May/June 2018 Volume 23 Number 3 InsightAn Information Pipeline for Members and Friends of Local 17 About This Issue May/June 2018 Insight Vol.23/ No. 3 Professional and Technical Employees, Local 17 2900 Eastlake Avenue East, Ste. 300 Seattle, Washington 98102 On the Cover: Phone ...................................................206-328-7321 Toll-free..................................................800-783-0017 Fax ........................................................206-328-7402 Local 17 members at Seattle City Light E-mail .............................................. [email protected] designed and manage the innovative Website ............................................... www.pte17.org Denny Substation project, which is President: Lois Watt nearing completion on-time and under Vice-President: Hossein Barahimi Secretary-Treasurer: Sean Simmons budget. The substation will meet the Trustee: Mary Davis increasing electrical needs of the area Trustee: Jessica Garcia while integrating public and green space Trustee: Jamie Wilde in the heart of downtown Seattle. Read Co-Acting Interim Executive Directors: more on page 8-9. Amy Bowles, Ext. 118, [email protected] Denise Cobden, Ext. 127, [email protected] Finance Director: Jackie Miller Ext. 102 • [email protected] News and Features Operations Director: Anthony Davidson Negotiations with State of WA continue this summer.....................4 Ext. 121 • [email protected] Local 17 Scholarship deadline July 31...............................................5 Union Representatives Amy Bowles Stay Strong, Stay Union!....................................................................6 Ext. 118 • [email protected] King County's North Public Health Center.....................................7 Denise Cobden Life After Work: Seattle member helps LGBTQ community........10 Ext. 127 • [email protected] Annie Costello Labor Victories: Alternative Work Schedule win............................12 Ext. 120 • [email protected] Jeff Frazier Ext. 131 • [email protected] Government Affairs Sarah Lorenzini Oregon Primary Election results.......................................................11 Ext. 110 • [email protected] Why Vote? Primary election: Aug. 7.................................................11 Ray Sugarman Ext. 107 • [email protected] Shaun Van Eyk Ext. 133 • [email protected] Lorelei Walker Ext. 122 • [email protected] Rachel Whiteside Ext. 113 • [email protected] Alexis Young Notice to persons in agency shop units: Ext. 103 • [email protected] Local 17 has a policy regarding the rights of those employees who Program Directors object to the expenditure of any portion of their dues for purposes not Communications: Deidre Girard related to collective bargaining, grievance processing, and contract Ext. 130 • [email protected] Development: Chelsea Nelson administration responsibilities of the union. This policy is provided to Ext. 116 • [email protected] all new employees hired into Local 17 bargaining units; to employees Research: Elliot Levin at the time agency shop provisions are established; to those persons Ext. 128 • [email protected] Strategic Initiatives: Vince Oliveri who submit a fair share representation fee request annually; and to all Ext. 108 • [email protected] representation fee payers. If you would like a copy of this policy, please request one from Anthony Davidson at 206-328-7321, Ext. 121. Office Staff Communications Specialist: Donna Clarke Ext. 104 • [email protected] Membership Administrator: Laura Elia Ext. 123 • [email protected] Insight Amy Bowles and Denise Cobden, Interim Managing Editors; Deidre Girard, Editor Insight (ISSN 1093-1694) is the official publication of Professional and Technical Employees, Local 17. Insight is published bi-monthly by Local 17, 2900 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98102. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, Washington. Postmaster: Send address change to: Insight - 2900 Eastlake Ave. E., Ste. 300, Seattle, WA 98102-3012. www.pte17.org 2 Insight Editor's Note Sticking together in hard times Deidre Girard Communications Director, Insight Editor hen this magazine hits your mailboxes, a decision in the Janus v. AFSCME case will likely have been rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court, and just like that, four decades of precedent in public sector dues Wcollection will be overturned. Certain things about your union will be different – we may need you to sign a new membership card, and we may need to update our policies and our language (the 'agency shop' notice on p. 2, for example). But whatever changes may come, our core values remain the same. We are workers standing together, using our collective voice, to make our lives better, so that our families and communities can be happy and healthy. In our nearly 100 year history, Local 17 has weathered many storms. From the Seattle General Strike of 1919, to economic recessions and austerity measures, to disaffiliation with our international union, our members have always found a way to do what's right for the organization, even when the decision is a difficult one. This rings true in many of the stories in this issue, too – like our state negotiations team, which has begun bargaining with the State of Washington for the 2019-21 contract (p. 4), and our members at the North Public Health Center in King County who will be working on Saturdays so that their clients can have better access to services (p. 7). The Janus case and its repercussions may be our biggest storm yet. That's why it's so important that we stick together, working as a team for the greater good. As public employees, I know you're no stranger to this sentiment. Consider our members at Seattle City Light who were tasked with designing and building a revolutionary electrical substation that will serve and benefit the public, and who have worked alongside each other for many years because they have the highest respect for one another (p.8-9). Even outside of work, our members strive to serve and honor others, like Justice, who volunteers xis time with organizations that support some of our most vulnerable populations (p.10). So, let's stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the months to come. Together we can weather any storm. In unity, Insight 3 News Portland member wins WE Persist award for activism and mentorship WA State releases initial proposals; oko Silk, Local 17 member and Bo- negotiations to continue this summer tanic Specialist with Portland Parks and Recreation, was the recent re- cipientY of an award honoring her activism in service to the community. The special award titled 'WE Persist' was created to honor women at the City of Portland who fight against sexism and other forms of discrimination. Silk, who was profiled in the Sept/Oct. 2017 issue of Insight, works to connect the community with nature. In the summer, she also mentors teens, teaching them the value of our natural resources, as well as other valuable life skills. As written in the program for the awards ceremony: "Yoko is compassionate and passionate about what she does and Local 17's state negotiations team includes members from WSDOT, DOL and WSP (left to right): is dedicated to fighting disparities in our Russ Hallgren (WSP), Heather Hoffman (DOL), Eliza McGovern (WSDOT), Steve Morgans (WSDOT), community." Congratulations to Yoko on Alexis Young (PTE17), Mindi Mezek (WSP), Faith Shuler (WSDOT), Daniel Jones (WSDOT), and this well-deserved honor! Jeannie McCully (WSDOT). he Local 17 State bargaining team employee sick leave accruals are already WSP honors Local 17's Communications met with management from the higher than what’s now required by law. Officers for service State of Washington in Olympia In their presentation, the State also Ton May 30 and 31 to continue discussions proposed language changes to Article 4: about the 2019-21 state employee contract. Hours of Work, Article 9: Developmental The first day was reserved for the State Advancement, Article 13: Shared Leave, to present their initial set of proposals, and Article 49: Printing of the Agreement. which included responses to a number of Back in April, the Local 17 bargaining the union’s initial proposals given at the team presented its initial set of propos- negotiations kick-off meeting on April 25. als, which included implementing tools ach year, the Washington State Some of the proposed changes were for succession planning, getting more Patrol honors the best of the best, made to comply with new State laws, in- training for union Stewards, and having including our Local 17 members cluding: Engrossed Substitute House Bill better access to new employees to help Ewho work as Communication Officers (ESHB) 1434, which allows Shared Leave them understand the importance of being (COs). COs are the people who answer to be used for parental leave and pregnan- a union member. our 911 calls and assist State Troopers with cy disability; House Bill (HB) 2751, which The team will meet with State rep- their work in the field. helps protect State employee unions from resentatives and continue to exchange The award ceremony for work done the looming U.S. Supreme Court ruling language proposals again on June 13 and in 2017 was held on Wed., May 2, 2018. in Janus v. AFSCME; and Senate Bill (SB) 14 (after this issue went to press). We will This year's winners include: Shari Good 6229, which provides union representa- provide updates via personal email and at (District 1), Mindi Mezek (District 2), tives access to employees for the purpose chapter meetings. You can update your Sabrina Newman (District 3), Kayla of educating