We're still fighting hard against AI implementation without oversight, RHC closures, and more. At the core of every Lobby Day are members like you, reminding our legislators that Washington depends on public workers and they must listen to us to keep the state running.
Update on Saving Rainier and Yakima Valley Schools
Over 50 WFSE members from residential habilitation centers around Washington met with legislators on Tuesday to tell them NOT to close Rainier School and Yakima Valley School.
Our members at these schools care for and teach adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities skills to increase their independence.
We need calls to the Legislative Hotline to Save RHCs
1. Call or click the phone number here 800-562-6000 to leave a message for your state Senator and Representatives. Please call from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
2. Someone from the Legislative Hotline will pick up.
3. Let them know you want to leave a message for your elected officials about:
- House Bill 1472 and Senate Bill 5393 (which we oppose, because they would close Rainier and YVS)
- House Bill 1908, which we support because it would keep them open
4. They will ask for your name, street address, and Zip code to make sure your message will be sent to the right elected officials.
5. Example message: "Please do not balance the state budget on the backs of developmentally disabled residents at Rainier School and Yakima Valley School. Please consider the many options for new revenue from the wealthiest Washingtonians who aren't paying their fair share in taxes."
To personalize your message further, you can:
Explain any personal connections you have to residents at Yakima Valley School, Rainier School or any of the other RHCs, and why these facilities should be invested in and kept open.
Call for our elected officials to fix our upside-down tax code and ask the wealthy to begin contributing like the rest of us. Find more information on our upside-down tax code and structural budget deficit here.
Can't Make a Call Right Now?
If you cannot make the call now or the Legislative Hotline is closed, please call as soon as you can 800-562-6000 when it's open 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Once you've done that, you can also let your own legislators and our governor know you want these facilities protected with a few clicks here.
Together, we can protect our state's safety net for those who need it most.
DOC Reentry Center Update
We are still fighting for Reentry Centers to stay open.
WFSE-staffed DOC Reentry Centers help incarcerated individuals find new purpose in their lives, helping keep recidivism rates low and our communities safe. Plus, these centers provide quality union jobs in rural Washington communities.
Take Action: Fill Out the Letter Campaign
Tell our legislators that we don't want Ahtanum View and Bellingham Reentry Centers to close. Click here to use our email form--it only takes a minute.
HB 1622 (Parshley)/SB 5422(Bateman) – Allow public workers to bargain over the implementation of AI and other technologies.
Implementing fax machines and tablets is not the same thing as implementing artificial intelligence. House Bill 1622 and its companion in the senate would amend management rights to exempt AI.
We don't yet know all the implications of implementing AI throughout state government, but we do know we should have a voice in how it is put into use.
The stakes for WA's public workers and the millions who depend on our services are too high to outsource our work to strings of code.
We're asking WA's legislators to support HB 1622 and allow state workers to bargain over AI implementation.