Editorials

LOCAL 117 EDITORIALS

Supreme Court case threatens to divide prison staff

This week the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case, Janus v AFSCME, which could negatively impact public service unions across the country. (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 3/1/18)

We deliver for Uber. Uber should deliver for us

This New Year’s Eve, millions of people across the country will raise a glass to ring in 2018. Then many of them will pull out their smart phones and call an Uber or Lyft driver to make sure they get home safely. I’m one of those drivers, and while I’ll deliver you safely to your doorstep, my job isn’t delivering for me. (The Stranger, 12/22/17)

Invest in our corrections employees who keep us safe

The state legislature is right to focus on fully-funding our public education system as required under the McCleary decision. We need to invest in our children. But legislators in Olympia must also invest in the public servants who provide essential services to the residents of our state. (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 2/22/17)

Black Diamond residents paying a price for council's political obstruction

The chaos in the city of Black Diamond brought on by three councilmembers is a prime example of how not to run local government. The three councilmembers’ impediment of city business is having a harmful effect on the residents and on the of the community. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 6/15/16)

Improve staff safety in our state's prisons

The recent assault of two officers at the Monroe Correctional Complex is yet another reminder of the sacrifice our state’s correctional employees make to keep all of us safe. In the incident, an inmate blindsided an officer, punching him in the face, and then attacked a second officer who was providing backup. (Everett Herald, 5/18/16)

Appreciation for correctional employees

With a few notable exceptions, most of us will never set foot inside a prison. Of those who do, most are perpetrators of serious crimes paying their debt to society. But there is another group of individuals, often overlooked, who spend as much time behind prison walls as the most hardened criminals. They are the brave correctional employees who risk their lives to keep all of us safe. (Walla Walla UB, 5/8/16)

Let's honor the sacrifice of our public safety professionals

As we give thanks this holiday season, we must not forget to honor the sacrifice of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect our communities. While most of us will be spending the holidays with our families, thousands of correctional employees, police officers, military personnel, and other first responders throughout our region will miss celebrations with their loved ones. (Everett Herald, 12/19/15)

Support our correctional employees who keep us safe

The recent brawl that took place at the Washington State Penitentiary is another reminder of the inherent dangers of working inside a prison. The fight broke out in the West Complex gym and involved 25 to 30 inmates. The officers on duty at the time were faced with the difficult task of restoring order while at the same time protecting themselves and other inmates. (Union Bulletin, 5/5/15)

A fair shake for corrections employees who protect us

Corrections workers protect us all although the work they do is hidden from the view and consciousness of most Washingtonians. This difficult work involves many sacrifices, so many that our state’s prison system has a serious problem recruiting and retaining qualified staff. (Olympian, 2/19/15)

Our public servants deserve recognition

When the magnitude of the Oso mudslide tragedy became apparent, a group of State correctional officers, of their own volition, answered the call for volunteers to help in the disaster relief effort. (Everett Herald, 2/19/15)

Taxis demand a level playing field

Imagine starting your workweek $1,000 in the hole. Before stepping into your office every Monday, you’re indebted to regulators, insurance companies, licensing agencies, and you’re subjected to a slew of taxes, penalties and fees. (Seattle Times, 6/17/13)

City of Auburn does a disservice to taxpayers

The City of Auburn doesn't know a good thing when it sees it. Like other municipalities across our region, the City is strapped for cash. But when its own employees make proposals in bargaining that would save the taxpayers money, the City balks. (Auburn Reporter, 5/19/13)

Organic foods supplier leaves local workers hungry

With seven kids under the age of 10, Joe Taufao has a lot of hungry mouths to feed. It’s always been a struggle to put enough food on the table, but especially now, with his wife laid off, and Joe and his co-workers on strike. (Real Change, 1/23/13)

Broadnax taking a short-sighted approach to fixing Tacoma's fiscal crisis

In proposing massive cuts to critical public services and the elimination of 217 jobs over the next two years, Tacoma’s new city manager is taking the wrong approach to solving the city’s longstanding budget crisis. (Tacoma News Tribune, 10/5/12)

Staff safety in our prisons must be a top priority

On the night of Feb. 4, four inmates at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla turned on officers who were trying to break up the fight. (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 2/29/12)

Proposed Department of Corrections cuts unacceptable

At a time when prison safety and public safety are in the forefront of everyone’s mind, our State Legislature is proposing to put both at risk by slashing $90 million in funding to the Department of Corrections. (Tacoma News Tribune, 4/19/11)

County executive wrong to blame unions for budget problems

To suggest, as Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy does in a recent Tacoma News Tribune article that unionized workers have drained County coffers and prospered in an economic recession is simply untrue. (Tacoma News Tribune, 12/2/10)

Reductions at the Department of Corrections have gone too far

The state's plan to eliminate critical jobs and programs at the Department of Corrections will not only endanger the lives of the brave men and women who staff the adult prison system in the state of Washington, but will impede economic recovery and threaten the safety of our communities. (The Olympian, 11/1/10)

Union wants clarity - not an end to volunteer efforts

In the last few days, some have accused the Teamsters of opposing community volunteerism within the parks system in Pierce County. This accusation couldn’t be further from the truth, and it’s time to set the record straight. (Tacoma News Tribune, 8/4/10)

Correctional employees deserve affordable insurance

In its Sept. 8 editorial, the Tri-City Herald editorial board insists that state employees, including employees at the Department of Corrections, have not paid their fair share and should agree to the governor's recent proposal for massive increases on the workers' share of health care premiums. (Tri-City Herald, 9/8/10)