Legislative Update 2: January 27

return to landing page

Last week brought powerful testimony from WFSE members. From park rangers to members speaking on the necessity of fertility coverage for public employees, your union siblings spoke out!

Your participation in this legislative session is critical as we join together in fighting for working folks and public employees in Washington.

We have Lobby Days for districts all across the state and days for specific departments as well. 

• Sign up to Lobby: You can find your legislative district here and join your union siblings for your 2025 Lobby Day here. 

• WFSE Priority Bills: Find all WFSE's priority bills related to funding our union raises, housing justice,  AI in state government, and more here. 

• In case you missed it: Here's our legislative update from last week! 

SB 5379 (Stanford)/ HB 1182 (Paul) – Interest arbitration rights for Parks employees.

Park rangers must be prepared for emergencies and dangerous situations. It’s their job not only to manage park operations, but to keep park visitors safe.

This bill would grant interest arbitration rights to Parks employees to align workers, especially rangers, with protections that other public safety workers have won in bargaining.​

Interest arbitration would give this skilled and dedicated group of employees a fighting chance at compensation that reflects their training and the danger and complexity of their work, helping to correct pay disparities and stem the flow of turnover. 

Watch our testimony here.

HB 1129 (Stonier)/ SB 5121 (Frame) – Mandates insurance coverage for fertility services. 

WFSE has fought for this bill for multiple legislative sessions. This bill would make it easier for state employees to become parents by requiring state-funded health insurance to pay for fertility services. 

For many Washingtonians dreaming of starting a family—from couples coping with infertility to single parents to LGBTQIA+ couples—fertility coverage is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. 

Watch our testimony here.

Have you taken action for Yakima Valley School, Rainier School, and the DOC Reentry Centers?

The super wealthy cannot have it all. We're demanding that our elected officials hold the wealthy accountable and begin contributing like the rest of us.

Otherwise public facilities will close and the services Washingtonians depend on will suffer. As always, it will be the most vulnerable who will feel the impact of budget cuts the hardest. 

WFSE members at Yakima Valley School and Rainier School who serve developmentally disabled residents fear some of them may become homeless if their homes are closed down.

• Take Action: Help us save Yakima Valley School and Rainier School.
• Take Action: Help us save Ahtanum View and Bellingham Re-Entry Centers.

A Washington for All, Not Just the Rich

A combination of cuts and new revenue was expected this year to deal with the budget shortfall.

It’s our job to maximize the new revenue generated and minimize the cuts to the work our members do by FINALLY fixing Washington's upside-down tax code.

Those with the most pay the least. And while we successfully defeated a huge tax cut for billionaires in November, there's more work to do.

If we don't balance our tax code, we'll never be paid what we're worth and the services Washingtonians depend on will always be under threat.

Follow us on our social media channels to see members testifying, some memes, and more.

Get Follow Members Involved! Download the Flyers Below