News

Capacity, Not Closures! DOC Reentry Centers Provide Second Chances

The proposed closures would negatively impact those who are in most need of these services , result in increased recidivism (a 2007 study showed Washington’s reentry centers lead to at least a 2.8% reduction in recidivism), cost the state more money (research conducted by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy indicates that reentry programs have a positive cost/benefit impact; for every dollar spent, $3.82 is returned to the state.), and threaten the capacity of our community custody system when the need for more capacity is rising.

Protecting Yakima Valley School and Rainier School From Closure

As you may have heard, the governor's proposed budget includes the closure of Yakima Valley School and Rainier School. We can't lose these crucial community resources for Washingtonians who need them. Read on for actions you can take to stand with vulnerable community members and dedicated WFSE members and stop the closures.

Vote by November 3rd!

No workforce has more at stake in the decisions made by elected officials. No election in our lifetimes has been more consequential.

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Make your plan to vote today

If there’s one thing the 2020 election has in spades, it’s choices – and not just the choices between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, and choices up and down the ballot. In a year when our jobs, our families, and every aspect of our lives have felt the impact of a pandemic, there are lots of ways to make your voice heard at the polls. 

Doglio or Strickland: Who Will Fight for Working Families in the South Sound?

Both would bring perspectives that are sorely lacking in Congress. But only one has spent her career improving the lives of working people.

The Choice for Working People is Joe Biden

There are countless reasons against voting for Donald Trump in November. But this election isn’t just about Donald Trump. AFSCME President Lee Saunders explains why working people should cast their ballots for Joe Biden for president and Kamala Harris for vice president:

General Government Agreement Reached, Team Recommends Yes Vote

Thursday after 10 p.m., the WFSE General Government Bargaining Team reached a 2021-2023 tentative agreement with the state of Washington that secures a future for 30,000 + state workers and the millions of Washingtonians they serve.

GG members: View the full TA and voting instructions here.

The agreement accomplishes the following:

COVID-19 deaths lower in unionized nursing homes

Nursing homes have been especially hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 40% of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have been linked to nursing homes. But according to a recent study, one factor that determines how fatal a COVID-19 outbreak will be is whether that nursing home is unionized.

This November, preserve the legacy of speaking up

Throughout my son’s long career at AFSCME, there have been countless times when I’ve seen Lee proudly wearing an AFSCME T-shirt. Often, these T-shirts feature slogans like “Rise Up” and “Never Quit.”

To Lee, these are much more than just slogans. They’re principles that guide him as president of AFSCME. As his mom, the meaning behind these phrases evoke a long and powerful legacy within our family.

WFSE Mourns the Loss of Gerry Fidler

Gerry first came to Washington state in 2008 to assist with and learn from WFSE’s Conservative Caucus, a first-of-its-kind working group that had been established by WFSE members in 2005 and quickly achieved bipartisan support for and passage of crucial legislation. With Gerry’s guidance and help with messaging, the Conservative Caucus became a model for other councils, affiliates, and locals and even changed the way AFSCME International viewed and talked about politics.