The New Year Brings New Challenges- Get Involved!

As we say farewell to 2009 and face the challenges of 2010 it is important that each of us be involved in our union. The budget deficit the state faces has made us especially vulnerable. The legislators that represent you will be asked to consider further lay offs, contracting out due to inadequate staffing, and further cuts to our healthcare package. As a result, we will have to be an even stronger union. No member can afford to sit idly by. We need all hands on deck to take on the battles ahead. IF we all participate we CAN turn this around.

In the last legislative session we were able to stop a number of potential program and facility closures. We will have to work even harder this session. The good news is that the session is short. From January 11th until it ends in March, we need every member to take the time to write letters, e-mails, make calls and visit legislators. The WFSE Newsletter contains a section that identifies the legislators. Please keep it handy. Call April Sims at 1-800-562-6002 to schedule visits to your legislators. Notify your Council Representative about what you are willing to do to help the cause.

To demonstrate what we are facing and how important it is to get involved, a number of correctional and DD facilities are scheduled for closure, Children's Administration is fighting contracting out, the Department of Ecology is pushing legislation to contract out work due to inadequate staffing, and our healthcare package and step increases are threatened. Activists across the state have been mobilizing and working to turn this around. They cannot do it without you. Please put yourself forward today and join the movement that makes a difference every day.