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Website is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer. What's New:Contract Ratification / Annual Meeting: The Eastside and Westside Contract Ratification / Annual Meeting will be held September 15, 2008. Please see the Contract Negotiations Page and the Calendar Page fore more info. Next Board Meeting: The Region 6 Job Rep. Position is Vacant: If you are interested in this position, or wonder what it entails please contact the President (Russell Rogers). Winter 2008 Newsletter: Email and Internet Usage: A Cautionary Tale: Contacting the WAFWP: EXCHANGE TIME ACCRUAL PROCESS STREAMLINED FOR WAFWP MEMBERS As part of the Unfair Labor Practices and Exchange Time grievance settlement the state agreed to immediately . . . More- 2006 Annual Legal Report: 2007-2009 Contract: The Web Site is still in the process of being updated! |
Who is WAFWP?By Steve Bell - Past WAFWP President Washington Association of Fish and Wildlife Professionals (WAFWP), formerly known as Washington Association of Professional Biologists (WAPB), is an independent Labor Union comprised entirely of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) employees with similar working conditions, professional interests, issues and concerns. Larger unions usually generalize in representing an assortment of unrelated professions (such as security guards, police officers, librarians, teachers etc.) throughout various Agencies that sometimes have competing interests. By specializing solely on fish and wildlife professionals in WDFW our members benefit from a union that specializes in representing their interest, and only their interests. Unlike large multi-conglomerate unions, our members are directly engaged in running all aspects of the union (negotiations, finances, disciplines, grievances etc.). We believe no one can represent you and your interest better than you or your colleagues. Instead of relying on hired support staff that generalizes in representing dissimilar job classes, we are a hands-on union. The importance of hearing directly from the affected employees in grievances, negotiations and on state benefit boards is critical to our success. There is no better motivation to win a grievance or negotiate favorable changes than empowering those most affected by those changes. WAFWP does employee experts as appropriate (CPA, book keeper, attorney). WAFWP uses the labor law firm of Garrettson, Goldberg, Fenrich and Mackler PC. This law firm represents independent labor unions that specialize in the needs of their members throughout Washington and Oregon. This is a full-service law firm that provides experienced contract negotiators, salary surveys and many other resources as needed. One of the law firm’s partners, Rhonda Fenrich, has been our primary attorney since our inception in 1992. While other unions may have been in existence longer, they often have a higher rate of turn-over with their legal staff. Our 15+ year relationship with the same attorney has resulted in an unparalleled degree of understanding of our Agency, working conditions and natural resource concerns. By specializing in a specific class of employee in one Agency, we have developed an excellent working relationship with WDFW management and personnel. By using a cooperative interest-based approach, many issues are resolved expediently through dialogue before they become formalized time-consuming grievances. When satisfactory solutions are not possible we file grievances as appropriate but continue to respectfully work towards resolution in a professional manner. Some of the multi-conglomerate unions use member’s dues to fund issues that do not benefit the chapter (such as grievances for unrelated professions in other Agencies). Instead of the chapter member’s receiving direct and full benefit of their dues, their chapter may be given a small use-it-or-lose-it allowance. In WAFWP all the dues remain within the control of the elected-member run board. In WAFWP each member in good standing is entitled to a vote and an opportunity to run for office. Each member has a direct voice in the union. Being a smaller union our member’s voices are not diluted by the bureaucratic layers of chapter representatives or by competing chapters that represent employees in other Agencies. In WAFWP our members are also our coworkers, our colleagues and our friends. Mission StatementThe Washington Association of Fish and Wildlife Professionals (WAFWP) strives to provide the highest level of professionalism and advocates for the State’s fish and wildlife and their habitats. The goals of the Association are to promote an environment for all employees to achieve their professional best by: promoting fair and reasonable working conditions, developing effective means for prompt adjustments of differences, misunderstandings and disputes; and working with legislators and organizations to promote policies that protect and manage fish and wildlife resources. Brief History of the WAFWP/WAPB:(Reprinted from Winter 1994 Newsletter) Several of you are likely wondering why the WAPB was formed. It’s a long
story, far too long to be completely covered in this newsletter. However, a
brief summary is possible. How does the new exchange time policy effect WAFWP members?People have asked how the new exchange time policy recently put in place by
the director applies to WAFWP members. The key portion of the exchange time
policy to take note of is the line that says, “…if policies or procedures are in
conflict or are modified by a bargaining unit agreement, the agreement language
shall prevail.” |
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