The anti-union “Freedom” Foundation is making yet another attempt to obtain your personal information through a public disclosure request. The request seeks the following information from the Department of Retirement Services (DRS) for all public employees in the State of Washington:

• First name
• Middle name
• Last name
• Full birthdate
• Work email address
• Employer
• The retirement system in which they currently participate
• FTE status/percentage
• Current annual salary
• Duty station location/address

To learn about what information DRS is planning to release, you can visit their website here. 

In addition to the request submitted to DRS, the “Freedom” Foundation has made a similar request to the Office of Financial Management (OFM) seeking the personal information of all employees who work for the State of Washington.

A DIRECT ATTACK ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

Make no mistake – this is a direct attack on all public employees and their unions in Washington State. The “Freedom” Foundation is a radical group funded by out-of-state wealthy special interests. They’ve opposed our right to paid sick days and lobbied against wage increases for state employees. Their goal is to privatize public services, defund defined benefit pension plans, and outsource public sector jobs.

Due to outdated public disclosure laws, the efforts of unions and others to block the release of this kind of information in the past has not been affirmed by the courts. The best way we can fight back is by standing together.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Talk to your co-workers about the “Freedom” Foundation’s anti-union agenda;
• Warn your co-workers about the “Freedom” Foundation’s attempt to access their information.

Thank you for your service to our community and for your membership in Teamsters 117.