General Government Agreement Reached, Team Recommends Yes Vote

Thursday after 10 p.m., the WFSE General Government Bargaining Team reached a 2021-2023 tentative agreement with the state of Washington that secures a future for 30,000 + state workers and the millions of Washingtonians they serve.

GG members: View the full TA and voting instructions here.

The agreement accomplishes the following:

  • Preserves yearly step increases in both years
  • Extends and codifies our telework agreement
  • Extends a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DSHS institutions that allows for the use of comp time in lieu of cash payment for certain holidays
  • Acknowledges the need for all of us to embrace our role in improving workplace culture and safety (cultural competence, genuine care for one another and a commitment to improvement)
  • For DOT, expands use of reimbursement for safety footwear accessories (not just boots), updates the list of job classes eligible for schedule C equipment pay, and maintains the wellness incentive for CDL
  • ...and more.

Furloughs
The projected $9 billion budget shortfall over the next 3 years has resulted in furloughs for state employees. We negotiated the impact of those, with a re-opener, in hopes that additional revenue will be achieved during the biennium.

Our priority was to protect steps and health care while recognizing that furloughs are a better alternative to layoffs and permanent job loss.

We were clear from the beginning: Our state cannot recover from a global pandemic and safely reopen the economy without state workers. Let's keep them on the job so Washingtonians can continue to get the services they need.

While some states and cities across the nation are making the same mistakes of 2008 by throwing public workers under the bus, AFSCME Council 28/WFSE is showing a better way forward.

Ratification

This agreement will be distributed to the membership for a ratification vote next week. Stay tuned for the full TA and more details about ratification.

Let's ensure jobs and services are funded for the future. Email your legislators today, and tell them to put people first.