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Summer 2012

Contract trend improves

by County and City Employee staff on August 13, 2012
With talk of cutbacks and budget shortfalls everywhere, Council 2 members feared the worst when they faced contract negotiations this year. But, so far, they have been largely satisfied with agreements reached around the state, particularly given the economic situation.And, if anything, the trend seems to be improving. Take, for example,...
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Worst pension attacks defeated

Worst pension attacks defeated

by County and City Employee staff on August 11, 2012
Changes to the state pension system emerged as the greatest direct impact on local government employees in the state’s 2012 legislative session, which ended in mid-April. But, thanks to intense...
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Jobless rate would be lower without public sector losses

Jobless rate would be lower without public sector losses

by County and City Employee staff on July 25, 2012
The unemployment rate would have been a full percentage point lower, at 7.2 percent, had it not been for the job losses at state and local government, according to published reports. The...
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Tough job has bright spots

Tough job has bright spots

by County and City Employee staff on July 25, 2012
Corrections officer Tom Trarbough performs a tough job, one that most people do not want to even hear about, let alone do. It’s unpleasant, it’s challenging and it can be soul-destroying. “We...
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Ruling clarifies when a worker is a supervisor

by County and City Employee staff on July 18, 2012
When the East Wenatchee public works director is out of the office, the associate engineer stands in for him, making decisions affecting the department. Does this mean the associate engineer is a...
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Two executive board members retire

by County and City Employee staff on July 11, 2012
Two executive board members recently retired — Michael West and John Ohlson. Here are brief biographies of each. Michael West: Local 2084-SC President and Council 2 Executive Board member...
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Scholarship winner on why unions are important

Scholarship winner on why unions are important

by County and City Employee staff on July 4, 2012
THE ESSAY BELOW was submitted by Helen Pendergraft, daughter of Norman Pendergraft of Local 114 (the City of Bellingham) as part of her application for a Council 2 scholarship. She was selected...
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McEntee's legacy is unmatched

McEntee's legacy is unmatched

by Chris Dugovich, Council 2 President and Executive Officer on June 12, 2012
During this year’s AFSCME International Convention the torch will be passed and a new era of leadership will begin for this union. Gerald McEntee, who has served this union for close to 50 years...
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Locals can still sponsor golf tournament

Locals can still sponsor golf tournament

by County and City Employee staff on June 6, 2012
There is still time for locals wanting to sponsor Council 2’s 11th annual golf tournament to make contributions of $250, $500 or $1,000. The money from the sponsorships goes toward the...
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