News

Pride Event Raises over $2,000 for Outside In

To kick off the last weekend of Pride in Portland, the Oregon AFSCME LGBTQIA+ Caucus in partnership with AFSCME Local 2805, Multnomah Defenders, Inc and Local 3668, Metropolitan Public Defend

Oregon State Workers Demand Recognition of Indigenous People’s Day as a Paid Holiday

Salem, OR — For the third consecutive bargaining cycle, Oregon state workers represented by Oregon AFSCME have called on state leadership to honor Indigenous People’s Day with a paid holiday.

Alyssa’s Grievance Victory Started with Notes | Oregon AFSCME Member Story

When Alyssa Ledesma first joined Oregon AFSCME Local 328, she did it on the advice of a colleague, without knowing how helpful having a union can be.

Welcome WFSE’s New Executive Director, Leanne Kunze

Leanne Kunze began serving as the union’s executive director this February after being selected by the AFSCME Council 28/WFSE Executive Board in January. She is the fifth person and first woman to hold the position.

Kunze brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the job, both as a member activist and staff leader.

“In my estimation, the executive board made a great choice to help drive our energetic staff,” said outgoing executive director, Greg Devereux.

Did You Miss the Tele Town Hall?

Thousands of public employees from across the state called in for a tele town hall on January 30 hosted by President Mike Yestramski and Vice President Andrea Vaughn. WFSE's new executive director, Leanne Kunze, was also available to answer questions about pending legislation to protect state employees' personal information (HB 1888).

We'll keep you posted on upcoming tele town halls. But if you missed January's, check out the video below.

Thank You, Greg Devereux

Executive Director and International Vice President Greg Devereux retired in January after nearly 40 years in the labor movement. His leadership made the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) one of the strongest AFSCME councils in the nation and a progressive force for working people in Washington State.

Devereux began his career with WFSE in 1993 as the deputy director, and in 1994 he was selected to serve as the union’s fourth executive director. Prior to that, he worked at AFSCME’s Public Policy Department and ran corporate campaigns at the AFL-CIO.

Feb. 6 Rally for Safety & Privacy

Join WFSE members and community on February 6 in Olympia to rally for our privacy and safety!

Public employees from all across Washington will converge on the Capitol with a strong message for legislators: Keep us safe.

Tele Town Hall with WFSE President & VP

Picture of Mike Yestramski and Andrea Vaughn

Take Action: 2020 Legislative Priorities

Welcome to the 2020 Legislative Session! You are the best advocate for the issues that affect your workplace. Join us for a lobby day or call 855-982-1762 to reach your legislators immediately. Read below for the key legislative issues we're standing up for in 2020. 

You have the right to lobby. Use it.

Lobbying as a Public Servant: What Are Our Rights?

As a public employee, you have a special role in our state. Public employees protect some of our most vulnerable citizens, preserve our natural resources, and keep our roads safe. But what about your personal rights? Many state employees express concern about their ability to lobby their elected officials.

Register for a lobby day here.

Ecology Workers Take on Hazardous Lighting

When a harsh, disruptive lighting change gave employees watery eyes and headaches, WFSE Local 872 members took action. Their collective voices and strategy convinced management to do the right thing and correct the problem.

“The agency went to LED lighting, which was a good thing,” said Alan Bogner, Brownfields Manager and Vice President of WFSE Local 872. “But the lighting that they put in came with a pretty wide range of brightness level, and they unfortunately set the level at high, at maximum, throughout the entire building. It was just too much. It was way too bright.”