Green Transit Bill for State Workers

Excerpt from the WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 Hotline below:

"The Federation-initiated bill to allow members to take advantage of a federal tax break for qualified parking and transit benefits (to promote commute trip reduction) was once again introduced in the Legislature Monday (Jan. 28). This is a Federation-initiated bill that passed the House in 2011 and 2012 but died in the Senate. It’s part of the Federation’s Green Caucus priority to reduce our carbon footprint."

Follow what's happening at http://leg.wa.gov.

Let's Show the Legislature how GREEN we are!

Join us for our Green Caucus
Lobby Day and Legislative Luncheon!

Come to Olympia with WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 Green Caucus members for a day of meetings and a lunchtime chat with legislators about our current issues. 

Date:  Tuesday, January 22nd

Time:  9 – 4 PM, including a special Legislative Luncheon from 12 – 1 PM

Sign Up: http://www.wfse.org/get-involved/legislative-member-lobbyists/

The Green Caucus has members from many state agencies, not just the agencies directly tasked with natural resources.  We are a diverse group of union members from around the state who self-identify as “environmentalists” or who are simply interested in green issues.  We work to promote sustainability within our union and our communities.  Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/greenc28, or leave a comment here on our blog.

If can come only for the Legislative Luncheon from 12 – 1 PM please contact Vanessa Butler at 360.352.7603.

Join us Jan 10!

Join our monthly Green Caucus meeting this Thursday, January 10 at 6 PM.

HOW TO JOIN:

In-person: 

Come to either the WFSE Headquarters in Olympia or our Field Office in Spokane.

OR 

From Home: 

Participate in our videoconference.  Follow the instructions below:

1.)  Visit https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/224767918

 

2.)  Dial in using your telephone: 

Dial (619) 550-0003
Access Code: 224-767-918

Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

Save State $ And Protect Our Parks!

Great news for Washington's Parks in today's Council 28's Hotline!  

WFSE/AFSCME PRESENTS ALTERNATIVE FORT WORDEN MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT SAVES STATE $1.2 MILLION

    The Federation on Friday formally asked the state Parks Commission to reject plans to turn over management of Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend and instead embrace the union’s alternative that would save $1.2 million and not sap further revenue from the cash-starved parks system.

    The Fort Worden Public Development Authority (FWPDA) wants to take over effective control of the historic battery, made famous as the setting for the 1982 Richard Gere movie, “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

    But among other “asks,” the PDA wants to skim off $250,000 of the $350,000 in annual camp fees at Fort Worden.

    The Federation, instead, proposes a plan that keeps the park under the commission’s control and makes the PDA a partner with the ability to do fundraising for upgrades to buildings that tenants now use.

    The Federation’s “Black Friday Memo” also identifies nine areas where the PDA’s business plan does not comply with a 2008 long-range plan. That’s required by the Legislature. The union will ask the Parks Commission at its Dec. 6 meeting in Monroe to declare the business plan out of compliance and allow employees to offer alternatives under state competitive contracting rules and the General Government Collective Bargaining Agreement.

    But first, on Nov. 29, the public will get a chance to comment on the PDA’s plans at a public meeting in Port Townsend.

    The Federation’s “Black Friday Memo” outlines savings of $1.2 million from what the PDA proposes. The union proposes increasing tenant rents by about 35 percent – but still well under market rates. And the Federation plan would bring all reservations for parks facilities under the commission; that would cut out the current wasteful practice where the tenants act as a third-party broker and sub-lease space they pay little or nothing for.

“Not only is the current deficit nearly eliminated in the first year, but a solid foundation for future increases in revenue is created that has a greater opportunity for success,” the Federation’s memo said.

    The union also saves by rejecting the PDA’s marketing plan, instead using parks staff. And the Federation would save $147,000 by upgrading the current computer reservation system rather than replacing it to the tune of $162,000, as proposed by the PDA.

    The Fort Worden Public Development Authority would also rely on state subsidies to operate.

    This flies in the face of current joint efforts by the commission and Federation to ask the Legislature for additional General Fund monies to smooth out the transition to the user-fee based Discover Pass system, which still is not bringing in the required revenue to make up for lost state funds.

    “The PDA plan is a drain on the parks system,” said Jeanine Livingston, the Federation’s contract compliance manager. “Parks have been cut beyond the bone. The PDA plan calls for a state subsidy that places the rest of the parks system in jeopardy. There could be additional layoffs, fewer year-round parks and parks closures. We can’t ask the Legislature for more money to cover the Discover Pass and then even more money to subsidize the PDA’s contracting out plan.”

Check out all the photos from our awesome legislative breakfast Sept 30, 2012 in our facebook photo album.  Below attendees show off the DiscoverPass they each won during our Washington Green Facts Trivia game during breakfast.

Join our November Mtg

Join our regular monthly Green Caucus meeting this Thursday, November 8 at 6 PM.

HOW TO JOIN

In-person: Come to either the WFSE Headquarters in Olympia or our Field Office in Spokane.

OR

From Home: Participate in our videoconference.  Follow the instructions below:

1.) Go to https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/287968278

2.) Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) - a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.

Dial +1 (773) 897-3001
Access Code: 287-968-278
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
Meeting ID: 287-968-278

Green Caucus Mtg 10/11/2012

Join our monthly Green Caucus meeting this Thursday, October 11 at 6 PM.  
HOW TO JOIN OUR REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING:


In-person: Come to either the WFSE Headquarters in Olympia or our Field Office in Spokane. 

From Home: You can also join from your home by participating in our videoconference.  Follow the instructions below:

1.  Please join my meeting, Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 6:00 PM.
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/579910102

2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) - a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.

      Dial: +1 (510) 201-0301
      Access Code: 579-910-102
      Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
      Meeting ID: 579-910-102

      Not at your computer? Click the link to join this meeting from your iPhone®, iPad® or Android® device via the GoToMeeting app.

      (You can also use your microphone and speakers (VoIP), but please use a headset to prevent feedback noise.)