Ashley Fueston - WFSE C28 Vice-President

23/10/2024

Great turnout at the DCYF site visit! If you're a member in Tumwater, we are here until 2 with the taco truck. Come have a conversation and celebrate our contract ratification.

13/09/2024

After 20 straight hours of bargaining, we reached a tentative agreement with management. We still have lots of paperwork to finish, so more to come. You will all receive an email update.

But first -- SLEEP

13/09/2024

3:10am - still bargaining. Getting closer.
It might be about time to order donuts and more coffee though.

13/09/2024

Another long day and night of bargaining the WFSE GG contract. Your bargaining team is still working their behinds off to get the best contract possible.

10/09/2024

I have been a state worker since September of 2015. In that time I have seen contracts that consistently protect our workers as well as offering them fair wages. I have seen our union fight to bargain during a global pandemic, offering to help the state balance the budget (yet again) on OUR backs. I had the honor of being on the team that bargained the largest contract our union has ever seen.

But, do you know what else I have seen? I have seen state workers be told to “do more with less”. Less humans in positions, less positions filled, less funding for Protective gear, less safety in hazardous jobs, less, less, LESS.

Less staff over all, less approval for agency offered classes, less schedule flexibility, less work life balance and MORE mandatory overtime, MORE cases on already too full caseloads, MORE NUMBERS required to be hit while working with LESS.

I have seen hiring freeze after hiring freeze, essential staff members not get their exposure pay, removal of job classes and in turn people in those job classes, vacancy rates in the 20% and retention at an all time low. While we as boots on the ground workers are getting little to no improvements in our worsening working conditions we are STILL doing more with less. We are still keeping Washington moving. WE are STILL keeping people safe, roads safe, parks clean. We are STILL helping people receive unemployment benefits, food benefits, healthcare, and drivers licenses. ALL WHILE BEING GIVEN LESS

All the while managers continue to get their pay increases, chiefs, commissioners, directors, assistant directors, operation managers they haven’t felt the impacts in the same way we have. I have had enough! Haven’t you had enough???

If OFM doesn’t think we are worth paying us what we deserve then I hope they understand the fight they will be getting into. We as WFSE don’t want to impact the public. But we as WFSE ARE THE PUBLIC! A walkout is our first step in showing OFM that we are worth more than 1%

We want a fair general wage increase, safe working conditions, and the ability to live a life, not just survive this life

And if WE DON’T GET IT

SHUT IT DOWN

20/08/2024

13/08/2024

Having a great time at the council 28 reception this evening.

07/08/2024

While I am glad to see the Department of Fish and Wildlife be held accountable, this kind of stuff is PREVENTABLE. Proper training and proper safety precautions quite literally save lives. Not to mention, when departments are already facing budget cuts, poor management and an inability to keep their workers safe contribute to these budget cuts. $200,000 doesn't come out of no where. And I can guarantee you it most likely won't be coming out of the pay of the agency leaders who allowed these mistakes to happen.

$200,000 could pay for a full-time staff to implement training and proper safety practices. It could pay for more than one full time support staff to ensure employees are able to locate the trainings and safety guidelines that they need.

But instead, it is apparently a better use of state resources to allow people to go untrained into hazardous work environments, where they lose their lives, and just pay the fine later.

A news release from Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

12/07/2024

Even though I'm all grown up, there's nothing more special than getting a message like this after visiting my dad's worksite for a WFSE Local 443 lunch and learn to talk about all things AFSCME Council 28 WFSE, bargaining, and job site issues.

So glad I had the chance to have lunch with my dad (and his colleagues).

11/07/2024

Time to donate blood at the WFSE Local 443 blood drive!

08/05/2024

WHAT A DAY! This annual event during Public Service Recognition Week is one of my absolute favorites. We get to talk to hundreds of people about our union AFSCME Council 28 WFSE and their local, WFSE Local 443 ! We hand out prizes and candy and just enjoy a really great time appreciating state employees and all they do for the citizens of our state.

08/05/2024

Green Machine is all loaded up and ready for the Public Service Recognition Week today at the Capitol! Come see us!

06/03/2024

Getting ready to attend the Universal Healthcare Rally and speak on behalf of WFSE AFSCME Council 28 WFSE

02/11/2023

Mike Yestramski Jr. and I are at Consolidated Mail Services with breakfast and coffee for our WFSE siblings! Thanks to our 443 organizer, Ramona and our DES agency rep, Alex for making this possible!!

26/10/2023

There's snow up there! Mike and I are hitting the ground running for our new term! We are on our way to the east side to visit some members, worksites, and even do a little door knocking!

Keep your eyes peeled for the Green Machine 👀

08/10/2023

What. A. Weekend.

Thank you to all the WFSE members who attended our 50th biennial convention this weekend! It was one for the record books. Our guest speakers rocked it, we got through important business and set goals for our union, and we honored our members who have gone above and beyond.

I couldn't ask to be part of a better union and I'm so proud to be

07/10/2023

Thank you to the WFSE convention body for allowing us to serve you all for another two years!

07/09/2023

Out here at the Park with Local 341 peeps. Come on out and get some lunch, chat with your officers, meet your LPA team, and have a great time with fellow siblings!

04/09/2023

Out at the park celebrating Labor Day with Local 793, 53, Pierce County Central Labor Council and many others.

If you're in the area, this is the place to be!! Come get some lunch, play games, enter some raffles and spend some time with your union siblings.

21/08/2023

Spent the day in Medical Lake today. This picture is from the flight over. What you're seeing isn't mountains in clouds, it's mountains in smoke. These fires are scary big. Mike and I were able to go visit members at Lakeland Village and see some of the aftermath. There are no words to describe it. Jarring and devastating. Many of our siblings haven't been able to get to their homes to see if or how much damage has been done, we have siblings who have learned they lost their homes and then they continued caring for their patients. As we were leaving Lakeland, relief staff started arriving from sibling facilities -Yakima Valley School, Rainier School, Fircrest....
Our members are heroes and I have never felt more honored and privileged to be serving all of you.

19/08/2023

Please share. Many of our siblings have been affected by this tragic fire and could use these resources. If you want to help, please donate.

Impacted by the fire? Click here if you need assistance.Want to help WFSE members in need? Click here to donate or volunteer.Stay informed! As of this writing, the fire is only 10% contained. Much of the rest of the state remains under a red flag warning for fire danger. Find your county here and si...

17/08/2023

Out at Rainier School Summerfest. This is such a fantastic event. Mike and I took the Green Machine through the parade and are hanging out at the AFSCME Council 28 WFSE booth!

11/08/2023

Hey there Family, Friends, Coworkers..come one..come all...
State Agency Softball and family games at Game Farm Park in Auburn Washington. Proceeds from food, basket raffles etc will go to various charities around our beautiful state of Washington!!

Local 443 AND AFSCME Council 28 WFSE have sponsored this event!!

I'll be there and I can't wait to see you at the park!

08/08/2023

This is my local, so I'm a little biased, and we have such a great time at our member appreciation picnic. Great food and conversation. I got to hold our Local 443 President's brand new baby, play some games with members, and just enjoy a fantastic day all around.