Senate GOP leaders tell Roach to leave staff alone

OLYMPIA — Sen. Pam Roach has been forbidden from dealing directly with Republican caucus staff members because GOP leaders say she has created a hostile work environment.

In a letter sent to the Auburn Republican last week, Senate Republican leaders say Roach has shown a lack of boundaries with caucus-staff members, including making them listen to her recount "past perceived slights" by lawmakers, lobbyists and party leaders.

The letter says Roach asks staff members to state that their loyalties lie with her and are subject to treatment that violates the Senate's prohibition on creating an "intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment."

All contact with the caucus staff must be between Roach's legislative assistant and staff, and Roach must not contact the caucus staff "in person, via phone, e-mail or through any other means," according to the letter.

Roach was traveling in Honduras and could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but on Monday evening she sent out an e-mail blasting the leadership and saying she was being targeted for criticizing as inadequate the caucus' plan to recruit new members.

Republican leaders have disputed that.

This isn't Roach's first run-in with her caucus. In 2003 she was reprimanded by a Senate committee, which said she created a hostile work environment by trying to force a confrontation with an aide in front of several reporters and making repeated attempts to have the aide fired from another job at the Senate.

Roach received a similar letter about violating workplace-respect policies in 1999.