The Fight for a Fair Contract Starts Now

Our first day of contract negotiations is April 15th! Read on for actions you can take from day 1 to help us win a fair deal.

On April 7th, your General Government bargaining team met and finalized the review of the initial non-compensation proposals for our 2027-29 union contract.

Our proposals regarding compensation, as well as the state’s proposals, won’t be finalized until July at the earliest after the state’s next economic and revenue forecast is released on June 27th.

Keep an eye out for the Bargaining Survey in late May or early June. The survey allows members to prioritize what matters most to them. Learn more about how negotiations work here.

Rally for Public Service! WFSE Bargaining Kickoff April 15th

WFSE locals are sponsoring several campaign kickoff events on April 15th at 5:30pm, including

• Seattle: 92nd St. I-5 Overpass (2379-2457 N 92nd St Seattle, WA 98103). The corner of 92nd and 1st Ave, not far from the Northgate light rail station.
• Spokane: 1707 W. Broadway Ave Spokane WA Overpass
• Olympia: 1401 Eastside St SE (Eastside St overpass)
• Vancouver: Evergreen Overpass
• Tacoma: 1929 S 72nd St Tacoma WA – Corner of 72nd and Hosmer
• Chehalis: Stan Hedwall Park, mile marker 76 overpass in Chehalis
• Tri-Cities: Columbia Center Boulevard/Fowler St (Park on Fowler)
• Yakima: I-82 Exit 30B Resthaven Road - Selah, WA

More locals may be adding events near you. Find details here.

What's your union contract, anyway?

Your union contract doesn’t just set wages — it establishes enforceable rights that protect the dignity, fairness, safety, and voice of 40,000 employees across the state, from IT specialists and caregivers to scientists and administrative professionals.

If you’re not familiar with our contract, also called a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), find details here.

Your union contract includes:

• Your right to union representation at work
• Due process and just‑cause protections
• A binding, enforceable grievance process when you have issues at work
• Transparent processes for hiring, promotion, layoffs, and scheduling

Want an explainer on how contract negotiations work?Check out our Road to a Fair Contract here.

Actions for April 15, Day 1 of Negotiations

Whether you work remote, in person, in a secure 24/7 facility, or knee-deep in an estuary – there’s a way you can support your bargaining team every bargaining day.

• Gear up: Wear your WFSE/AFSCME shirts or wear green. Don’t have a union shirt? ask a steward at your workplace, contact your local, or come to a union event near you. You can also contact the Member Connection Center. Information is at the bottom of this email.
• Sign in: If you’re on a Teams or Zoom meeting, use this background in your meetings. Review your employer’s policy on virtual backgrounds. Download the Fair Contract Now Teams background.
• Button/Sticker up: Wear a WFSE button or sticker to work! If you don’t have one ask a steward at your workplace, contact your local , or come to a union event near you.
• Bring one along: Sign up a coworker to join our union—or join yourself if you haven’t joined yet! Here are the Membership Cards

Visit our landing page wfse.org/fair-contract for all this information is as ways to tell your story and join a Member Action Team at your worksite.

Find more on our contract campaign landing page

Save the Date: May 30th Statewide Community Engagement

Initial locations to be published April 23. Members can add their own after that. Learn more here.

Already on shaky economic footing, Washington State faces the loss of an estimated $4b in Medicaid dollars beginning next year thanks to the disastrous “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Every penny counts this round of negotiations.

The next few months will determine what portion of the state’s resources go toward frontline, caseload-carrying workers who directly support the public and what will be spent elsewhere.

We need our communities with us in this fight.

Join members statewide to visit local businesses and ask them for their support and give them ways to support our campaign -- now and when we escalate actions throughout the summer. Learn more here.