You Asked About a Blog

In a recent post on the DSHS LegBlog, one of the commentators basically implied that the union didn't want to hear from the members because we didn't have blogs available. I had to reply that oh, contraire! We do!!! All they have to do is log in and comment... so here it is. An open forum for suggestions and civil comment on the current events of CSD.

To update you, as we have been a bit remiss in all the fury of the furloughs and increased time spent in the upcoming holidays, we have a meeting coming up on Friday, November 19th, to discuss the changing of workload expectations.

This meeting came out of the receipt of an e-mail by the CSC staff stating that management would be pushing for the 3 minute ASA. We all know that is an impossible expectation!! The Federation approached Babs Roberts regarding these changes and we were informed that those expectations were a "mis-communication". Management quickly sent out another e-mail stating that the 3 minute ASA was NOT an expectation and that management would be negotiating with their labor partners regarding the new expectations.

We also want to propose some thoughts about changes to get the workload completed. One of those ideas is having no in person interviews and shutting down the phone lines on Wednesdays. Both the lines into the CSC and into the intake/ER teams. This would allow the CSC to all work on batch and the intake/ER staff to conduct cold calls and work on the @ver backlog.

For those of us who are the dinosaurs of the agency (10+ years), we used to have no walk-ins on Wednesdays to allow for a paper work day. We're hoping that we can convince management to go back to this. Not on furlough weeks, but even three, sometimes four, Wednesdays would really allow us to attack these backlogs.

Social Services is being slammed with the number of DL applications, too. With the economy where it is, people are trying every avenue for some kind of assistance. Please feel free to post workload processing ideas. I know it's short notice for the meeting in two days, but I'm sure it is going to be an ongoing conversation.

We're listening! Bring on your ideas! And thank you in advance!

Your WFSE CSD Leadership Team

DSHS Fulough List Released

At 12:37 pm on Friday, June 11th, the Department released a list of names identified for furlough. The Department did this prior to negotiation or contacting your union until the moment they decided to release this list.

I urge you all to sign up for the Hotline being sent to your home e-mail. This way you can keep up do date on any changes or on the actions the Federation is taking in negotiations and legal action.

Any news you hear in your office needs to come to the Federation immediately. Exemption cases, WMS being exempted, anything...

If your Position Description Form states your position is 'essential', please send a copy to the Federation immediately.

Stay tuned for news and sign up for the Hotline e-mail delivery. Call your federal legislators to fund the FMAP monies or we are looking at losing 12000 more state employees.

CSD Ad Hoc Follow Up-The Rubber Hits the Road

The collaborative atmosphere of the CSD Ad Hoc meeting between the CSD Management Team & your CSD Leadership Team was a total pleasure w/a shared focus of how we might more effectively work together.
However, we all know the proof is in the outcome & (hoo-rah!) we are now seeing tangible outcomes:
*A CSC 'shared language' workshop was held so we can all be looking at the same thing when we look at successes that are being claimed re: the reorg/SDR. The atmosphere at CSD Ad Hoc continued & we were heard, included and then enlightened. (for more info-just click on comments & ask!)
*CSC Admin requested a Union Appointed CSD Member for a statewide Resource Identification Work group to create a resource page for each CSD. This will address the issues we have found in working cases from areas outside our own regions. Russell Glatt, SW from Kennewick CSD agreed to serve. (Ideas? Click on Comment)
*I was asked to join a statewide management work group to address the communications issues we identified at the Ad Hoc. The outcome will address how to shape a more effective communication process to include email & policy/process changes (more to come on this-however, I need YOUR ideas-please click on comments & tell me).
*Region 6 Administration invited our CSD Leadership Team Member Rod Sauer to attend their full management team meeting & they are working to incorporate many ideas we presented at the Ad Hoc-such as a Trends Page which will allow us to identify areas where standardized work has not been implemented. (More info? click on comments & ask!)
*Region 2 has created a Communication Improvement Team-with staff/management to work on standardized email; SharePoint & Trainings as communication tools: systemizing staff feedback processes; implementing the Trends idea; frequency/organization of staff meetings; & developing a more effective communication process.
Please share what is happening around you in regards to this collaborative mind set-I know this list is not comprehensive. If you need help on addressing your managment team regarding these ideas, please click on comment. We are the Subject Experts and Administration has demonstrated their intent to include us in this reorg to better serve clients & to make the CSD a positive place to work. (Please let us know your reality.)

HRSA Saved

On Thursday, April 8th, HRSA announced the potential layoff of 89 member positions (started at 109). Friday, Executive Director Greg Devereux, WFSE VP Sue Hendrickson, Director of Bargaining Cecil Tibbets, Field Rep Perry Gordon and myself met with Doug Porter, Assistant Secretary of DSHS (one under Dreyfus), Director of DSHS HR Glen Christopherson, a rep of OFM and Teri Beck, LRO, regarding these layoffs and why they were potentially going to happen.

One of our dear WMS people made a 21 million dollar mistake when they submitted the budget cuts for HRSA to the Legislature last March of 2009. They have known about this mistake and had been unable to get the entire 21 million back from the Legislature this year.

In the 11th hour... really, more closely, the 12th hour... the green machine went into motion. On Saturday and Sunday, members from KRSA, Western State Hospital, Yakima Valley School, DCS, CSD, the Children's Alliance, L & I, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and more that I don't remember descended upon the Hill like a swarm of bright green locusts. We snagged Legislators as they arrived in their cars, as they came off the floor, as they came TO the floor, outside the building, anywhere we could catch their ear for a moment.

The result? Legislation that gave them nearly ALL the money they needed with wording that stated HRSA must maintain the employment levels. These staff will be generating 14.something in Federal funds that will come back to the state.

It was amazing that Doug Porter was flabbergasted that we would ask him why he didn't come to the union sooner. "Work WITH the union? I didn't realize I could do that." We all said most all the Directors work with us when they need lobbying done. I told them "We're fierce."

We showed them JUST how fierce we were!!! Thank you for your calls to the Legislators and to those who gave up their weekend to legally stalk the marble floors, YOU ROCK!!! We've also gained some more stewards for HRSA where formerly... they had one! What a coup!!

Follow ups promised on DSHS Community Services Division workers

At last week’s (Jan. 28) meeting of the DSHS Community Services Division Ad Hoc Union/Management Communications Committee, the Federation team reached agreement to receive follow-up on a long list of issues.

Included:

• continued allowance of flexible schedules so that employees can serve more clients, especially those who work during the day;
• when overtime is offered, the employees be allowed to work the batch, which the union team considers to be the work with the highest impact on providing good customer service and reduces call volume;
• the team also asked that daily state deployment put more emphasis on the batch work, even if it causes longer call-wait times for clients because the longer-term payoff for customer service is worth it;
• that further roll-out of the Service Design Review (SDR), including the call centers, be delayed until the pilot areas work the bugs out;
• that more opportunities be created for employees and managers to work together collaboratively to solve problems, at the statewide and office level.

WFSE CSD Leadership team ROCKS with CSD Management

Today the leadership met for the first of two meetings with CSD management team. Feelings from all members on both sides were positive. Alot of constructive conversation was had with the hope that the job members do within the CSD plan is successful. Check out the different blogs on this site to see what specific ideas and solutions were passed between the teams. Let's make this the best place to work and be the proud and poductive workers we are.

January 28th Meeting w/Management