Win for Yakima Valley College Members!Information Provided by Judy Lumm, WPEA Staff Representative WPEA members at Yakima Valley College recently secured a major win through the grievance process. The union filed a grievance after discovering the college had misapplied the Personal Leave article in the Yakima Valley contract. As a result of the successful grievance and persistence of our members, 47 bargaining unit members had a total of 220 hours of leave restored to their leave balances. This outcome is a strong reminder of the power of standing together and enforcing our contract. When management doesn’t follow the terms we’ve negotiated, WPEA members can and do take action and we win! The Fight for Public Workers Doesn’t End at Retirement For many Washington public employees, retirement marks the end of their careers, but not the end of their fight. The Retired Public Employees Council of Washington (RPEC) carries forward the mission of protecting and improving the lives of those who devoted their working years to public service. RPEC represents tens of thousands of retired state, county, and local government workers, ensuring their voices are heard long after they leave the workplace. The organization advocates for fair and secure pensions, access to affordable health coverage, and regular cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to help retirees keep up with rising costs. As the cost of living continues to climb and healthcare expenses grow faster than inflation, retirees face increasing financial pressure. RPEC fights back against this erosion of purchasing power and the ongoing threats to retirement security. The council works closely with lawmakers, testifies in legislative hearings, and mobilizes members to speak directly with their representatives. Through its strong advocacy, RPEC has played a leadership role in major victories for Washington’s retirees. The council has successfully pushed for legislation to strengthen pension funding, improve retirement benefits, and restore COLAs for members whose purchasing power has been chipped away by inflation. These wins don’t come easily—they are the result of organized, persistent, and passionate advocacy. But RPEC’s work isn’t just about financial security. It’s about ensuring that those who dedicated their careers to serving their communities are treated with the respect they deserve in retirement. Every pension check, every affordable health plan, every legislative success represents a promise kept to the public workers who helped build and sustain Washington State. RPEC’s message is clear: the fight for public workers doesn’t end at retirement. It continues in every bill debated at the Capitol, every budget passed, and every conversation about what kind of future we want for the people who made public service their life’s work. Secrets of a Successful OrganizerFrom Labornotes.org You've been talking to your co-workers, and they say they feel overworked, underpaid, and increasingly pressured by productivity quotas and the ever present threat of discipline. How do you fight for better? Secrets of a Successful Organizer is Labor Notes' core organizing training, in two sessions full of lively participatory exercises. We welcome first-timers and repeat attendees looking to sharpen their skills. These trainings will be held via Zoom. When: Saturdays, November 8 & 15 Time: Noon to 3 p.m. Eastern / 9 a.m. to Noon Pacific WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS Beating Apathy Are you beating your head against the wall trying to get other workers involved? This workshop is for you. Hear success stories from those who’ve turned their workplaces around and turned apathy into action. Learn practical organizing tools for engaging your co-workers, taking action, and getting results. Assembling Your Dream Team Your workplace may feel like an unorganized mess, but the truth is you’re not starting from zero. There’s organization there already—though it might have nothing to do with the union. Learn how to map out the existing networks in your workplace, identify the leaders in those networks, and then knit them together into an organizing committee. Turning an Issue into a Campaign Everybody has complaints and frustrations, but an organizer has the power to turn problems into opportunities. Learn how to sort through the issues you hear from co-workers, bring people together, and make a plan to solve them. To learn more or sign up click here. Union History: Issaquah coal miners’ strike (Oct 24 1903) We honor the workers who stood up for fair treatment, safe workplaces, and dignity on the job. One such moment in Washington’s labor history took place over a century ago when a group of coal miners in Issaquah took a courageous stand for better pay and respect. The Strike That Shook Issaquah On October 24, 1903, miners at the Issaquah Coal Company walked off the job. They were demanding a small but meaningful raise, from $2.50 to $3.00 a day, after years of dangerous work underground with little improvement in conditions or wages. Mining was among the most dangerous jobs in the early 1900s. Collapses, explosions, and chronic illness were part of daily life, and miners often labored ten or more hours a day. Despite the risk, coal companies resisted wage increases, claiming they couldn’t afford to pay more. But the Issaquah miners had reached their limit. Together, they organized, took a vote, and shut down the mine. Holding the Line The strike lasted several tense weeks. The company at first refused to meet their demands. But the miners held firm and, crucially, they held together. Community support grew as families and local businesses rallied around the miners, recognizing that a fair wage for one worker helped lift the whole town. Finally, in mid-November 1903, the Issaquah Coal Company agreed to arbitration. The miners didn’t win the full 50cent raise they sought, but they did achieve a compromise: $2.85 per day and a guarantee that all strikers would be rehired without retaliation. When a few workers were initially left off the recall list, the miners walked out again on November 28, forcing the company back to the table. Within two weeks, the dispute was fully settled and every miner was returned to work. A Small Raise, A Big Victory That 35-cent increase might not sound like much today, but in 1903 it represented a significant gain and an important precedent. The Issaquah miners’ unity won them not just higher pay, but respect and it showed other Washington workers that solidarity could move even the most stubborn employers. Why It Matters Today The Issaquah strike reminds us that Washington’s labor roots run deep. More than a hundred years ago, workers were already using the same principles that still define our movement:
Shop For Your New Car With Union Plus The Union Plus Auto Buying Program makes it easy to find your next ride. See upfront prices, compare payment options, and check price ratings - all online. Reap even more savings this fall with average member savings of $2, 193 off MSRP. Also, check out this Special Member Benefit Get a $100 rebate on a new union-made car when you purchase using the Union Plus Member Auto Buying Program.* Check it out here! Recipe: Witch Cupcakes Beware, they might just put a spell on you.
Directions Step 1 Bake cupcakes as directed and let cool. Prepare buttercream and tint desired colors. Frost the cupcakes. Step 2 To form the witch hats: Fold one cupcake liner in half, then fold in half again. Tape the two flaps together to form a solid wedge shape. Fold the wedge in half again and tape again to form a cone. Step 3 Insert a toothpick into the frosted cupcake and place the cone on top of the toothpick. This is the top of the hat. Step 4 Cut a hole in the middle of the mini cupcake liner. This is the base of the hat. Slide the cut-out mini cupcake liner onto the cone to create the hat. Repeat for remaining cupcakes. Comments are closed.
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