News

Election Win! WFSE Votes Save Jobs and Future Raises

Our hard work paid off this election year. WFSE voters took down three anti-worker initiatives, which would have resulted in job loss, income stagnation, and fewer services for Washingtonians and elected labor-friendly representatives that we'll need to vote to fund our contract. With a budget shortfall on the horizon, we need all hands on deck.

Ferguson's Proposed Cuts to Higher Education

If these cuts are implemented by the legislature, the colleges will decide how to implement them. Furloughs are on the table and have been utilized in the past. We need to speak up and demand the rich begin paying their fair share.

WFSE Grievance Nets DOC Members Thousands in Back Pay

After a hard fight, WFSE members received an arbitration opinion vindicating our nine Department of Corrections members who teach Defensive Tactics courses who had been unfairly excluded from receiving assignment pay.

Capacity, Not Closures! DOC Reentry Centers Provide Second Chances

The proposed closures would negatively impact those who are in most need of these services , result in increased recidivism (a 2007 study showed Washington’s reentry centers lead to at least a 2.8% reduction in recidivism), cost the state more money (research conducted by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy indicates that reentry programs have a positive cost/benefit impact; for every dollar spent, $3.82 is returned to the state.), and threaten the capacity of our community custody system when the need for more capacity is rising.

University of Pennsylvania libraries staff win union election, extending wave of unionization

Philadelphia – Penn Libraries staff, unionizing as AFSCME DC 47 Local 590 Penn Libraries United, announced this fall the results of their August election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.

Protecting Yakima Valley School and Rainier School From Closure

As you may have heard, the governor's proposed budget includes the closure of Yakima Valley School and Rainier School. We can't lose these crucial community resources for Washingtonians who need them. Read on for actions you can take to stand with vulnerable community members and dedicated WFSE members and stop the closures.

DOC Update - Zev Firearms and More

On December 12th, DOC Leadership met with management for the Statewide Union Management Communication Committee (SUMCC).

This was the first meeting since firearms had been returned to Zev. This has been one of the largest concerns identified by our members, and the lack of communication from the agency has increased this stress.

2024: A Year of Solidarity

This year, we took on many challenges to become stronger as a union, protect our jobs, and ensure our families have the best futures possible. We aren't stopping there.

No Furloughs and Facility Closures! Washington for All, Not Just the Rich

Our current $12 billion budget crisis is in large part a result of our state’s inequitable tax code that relies on those with the least to pay the most. It's inefficient and it's unfair.

During Walkout for Washington, Thousands of WFSE Members Walk Out for Fair Contract

On Tuesday, September 10, thousands of WFSE members at over 130 worksites walked out of their jobs to draw attention to the need for a fair contract.

Two days following the walkouts, tentative agreements for 2025-27 contracts began rolling in. 

Food Banks and Frustration: University of Washington Workers Demand Better

Months into bargaining with the University of Washington, WFSE members feel disrespected by UW’s resistance towards better pay and benefits for the staff that keep the university clean, safe, and functioning.

“Meeting with management, talking about kind of how things are done, management isn’t on the same page about how things are done at the medical center versus the main campus,” said Erik Hellen, a food service worker at UW and WFSE bargaining team member.