Unfair Labor Practice Filed for Secretary Series under all contracts & Paralegals at AGO

Are you a former member of the secretary series who was improperly reallocated? Learn more about filing an appeal and the statewide grievances here. Learn more about the unfair labor practice charge below.

During negotiations last summer, after thousands of our support staff members took action to demand a raise that respects the importance of their work, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) proposed to eliminate the whole Secretary series. 

They proposed to reallocate all Secretaries to Administrative Assistant (AA) 1, all Secretary Seniors to AA 2, all Secretary Leads to AA3, and all Secretary Supervisors to AA4. 

As part of our campaign to fight the state’s recent attempts to walk that commitment back, we have filed statewide grievances on behalf of all impacted members, under all impacted contracts. A grievance is defined as “ a violation, misapplication, or misinterpretation” of our contract. 

The employer also proposed upward reallocations at the Attorney General’s Office for the Paralegal series. 

While the circumstances are unique for this series, the Office of Financial Management is also backing away from the estimated number of upward reallocations that was provided at the bargaining table for Paralegals. 

Details: ULP Charges Filed

In addition to filing statewide grievances regarding the Secretary series, our union filed unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against the state because of the Office of Financial Management’s actions related to Paralegals at the Attorney General’s Office, and the Secretary series statewide. 

Our ULP filing reads, in part: 

“The Employer’s implementation is not what was stated or represented during bargaining, and the implementation at the commencement of the CBA period on July 1, 2025, reflects the Employer either never intended to do what they proposed all along or that the Employer decided to modify what they had proposed for financial reasons with the developing economy and to avoid a further bargaining obligation.”

Technical processes like unfair labor practice charges are important tools, but they can take a long time to reach a conclusion. 

Keep the Pressure on the Governor!

The power of your voices, and union members taking action will always be our most powerful tool! 

• Click here to send an email to the Governor’s Officedemanding the state honor what we negotiated for the hardworking support staff of Washington state and honor what was proposed for paralegals who help protect all Washingtonians' rights at the Office of the Attorney General.
• Call the Gov: Once you’ve sent a letter, increase your impact call the Gov’s office at 360-902-4111.