Washington State University Contract Voting Documents and Timeline

Negotiation of the 2027-2029 WSU Tentative Agreement (TA) has concluded. 

As you all know, the budget deficit continues to grow, and compensation discussions were incredibly difficult as a result. While there is no additional compensation in the first year, we successfully fought off takeaways and have secured a re-opener that will allow us to come back to the table and fight for compensation increases in the second year of the agreement. 

Based on member feedback, your bargaining team leveraged that budget deficit to make every non-economic gain possible in these challenging budget times, and those gains are significant. 

Because of these achievements, your WSU Bargaining Team recommends that you vote YES to ACCEPT this Agreement. A complete copy of the tentative agreement is available. 

See the links below for a complete copy of the TA, highlights, voting instructions, a flyer, and an informational webinar on 9/22.

• Read the Complete TA 
• Read the Highlights
• Voting Instructions
• What are the repercussions of a YES or NO vote? 

We want to thank you all for your hard work, research, job actions, and solidarity. Your strength makes all the difference! 

If you have questions, contact the Member Connection Center (MCC) at [email protected] or 833-MCC-WFSE (1-833-622-9373).

Your WFSE WSU Classified Bargaining Team

Voting Information

Voting Instructions and Timeline

• Voting opens: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 8:00 AM
• Voting closes: Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM

How to vote

1. Visit vote.wfse.org to cast your ballot.
2. Click "ONLINE VOTING" below "Important Links." See screenshot below.

Log in with your first name, last name and your PIN. Click "ONLINE VOTING" below "Important Links." See screenshot below.

Check your personal email for your PIN. Be sure to check your spam, promotions and junk folders. Vote using your personal equipment on personal time.

How Does Our Vote Impact Our Future? 

Here are the repercussions of a YES or NO vote 

All of the collective bargaining agreements (CBA) currently being voted on are subject to RCW 41.80, which includes important requirements about the process and timeline of our negotiations. The information posted here details what would happen in accordance with state law, depending on the vote. 

• What is next if members vote YES?

If a majority of members vote yes, then the tentative agreement is ratified. 

This must be completed in September and communicated to the Office of Financial Management (OFM) prior to October 1, 2026, to meet the legally required deadline for any funding. For example, $348.5M in new funding is required just to maintain our current healthcare cost share. 

Once that is complete, OFM determines “financial feasibility,” which is also a legally required step. From there, our tentative agreement makes its way to the Governor for inclusion in their proposed budget. 

During the 2027 legislative session, our state’s legislators will determine whether our contracts are funded as a part of finalizing the state’s overall budget for the 2027-2029 biennium. Given the dire budget outlook, members should be prepared to work hard during the legislative session lobbying legislators for the funding of our CBAs. 

You can learn more about how to get involved in that process here.

• What is next if members vote NO?

If members vote no, the tentative agreement is not ratified and there are several important ramifications to be aware of. First, the October 1 deadline is not flexible. 

It is set in law and a no vote would mean we do not meet that deadline. Failing to meet the deadline means there is no funding for at least the first year of what would be the 2027-2029 CBA period. As noted above, an example of what requires new funding is the $348.5M in new funding required just to maintain our current healthcare cost share.

In addition to there being no funding, only the parts of our current contract that are in effect as of June 30, 2027, and do not have a specified expiration date, would carry forward for up to one year. That means that there would be numerous takeaways starting July 1, 2027. 

In addition, none of the protections that have been secured as part of the 2027-2029 TA will be implemented. 

Questions?

Need more information? Contact the Member Connection Center (MCC) at [email protected] or 833-MCC-WFSE (1-833-622-9373)

Download and Share the TA Highlights flyer

Highlights

As you all know, the budget deficit continues to grow, and compensation discussions were incredibly difficult as a result. Despite these grim circumstances, we were able to secure a 1% pay increase in each year of the contract. Additionally, we successfully fought off takeaways and have secured a “Me-Too” agreement should the WFSE General Government team achieve any increases above 1% during their re-opener for the second year of the contract.   

• Secured additional funding for healthcare and protected current cost share 
• Secured 1% increase in each year of the contract during a time when most contracts received 0% increases.
• Secured four hours of notification time instead of thirty minutes for mandatory overtime.
• Secured four days of notification time before any temporary schedule changes.

Based on member feedback, your bargaining team leveraged the state’s economic deficit to make every non-economic gain possible in these challenging budget times, and those gains were significant. Read on for more information. 

Article 2 – Non-Discrimination 

• Protections from discrimination if you are the victim of a hate crime or a whistleblower.

Article 5 – Union Rights and Responsibilities 

• Ability for Union to directly use state email. 

Article 6 – Hours of Work, Schedules, and Overtime 

• Secures four days’ notice before a temporary schedule change.
• Ensures written notification for schedule changes.

Article 7 – Hiring and Appointments

• Job postings must now identify telework eligibility, salary range, benefits, and a link to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 
• Upon request, internal candidate who are not selected for a position can be provided with feedback regarding their application and interview.

Article 11 – Layoff and Recall 

• Extends ability to add up to five years of military service for members to verify service through DD-214 “or other official military records.”
• Ensured two years of recall rights following a layoff.
• Secured right to remain on recall list even refusing a job offer after layoff.

Article 15 – Benefits 

• In addition to the health care items noted at the top:
• Protected any SmartHealth benefit that is earned in 2027!
• Protected the Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) benefits for all workers making $68,004.00 or less annually (see 43.5)!
• Protected the FSA workgroup MOU, which provides a path to increase participation in this important benefit!

Article 20 – Shared Leave 

• Extends ability to access shared leave to victims of hate crimes, parental leave, pregnancy disability leave, or attendance at immigration proceedings. 
• Also extends definition of family member to children who are foster, step, or adopted; children under legal guardianship regardless of age; step parents, foster parents, and more.

Article 21 – Other Leave 

• Memorializes five guaranteed days of bereavement leave.
• Extends bereavement leave in the event of a loss of pregnancy.
• Expands qualifying relatives for bereavement leave to aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and beyond as well as corresponding relatives of spouses or domestic partners.
• Secures leave during a pandemic to receive vaccinations if not available on campus.
• Provides for 24 hours of leave to members experiencing extraordinary or severe impacts due to wildfire during a state of emergency.

MOU – Parking

• Retains Cattle Feeding Lot as a blue lot and ensures members have continued access. 

Your WSU Bargaining Team recommends you 
VOTE YES TO ACCEPT this Agreement!
 

Not a member, but want to vote? It’s not too late!

You can join here: Join | AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE)
 

How did we get here? 

Read all the bargaining updates from this round of negotiations on our WSU landing page here.