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 members in action |
Watch for a Workplace Union Meeting Coming Soon!
Pizza and Soft Drinks Provided to WPEA
Members
Mark your calendar and plan to attend your
scheduled workplace meeting and learn what the union is
working on for you. For more information, contact
your WPEA Staff Rep Allan
"Jake" Jacobson.
School for the Deaf Finally Gets Funding!
After being cut from the final budget over
and over again, the Washington State School for the Deaf (WSD)
funding request was finally approved in the 2007 State
Budget.
This is a major win for our WSD members and
is probably one of the biggest legislative successes of
2007. WPEA was also instrumental in “killing” a bill that
would have created an Institutions Review Commission that
had minimal checks on recommendations to close the School
for the Deaf and School for the Blind.
For years, the school has faced harsh
accountability standards, but WSD has not only met those
standards, but has exceeded them. All the while, making due
with an old crumbling facility in need of upgrading. These
approved monies will go to make this School a safer and
better functioning facility for the children who attend.
WPEA’s WSD members were instrumental in
securing the funds, and we are amazed at the work that
Lori Sheer Matheson, Donna Sorensen, Jennifer Christianson,
Rachel Schafer and School Superintendent Todd Reeves did
to make this happen.
The collaborative efforts of the union and
management were instrumental in securing the funding. There
is now talk of possibly expanding the resources statewide,
with WSD leading the effort! We are hopeful that in future
legislative sessions the School will no longer need to fight
for survival and stability, but finally be recognized and
rewarded.
Lobbying Eye-Opening Experience for WSD Group
“This was a new experience for all of us.
None of us had ever attended an appointment with a
Legislator. But there has been so much scrutiny and pressure
on the Washington School for the Deaf (WSD), and this was an
opportunity for us to take action.
 We
are very thankful for the support and coordination from
WPEA! They made sure we had American Sign Language
interpreters for the morning training and all the afternoon
appointments. The staff gave helpful perspective throughout
the day.
We also deeply appreciate the support from
other WPEA members who lobbied on behalf of WSD. What
teamwork! One of our union brothers was especially generous,
sharing important feedback from a legislator he had met with
that morning, which we were able to follow up on later. It
is so encouraging and empowering to experience that kind of
unity.
On the drive home, I asked the team if they
would have given their day off to lobby, had they known
beforehand what it would really be like. All said yes,
absolutely. We want legislators to think of the people
behind the agency, and that includes students, parents,
staff, and community. Hopefully these meetings promoted that
purpose.”
- Lori Scheer-Matheson
Audiologist, WA School for the Deaf
Want to know what's going on in your union?
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Contact your
Staff Rep today about
scheduling a brown bag lunch meeting
in your workplace.
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Attend your
Quarterly Membership Meetings and scheduled workplace
meetings.
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WPEA your home e-mail so you can receive
up-to-the-minute news
on important union issues and actions.
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latest news, actions, bargaining, and work-related
information you need to know!
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