Report from Olympia no.1 February 1, 2013 Teamsters Local 117 News for DOC Teamsters - 2013 Legislative Session in Olympia

Teamsters Local 117: 14675 Interurban Ave. S, Suite 307 l Tukwila, WA 98168 (206) 441-4860 l www.teamsters117.org

HOUSE HEARING SET ON INTEREST STOP THE ATTACK ON WORKERS’ COMP! ARBITRATION - HB1490 Senate introduces 5 bills that will Hearing scheduled for Thursday, February 7 at 1:30PM harm workers injured on the job agreement through contract negotiations he State Senate is launching an all-out on mandatory subjects of bargaining, Tattack on our workers’ compensation your Union would have the right to bring system that protects workers when they its proposals to a neutral arbitrator. are injured on the job. Senate Republi- cans have voted to introduce 5 bills that TWO BILLS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO would cut benefits for injured workers COMMITTEE and their families. On January 28, interest arbitration bills The bills are being fast-tracked and may were introduced in both the House (HB receive a floor vote as early as the first 1490) and in the Senate (SB 5387). week in February. They are also fast-track- DOC Teamsters rally at the Capitol to push for interest A hearing for the House bill is scheduled ing other attacks on middle-class families, arbitration legislation. for Thursday, February 7 in the John L. including legalizing a sub-minimum ince the start of 2013’s 90-day O’Brien Building (House Hearing Room B) training wage and repealing the state’s legislative session, which kicked off at 1:30pm. Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act. Son January 14, Local 117 has been Correctional employees and their Call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562- on the ground in Olympia fighting on supporters need to pack the hearing 6000 and urge your State Senators to op- behalf of Washington State correctional room so that we can persuade legislators pose Senate Bills 5112, 5124, 5126, 5127 employees. on the committee to support this bill! and 5128. Local 117 Lobbyist Teresita Torres is If you are planning on attending the meeting with legislators to shore up February 7 hearing, contact Lily at 206-794- support for our interest arbitration bills, 2606 or RSVP at www.DOCProtectsWA.org. while Political Action Coordinator Lily COME TO OLYMPIA! You can read both bills in their entirety at Wilson-Codega is coordinating a series of Local 117 Lobby Days www.leg.wa.gov. lobby days and mobilizing members to eamsters 117 has set up three provide testimony and advocacy support BILLS HAVE 17 SPONSORS Tmore lobby days during the 2013 on the issue. legislative session so that you can speak Teresita has lined up an impressive, in person to your representatives about #1 PRIORITY - INTEREST ARBITRATION bipartisan group of 17 legislators to issues important to working families sponsor the bills. Local 117’s number one priority this such as preserving collective bargaining session is to pass interest arbitration In the House, sponsors include: Mike rights, preventing job loss, and keeping workers safe on the job. legislation. Sells (38th), Chris Reykdal (22nd), (24th), (46th), Tami LOCAL 117 LOBBY DAYS - 2013 Interest arbitration would force the State Green (28th), (34th), Roger • February 21 to acknowledge the uniquely dangerous Goodman (45th), (1st), • March 21 work that correctional employees • April 18 Roger Freeman (30th), Kristine Lytton perform and to bargain fairly over wages, (40th), (3rd), Maureen For more information, please contact hours, and working conditions. If the Walsh (16th) and Mike Hope (44th). Lily Wilson-Codega at 206-794-2606. State and the Union cannot reach an see INTEREST ARBITRATION, Page 2 INTEREST ARBITRATION, cont. from p.1 LOCAL 117 MEMBERS LOBBY In the Senate, sponsors include: Kirk Pearson (39th), Pam Roach (31st), Steve Conway (29th) and Bob Hasegawa (5th). FOR CHANGE IN OLYMPIA CLOSER TO A CHANGE IN STATE LAW Dozens of Teamsters participate in year’s second lobby day We are now a step closer to passing wide range of issues, including this important legislation thanks to the importance of preserving your participation in the Correctional our collective bargaining Employees’ Day of Action event on rights, preserving our State’s January 10, along with your lobby visits, workers’ compensation system, phone calls, and emails to legislators. obtaining the right to paid sick We need to band together and keep up leave, defending the rights of the fight! taxi drivers, and promoting a bill that would guarantee interest arbitration rights for Local 117 correctional employees.

Teamsters at the 2nd Local 117 Lobby Day in Olympia on January 31. “It’s important that the TAKE ACTION! legislators hear from labor so Pass Interest Arbitration! ver 30 members from all across that we can get bills passed that support n the next few weeks, our bills our Union - public sector, private family-wage jobs and all of the issues Iwill be heard by a series of Osector and the DOC - teamed that help create a healthy, viable life legislative committees. In order up on January 31 to fight on behalf here in Washington State,” said Azziem to have a chance at passing these of working families on the second of Underwood, a Local 117 Shop Steward at bills, Correctional Employees AND four planned Local 117 lobby days this King County. their supporters must: legislative session in Olympia. FIGHTING FOR OUR BROTHERS AND 1. Come to the House Labor & Correctional workers joined forces with SISTERS Workforce Development hearing warehouse workers on strike at United “I came down to support everything on February 7 at 1:30pm in Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI); there were about 117,” said Matthew Komparta of Olympia. members from Safeway, King County, Safeway. and Seafreeze. 2. Flood the Legislative Hotline Komparta, who said he has friends at the at 1-800-652-6000 and tell DIVERSITY = POWER Department of Corrections, planned to legislators to pass the interest “Our power at Local 117 is in our talk with legislators about the interest arbitration bills (HB 1490 & SB diversity,” said Sidney Clark, a arbitration bills in the House and the 5387). Classification Counselor at the Larch Senate. 3. Target all legislators in the House Correctional Center near Vancouver, WA. Officer Shane Zey of the Monroe Labor & Workforce Development “When a legislator sees someone from Correctional Complex had come for the Committee, the Senate Safeway lobbying on issues that concern same reason. Commerce & Labor Committee, me, they take note,” he said. “We’re working hard to get interest the House Ways & Means Clark, a veteran lobbyist who was arbitration passed. It’s the key to Committee, and the Senate Ways unlocking our future. If we can get it, it’s & Means Committee. Send an instrumental in helping to pass a bill that will provide more professional uniforms a whole new ballgame of respect and email to the legislators on these dignity and being treated fairly,” Zey said. committees urging them to for our State’s correctional workers, gave support our bills! the group some advice in an orientation Thank you to Local 117 Political Action before members headed out to their Coordinator Lily Wilson-Codega and As soon as we have additional legislative appointments. Lobbyist Teresita Torres for making the hearing dates, we will let you event possible. There will be three more know. “Tell your story, speak from the heart, and don’t be intimidated,” he said. “These Lobby Days during this year’s legislative Thank you for your service and legislators work for you.” session: February 21, March 21, and April remember to stay safe! 18. If you are interested in participating, Members spoke with legislators on a contact Lily at 206-794-6673.