Members of the Federation’s Statewide Parks Local 1466 on Thursday supported House legislation similar to a measure moving in the Senate that would allow a Discover Pass to be used on a second vehicle. Read more >>>

When the Legislature merged several agencies into the new Consolidated Technology Services agency, they did so in the last minutes of the 2011 session. A lot of language with unintended consequences survived. And one provision sparked a protracted battle when more than two-thirds of the employees moving into the new agency were stripped of their collective bargaining and civil service rights. Read more >>>

The Federation and the Washington State Labor Council on Wednesday (Jan. 25) teamed to oppose a bill eliminating the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Read more >>>

The Federation-initiated bill to extend collective bargaining rights to interpreters – language access providers – for the Department of Labor and Industries was introduced Wednesday. UPDATE: Hearing scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30. Read more >>>

Wednesday was the lobby day in Olympia for the Federation’s Green Caucus and their members made a splash on two environmental bills up for hearings that day. Read more >>>

The Federation on Wednesday (Jan. 25) endorsed Rep. Ruth Kagi’s bill limiting government liability during pre-shelter care investigations of child abuse or neglect. Read more >>>

The Federation and its revenue coalition partners (Our Economic Future) are asking members to call legislators to support HB 2563, which would enact a 5 percent excise tax on capital gains. Here’s background: Read more >>>

The House General Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee on Tuesday got an update the cuts in state Parks from Acting Deputy Director Ilene Frisch. Frisch elaborated on the $11 million shortfall caused by Discover Pass sales lagging 58 percent behind forecasts. Read more >>>

Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after Pres. Obama’s State of the Union address Read more >>>

The Federation threw its support behind the several gay marriage bills that came before legislative committees Monday, including HB 2516 in the House Judiciary Committee and SB 6239 in the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections Committee.

A bill with good intentions to promote the ability of state employees to get preventative help with medical issues had a hearing Monday (Jan. 23) before the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee. Read more >>>

The Federation on Monday (Jan. 23) supported a bill that would reinvest savings the state achieves by helping at-risk children stay in their homes rather than entering the foster care system. Read more >>>

Dedicated WFSE/AFSCME “safety net” workers make a difference every day. Read more >>>

It’s not often that justice balances on a skateboard – and the solid notes of a veteran shop steward. But that’s what happened in the case of Troy Jones, 47, a veteran window washer at the University of Washington and member of Local 1488. Read more >>>

True stories from WFSE/AFSCME members on the front lines Read more >>>

“Somehow, it feels to our members that this legislation is less and less about child welfare reform and more and more about promises made – to whom they are not sure – but certainly not to those individuals whose welfare they are entrusted with,” said Executive Director Greg Devereux at the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee on Tuesday. Read more >>>

TAKE ACTION to oppose bill cutting supervise of dangerous offenders. Read more >>>

It’s Day 3 of the 2012 regular legislative session and it’s a good time to stress that this session will be exceptionally important to us, our families, our union and all of Washington state. We need to lobby our individual legislators heavily and maintain a sustained presence at the Capitol to stop further erosion of critical services. Read more >>>