In a testament to collective power, the State of Washington Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) have voted 96% in favor of ratifying their first collective bargaining agreement.
Together, WFSE and the Washington Association of Assistant Attorneys General (AWAAG) formed an initial agreement with management that provides a strong foundation to address parity, transparency and predictability.
AAGs have historically struggled with heavy caseloads, salaries that lag behind other public agencies, and no salary schedule, leading to a lack of predictability and security. Facing burnout and high turnover, AAGs formed AWAAG and joined forces with WFSE to create real change.
These public servants fought hard in the 2019 legislative session to win collective bargaining rights. The AAGs filed for recognition the day the law went into effect and have worked tirelessly to reach agreement in an expedited bargaining process over the past week.
Amazingly, the bargaining team, comprised of a diverse elected group of AAGs, persuaded management to adopt a salary schedule that provides for the largest increases the Attorney General’s Office has seen in almost 20 years.
In addition to the 3% general wage increase scheduled for July 1, 2020, all AAGs will receive additional wage increases as they are placed on the salary schedule, in addition to 4-8% step increases based on years since their law school graduation.
There are over 500 hard-working, dedicated AAGs in the state, and they make an exciting addition to the 44,000 public service employees already represented by AFSCME Council 28/WFSE. Together, WFSE and these new AAG members will continue to build power.
