Over the last three days, your General Government bargaining team…
- Reviewed every compensation-related contract proposal submitted by WFSE members like you
- Held our fourth negotiation session with management for our 2025-2027 union contract
Let’s start with compensation
First off, we’d like to thank our members for submitting so many contract proposals related to compensation over the past two years!
As state employees just like you, we recognize the importance of a fair wage for our work. Yes, public service is a calling. But you can’t pay the bills with passion.
At the bargaining table and across the state, our members are demanding pay that reflects the importance of what we do for our communities.
We are your representatives at the table
When a contract proposal came from a member at a particular employer, one of our team members explained the context behind the proposal and the situation at the worksite so we could make an educated decision on whether to support it or not. Then we voted.
Every decision was carefully considered, and we discussed the impacts of prioritizing or not prioritizing each item.
Some proposals were referred to our Legislative and Political Action Department, as they will require a change in statute to achieve. Others identified areas where our contract is simply not being followed by management. In those cases, the referrals were forwarded to WFSE stewards and staff for action.
Over the next two weeks, we will draft language that reflects the decisions made by your elected bargaining team. We expect to pass them to management sometime in July.
Yesterday’s Bargaining Session
Management did a lot of the talking yesterday, and we asked a lot of questions.
We were very clear that we expected timely responses to our contract proposals. State law requires that our union contract, aka collective bargaining agreement (CBA), must be submitted to the Office of Financial Management by October 1 so funding requirements can be considered by the Legislature.
We want our members to have ample opportunity to review the tentative agreement before they vote on whether to support it or not.
Let’s Put Our People Power to Work
We’ve made huge strides in recent years at the bargaining table, and we have ambitious goals for our 2025-2027 union contract.
Management has inherent advantages when it comes to contract negotiations, but we have something they’ll never have: numbers.
It’s people power that will push us over the edge when management doesn’t want to budge.
We are here fighting for you and with you!
Use the links below to get involved or connect with your bargaining representative for ways to get involved.
In solidarity,
Your General Government Bargaining Team
Use the tools below to get involved!
To win the best possible contract, we need our members to be engaged, informed, and loud!
- Want to share this update and others? Use the bargaining updates webpage
- Bargaining Survey due 6/30: Click here to rank the issues most important to you
- Wear Green on Your Negotiation Dates! 4/29, 5/13, 5/29, 6/12, 6/25, 7/8, 7/22, 8/19, 8/26, 9/9, 9/12, and 9/19
Visit our 2025-2027 Contract Negotiations landing page to learn about how negotiations work, and download social media graphics, flyers, and posters to support your bargaining team.
Use Hashtag #UnitedforWashington to post about our contract campaign and follow all the action on our social media channels!