Author: Jason Allen

Attend the Council 2 Presidents Conference

Jason Allen

The Council 2 Presidents Conference is just around the corner! And in spite of the name, this conference is not just open to our union president, but to all members in good standing. It’s a great place to connect to other union members from across the state and learn more about how your union functions.

This year’s event takes place in Tacoma at the Hotel Murano on October 9-11, and the last day to register is coming up quickly on September 18th. Check out the event details for more information!

A final agenda for the conference has not yet been released, but these events traditionally have a welcoming ceremony on the evening of the first day, while the second day is filled with conferences and training opportunities. The Council 2 executive board meeting will be held on the final day.

At the General Membership Meeting, the board authorized to pay for up to ten people to attend. This is a conference that must be attended on your own time, so once you are able to get the time off work, contact Local 1857’s board to make sure there is still a spot available before registering.

Reach out to us at eboard@kclsvoice.org with any questions!

The registration deadline is September 18th!

Union Leave Bank Donation Window is Open!

Jason Allen

It’s contract negotiation season! According to the terms of our contract, April is one of only two times each year that you are able to donate your vacation time to the Leave Bank. So its important to take advantage of the opportunity while its here!

The strength of Local 1857 lies not just with our collective voice, but also with our collective action. And one of the most meaningful actions you can take right now to support your union is with the Leave Bank — a vital resource in negotiating a fair contract.

During the month of April, we encourage all members to consider donating a portion of their vacation time. Even one hour is extraordinarily helpful and demonstrates that we are committed to both fair contract terms and to supporting one another.

Simply fill out the form at this link and send it in to:

President, Local 1857
PO Box 3056
Issaquah, WA 98027

It must be postmarked by April 30th, so don’t delay!

Your generosity is more than simply an act of kindness, it is an investment in our collective future. Together we bargain. Alone we beg.

Your participation is crucial, and thank you so much for considering engaging in this act of solidarity! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your steward or our union leadership for more information.

Bonus link to the Leave Bank Transfer Form!

For Women’s History Month, Let’s Celebrate Women’s Contributions to Labor (With Some Books!)

Jason Allen

March is Women’s History Month, a time to highlight and honor women’s contributions to history, culture and society . This year’s theme is “Women Who Tell Stories,” which recognizes “women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, news, and social media.”

As library employees, we have a special role in preserving and sharing women’s stories and achievements. One of these stories is the history of women in labor, which is often missing from textbooks and the media.

Women have always been key to the labor movement, from organizing strikes and unions, to rallying for better working conditions and wages, to documenting and inspiring workers’ struggles for justice. For Women’s History Month, Council 2 compiled a list [PDF] of recommended reading to help expand our appreciation for the under-valued roles women have played in history.

Below is a list of recommended reading from Council 2 highlighting the role of women in history, with links to the KCLS catalog:

The following books are ones that KCLS does not own, but you can request through Interlibrary Loan (Hi! 👋That’s the department where I work! We welcome your requests!):

  • Song of the Stubborn One Thousand: The Watsonville Canning Strike, 1985-87 (2016) by Peter Shapiro
  • Jailed for Freedom: American Women Win the Vote (1995) by Doris Stevens
  • Labor of Love, Labor of Sorrow: Black Women, Work, and the Family, from Slavery to the Present (2009) by Jacqueline Jones

Happy Women’s History Month!

Council 2 Scholarship Deadline is Fast Approaching

Jason Allen

​Attention ​Local 1857 members!

If you or your dependents are planning to pursue higher education this year, don’t miss the opportunity to apply for Council 2 scholarships. ​Last year, Council 2 awarded over $65,000 in memory of our late Local 1857 member Jennie Westlund, in addition to other awards. ​The deadline for submitting your applications is March 15th, so hurry up and ​get them in!

Apply Today

Council 2 offer​s​ a variety of scholarships to support our members and their families in achieving their academic goals. This year, ​there are nearly 30 scholarships for members in good standing​ and their dependents​.

​For more information and the application form, visit the Scholarship page at Council 2.

Remember your application form must be postmarked no later than March 15th in order to be eligible.

2022 1857-Main Executive Board Election Results

Jason Allen

Our recent nomination meeting brought on several new Members as we said goodbye and thanks to others. Here’s the current make-up of the board:

President – Kim Atchley
Vice President / Chief Steward– Rai Yiannakos*
Secretary – Elaine Ang*
Treasurer – Victoria Kunze

LTA at Large – Linda Jarvis
LTA at Large – Christi Wheelock*
Librarian at Large – Jennifer Duffy*
PSA at Large – Aisha Burrell*
Maintenance at Large – Katie Mathews*
All Other Classifications at Large – Stan Brooks*

Trustee – Currently Vacant
Page at Large – Currently Vacant
Page at Large – Currently Vacant

*New eboard member, or at least new to this specific role! Let them know you appreciate their time and energy on our behalf.

Many thanks to outgoing Peter Cole for his years of dedicated service as Vice President and Chief Steward for Local 1857. His leadership and advocacy will be sorely missed, but he does intend to continue being very active in our union. And while Peter left some big shoes to fill, as Rai Yiannakos demonstrated when she served as interim Local 1857 Main president last year, she’s more than up to the task!

Also thanks to outgoing members Don Isaacs, Kelly Millman, Jess Gray and Jason Allen for their time volunteering to be on the board.

Our trustee position, and both Page-at-Large positions are open and will be filled by appointment by the eBoard. If you are interested, or have any questions, please email us at eboard@kclsvoice.org.