Washington - Devoted Leader Carries AFSCME Spirit - Literally

People Person Extraordinaire: Howard Ocobock shows off his tattoo.

Photo Credit: Tam Tocher

Olympia, Washington

“AFSCME Spirit.” Members demonstrate the term in all sorts of ways. But none like Howard Ocobock, vice president of Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE)/AFSCME Council 28. He had the AFSCME PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality) logo tattooed on his left shoulder.

Ocobock is an equipment mechanic employed by the Washington State Department of Trans-portation in Yakima. In 2004, he was elected vice president of Council 28. Before that, he was president and vice president of Local 1326.

But he wasn’t satisfied with just helping his council. So, in 2006, Ocobock accepted an appointment as a vice president of the Washington State Labor Council where he continues to hold office.

He has said he learned the value of hard work and loyalty while serving in the U.S. Navy and the National Guard. So it’s not such a stretch to understand why—at AFSCME’s 2007 Leadership Conference—Ocobock challenged his fellow Council 28 members to reach 10 percent participation in PEOPLE, AFSCME’s political, grassroots lobbying and fundraising arm. If they met the goal by the union’s 2008 International Convention, he said he’d get the tattoo.

This was no small challenge. In October 2006, Council 28 had just 308 PEOPLE contributors. By the deadline, that number had grown to 2,000.

Ocobock’s tattoo is just an outward symbol of his inner commitment to improving the lives of working people through the power of his union.

Perry Gordon, organizing chair for Local 443 and a health insurance benefits specialist for the Washington State Health Care Authority, says Council 28 “today has a roster of 2,054 PEOPLE contributors, thanks in part to Howard’s inspiration and dedication.”