WFSE Celebrates The Legislative Win Of Collective Bargaining Rights For Interpreters

Thursday, April 1st will long be remembered as the day Governor Gregoire signed the bill granting collective bargaining rights to Interpreters. These workers provide invaluable assistance to citizens at medical appointments and have been passionately pursuing bargaining rights in the hope of joining our union family. Congratulations to them and to the organizing and legislative staff on their success. It was such a joy to accomapny them to the Governor's office where their children were given a keepsake card picture of the Governor and her dog and the parents received commemorative pens to mark the occasion. To hear them speak of what the union means to them and how very important it is to have voice at work, reinforced all the hard work we do everyday to keep our union moving forward. This is a first in the nation. They are already getting calls from interpreters in other states to find out how they did it. Brothers and Sisters, they did it with the Green Machine! We have every reason to be proud of them and proud of our union. Congratulations one and all!

Corrections Lay Off Grievance Approved

The Department of Corrections implemented a lay off of several members. In reviewing the actions taken by the department, errors in the process were discovered. WFSE staff and the members filed a grievance. Some of the errors were corrected - others were not. The grievance was today approved by the statewide grievance committee and the union will press forward in efforts to insure that the rights of our corrections members are upheld.