Bargaining Team Elections
Updated On: Dec 15, 2023

AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) is the sole legal representative for collective bargaining for two statutorily defined bargaining units made up of Language Access Providers (interpreters) rendering services for:

  • Bargaining Unit #1: DSHS, DCYF and HCA-Medicaid enrollees since 2010
  • Bargaining Unit #2: L&I's authorized medical and vocational providers since fall 2023

Bargaining Team nominations and elections are conducted electronically by AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) in the fall of odd years.

Nominations to the Bargaining Team open in the fall of odd years.

Union members can nominate themselves or their colleagues in accordance with the Bargaining Team Structure.

Vacancies are filled by appointment of the AFSCME Council 28 President.

Due to the huge time commitment, Bargaining Team members may request time loss as well as reimbursement for their travel expenses.

Candidates may run for only one Election Group.

Ties will be decided by run off. 

Bargaining Team Structure for DSHS, DCYF and HCA-Medicaid Contract

Only WFSE members in good standing will be eligible to nominate, vote in the election of, or serve as a bargaining team member.  You may elect up to ten (10) bargaining team members in the following categories:

You do not have to nominate for all 10 positions.  If a person is nominated for more than one position, they will have to decide which category they would prefer to run in.

Bargaining Team Positions

Election Group Candidate Eligibility

Group 1: SW WA

1

All interpreters in Clark and Skamania counties.

Group 2: Olympic Pa.& Pierce Co.

1

All interpreters in Pierce, Clallam, Cowlitz, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties.

Group 3: King County

2

All interpreters in King county.   

Group 5: NW WA

1

All interpreters in Snohomish, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties.

Group 6: CE WA

1

All interpreters in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima counties. 

Group 7: NE WA

1

All Interpreters in Asotin, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Orielle, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman counties.

Group 8: SE WA

1

All Interpreters in Adams, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, and Walla Walla counties 

Group 9: 2 interpreters whose primary working language is neither Spanish nor Russian

2

All Interpreters in the bargaining unit whose primary working language is not Spanish or Russian.

Bargaining Team Structure for L&I Contract

The L&I Interpreters Steering Committee recommended the bargaining team structure below and WFSE's Executive Committee approved it.

Only WFSE members in good standing in the L&I Interpreters bargaining unit will elect up to ten (10) bargaining team members to their bargaining team based on the following allocation and election groups:

Bargaining Team Positions

Election Group Candidate Eligibility

1

All interpreters in Clark and Skamania counties.

1

All interpreters in Pierce, Clallam, Cowlitz, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties.

2

All interpreters in King county. 

1

All interpreters in Snohomish, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties.   

1

All interpreters in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima counties. 

1

All Interpreters in Asotin, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Orielle, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman counties.

1

All Interpreters in Adams, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, and Walla Walla counties 

2

All Interpreters in the bargaining unit whose primary working language is not Spanish or Russian.

To be nominated for a bargaining team position, the candidate must be:

  • an interpreter who does bargaining unit work; an
  • a member of the union; and
  • for Spanish interpreters must have done at least 100 L&I appointments in the 12 months prior to the call for nominations.

Election Groups 1-7
Candidates for bargaining team positions in Election Groups 1-7 will be nominated and elected by all WFSE members in the LAP bargaining unit. The interpreter’s primary residential address shall be used to determine which Election Group an interpreter belongs to. Only in cases where the interpreter does not have a primary address shall post office mailing boxes be used for the basis of determining Election Group membership. If an eligible interpreter lives outside of the State of Washington, they shall be considered part of the Election Group with the county geographically nearest to their primary residence address.

Election Group 8
Candidates for bargaining team positions in Election Group 8 will be nominated and elected by all WFSE members in the LAP bargaining unit. To be eligible to be nominated and run for a position in Election Group 8, the candidate’s primary working language cannot be Spanish or Russian.


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