Glenn Spear, center, the only living charter member of Local 1135, holds a plaque presented to him by local members. With him are, left, Tim Wink, Local 1135 recording seretary and the local's historian, and Jim Spilker, Local 1135 trustee and Regional Labor Council representative.
Spokane Local 1135 celebrates its 50th anniversary
MEMBERS OF Local 1135 in Spokane County this year are celebrating their 50th anniversary since becoming organized.
When the local was first formed under afscme in 1956 it consisted of about 15 mechanics in the county shop who were part of the road maintenance department. The local became part of Council 2 in July 1958.
Today the local consists of some 130 members of the county road crew.
The local recently presented a plaque to Glenn Spear, 81, who is the only living charter member. He was among a handful of shop workers who first organized the road department employees.
He says he was instrumental in convincing employees to join AFSCME rather than forming an “association.”
He says the main reason they organized were six-day work weeks, no overtime pay, no sick leave and being at-will employees. Every time a new county commissioner was elected many employees would be fired (for no good reason) and replaced by workers the new commissioner preferred, reports Staff Representative Gordon Smith.
Members are planning to commemorate the anniversary by printing special one-of-a-kind T-shirts during the summer. No word yet on what the words on the T-shirts will say.
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