with the an increasingly hostile, virulently campaign, outstanding work of students, anti-union, corporatized college • a “Let Them Eat Cake” rally, supportive WFSE staff, Auburn and administration led by President complete with a photo of Kent community supporters, elected Eileen Ely (pronounced like “Queen” Ely, officials, and the broader labor “EElee”). As Ely, her hand-picked movement – have made it clear that, administrative elites, and the • informational picketing, to paraphrase Mother Jones, they college’s Board of Trustees engaged • letters and meetings with state will NOT mourn for Eileen Ely, but in behavior that went from bad to elected leaders, they WILL fight like hell for the worse, the faculty fought back. This • leafleting at a statewide college living and for the future of their faculty opposition has taken the Trustee retreat, community college.

4 | Union Spotlight What’s at Stake in this Year’s Election? By April Sims, WSLC Field Mobilization Director

won’t tell you elect union-endorsed candidates this group of undecided voters. Our I this is the who care about funding public Labor Neighbor program is focused most important services, passing paid sick leave, on targeting union members who election of our and tackling our transportation are the least likely to vote, engaging lives (I’m challenges, we can change the them on an issue they care about, guessing you’ve direction of our state for working and reaching them with a trusted heard that families. messenger. This will allow us to before), but I In this year of challenges and have the biggest impact on elec- April Sims will tell you that opportunities, doing things the way tions and grow union engagement for working we’ve always done them just at the same time. families in Washington State, the because we’ve always done them This year I invite you to help us stakes couldn’t be higher. that way isn’t going to help us win. win. Come out to a Labor Neighbor 2016 is a defining year for workers The way voters and union members event, bring your friends, family, in our state. We have an opportu- engage in politics is changing, and and coworkers, and help us change nity to elect pro-worker legislative if we want to be impactful and rele- the world. We can’t win this without candidates and end the ideologi- vant, we have to change too. you! cally divided legislature that’s held Candidates and campaigns are To get involved, please contact the us hostage for the past four years. focused on likely voters who are AFT Washington office at We’ve been playing defense, and undecided about the race. In fact, [email protected] or call this election is our chance to put millions of dollars will be spent 206-242-4777. points on the board. By working to trying to ‘move the middle’ or reach

2016 General Election Endorsements

he AFT Washington member- Congressional Ballot Initiatives involved Committee on T U.S. Senator Patty Murray I-1433, Minimum Wage Increase and Political Education (COPE) and Paid Sick Leave staff conducted an extensive CD-7: Pramila Jayapal vetting process to endorse these CD-9: Adam Smith candidates. They were scored on their legislative and labor voting CD-10: records and responses to our COPE questionnaires. All candidates who Statewide Races are running for office were sent our Jay Inslee, Governor questionnaire, but not all candi- Bob Ferguson, Attorney General dates chose to complete and return one. The candidates below returned Cyrus Habib, Lieutenant Governor their completed questionnaire. Tina Podlodowski, Secretary of State Your union recommends the Mary Yu, State Supreme Court Pos. 1 following candidates because they share our values: Chris Reykdal, Superintendent of Public Instruction (Continued on pg. 6)

Union Spotlight | 5 Election Endorsement (from pg. 5)

State Legislature

LD 1: Derek Stanford, House Pos. 1 LD 29: David Sawyer, House Pos. 1 Steve Kirby, House Pos. 2 LD 2: Amy Pivetta Hoffman, House Pos. 1 LD 31: Lane Walthers, House Pos. 2

LD 3: , Senate LD 32: Cindy Ryu, House Pos. 1 Marcus Riccelli, House Pos. 1 LD 5: Jason Ritchie, House Pos. 1 LD 33: Tina Orwall, House Pos. 1 Darcy Burner, House Pos. 2 Mia Gregerson, House Pos.2 LD 6: Lynnette Vehrs, House Pos. 1 LD 34: Joe Fitzgibbon, House Pos. 2

LD 10: Angie Homola, Senate LD 35: Irene Bowling, House Pos. 1 Doris Brevoort, House Pos. 2 Craig Patti, House Pos. 2 LD 11: Bob Hasegawa, Senate LD 36: Noel Frame, House Pos. 1 Gael Tarleton, House Pos. 2 LD 17: Tim Probst, Senate LD 37: Sharon Tomiko Santos, House Pos. 1

LD 21: Strom Peterson, House Pos. 1 LD 40: Kevin Ranker, Senate Lillian Ortiz-Self, House Pos. 2 Kristine Lytton, House Pos. 1 LD 22: Sam Hunt, Senate LD 41: , Senate Beth Doglio, House Pos. 2 Tana Senn, House Pos. 1 LD 23: , Senate LD 44: John Lovick, House Pos. 1 Sherry Appleton, House Pos. 1 Drew Hansen, House Pos. 2 LD 45: Roger Goodman, House Pos. 1 LD 24: Mike Chapman, House Pos. 1 LD 46: Gerry Pollet, House Pos. 1 LD 25: Jamie Smith, House Pos. 1 LD 48: , House Pos. 1 LD 26: Larry Seaquist, House Pos. 1 LD 49: Sharon Wylie, House Pos. 1 LD 27: Laurie Jinkins, House Pos. 1 Monica Stonier, House Pos. 2

LD 28: Marisa Peloquin, Senate Mari Leavitt, House Pos. 1 Note: More endorsements may be added so please Christine Kilduff, House Pos. 2 check our website at wa.aft.org for up-to-date endorsements.

6 | Union Spotlight AFT and WSLC Convention Amendments

By Elizabeth Ferrell, Office Manager income threshold for inflation to Read about other AFT convention t the 2016 AFT national conven- help ease the burden. If your local amendments, resolutions, and news Ation, delegates adopted an has questions about the AFT per by browsing LeaderNet at https:// amendment to increase per capita capita rates, contact the AFT leadernet.aft.org/news/aft-officers- rates. Effective September 1, 2016, membership department via e-mail pledge-keep-fight, or AFT’s public per capita paid by locals will at [email protected]. website at www.aft.org. increase from $18.23 to $19.03 per According to an article by Mike The state AFL-CIO per capita rate member per month. Ninety (90) Rose, AFT Associate Director of increases by $0.15 September 1, cents of each per capita payment Communications, delegates also 2016. State AFL-CIO per capita is received will be dedicated to a backed constitutional amendments paid monthly on the AFT (national) special AFT response fund to engage that clarify and expand the mission per capita invoice in the section members and to assist locals in of the AFT standing committee on marked “State Affiliation Fee crisis. Similarly, effective September civil and human rights. Along with AFL-CIO.” The current rate is $0.85 1, 2017, per capita will increase to African-Americans, this body is per member per month, and it $19.28 per member per month, of specifically tasked to provide mate- increases to $1.00 per member per which $1.10 will be dedicated to this rials and strategies to Asian- month in September. Payment of special response fund. The AFT Americans, Latinos, Native the state AFL-CIO allows local affili- offers a reduced per capita for Americans, Arab Americans, and ates in our state to enjoy member- lower-income members, and dele- other racial, ethnic, religious, and ship in the Washington State Labor gates also voted to index that underrepresented groups. Council.

Labor Archives of Washington: Preserving Pacific Northwest Labor History Conor Casey, Labor Archivist, Director was to bring in new collections that Some key links: ounded in 2010, the Labor documented the labor movement • Labor Archives of Washington: Archives of Washington (LAW) is in this region and to promote the F http://www.laborarchives.org a collaboration between the Harry use of these records. Our collections Bridges Center for Labor Studies and are free and open to the public, and • Full List of Labor Collections: represent a significant historical the UW Libraries. LAW was founded http://guides.lib.washington.edu/ resource for scholars of labor, civil to collect, preserve, and make acces- laborarchives sible records relating to labor unions rights, economic, political, and social and working people in the Pacific history in this region. • Labor Digital Collections Portal: http://content.lib.washington. Northwest. LAW is a community In my work, I also consult with edu/portals/law/ enterprise: for the first four years of and teach workshops for unions its existence, LAW was almost entirely and other organizations on how • Archived Labor Websites: funded by donations from labor to establish records management http://www.archive-it.org/ unions and individuals, including the programs, how to preserve their collections/3988 International Longshore and records in-house, and how to donate Warehouse Union, the Washington records of enduring historical value • Donating & Preserving State Labor Council, and AFT to LAW. Records, Resources on Washington. I am here to help you preserve the Records Management: http:// I was hired as Labor Archivist in records of your local or your personal www.lib.washington.edu/ late 2010 to create intellectual and papers that relate to your union specialcollections/laws/ physical access to around 2,000 activity. Please email or call me if preserving-and-donating-records cubic feet of labor and labor-related you would like some assistance at collections. As well, my mission [email protected] or 206.685.3976.

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Addressing Inequities (from pg. 3) where all people can live their lives I’ve been working with other labor If you would like to contribute free of the fear that they will be the leaders in Washington to forge the an article on the subject of racial victim of police violence. path to equity within the labor equity, please contact Sylvia Watson, movement, and I have witnessed us editor, at [email protected]. I look Achieving racial equity is no easy righteously struggle to find our way. forward to this work and urge you to task. In fact, it requires a willingness And let’s not forget our own national take part in a way that is meaningful to reflect on our personal beliefs and AFT history. It was 1957 when to you. feelings and to examine our union’s AFT worked to integrate all locals, practices, priorities, and programs. expelling those that refused, resulting It requires that we confront the in the loss of 7000 members. obstacles – like not recognizing racist treatment at work, or reaching out In the coming months we will plan If you’d like to go green only to members we know, rather for building a fully inclusive union, and get Union Spotlight than to those we don’t know. These strengthening our work to achieve electronically, are what I call the “hindering forces.” equity in the workplace for our membership and those we serve. We please contact We also have helping forces, such will solicit input from you to ensure Christine Landon, as the power of knowing that racial that our strategies are informed by 206-432-8075 or equity is the right goal, morally and your experience and expertise. [email protected]. ethically. We’re in good company.

8 | Union Spotlight