In a meeting that almost certainly won’t be open to the public, the State Labor Federation is hosting a meeting of “communicators” to “fight back” against those oppressors they must negotiate their current benefits with – Jay Inslee and his Democrat team.
Evidently the leaders of the state employees union feel that the $1 million they put into Jay Inslee’s last campaign may not be enough to sway him against “right to work attacks” and “changing health benefits” for their union members.
Of course, there is a little problem they have with ObamaCare that might be motivating such mistrust of their Democrat friends.
From the Washington Federation of State Employees:
Tired of attacks on you as a public employee? Communicators Conference is your chance to fight back!
They’re coming after us. So-called “right to work” attacks on our voice at work. Legislation to phase out our retirement security. Rolling back hard-won bargaining rights. Changing health benefits our families depend on. And more.
But luckily, we have a voice. And the WFSE/AFSCME Communicators Conference is the place to learn new skills and use new tools.
Council 28 – with AFSCME, the Washington State Labor Council, the Washington State Labor Education and Research Center and locals – are planning a dynamic weekend of training to focus our voices, promote our narrative and use our voices to fight back.
Two days. Three tracks (“Union Voices, Union Faces” spokesperson training; “Rapid Response” (digital communications); and “Videography.”
Attendance is open to local leadership, activists (as approved by Local President).
Locals are encouraged to register attendees. Locals are responsible to attendee travel expenses, meals (other than those provided during the conference) and overnight accommodations. Locals with 200 or fewer members are eligible to have travel and overnight accommodations paid for by WFSE/AFSCME.
WHEN: Saturday, April 5 to Sunday, April 6
WHERE: Seatac Doubletree Hotel
REGISTER ONLINE: http://www.wfse.org/communicators/
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: March 14, 2014.
QUESTIONS? Contact Laura Reisdorph at 800-562-6002 ([email protected]) if you need assistance or have questions about the conference.
FOR MORE DETAILS ONLINE: http://www.wfse.org/communicators/
Interpreter services bill moves to next stage
The Federation-initiated Interpreter Services Bill had another good hearing in the fiscal committee cycle Monday (Feb. 10).
HB 2617 later cleared the House Appropriations Committee on a vote of 21-9 with one excused. It garnered the support of Republican representatives Larry Haler, Paul Harris and Kevin Parker – recognizing that cost savings and efficiency can be achieved with collective bargaining.HB 2617 would streamline delivery of interpreter services across state agencies to save money and increase efficiencies. It would extend the successful concepts proven in the DSHS/HCA Medicaid program to Labor and Industries and other state agencies, consolidate procurement of services to cut run-away middleman costs, create a Spoken Language Interpreter Advisory Group, and grant collective bargaining rights to interpreters providing services to L&I providers and other state agencies.
“The current system used by L&I for interpreter scheduling wastes money, hurts interpreters and reduces the quality of service,” Local 1671 member Louise Morehead testified.
Milena Calderari-Waldron, another Local 1671 member, said the advisory group “will be instrumental in improving the quality” of interpreter services.
“We also look forward to a transparent, competitive bidding process,” she said.
The 4-year-old successful interpreter services system for Medicaid and DSHS interpreters has been proven effective and thrifty, said Dennis Eagle, the Federation’s director of legislation and political action.
“Now we know it works and this bill would simply take that same model that is succeeding in Medicaid and DSHS and apply it to the rest of state government,” he said.
That’s it for now.
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