General Government (Most State Agencies) Bargaining Updates

It's on. Negotiations have begun!

WFSE Staff
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Thank youfor your solidarity. Many of you showed up loud and proud yesterday with green shirts to support your team's first day at the negotiations table, and it means the world to us. We're excited to be serving as your elected team.

First Day at the Table

We met with management for the first time today. We gave them our initial proposals. At our next bargaining session on May 12 we will hear their responses.

We want to thank you for the proposals you’ve submitted over the past two years. Before today's session with management, we met to review them in detail and compile them.

While we are proud of the progress that has been made over the last few years, including funding pay increases, making incremental progress for support staff and trades, and creating a mechanism for important discussions regarding the critical incidents and assaults our members experience far too often, we have a long way to go to make Washington state a competitive employer and a place where highly skilled workers want to spend their career.

What's at Stake

We're still facing monumental inflation—inflation that is outpacing our pay raises. Soaring prices for gas, homes, and food are making it hard for our members to make ends meet, and as usual, we're being asked to do more with less. Fewer full time positions and lagging raises hinder retention and recruitment, and that ultimately hurts our communities and our state.

Investing in a stable and highly skilled workforce is the smartest way to spend state dollars.

We are bringing proposals to the table that reflect our members' needs. It's our goal to fight with everything we have for a Washington where public workers are treated as the competent, caring professionals they are, where they're fairly compensated for their contributions, and where they can safely do their jobs.

Are you with us?

Here's Where You Come In:

Winning a strong contract takes each and every one of us. The more action we take as a union, the stronger our bargaining team will be at the table. Here's what you can do to bolster our efforts.

  • Take the survey.This is an important tool for us to understand what matters to you most. Please respond, and ask your coworkers to do the same.
  • Save the date: May 30th Community Action! We'll be educating local businesses about the value of the work we do and warning them about the impact of billions in cuts scheduled for 2027. Learn more here.
  • Check out our contract campaign page for a visibility toolkit, event announcements, and more.

In solidarity,
 

Your 2025-2027 Bargaining Team
 

  • Addie Rodriguez, HS CSD
  • Amy Conklin, DCYF
  • Ashley Fueston, Officer
  • Ben Olsen, AGO
  • Beowulf Brower, NR
  • Charles Loeffler, DCYF
  • Chris Vasseur-Landriault, USA
  • Christina Arnold, LS
  • Devin Humbert, HS at-large
  • Dianne Womack, INST BHHA
  • Fabrice Dongmo, INST DVA
  • Jeanette Obelcz, Officer
  • John “Will” Moseley, NR
  • Kirn Flores, HS HCLA
  • Kizzy Andreason, HS DCYF
  • Kym Adams, INST HCLA
  • Lauren Boyan, USA
  • Les Bowen, USA
  • Maddie Levesque, USA
  • Mark Keire, DOT
  • Melanie Swanigan, L&I
  • Mike Yestramski, Officer
  • Nate Wilson, INST DCYF JR
  • Nikki Butler, L&I
  • Shannon Barry, HS DCS
  • Steven Yates, INST BH