On Saturday, Oct 3, 12 Clark classified staff and family members met on the 29th street overpass on the I-5 for sign waving, to let the community know to help us stop Outsourcing and the cuts to classified staff.
 
Our steward team, mainly Sarah Thorsen, Chris Layfield, and Angela Dawson, lead the charge.
 
Thank you to the classified staff including maintenance, unit ops, and custodians for showing up and supporting your brothers and sisters.

​

WPEA has made a change in the lead negotiator position for the higher education and general government bargaining tables. Because we will be bargaining for many months to come, we needed to make plans to address the workload at the Union office and to take a different approach in bargaining. To that end, we decided that Lane Hatfield was needed back in the office to address the day-to-day workload and so WPEA selected an Attorney from our current law firm to be the new lead negotiator for the remaining bargaining dates. The teams are currently requesting more bargaining days, so there are no negotiation sessions scheduled yet.

Higher Education: The bargaining team has been in contact with the state managers to set future dates for more bargaining. The state continues to bargain for furloughs and the bargaining teams need better contract language to address member needs. We need language on remote working, diversity, equality and inclusion, remote operations and better layoff language. The team is committed to as many days of bargaining that will be necessary. In the past our bargaining and the ratification vote concluded before October 1. This year we were unable to reach agreement with the state managers so we must continue to bargain.

Highline College: There were two member forums during opening week. Items discussed were furloughs and voting for the contract. It was explained to the members why they didn't get ballots to vote on yet. This is because the College has drawn out the bargaining process and did provide enough days to accomplish bargaining. There are dates scheduled in October to bargain and the bargaining team is finishing up the ground rules for those meetings. We will be at the bargaining table in October fighting against furlough days and negotiating for better contract language. There was another all campus forum about the budget as well, and what the faculty is doing instead of furloughing. Management informed us that they will be tapping the reserves and the administrative staff will be furloughing at a bare minimum at the same amount as everyone else. The college informed us that they got the shared work application to assist with the unemployment benefits to members.

Yakima Valley College: The members have decided to extend the current contract language for another contract period. The YVC the vote passed. The furlough proposals at the HE table will NOT affect the members YVC.

​
When WPEA returns to the bargaining table, we will send out more updates on the bargaining teams progress!

 
 
September 29, 2020
 
 
Dear WPEA Member:
 
This letter serves to officially notify you of the procedure being used for the nominations of WPEA/UFCW Local 365 officers.
 
The offices to be filled are:  President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recorder, one Vice President for each of the ten WPEA/UFCW Local 365 districts.  The term of office commences January 1, 2021 and ends December 31, 2023.
 
Eligibility requirement for Nominees – continuous active membership in WPEA/UFCW Local 365 since September 2019, or continuous active membership in the International Union since August 2018, provided continuous active membership is maintained with WPEA/UFCW Local 365.  Members may nominate themselves and nominees need not be present to be nominated.  Any member from any district may nominate candidates for the statewide offices of president, secretary-treasurer, and recorder.  For the offices of vice president, both the nominee and the nominator must reside within the same district.
 
Nominations will be conducted via Zoom for each of the ten newly formed districts in 30-minute time slots on both Saturday and Sunday, October 17 & 18, 2020.   The Zoom links for each day are shown below.  We will be using the same link for everyone on each day.  The Zoom links also include telephone numbers you may call without needing a computer or smart device.  Please only join the Zoom meeting during the appropriate times for your district even when nominating a statewide officer from outside your district.  The Zoom host will not admit you to the meeting until the proper time for your district.
 
 
District 1 – Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania, Wahkiakum counties
Saturday, October 17, from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, October 18, from 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
 
District 2 – Thurston county
Saturday, October 17, from 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, October 18, from 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
 
District 3 – Pierce county
Saturday, October 17, from 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, October 18, from 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
 
District 4 – King county
Saturday, October 17, from 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, October 18, from 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
 
District 5 – Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific counties
Saturday, October 17, from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, October 18, from 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
 
 
District 6 – Island, San Juan, Skagit, Whatcom counties
Saturday, October 17, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Sunday, October 18, from 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
 
District 7 – Snohomish county
Saturday, October 17, from 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 18, 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
 
District 8 – Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Kittitas, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens counties
Saturday, October 17, from 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 18, from 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
 
District 9 – Adams, Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima counties
Saturday, October 17, from 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 18, from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
 
District 10 – Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason counties
Saturday, October 17, from 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 18, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
 
 
If you are unable to attend any Zoom call during your specific district times, you may nominate (or be nominated) in writing to:  WPEA/UFCW Local 365 Headquarters, 140 Percival St NW, Olympia 98502.  This nomination must be received at WPEA/UFCW Local 365 no later than Monday, October 19, 2020.  For verification purposes, when nominating (either via Zoom or mail-in), you must provide your name and contact information such as mailing address, cell phone number, and personal email address, in addition to your nominee’s name.  [see sample form below]
 
For all eligible candidates who have been nominated and have decided to run for office of WPEA/UFCW Local365 as indicated above, there will be a candidates’ meeting to review the election rules via Zoom on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.  The Zoom video link along with phone numbers will be provided to those deciding to run.  If you cannot participate via computer or smart device, please use the telephone option included on the link.
 
Questions regarding officer nominations or the election process should be referred to me, Rick Slayton, UFCW 1529.  I have been named as the Election Chairman for this election of WPEA/UFCW Local 365 officers and can be reached via email at rslayton@ufcw1529.org or via cell phone at (901) 359-5599.
 
Sincerely,
Rick
Rick Slayton
UFCW Election Chairman
 
 
 

Saturday info:
 
Fawn Hacker is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
 
Topic: Officer Nominations Day 1
Time: Oct 17, 2020 09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94185781531?pwd=SzBnK29ieG45dHR3YXZjNjE0YjVldz09
 
Meeting ID:  941 8578 1531
Passcode:  958504
 
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,94185781531#,,,,,,0#,,958504# US (Tacoma)
+16699009128,,94185781531#,,,,,,0#,,958504# US (San Jose)
 
Dial by your location
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 941 8578 1531
Passcode: 958504
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ayMvDCh19

Sunday info:
 
Fawn Hacker is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
 
Topic: Officer Nominations Day 2
Time: Oct 18, 2020 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99127258569?pwd=YkJlOE1YMDY4SXJPMU9ZcUtydWFNZz09
 
Meeting ID:  991 2725 8569
Passcode:  774636
 
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,99127258569#,,,,,,0#,,774636# US (Tacoma)
+16699009128,,99127258569#,,,,,,0#,,774636# US (San Jose)
 
Dial by your location
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 991 2725 8569
Passcode: 774636
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ad1IyqQQK
 
 
Sample Nomination form:
 
I, _________________________________, nominate _______________________________ for the office of President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recorder, Vice President (circle one). 
My home address is:  ____________________________________________________
                                    ____________________________________________________
I am a resident of __________________________________ County. 
My phone or cell number is:  ________________________________________________.
My personal email is:  _____________________________________________________.

There have been some troubling developments recently at Clark College. 

The Clark College Board of Trustees recently contracted an accounting firm, Moss Adams, to conduct an audit of staffing and organizational structures within the college for efficiencies. The findings from Moss Adams result in outsourcing 90% of WPEA's union jobs - and keeping almost all the exempt (non-union) positions. 

This is union busting.

Please sign this petition and send a message that our students and faculty need our support staff. 
​
The Washington Public Employees Association is also asking the entire Clark County community to come out against these efforts, and stand with the WPEA classified staff at the college.  They're asking us to let Clark College's Board of Trustees, College President Dr. Karin Edwards, and all members of the Executive Cabinet know that these are local people who live in our community, Clark County doesn’t want these jobs outsourced or the staff positions cut.

The Clark College Board of Trustees is meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23rd at 5:00 PM. Please join WPEA members in solidarity, as they are the front line against the outsourcing and privatization of our community and technical colleges in Washington State, by testifying at the Board of Trustees meeting:  
​
Link: Join the Clark College Board of Trustees Zoom meeting
Zoom meeting ID:  925 5133 3077
Passcode:  870532
Please note that Public Comment will be limited to two minutes per attendee. Comments can be shared in the following three ways:

• Send an email prior to the meeting to sweldy@clark.edu and it will be read during the public comment portion of the meeting.
• Write your comment in the Zoom chat box during the meeting and the host will read it during the public comment portion of the meeting.
• Use "raise hand" function under “participants” during the Zoom meeting and the host will call on you when it is your turn to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting.

For more information on actions planned in support of Clark County staff, contact
Sarah Thorsen
WPEA Chief Job Steward, Clark College
scarlyle01@msn.com