On the Calendar
WPEA is thrilled by the overwhelming response to our raffle event running from March 20th to April 30th! Hundreds of members have already updated their contact details to earn entries for a chance to win amazing prizes like AirPods 3, Fitbit Charge 6, or a $100 gift card. The anticipation is building as we prepare to announce the three lucky winners during the UNITY meeting this Wednesday at 12 PM. We can't wait to celebrate our members' enthusiasm! Message From the President From the desk of WPEA President Amanda Hacker WPEA is going into bargaining for our 2025-2027 contract. Bargaining will start in May and conclude in September when we reach a tentatively agreed to contract. This round of bargaining is critical for our members. Classified staff continue to fall further and further behind their counterparts in private sector, our benefits continue to be eroded and our work/life balance is not sufficient for the salary we receive. The only way to stop the downward trend in salary and benefits for classified staff is to stand together, in solidarity, and expect better from the State. WPEA’s bargaining teams are getting ready to negotiate a contract that will cover the 2025-2027 biennium. Our ability to negotiate a fair and appropriate contract depends on our ability to engage our membership and show power and leverage at the bargaining table. WPEA’s membership numbers have taken a hit since the Janus vs. AFSCME decision in 2018. We simply will not be able to bargain a fair contract for our members without more involvement and engagement at the membership level. To that end, WPEA is partnering with our International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), to visit your local worksite and talk to members about the importance of signing up as a member of our Union. On April 16th WPEA welcomed Steve Sloniker back as our Contract Administration Director (CAD). Steve worked for WPEA as a Staff Representative from 2011 – 2018. We are excited to welcome Steve back in this important role. Our CAD is the supervisor for the Rep Staff and the director for all contract enforcement at WPEA. In addition, Steve will be the lead negotiator on our statewide contracts this year. We are still looking for volunteers for the following bargaining units to participate in negotiations: Liquor and Cannabis Board Department of Licensing Wenatchee Valley College Tacoma College If you are in one of these bargaining units and want to volunteer to be the representative at the table, please contact Steve directly at [email protected]. New Leadership - New Faces of WPEA WPEA Organizer Joey Hicklin (left) and UFCW Organizer Sergei Larson (right) We are thrilled to introduce: Joey Hicklin, WPEA Organizer and IT Administrator! Joey’s journey into the labor movement began with a personal experience that resonates with many of us. During their early years at Clark College, Joey was initially unaware of the Union’s presence. However, a significant shift in his job role brought to light the importance of understanding his rights under the Union contract. Despite encountering initial frustration due to a lack of support, Joey was determined to turn this experience into an opportunity for change. He became a steward with the goal of ensuring that no one else faced similar challenges alone. In his current roles as both an Organizer and IT Administrator, Joey has set ambitious goals aimed at empowerment and efficiency. His dedication to creating training content for members reflects a commitment to equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools to advocate for their rights effectively. Additionally, Joey's technical expertise is evident in their goal to streamline IT processes thus ensuring seamless access and support for all staff, regardless of location. For those aspiring to follow a similar path, Joey offers sage advice: never stop learning and get involved. Learn something new every day and get involved. Read your Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), explore the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), and learn about the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Get involved with your local union leadership, ask questions, and bring your voice to the discussion. "We are building the future every day in what we accept, what we demand, and what we create. The canvas is still very blank, and personally, I'm excited every day to contribute to the conversation on deciding what color to lay down next." - Joey Outside of work, Joey enjoys designing board games and is also a "prepper". He has been playing video games since the age of 3, was ranked 38 in Halo 2 back in the day, and today prefers to play RPGs on the easiest difficulty, just to relax. Joey and his wife and their 2 kids (ages 3 and 5) love to go on hikes, explore the outdoors, and build kids projects at Home Depot and Lowe's, and do all the things that our active and wild toddlers are drawn to do. We are thrilled to welcome Joey to our team and look forward to the positive impact he will undoubtedly make. Joey is building training content every week, which he presents at our UNITY meetings. UNITY meetings are held every Wednesday at 12 and 5. If you don't get those invites, please update your contact info at: Update If you would like to access any training content from previous weeks, you can find that at: Training  Welcome back: Steve Sloniker, WPEA Contract Administration Director! If you have been around WPEA for awhile, Steve may be a familiar face. Formerly a Staff Representative, he has returned as our Contract Administration Director, filling the role Amanda vacated after her election to President. Steve's journey into the labor movement is rooted in a desire for justice and empowerment. Having experienced firsthand the disregard for employees' value and dignity. In a previous workplace, Steve recognized the vital role organized labor plays in amplifying the voices of workers and demanding accountability from management. The collective bargaining agreement emerged as a powerful tool to level the playing field, that empowered Steve and his colleagues to advocate for fair treatment and improved conditions. In his current role, Steve is driven by a clear goal: to negotiate strong contracts that elevate the well-being of our members. Steve is excited to spearhead the negotiation of Higher Ed and General Government contracts. By striving for improved working conditions and equitable compensation, he aims to create meaningful change that benefits the entire membership. Steve offers valuable advice to anyone looking to get involved: embrace curiosity, seek out opportunities for involvement, and empower yourself with knowledge. By actively engaging in member meetings, understanding your rights under the collective bargaining agreement, and building relationships with staff representatives, you can become a catalyst for positive change. In the words of Benjamin Franklin "Lost time is never found again;" so in Steve's off-time he finds joy in spending time with family and relaxing. Welcome back to WPEA, Steve! Cheers to New Adventures: Saying Goodbye to Mike & Mark Mark Baca (Left) and Mike Backhaus (right) at their retirement ceremony April 20, 2024 Mike Backhaus, WPEA Business Manager, started at WPEA in September of 2000, had a 6 year break, and came back to WPEA until May of this year. When asked what he plans on doing in retirement he said, “Have Fun!” He also plans to work with the local Veterans group, visit family and enjoy time with his grandson. “I’m a 1G guy living in a 5G world” - Mike Backhaus Mark Baca, retired from Dept. of Revenue earlier this year and has been very involved with WPEA since 1998. He started as a Shop Steward, Chapter President, a Board Member, and Secretary-Treasurer for WPEA for many years, as well as on the WPEA Building Association. Mark will be part of WPEA as the on-call building maintenance manager so you may see him around.
Mike and Mark have been a great assets to WPEA and will be greatly missed! Honoring Jim Crabb - 25 Years of Service
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