“There are so many people at TCC that want to be there because they want to give back or they love the community, but they don't get paid enough or leadership doesn't consider them valuable enough. And that's why they're leaving.”
—Patti Hermoso, CCC Bargaining Team Member, Tacoma Community College
Bring the Shine Back to State Jobs
We want to bring the shine back to state jobs. Like you, we’re sick of seeing constant turnover at our colleges, especially when there is a simple solution: fair pay.
In our meeting last week with our employer, the CCC bargaining team made our compensation proposals. We are looking at raises that will address the widespread issues the colleges have with retention and recruitment, ultimately saving costs on employee hiring and training. Turnover is expensive, and in order to provide the services faculty and students rely on, we need to put a stop to it.
WFSE members at North Seattle College share their reasons for a strong contract.
In just the last two years, according to OFM, 25 percent of the state workforce has turned over and been replaced by new, untrained workers. Each new employee requires valuable resources to train and onboard.
Why the deluge? According to statewide exit data, the top reason people leave state employment is pay.
Continuing to lose folks to higher paying jobs is a waste of time and money. We are tired of being the “training ground” for better paying employers.
We want to win significant raises for you and stop public service at our colleges from being the revolving door it has become. Our team looked at every single community college job class, did research, looked at wage comparisons, raised salary inequities, and emphasized how far behind we are compared to the state’s own survey.
"Strong unions create strong communities!"
Stepping Up for Support and Trades Staff
In particular, support and trades staff at the colleges are shamefully underpaid. According to the state’s own salary survey, administrative support, trades, and related classifications are often 30% or more behind the market. They deserve better.
And regardless of job class, all employees are facing daunting rising costs of living, in one of the most expensive states in the nation. The distance between our salaries and the money needed to live in the communities where we work is growing larger by the year (OFM/CPI-U).
We are trying to keep our jobs functionally paid so we can serve our communities. We gave the state a thorough, research-based compensation proposal, but even though these raises would benefit not only public employees but faculty and students, we know they won’t want to agree.
We are urgently trying to be productive at the table, because we know firsthand what is at stake. We’re being met with resistance and dragging feet.
That’s where you come in.
Member activists in our union have created two petitions for our most disgracefully underpaid union siblings. Signing takes just a moment, and helps our teams be heard at the table. Can you sign, and ask two coworkers to do the same?
Support Staff Petition: Livable Wages Now for Support Staff!
Skilled Trades Petition: Respect the Craft!
Bargaining is a challenging process, but it’s our chance to shape our wages and working conditions for the next two years and beyond. We’re not giving up.
Get Involved for a Fair Contract!
Our success at the table depends on our collective engagement with the campaign. Here's what you can do to help:
- Complete the bargaining survey by June 28 so we know what you want us to fight for.
- Submit a photo and quote about why you need a strong contract. This will encourage other members to engage as well!
- Know any coworkers who aren't members yet? Encourage them to join so they can vote on our new contract when it's time.
- Download the contract campaign toolkit and use the signs, Zoom/Teams backgrounds, and social media profile pics to bring attention to bargaining.
- Stay connected and in the loop with the contract campaign website.
In solidarity,
Your 2025-2027 Bargaining Team
- Tonya Rehberg, Community Colleges of Spokane
- Ward Kaplan, Community Colleges of Spokane
- Kimi Hanson, Everett Community College
- Scott Beals, Green River Community College
- Amanda Clifford, Green River Community College
- Tracy Stanley, Lower Columbia College
- Tom Cline, Peninsula Community College
- Thuy Nguyen, North Seattle College
- Diane Ellis, Seattle Central College
- James Ellis, Seattle Colleges District
- James 'Ric' Doike-Foreman, Shoreline Community College
- Sandy Long, South Seattle College
- Patricia Hermoso, Tacoma Community College
- Michael Greenhouse, Tacoma Community College
- Dan Andreason, Whatcom Community College