I wanted to keep you updated on the status of our ongoing recruitment and retention pay grievance with the DOC. 

On Monday, August 3, we held our Step 1 grievance meeting with the Department over the State’s decision to eliminate recruitment and retention pay for certain job classifications at CRCC, WSP, and MCC. 

 The meeting was held at DOC headquarters in Olympia.  I represented the Union at the meeting along with Sgt. Cory Laughlin and Shop Steward Sgt. Michael Boe, both of MCC, while DOC Deputy Secretary Dan Pacholke represented the State.

Our argument in the case is straightforward.  The arbitrator’s award gives us the ability to grieve the DOC’s elimination of location pay if it is eliminated in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner.  At the meeting, we requested that the State provide a rational, evidence-based explanation for its decision to eliminate location pay, and the State was unable to do so.

Under our contract, the DOC has 14 days to respond in writing to the grievance after the Step 1 meeting.  As soon as we receive the State’s response, we will post it in the Corrections & Law Enforcement section of our website and update you with the next steps in the process.

Thank you for your service and please stay safe!

Michelle Woodrow
President and Director of Corrections & Law Enforcement