Senn Will Allow Unionization

Tue., May 7, 1996

From Staff And Wire Reports

Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn made peace with her employees Monday, agreeing to a pact in which her 150 rank-and-file workers will be represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees.

But the contract will not cause the union, the state’s largest public employee bargaining force, to endorse Senn’s re-election bid this year.

The union, which endorsed Senn in her first run for the job in 1992, refused to follow suit this time around, contending she mistreats employees and fought union representation.

Union spokesman Greg Devereux said the decision “was based on strong-held feelings by the membership. We hope the contract will improve relations over time, but for now, it won’t change the feelings of our membership.”

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