History in the Making

SEATAC, WASHINGTON

Green shirts and loud cheers filled a hotel lobby here on Feb. 28 as more than 100 members of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE)/ AFSCME Council 28 gave a spirited send-off to their General Government Bargaining Team. Forming a "receiving line" leading to the ballroom where the meeting took place, the workers also welcomed government negotiators with applause as they walked in for the first master-contract negotiations between management and Council 28.

This was an historic moment for 30,000 state agency workers. It took them 14 years to get a collective bargaining bill passed. "As pioneers, it is important that what we do has a positive impact on everybody that comes behind us," says Kandy Kraig, Local 1221 president and a member of the bargaining team. "It is exciting to actually be there at the table representing our members in this history-making opportunity."

Jeanine Livingston, a policy and compliance analyst with the Division of Social and Health Services and a member of Local 443, considers it "a great privilege" to be part of the team. "I want to make sure we are truly serving the interests of all state employees, that we don't give up anything."

Bargaining is expected to be completed in early fall.