Green Caucus takes message to Olympia

Excerpted from WFSE/AFSCME Council 28's HOTLINE by Tim Welch:

GREEN CAUCUS MAKES IMPACT IN LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS

    Wednesday was the lobby day in Olympia for the Federation’s Green Caucus and their members made a splash on two environmental bills up for hearings that day.

    SB 6406 would, among other things, charge for hydraulic project approvals – permits for projects affecting water. But it would also change key parts of this state’s environmental keystone, the State Environmental Policy 
Act (SEPA).

    That’s a concern, two of the Federation’s Green Caucus members told the Senate Energy, Natural Resources and Marine Waters Committee.

    “I support the concept of more revenue for important programs,” said Kerry Graber, a Local 443 members with the Department of Ecology in Lacey.

    But, she added, “We do have concerns about the changes to SEPA and the changes to citizen access. I think it’s a union value and a public service value that a citizen should have as much access to information.”

    Bellingham Local 1060 DSHS Green Caucus member Michele Stelovich echoed Graber’s concerns.

    “Our ability to participate in our growth management and how our waters are cleaned up is essential to our communities,” Stelovich told the senators.

    In the second Green Caucus committee appearance of the day, Graber and another Local 443 Ecology member, Dolores Mitchell, urged caution on SB 6211 to speed up cleanup of hazardous waste sites.

    The bill came before the Senate Environment Committee.

    “As a citizen, I ask that you not change the Model Toxics Control Act without a citizen referendum, particularly changes to the liability issues,” Mitchell testified. “Liability release leaves the public without protections against inadequate cleanups and no recourse in the event of human and environmental health harms that result. Particularly, it lets the polluters off the hook.”

    “We have exemplary public servants who work really hard to speed these cleanups along as quickly as possible…,” Graber said.

    “We feel that placing that important decision of when something is cleaned up into the hands of a consultant whose motives may be profit or solely the client’s interest instead of the public interest is a real shift in policy.”

Nicole Foss to Speak this Sat Jan 28 at 7 PM

Nicole Foss: "Roadmap for the Coming Years of Crisis"
Saturday 28 Jan 7:00 pm

Nicole Foss, internationally recognized speaker on energy, finance, and psychology, presents an informative evening at the Olympia Friends Meeting House, 3201 Boston Harbor Road NE, from 7 to 9 PM on January 28, 2012. 

Tickets $10-25 sliding scale; no one turned away for lack of funds.  Sponsored by the Green Party of Washington State.

Ms. Foss will speak on how to prepare for peak oil, climate change, the current financial crisis, and the increasingly imminent general collapse of imperial capitalism, aka corporate globalism.  Ms. Foss says that localized, self-reliant communities will give us not only economic resilience but inner strength as well.  This looks to be a fun, as well as informative, presentation. 

Nicole Foss is an international energy and finance expert, and co-editor of www.theautomaticearth.blogspot.com blog. Formerly, she was a Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies where she specialized in nuclear safety in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, she conducted research into electricity policy at the EU level, and is former editor of The Oil Drum - Canada. Ms. Foss is an internationally known speaker on the subject of Peak Oil and the collapse of the global financial system.

DuPont gravel mine settlement agreement gets final approval

Here's a small victory for public employee unions in the environmental field: announcement from Governor's Office today (1/26/2012)


Ecology and three other parties announced today that an accord has been reached on a settlement agreement regarding DuPont gravel mining and watershed-shoreline protection.
The city of DuPont, Ecology, CalPortland Co., and a broad-based environmental coalition put together the agreement allowing CalPortland to seek new mining permits in the area while protecting the nearby Puget Sound shoreline and paying to restore Sequalitchew Creek. The DuPont City Council voted to authorize the agreement Tuesday night. This was the final step needed to ratify the DuPont Settlement Agreement, negotiated over a three-year period ending in 2011.

The environmental coalition includes Nisqually Delta Association, the Washington Environmental Council, People for Puget Sound, the Anderson Island Quality of Life Committee, and the Tahoma and Black Hills and Seattle Audubon societies. The company is seeking permits to expand mining into some 350 adjacent acres from the existing mine site. The negotiations involve a 1994 agreement that settled two decades of environmental disputes and appeals of shoreline development plans by creating a new vision for the shoreline’s use and protection and agreeing to a location for a dock to ship mining products. Mining began in 1997.

CalPortland predicts this agreement will help preserve approximately 60 union positions. Another 40 jobs lost during the economic downturn also could be eventually restored. In addition, the activities envisioned by the settlement agreement are likely to provide hundreds of hours of work for environmental engineers, consultants and contractors. This agreement does not approve or authorize any new mining. Both the restoration plan and any mining proposal will undergo the normal review processes, including opportunities for public input. This continuation of the 1994 settlement agreement includes preservation of 45 acres of Puget Sound shore lands and adjacent open space as well as improving flows in Sequalitchew Creek – both of which will help restore South Puget Sound. Recent studies also show that even modest increases in the water flowing through the creek would dramatically improve access to, and quality of, its fish habitat.

Draft Dec. 8th Minutes

MINUTES
WFSE Council 28 Green Caucus
Dec. 8, 2011

Legislative Reports:

• Alia Griffing, Matt Zupich and Bob Overturf met with Sen. Ranker on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 and discussed issues of concern to the Green Caucus.

• Kerry Graber reported on the issue emerging regarding hydraulic permits and defense of the Model Toxics Control Account.
• Alia has produced and distributed an environmental priorities list and would like our input on it.
• Discover Pass - There appears to be strong support for a change to the law authorizing the Discover Pass to allow it to be used on up to two vehicles per household. Alia will track this and put results on the blog.
• There is a lobbying training on Jan. 7, 2011 at the Machinists Union Hall in South Seattle. There will be a keynote speaker and role playing with legislators who are volunteering their time to participate.
• There is a Green Caucus Lobby Day scheduled for Jan. 25th. A Green Caucus face-to-face meeting on the evening of the 24th is a possibility.
• Gerry Pollet of King County has been appointed to the late Sen. White’s seat after he passed away unexpectedly. Paulette was previously affiliated with Heart of America Northwest.
• Kerry proposed that Climate Solutions be given a half hour at the start of our Jan. 12th meeting. The group agreed to allocate that time to Climate Solutions.
• Alia Griffing reported on the activities of a group of conservative Democrats in the state s
Senate who are called the Roadkill Caucus, and are known for blocking adoption of Progressive, pro-labor legislation.
• The group discussed the need to organize a group of volunteers from our group who would track bills as they move through the legislative process. The group agreed this would be a good idea.
• Jim Wavada reported on outreach efforts to Spokane Alliance, and on efforts to develop a template Lunch and Learn presentation that would introduce all of the WFSE caucuses and special groups to listeners, including the Green Caucus.
• Morton Alexander asked about our commitment to engage with other community organizations in the coal port controversy in Bellingham. He believes we should at least be gathering information and tracking the progress of that situation. Leigh Malinda asked that we invite Jeff Johnson from one of the labor unions in favor of the port siting as well as one of the community opponents

Register now for meeting and lobby day

The Green Caucus will hold an in-person meeting in Olympia on January 24 and is participating in Lobby Day on January 25

Tuesday, Jan. 24th — Green Caucus meeting at WFSE Headquarters

• Legislative Roundtable (6-7pm) Legislators are invited  to join us for a bite to eat & chat about the budget and policy issues.
• Progress Alliance of Washington (7-8pm)
  
  RVSP required - contact Pam Herrick at 800-562-6002 to RSVP so a meal can be ordered for you. If you require travel or accommodations, contact Emily Roberts at 800-562-6002.

Wednesday, Jan. 25th — Green Caucus Lobby Day - WFSE Headquarters

• Check-in and Legislative Briefing (9 am)
• Visits with Legislators
  
  REGISTRATION required - contact Diana Whitmore at 800-562-6002 or register online here so appointments can made in advance.

Green Caucus Meeting Jan. 12

This is a very important meeting for the Caucus, helping up to set our agenda for what promises to be one of the most challenging years ever for state workers and those who seek to protect the natural environment in an all-cuts budget environment.  We will need you help.

The meeting begins at 6 pm.

The agenda for the January 2012 Green Caucus meeting appears below, following the webconference details. To join the meeting via webconference, please use the information below to join us on Go To Meeting.

1. Please join my meeting, Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time. https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/416968062 .
2. Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) - a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.
   
   Dial +1 (805) 309-0011
   Access Code: 416-968-062
   Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
   
   Meeting ID: 416-968-062

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WFSE Council 28 Green Caucus
DRAFT AGENDA
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012
6:00 – 7:30 PM

NOTE:  Co-chair Bob Overturf is not able to attend this meeting.

• Roll call and call to order – Kerry Graber
  

• Review and approval of minutes. – Jim Wavada
  

• Committee Reports – Kerry Graber
  

• Old Business:
  
  • Draft agenda for Jan. 24, 2012 face-to-face meeting of Green Caucus  -- Kerry Graber
    • Guest organization per our decision to invite potential partner organizations to present their organizations to us.  Who should we select?
    • Top issues of concern for 2012
  • Logistics for Jan. 24 meeting, and Jan. 25 Lobby Day – Liz Larsen
  • Report on planning for Lobby Day on Jan. 25th.  – Alia Griffing

• Report on Lobby Training, Jan. 7th

• Report on upcoming Legislative session and how we can help  -- Alia Griffing

• Roundtable: Any local or state issues that Caucus members would like to report --All

• Update on action items from previous meeting, new action items – Kerry Graber
  

ADJOURN

Retirement Plans – Opportunity, Risk, and Reward

- by Kerry Graber

It was a temperate September Saturday in SeaTac, and I was there for the WFSE Executive Committee meetings. I was looking forward to some Fall shopping at the Nordstrom Rack as soon as my last committee meeting wrapped up.  Then I found out the Retirement Committee was meeting and I felt compelled to find out what this group is working on.

I looked around curiously at the dedicated few from the Executive Board that had asked to be assigned to this small committee while we waited for the guest speaker.  Then Senator Conway, a democrat from the 29th legislative district, walked in and sat down like he was joining a group of friends to have coffee and a nice chat.  Tall and distinguished, the Senator had a relaxed but serious demeanor as he launched into his purpose.

Senator Conway speaks

The Senator described the 1.5 to 2 billion deficit projected in the budget, and expressed both concern and determination that state employees and their retirement benefits should be provided for.  He shared that the legislature was no longer interested in underfunding the system, “playing around with the pension funds” as he put it. Despite the press and the media focusing on problems with PERS 1 and TERS 1 plans, he assured us that Washington has a well-funded pension system. 

While new legislators want to see new employees not provided a defined benefit plan, he assured us that our contractual right to a pension will not go away.  Senator Conway noted that pensions will be provided, but admitted there will likely be no increase in benefits.  As for a plan 4 “defined benefit plan” for new employees (think of it like a 401K that has no guarantee of return), he stated that Governor Gregoire did not appear to agree with this idea, and that there was not enough support in the legislature to pass a bill for it. 

Since I was unaware the attempt had been made to propose or pass such a bill, this news brought me to the edge of my seat.

The Senator went on to explain that about 70% of the future value of our pension plans is funded by investment of both the employee’s and employer’s contribution, and 30% from current contributions.  The co-mingled trust fund is assumed to have an average 8% return on investment, invested carefully by the State Investment Board (SIB).  This varies over time based on the volatility of the stock market.  The profit and losses are averaged over time.  As most of us know, the legislature thought they could reduce contributions and start PERS 3 because of the great market returns.  This resulted in an unfunded liability for employees in PERS 1 and TERS 1.

Senator Conway was asked about the possibility of early retirement options being added to the plans.  The Senator was thoughtful, then shook his head and told us that all over the country early retirement options are being stripped from the plans that have it.  The bottom line: “Be realistic,” he said.

Gain Sharing and Early Retirement

After the Senator said his good-byes, the committee took up the business that had been delegated to them by the Council 28 executive board, namely, a resolution that directed the WFSE to work diligently toward the adoption of the “rule of 85” into law.  This rule would allow a person to retire without penalty or reduction of benefits if the sum of their age and years of service credit added up to 85.

Let me digress for a moment and update you on legal actions that relate to all of this.  As reported in previous bulletins, Ecology board members (my predecessors) were instrumental in pushing WFSE to sue over the loss of gain sharing for PERS 1 and 3 that occurred a couple of sessions ago.  Members felt that the promise of gain sharing was contractual, and had enticed many PERS 2 employees to switch to 3 when they otherwise would not have changed plans.  A judge ruled on the suit in favor of WFSE last spring that indeed gain sharing had been promised and must be restored.

Inextricably linked to that lawsuit was a new early retirement provision for PERS 2, that was included by the legislature as a kind of consolation prize when they removed gain sharing.  The early retirement provision allows employees with 30 years of service to retire before the age of 65 with less penalty, and at age 62 with no penalty.  The judge delayed ruling on whether this provision had to stay in place after gain sharing was restored. The union wants the court to retain early retirement, but the state argued it was only granted as a replacement for the loss of gain sharing. The judge is scheduled to rule on this piece of the lawsuit in December. 

Meanwhile, some who qualify under the early retirement provision have put in their papers, but others are faced with the dilemma that if they don’t retire now, the provision might go away after the judge rules and they would have to keep working until they are 65.  The situation has been made more complex by mixed messages from Department of Retirement Systems and human resource departments on the timing and deadline for people to make up their minds.  There is no way to know which way the judge will rule, or whether WFSE will appeal an unfavorable ruling to a higher court thereby extending the window for prospective retirees. 

If nothing else, I can say as an Executive Board member I will continue to push for assertive action by union legal staff in the courts to retain any benefit or improvement to retirement that we can gain in these troubled times.  



Next Steps for the Retirement Committee

Retirement Committee Chair Bill Copland, Department of Corrections member and president of the local in Richland, turned back to the group for input on how to proceed on pushing the rule of 85.  Clearly this is an option the members want but may be impossible to achieve in a climate of benefit-stripping.  Bill asked for input from the committee members to articulate where we are at, where we want to be, and what it is going to take to get there.  We were asked to go back to our Locals and talk about this issue and share what we have learned, bringing back any input that would be helpful to the committee.

Want to know more?

I have posted some background documents on the health of the retirement system, the Senate Bill report on the attempt to establish a PERS 4 from last session, and a policy brief from Governor Gregoire.  I will post more information as I receive it. 

Subscribe (Folllow) this blog to receive notification of updates.

In the interim I urge you to get educated about this issue and educate others – respond to media reports with letters to the editor - point out that the “impending disaster” in underfunded state pensions, touted in news stories, is not a complete and accurate picture.  Lastly, be ready to provide your input as a citizen and state employee (on your own time of course!) when the issue comes up again for lawmakers