Workers vote ‘no confidence’ in AAADSW manager

Union workers at the Area Agency on Aging and Disability Services of Southwest Washington are voicing their disapproval of a manager who fired a worker after they requested a disability accommodation 

The following is from OPEIU Local 11:

VANCOUVER, WA (April 22, 2026) – More than 60% of the union-represented employees at the Area Agency on Aging and Disability Services of Southwest Washington (AAADSW) signed a vote of no confidence showing their overwhelming disapproval of Human Resources Director Lois Chauncey. OPEIU Local 11, the union representing the workers, sent the petition to the Southwest Washington Council of Governments on Aging and Disabilities (COG) on April 20. The union asked the COG to respond by June 1.

The vote of no confidence comes after Chauncey denied employees’ requests for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and fired at least one worker after their accommodation was requested. OPEIU Local 11 Union Representative Cheyenne Russell says the termination did not follow progressive discipline procedures in the contract, and other union members have reached out expressing concern about asking HR for their own accommodations for fear of losing their jobs, too.

“As a union representative, I am completely shocked and disappointed that an organization that supports people with disabilities is failing to support their workers with disabilities by making it harder for them to get any workplace accommodation,” Russell said. “It’s even more unbelievable knowing Lois sued her previous employer for retaliation of exercising her protected rights.”

AAADSW is the federally designated Area Agency on Aging for Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties. The regional governmental agency works with local service providers to provide a comprehensive, accessible, and coordinated system of home and community-based services for seniors, family caregivers, adults living with a disability and their families. The COG serves as a governing body for AAADSW, providing sponsorship and oversight of the agency.

OPEIU Local 11 represents about 75 employees at the agency’s Vancouver location, including case managers, case aids and nurses.

The vote of no confidence and petition asks for a formal review of Chauncey’s administration of ADA accommodation requests and employee discipline and termination practices. It also asks the COG to evaluate whether workplace practices relating to HR are following the law and are truly fair and equitable as required in the union contract. Finally, it demands corrective action be taken to ensure that ADA accommodations and disciplinary procedures are transparent and free from discrimination or retaliation.

“Human Resources must serve as a neutral and supportive resource that protects employee rights and ensures compliance with federal law and the Collective Bargaining Agreement,” the petition says. “When workplace processes including the ADA accommodation process and other employment practices become obstructive rather than supportive, it undermines both the purpose of the ADA and broader employee protections, while eroding trust in the organization’s commitment to equity, fairness, and accessibility.”

Beyond ADA accommodations, Russell says the vote of no confidence calls out disparities in how Chauncey disciplines employees. One of the clearest examples of discrimination occurred when Chauncey fired a case manager exactly one year after that employee was recognized as “Rookie of the Year.” Chauncey had launched two investigations into the employee, but neither were resolved when she was fired.

“I had not been given progressive discipline or a meaningful opportunity to respond to the allegations,” the employee said in a written testimony sent to the COG with the petition. “Following my termination, the HR Director stood behind my vehicle and prevented me from leaving for a period of time. This incident was distressing and escalated an already difficult situation…Based on my experience, I believe there are serious concerns regarding fairness, accountability, and adherence to basic employment standards within the organization.”

OPEIU Local 11 represents nearly 1,800 employees across four states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah. OPEIU Local 11 ’s members work in many settings, including local governments, offices, mental health care facilities, nonprofits, and utilities providers. Learn more at OPEIU11.org.