News

Who will represent you at the bargaining table with your employer to negotiate your 2025-2027 contract? It’s time to decide.
After a bizarre disinformation campaign by a billionaire-funded, anti-worker think tank, spoken language interpreters who take appointments from the Department of Labor and Industries (LNI) have voted to unionize and join the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), AFSCME Council 28

The impacts of HB 1533, a bill our members fought for and passed, felt as the latest Freedom Foundation request for public employees' personal information is shot down by the Supreme Court.

Bill would bring back state Productivity Board, employee suggestion program

The program that generated millions of dollars in taxpayer savings thanks to employees’ “Brainstorm” ideas may live again under a new bill that would re-establish the state Productivity Board.

The board was suspended in 2011 as a cost-saving measure brought on by The Great Recession.

Taking center stage next week: Capital Budget, plus our priority bills on PSERS, social workers, campus police, affordable housing, prescription drug costs, shared leave

Next week is a big week for our issues and priority legislation.

Here’s what’s on tap for the week of Jan. 15-19:

Monday, Jan. 15

Taxpayer Protection Act hits home in wake of damning audit report on outsourcing

AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) Taxpayer Protection Act may be needed now more than ever just days after a legislative audit report questioned the value of outsourcing state work in the agency charged with managing many business and operational services in state government.

Stop the layoffs, make the investments, WFSE/AFSCME member tells Senate panel on Capital Construction Budget

Statewide Parks Local 1466 member Brian Yearout spoke for all of us Thursday (Jan. 11) when he called on the Senate to act on the Capital Construction Budget to stop project delays and the layoffs of 500 state employees.

“Several of my valuable co-workers have already been let go,” Yearout told the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Supplemental Budget advocacy moves to Senate (SB 6032)

AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) gave applause and raised concerns on the governor’s supplemental budget proposal Tuesday (Jan. 9), this time in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on SB 6032.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILL INTRODUCED (HB 2583)

Rep. Nicole Macri’s affordable housing bill inspired by Federation members who no longer can afford to live where they work was introduced Tuesday (Jan. 9).