News

During Walkout for Washington, Thousands of WFSE Members Walk Out for Fair Contract

On Tuesday, September 10, thousands of WFSE members at over 130 worksites walked out of their jobs to draw attention to the need for a fair contract.

Food Banks and Frustration: University of Washington Workers Demand Better

Months into bargaining with the University of Washington, WFSE members feel disrespected by UW’s resistance towards better pay and benefits for the staff that keep the university clean, safe, and f

Local 1671 Lobby Day

Great turnout for Interpreters United Local 1671 Lobby Day

Also at the Capitol today, dozens of our medical interpreter members of Local 1671 turned out for their lobby day.

The highlight of Interpreters United Lobby Day was meeting with and thanking Sen. Rebecca Saldana of the 37th District, sponsor of the interpreter services bill, SSB 6245.

Privacy bill moves forward

Privacy bill moves to keep your dates of birth private; meanwhile, Freedom Foundation turns up the heat at the Supreme Court on this issue

The humane Senate bill to keep state employees’ dates of birth private took a big step toward passage Friday (Jan. 26) when the Senate State Government Committee passed SB 6079 and sent it the Senate Rules Committee.

Speaking truth to power

UW and Harborview members speak truth to power on proposed closure of UW Laundry and costly new laundering requirements for HMC custodial staff

AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) workers from the University of Washington (UW) Consolidated Laundry and workers from Harborview Medical Center (HMC) Thursday morning (Jan. 25) called on the Harborview Board of Trustees to uphold the values of King County and support workers on laundry jobs and respect for custodians.

Do you qualify?

Friday is “Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day”

From the Washington State Department of Commerce

Millions of dollars in Earned Income Tax Credits go unclaimed each year – is some of it yours?

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a benefit for working people with low to moderate incomes.

High rents are making it difficult

Affordable housing bill needed for state employees because high rents “are making it difficult for them to survive”

AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) members and our allies countered opponents and made a strong case today for our priority affordable housing bill as a matter of survival for many state employees.

PHOTO (from left): Rod Palmquist, WFSE/AFSCME; Chris Genese, Washington Community Action Network; Tommy Fuglestad, Local 304, North Seattle College; Joelle Craft, WACAN; and Jim Hulse, Local 793, Western State Hospital.

AFSCME Retirees push for COLA

Our partners in the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington urged the House Appropriations Committee to pass HB 2511 to provide a one-time cost-of-living adjustment for PERS 1 retirees.