Public Safety Employees Union 519 (PSEU 519) was chartered in April of 1962 as the direct result of the efforts of a handful of employees of the King County Sheriff’s Office in Seattle, Washington (formerly known as the King County Police Union).
In 1962 the Department was primarily serving the rural community of King County and was directed by an elected Sheriff. Partisan politics was a definite factor in not only the size of the Department but an individual employee’s progression within the Department. Civil Service was created to correct that problem and was enacted by the voters in 1959.
However, the effects of a well entrenched political patronage system was not eradicated immediately and there was an urgent need for collective bargaining and a group effort to improve the working conditions.
At that time the Sheriff’s Department was very small and a group of Sheriff’s Deputies approached an existing International Union, titled Building Service Employees, and requested a Charter. The Charter was granted and the King County Sheriff’s Deputies Local Union 519 was officially born.
Shortly after Local 519’s Charter, the International changed its name to Service Employees International Union.There have been many changes in Local 519 since 1962 culminating in our separation from SEIU in January, 2008. We are now an independent Labor Union.
KCPSEU 519 has a current membership of approximately 500 people, most of whom work in jobs directly related to law enforcement. We represent the following bargaining units:
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King County Sheriff’s Office, Communications Specialists Supervisors
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King County Sheriff’s Office, King County Fire Investigation Unit
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King County Sheriff’s Office, Non-Commissioned Professional Employees
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King County Sheriff’s Office, Non-Commissioned Supervisory Professional Employees
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City of Bothell, Police Captains
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City of Kirkland, Police Lieutenants
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King County Department of Judicial Administration, Superior Court Clerks
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King County Department of Judicial Administration, Legal Administrative Specialists
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King County Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention, DAJD Management
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King County Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention, Non-Commissioned Professional Employees
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King County Department of Community & Human Services, Non-Commissioned Professional Employees
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Metro King County Council, King County Civic Television (K-CTV)
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NORCOM 911 Supervisors
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Snohomish County 911 Supervisors
CARDS MADE SINCE 1997
(updated October 2020)
# OF EVENTS ATTENDED
(updated October 2020)
HOURS INVESTED KEEPING KIDS SAFE
(updated October 2020)
YEARS OF DEDICATED COMMUNITY SERVICE
(updated October 2020)