For a second consecutive year, Colorado WINS members secured a raise for state employees. This year’s 2.5% across-the-board increase is an improvement over last year’s 2% and with Merit Pay some state workers will see up to a 4.5% increase starting with their July paycheck.

“This raise will help me continue my education to better serve the people of Colorado in my position at the state health department as well as help me and my family to catch up on bills and help with daily living expenses,” said Andrés Guerrero, WINS member and Dept. of Public Health and Environment employee.

The budget passed with bipartisan support in both houses of the legislature and was signed into law by the Governor on April 30. This is what happens when workers come together and rally for improved pay and benefits. Colorado WINS members are part of the only organization working to improve pay and benefits for all classified personnel.

“Numbers count. People coming together are recognized by the people who make decisions,” said Shelly Marquez, WINS member and DHS employee. “COWINS members made a positive statement of being present which was a successful voice that was heard.”

Members have been hard at work making this raise happen. WINS members lobbied for a 3% increase, but at the last minute, the Joint Budget Committee lowered the raise to 2.5%. While this is still clearly a victory, it shows that our membership numbers greatly influence legislative outcomes. In the 11th hour, we drove hundreds of calls and emails to the JBC, urging them to reverse their decision. Envision what the raise could have been if those numbers were in the thousands!

SUMMER/FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER | COLORADO WINS | LOCAL 1876

See “Raises” on page 7

Members secure second raise in a row

Left: Greeley members Roy Breen and John Vestecka with Sen. Scott Renfroe (center). Right: Alamosa members Pat Roybal and David Martinez with Sen. Larry Crowder.

› DHS employees work toward a better department› How does it all fit together? The Colorado WINS

organizational structure› Get politically involved this election season› Members in CDOT drive Steward elections

WHAT’S INSIDE:

More than a dozen WINS members attended a JBC hearing in December, urging the committee members to approve a raise for state workers in FY 2014/15.

OTHER BILLS THIS SESSIONPASSED:SB 214 - PERA Studies Conducted By Actuarial FirmThis bill requires the state Personnel Director to submit an addendum with the total compensation study that includes retirement benefits. It also requires a comprehensive study comparing PERA’s current defined benefit plan to alternative plans in public and private sectors, and to determine when PERA will meet its sustainability targets.

HB 1338 - Regional Centers Task Force And Utilization StudyThe bill creates a task force, comprised of legislators, state agency representatives and community members, to make recommendations to the state about the need for beds for persons with intellectual disabilities. It also requires a utilization study about the current use of Regional Centers’ facilities.

SB 197 – Transportation Enterprise Transparency Act (US 36 bill)The bill allows for more public input and legislative oversight on Public Private Partnerships (P3s). The bill also mandates that deals should be no longer than 35 years, prevents a requirement to compensate private firms for loss of toll revenues due to emergencies, and allows a state auditor to audit the enterprise.

HB 1383 - Workers’ Compensation Physician ChoiceThe bill expands the number of physicians (from two to four) that must be offered as option for treating injured workers.

FAILED:SB 68 - Retirement Age For PERA MembersThe bill would have changed the retirement eligibility for state employees hired after Dec. 16, 2016. Members, with the exception of State Troopers, would be required to have 30 years of service and be age 65 to receive a full service retirement benefit (current retirement age is 58 and 60, depending on your sector).

HB 1087 - Prohibit Collective Bargaining Public EmployeesThe bill attempted to strip collective bargaining rights from all public sector workers in Colorado by rescinding the 2007 Executive Order which granted employee partnerships. Thanks to our efforts, the bill was killed in committee in less than 10 minutes.

HB 1098/SB 113 - Prohibit Discrimination Labor Union ParticipationAlso dubbed “right-to-work bills,” they prohibited unions from collecting fees from non-members to cover the cost of the representation and bargaining. They did not make it out of committee.

HB 1377 - Colorado Retirement Security Task ForceThe bill would have created a task force to make recommendations for increasing the number of Coloradans who work in the private sector to invest in their retirement. The task force would also have analyzed how much money Colorado would save on public assistance if more Coloradans had adequate retirement benefits.

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State workers need a championIt’s that time of year where we reflect back on the

legislative session, on our hard fought wins and some narrow misses. It’s also an election year so we will once again focus our energy on elections. No doubt your co-workers will be talking with you about contributing to our Committee on Political Education (COPE) that we use to fund our political program.

It’s time, though, to seriously think about why it is we participate in elections. Is it just to elect people who we think might support us on our issues? Is it simply to make sure there are pro-working family majorities in the legislature so that nothing “bad” happens to our pay, benefits or our union rights?

If we are being honest with ourselves too often the answer to those questions is “Yes.” And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that - we do what we have to do

electorally to maintain what we have and to try to win a little more next session. But what if we changed our approach, what if instead of working just to elect

people who will support us on our issues we worked to elect people who would champion our issues?

Some of you may remember earlier this year when the United Auto Workers were organizing a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee. Every night on the news there were elected politicians who were adamantly against those workers having a voice on their job. And every time I watched an elected official deliver another speech against worker rights I thought to myself, “Where are the elected politicians who are champions for the workers?”

We had a successful 2014 session: our raise was a little bigger than last year and we held the line on health insurance costs. But think about how much more we could achieve if we started to focus our energy and resources on electing real champions for workers: legislators who will actively and publicly fight for what is right for state employees and working families across the state; legislators who will fill the void I watched on my television every night during the Volkswagen campaign. As we head into this election cycle let’s put our energy into electing champions.

TIM MARKHAMExecutive Director

Current Rep. Jovan Melton, during his 2012 interview with the Colorado WINS Committee on Political Education (COPE) members.

In previous legislative sessions, state employees have witnessed what happens when the wrong people control a chamber in Colorado’s General Assembly. Too often, political games are played with our future. That’s why this November’s election matters and Colorado WINS has begun work to shape who will be a legislator, once the 2015 legislative session kicks off next January.

The Colorado WINS Committee on Political Education (COPE), comprised of our most politically active members, is finalizing our candidate questionnaire and preparing for endorsement interviews this summer. Our endorsement process is another critical opportunity to educate candidates on vital issues affecting the state workforce and ask about their position on these issues.

“Our goal is to ask for the candidates’ positions on issues that are vital to the continued livelihood, stability and standard of living of state employees,” said COPE Board Chair Ira Liss. “We’ll ask candidates about their support of union recognition and salary increases that keep pace with inflation. We’ll ask for their position on privatization or outsourcing of state services and about keeping state employee health insurance affordable.”

Once we know if candidates stand with us, COPE members provide recommendations to the WINS Executive Board, which has the power to make official organizational endorsements. The Executive Board will issue final endorsements by the end of August.

Throughout the summer and fall, members and staff want to ensure state employee voices are heard at the ballot box by registering new voters, collecting COPE contributions and educating workers on issues that impact us.

“To make an informed choice, we must know where candidates stand on the issues important to us well in advance of Election Day,” Liss said.

To make sure that our endorsed candidates actually get into office, we can’t cross our fingers and hope for the best. We volunteer and knock on doors for candidates. We make phone calls. We talk to our co-workers and friends. When Colorado WINS members take time to volunteer to go door-to-door with a candidate or make calls with fellow state employees, bridges are built and a foundation is laid for future victories. We are actively recruiting volunteers to help with canvassing, phone calls and candidate events.

Washington, D.C., may be miles away, but the decisions made there impact us enormously right here at home. State employees know all too

Elections crucial for state workers and Colorado

See “COPE” on page 7

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SUMMER/FALL 2014 | COLORADO WINS | LOCAL 1876

COLORADO WINS EXECUTIVE BOARD

PATTY MOORE President

GREG GOLDMAN Treasurer

DAVID PERTZ Secretary

TIM MARKHAM Executive Director

VICE PRESIDENTS:PAT ROYBAL, Dist. IRITA UHLER, Dist. II

SKIP MILLER, Dist. IIIJOE ROGERS, Dist. IV

JACQUIE ANDERSON, Dist. VED SCHMAL, Dist. VI

DALE O’CONNOR, Dept. Committee

RETIREE CHAIR:DAVID RUCHMAN

Official publication of Colorado WINS

2525 Alameda Ave. Denver, CO 80219

303.727.8040

info@cowins.org

My name is Anastasia Begay, but my friends call me Stacy. I work in dietary at Colorado State Veterans Center at Homelake in Monte Vista, Colorado. I have worked for the state for the past four years.

The main thing I love about my job is the residents. When I first started working here I was unsure about working with elderly people. But as I have gotten to know them and listen to

their stories, I’m really grateful for the work I do. The residents appreciate that I give them an ear and most of them crack me up.

When I first started, I had heard about the union but never really thought about joining. Over the years I started to hear more and more about what Colorado WINS does.

When the dietary staff at Homelake decided they needed help to address some issues, I reached out to one of my nursing coworkers who I knew was a member. I helped put together a worksite meeting for dietary staff where I and four of my coworkers became members. Since then, we have been working to improve the dietary services we offer our veterans and create a better working environment for staff.

Today, I am glad I made that first step by joining Colorado WINS! I’m also looking forward to the second raise in as many years that WINS members fought for and won!

When I am away from work and not organizing meetings for the union, I enjoy spending time with my family. I have five kids who keep me busy. All of them are active in school sports and I love going to their games and cheering them on. When my kids aren’t on the field and I’m not at work, you can find us up in the mountains camping, hiking, fishing and ice fishing and swimming. Hopefully this year we will be able to get our new boat out on the water!

I’m helping improve lives at Homelake through the work I do and my union involvement. I encourage all state employees to do the same at their facilities.

ANASTASIA BEGAY Dept. of Human Services Colorado State Veterans

Center at Homelake

WINS member Anastasia Begay with her kids.

I’ve been a WINS member for just about a year now. I believe that labor is being attacked by massive amounts of money and being in a union is quickest and easiest way to collectively have a political voice. I’ve participated in Lobby Day, talked to both my Representative and Senator and I’ve been talking to as many people about joining as I can.

The logo on my coffee cup says it best: more members, more respect. Without majority,

without everyone uniting, we don’t have the strength that we need. I think it’s important that everyone is on board and understands that it’s not the same picture as the old unions from way back in the day. It’s a different work environment, it’s a different world and it’s important that what we call our union starts to thrive.

ERIC STRICCA Dept. of Health Care and FinancingLong-Term Care Medicaid Eligibility Policy Specialist

I think before WINS my biggest pet peeve with CSU was parking management. When I joined my whole perception changed. WINS wasn’t dealing with petty little things; it was dealing at the state level. I’ve been impressed by how we’ve been able to modify legislation. I’ve been able to tell my director what we’ve been able to accomplish in the union. It gave me a sense of empowerment because I knew more about what was going on with raise than he did.

I’ve been a member of Colorado WINS since the founding convention and I was also a CWA member for 24 years before. Being a union member allows for our voice to be heard, collectively, on big problems like wages or declassification of staff. It’s a way of counteracting over-egotistical management.

JIM HEBBELN Dept. of Higher EducationElectronics Specialist III in Telecommunications, CSU

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Organizingfor respect

Colorado WINS members at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Ft. Logan (CMHI-FL) were facing a tough issue: the new hospital director required that, in addition to performing their usual work, employees establish three personal goals and do two extra projects in order to score a 2 on PMAP evaluations.

“In years past we were evaluated on our core competencies like communication, interpersonal skills, customer service, accountability, job knowledge. Supervisors were also graded on performance management, empowerment,” said Chad Shaklee, Colorado WINS member and Social Work Supervisor at CMHI-FL.

But workers found that the new rules made it much harder to provide a superior level of care to their patients. In addition, short staffing was already

a problem and workers had a hard time performing their basic duties, much less finding the time to complete extra projects.

“It was clear to hospital workers that these new projects and goals are oppressive, as each year we

are supposed to set new projects and goals,” Shaklee said.

The issue of basing evaluation scores on these additional projects was brought up to Director Christopher Burke in an Employee Management Committee (EMC) meeting in February.

The members presented that increasing a workload in order to perform adequately on their performance evaluations not only created a stressful environment but also took away from patient care.

“It was crucial that we got that point across to the management team that it was just too harsh,” said Cornelia Dockins, Mental Health Clinician and WINS EMC member. “I don’t

think they meant it like that and once we started talking to them they realized what an impact it had on people.”

Initially, members were met with a strong negative response from management. Dr. Burke refused to make changes to the policy and claimed that other employees did not seem to mind doing the mandated projects.

To show support for their cause throughout the hospital, members organized a membership drive and ran a signature petition to illustrate

that workers wanted to focus on providing top-notch patient care, without having to stress about completing additional projects and goals.

In 10 days, more than 100 workers took a stand and signed the petition letter. The hospital union

membership more than doubled and there was support throughout CMHI-FL to prioritize patient care over projects in the PMAP evaluations.

The EMC met three more times and by the meeting in early April, management’s position had shifted: they were willing to amend the PMAP policies to make the projects and goals voluntary and clearly define how they would award a 1, 2 or 3 score on the evaluations.

“We had 109 signatures, we had four meetings with Dr. Burke, and a fifth meeting with hospital authorities, the people who are in charge of teams and units,” Dockins said. “And they were very receptive. I’m so proud to work at Ft. Logan.”

On April 25, through partnership between CMHI-FL management and COWINS members, Dr. Burke and other hospital administrators signed an agreement drafted by WINS members to make the

Ft. Logan EMC members (from left) Patrick Boyhan, Steve Wager, Faye Simmons, Cornelia Dockins and Jamie Santistevan with hospital director Dr. Christopher Burke (third from right), after the signing of the new agreement that made extra projects voluntary.

PMAP SCORES AT OTHER FACILITIESThe issue of PMAP scores isn’t isolated to CMHI-FL, it’s been an issue in a number of DHS worksites.

WINS members from across the state have mentioned that managers discussed issuing quotas and increasing the requirements of what is needed to achieve a 2 or 3 on the yearly evaluations.

If this is going on at your facility, and you are ready to take on this fight, contact your organizer or email us at info@cowins.org.

Ft. Logan’s EMC finds common ground on PMAP scores

“The EMC gave us a chance to talk to Dr. Burke and bring our points to him because sometimes [management] doesn’t see it from the line staff’s point of view.”

– Steve Wager,Mental Health Clinician and

EMC Representative at CMHI-FL

See “Extra Projects” on page 7

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Working in Partnership: changing DHS for the betterLast year was rough for several facilities in the Dept. of

Human Services. While DHS has the largest number of facilities with local membership majorities, the Partnership structure at many of those worksites was breaking down. Some EMCs (Employee Management Committees) were disintegrating while others just didn’t have the strength to enact changes.

This lack of forward movement created a department-wide need for action. In January of this year, a group of WINS members met with DHS’s executive management to review the partnership agreement between WINS and DHS and discuss the role of worksite EMCs.

As a result, management agreed the Partnership Table is important both at the department and facility level. This meant frontline staff would have more input in their facilities and in department-wide decisions and would lead to sharing best practices across the department.

Members held department-wide elections for DHS Partnership Team representatives and elected 6 members from various departments to sit on the committee.

“The Partnership Team will review what is happening with the EMCs and ensure problems are being addressed and solutions are being implemented,” said Dawn Tripp, Social Work director at Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo and a member of the DHS Partnership Team.

In April, the Partnership Team held the first quarterly meeting with management. Among the topics covered at the meeting were updates from individual EMCs and a discussion of PMAP scores in various divisions within the department.

The next meeting is scheduled for July and members will discuss, among other topics, the department’s access policy.

“The hope is to establish a collaborative effort between frontline staff and management to strengthen our agencies and create a better working environment for all -- staff, management, and clients,” Tripp said.

State employees throughout Colorado have been working hard to find a meaningful way to address issues such as workplace safety, staffing problems or employee respect. WINS members in DHS are leading the way for productive partnership talks.

GOT AN ISSUE FOR THE PARTNERSHIP TEAM?

Go to ColoradoWINS.org/DHSelections and let them know.

The Partnership Team meets quarterly with the next meeting scheduled for July.

JACQUIE ANDERSON - Nursing homesCORNELIA DOCKINS - Colorado Mental Health Institute at Ft. LoganRICH BRINKER - Dept. of Youth CorrectionsPAT KRIEBEL - At-largeDAWN TRIPP - Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo – CMHIPCARIN HAGMAN - Regional Centers

Meet your DHS Partnership Team

(from left)The team meets quarterly with DHS management on behalf of all workers in the department.

Other committees in the Colorado WINS structure

Parole Partnership Team

DHS Partnership Team

Lottery Working Group

DMV Working Group } Partnership Teams and Working Groups

Elected team members represent other workers in their departments in Partnership meetings with management. They give staff input on policy changes on the departmental level.

Colorado State Veterans Home at Fitzsimons

Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo (CMHIP)

Wheat Ridge Regional Center

Pueblo Regional Center

Colorado Mental Health Institute at Ft. Logan

Zebulon Pike Youth Services Center

Colorado State Veterans Center at Homelake

}Employee Management Committees

EMCs give workers a chance to have input on policy changes on the facility level. Members are elected to represent the employees at their facilities.

Elected Stewards

Stewards serve as resources for WINS members and represent them during one-on-one meetings with management. Right now, Colorado WINS Stewards have only been elected at CMHIP, DYC and in CDOT (read more on page 6).

How does the DHS Partnership Team fit into the Colorado WINS organizational structure?

Committee on Political Education (COPE)

Healthcare Committee{Committee members represent WINS membership as a whole and are advisory to, and make recommendations to, the WINS Executive Board.

Other statewide Colorado WINS committees.

Executive BoardThe Executive Board is the highest governing body of Colorado WINS.

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The Colorado Dept. of Transportation has been buzzing with union activity in the past few months.

After a reorganization at CDOT that created a hostile work atmosphere, workers felt like they lacked a meaningful voice when it comes to changes in their department. Current members decided that the best way to find that voice is by joining together and electing Stewards to represent them and their interests in discussions with management.

“People need a place to go and a person to talk to

who has a little bit more knowledge of what

WINS is about,” said Braden Weber, a CDOT Member and Steward in Empire Junction Patrol 41. “I take questions from people out in the field like “Is this a

grievable offense?” or “How do I deal with my supervisor if he’s on

me like this?” And I take those [questions] and give suggestions and solutions on how to proceed with their complaint or their grievance or tell them if it’s not something that’s grievable.”

The Steward Majority Drive is a direct result of members taking a leadership role in building their own union, a union they want to have a distinct CDOT character. While the focus will be on building strength at the patrol level, teams are talking to potential members throughout the department about building up majority workplaces and electing Stewards.

The Steward Majority Drive was initiated in March, following extensive conversations with existing CDOT members frustrated by low growth in membership. Members established regular statewide conference calls to keep others informed of their successes in building membership and structure.

“We’re hoping this summer to actually get the ball rolling a whole lot better,” Weber said.

As individual work areas achieve majority membership they can elect one of their own to represent them in a CDOT Organizing Committee formed of elected Union Stewards. The ultimate goal is to achieve majority status in CDOT as a whole, moving from that position of strength to the creation of a new Partnership Agreement with CDOT.

“The immediate goal is to stop retaliation, to stop people being miserable showing up to work. Everybody has the right to come to work and be happy and not fear that the next day or the next hour they’re going to have to go down and answer for what they did, especially if it was nothing,” Weber said. “The long term goal is to get enough members so that we actually have the ability to go and fight for our rights just like State Patrol, Corrections. That is our ultimate goal.”

Right now, there are a dozen patrols at or near majority which are working on elections or have already elected their Stewards. After an election, members are tasked with reaching out to neighboring patrols to engage them in building

majority membership. Stewards attend quarterly trainings that give them technical knowledge of both State Personnel rules and organizing skills.

As membership in CDOT grows, member leaders are holding regular monthly meetings, which focus on workplace issues, building membership and prioritizing issues that are broadly and deeply felt.

The Steward Majority Program is gaining steam and CDOT workers are engaged in building a union that distinctly represents their needs.

If you want more information about how to start a Steward program in your work area, visit ColoradoWINS.org/CDOT or contact Geof Cahoon at geof.cahoon@cowins.org or 303.601.1679.

From left: CDOT members Tony Caruso, Steward April Thomas, Steward Braden Weber, WINS treasurer Greg Goldman, Steward John Banta, and Jules Tomasi during a recent training.

Members lead majority drive & Steward elections

REGULAR CDOT MEETINGSGeneral Membership MeetingLast Friday of each month (Denver Union Hall, 2525 W. Alameda Ave.)

CDOT Conference calls3rd Wednesday of the month (for the call-in number, talk to your Steward or contact Geof Cahoon at 303.601.1679).

CDOT STEWARD PROGRAMSteward Majority DriveMembers in CDOT have authorized the election of Stewards within their workplace, if a designated work group reaches majority (50% plus one).

To learn more about how you can elect a Steward to represent your work group, please visit ColoradoWINS.org/CDOT.

SOMETHING WRONG AT YOUR JOB? LET THE UNION KNOW.Colorado WINS Tip LineIf you’ve noticed something wrong at your workplace, let us know through our “Gripe line.” You can visit ColoradoWINS.org/tips or call our general tipline at 303.996.6406 to leave a message about the incident.

More action in CDOT

Newly elected CDOT Steward Greg Lewis.

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How often have you heard others complain about the problems facing employees, leadership, taxpayers and citizens? They all have one thing in common: they believe substantial change will never happen because generally people assume the vast majority of people do not care, they are too selfish, obtuse or apathetic.

We are all guilty of dismissing the important role each of us could play by becoming actively involved in the change process. I would like to challenge your beliefs — most people do care: they are altruistic, intelligent and enthusiastic. I would like to challenge each of you to actively be part of the change.

Now, hear me out… As Dave Meslin, an activist for social change, said, “The world does actively discourage engagement by constantly putting obstacles and barriers in our way.” This is not about not caring or being selfish, it is “intentional exclusion.”

We can see the intentional exclusion in CDOT’s current executive management. By not having a Partnership Agreement between management and workers, employees have no say in CDOT’s executive planning committees that make decisions impacting employees, taxpayers and citizens relating to the direction the “New CDOT” is going.

Therefore, I ask again “Are you ready to make a difference by taking action?”

Robert Reich said it best: “We make the rules of the economy — and we have the power to change those rules.”

There are multiple ways to become active, some are easier than others, but the first is to join Colorado WINS, the state employee union. By joining, and asking others to join, state worker voices will be heard and we will become an informed and educated citizens.

When the unions are strong the economy is equally strong. A strong union voice restores middle class jobs, which is what builds the economy. This allows for a balance to runaway corporate profits, more equality and de-stratification of class structure, which lowers crime rates. The opposite is also true, when labor is weak and capital unconstrained, corporations hoard, hiring slows, and inequality deepens.

You can be involved on many levels as a member of WINS. Becoming a member is the first step to creating the change we need in America today. By acting on one or all of the following, you are positively influencing your work, home, community, state, and nation:

1. Attending rallies, town halls or lobby days, 2. Engaging in door-to-door or electronic political or community

campaigns, 3. Signing postcards or petitions to your employer and legislators, 4. Becoming a union committee member, steward or COPE

(Committee on Political Education) member. Continuing trends toward privatization, reduction of human capital

(layoffs), lack of prevailing living wages, laissez-faire Public-Private Partnership (P3) policies, and anti-union attitudes have negatively affected employees working for CDOT.

Let’s stop undercutting Colorado Department of Transportation families’ ability to have a good job, benefits, and secure retirement by enhancing equality for all. Good economic security will get the state and nation back on the right track.

APRIL THOMAS Dept. of Transportation

Eisenhower Tunnel

Campaigning for workplace change begins with you

“I would encourage everyone to get involved in future work for raises by joining with WINS,” Guerrero said. “It’s a matter of respect and being compensated for the hard work that state employees do to make Colorado a great place to live and raise a family.”

This year’s legislative session was indeed good for state workers. Thanks to the raise, workers living in rural Colorado will boost their local economies. And since healthcare premiums held steady for another year this means that everyone will be taking home a net increase.

“WINS has, in my opinion, had a very successful last couple of years with the passing of SB-210 and the raises this year and last,” said Alex Barnes, officer at the Arkansas

Valley Corrections Facility and a Colorado WINS member. “Our health care costs have actually dropped some and not been raised. Momentum has shifted in our favor and I’m more motivated than ever before.”

In addition, the state budget allotted extra funds for improvements in specific departments.

The Dept. of Revenue will receive extra funding to modernize its driver’s license offices by upgrading technology and hiring more workers. The goal is to reduce wait times for renewing licenses to no more than 15 minutes.

The Dept. of Corrections will receive funds to, among other things, streamline its timekeeping system to ensure workers are being paid fairly, depending on the June Revenue forecast. Funds will also go to the Division of Parole, to reduce caseloads for Parole Officers and improve some of the transition programs for offenders. ■

RaisesContinued from p. 1

PMAP evaluation scores based solely on their adherence to the employee’s position description questionnaire (PDQ).

Management also agreed to make the projects and goals voluntary and not negatively affect PMAP scores.

“The EMC gave us a chance to talk to Dr. Burke and bring our points to him because

sometimes [management] doesn’t see it from the line staff’s point of view,” said Steve Wager, Mental Health Worker and EMC Representative. “So it allowed us to bring it to him and I think he was very receptive to that.”

By building membership and speaking in a strong, unified voice, the members at Ft. Logan were able to tackle an important issue that affected their workload, their performance evaluations and the care they provide to patients. ■

Extra projectsContinued from p. 4

well that attacks on federal programs make their way to our state and wreak havoc on the services we provide.

We will continue to join our parent unions SEIU, AFSCME, and AFT in educating fellow workers on which candidates support you and which support the wealthiest 1%.

To become a COPE contributor, please visit bit.ly/winscope and sign up.

VOTER REGISTRATIONThe simplest way to get involved in the

political process is by voting.

Colorado law now allows you to register through Election Day, but different ways of registering have different deadlines.

The last day to register to vote online is October 27, 2014. However, you may register to vote by appearing in-person at a voter service and polling center through Election Day.

To make sure that your voter registration is up to date, visit GoVoteColorado.com and follow the “Manage my registration” link. The earlier you check your registration status, the more likely you are to receive your ballot by mail at the correct address.

When voting, remember that all ballots must be received (not postmarked), by end of Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. ■

COPEContinued from p. 2

NOT A MEMBER?

Visit ColoradoWINS.org to become a member.

DON’T SIT ON THE SIDELINES.

DENVER HEADQUARTERS2525 W. Alameda Ave. Denver, CO 80219 303.727.8040 ColoradoWINS.org

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U.S. POSTAGEPAID

DENVER, COPERMIT NO. 1986

facebook.com/ColoradoWINS

@CoWINSpolitics

Text “COWINS” to 787-753

LE

T’S

BE

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OC

IAL For the digital edition of the Our Voice newsletter,

please visit issuu.com/ColoradoWINS.

To get newsletter updates through e-mail, please email ourvoice@cowins.org.

DENVER2525 W. Alameda Ave.

Denver, CO 80219 303.727.8040

PUEBLO304 S. Union Ave.Pueblo, CO 81003

719.545.0677

OFFICES

When state employees have a voice, Colorado WINS

Something not right at your workplace?

There are three ways to tell your union:

OnlineColoradoWINS.org/tips

In personTalk to your workplace union leader or organizer

By phoneText or leave a message at 303.996.6406