Choose Your Bargaining Team for Our 2027-29 Contracts

Who will represent you at the table with your employer? It’s time to decide.

• Bargaining Team Nominations Open: November 3 at 8am - November 14 at 4pm
• Bargaining Team Elections Open: December 8 at 8am - December 12 at 5pm

The power of our union is in solidarity: the strength and influence we have when we join forces as WFSE members to protect our jobs, families and communities. That’s what bargaining is all about. 

It’s the power of our joined forces at the table with our employers, advocating for the rights and livelihoods we all depend on as public service workers. 

We are preparing now to negotiate with employers to make crucial changes and updates to our union contracts for 2027-2029. You can find your current contract here.

Jump to:

• Bargaining Team Nominations and Elections
• Bargaining Structure for Your Team
• What's at Stake?
• Responsibilities of the Bargaining Team
• Who can Participate?
• Contract Proposals Open Now
• What's Next?
• Have Questions?

Remember, only full union members can participate in this process. If you're not a member, join our union here.

Bargaining team nominations open November 3 at 8am

   Look for an email communication on Monday, November 3 at 8am with links to nominate your bargaining team!

Our union contract is a living document. For it to be powerful and beneficial, we need dedicated bargaining team members to meet with employers during this process. 

These folks are your bargaining team—and it’s time to nominate them.

If you are nominated for a seat on your team, you'll have the opportunity to provide a short bio including your experience and why your coworkers should vote for you. If you believe you'll be nominated or are nominating yourself, start getting it ready now.

Being on the bargaining team is a big commitment. We have fought hard to have a seat at the table. We need you to nominate the coworkers and union siblings who you trust for this important process. This is your chance to decide who will be on your team. 

If you are not currently receiving regular emails from WFSE, fill out the form below to sign up. 

If the nomination period is closing soon and you haven't received your forms, contact the Member Connection Center. 

Remember, only dues-paying members will receive forms to nominate. You can join here.

ABHS, Renton Technical College, SPSCC Exempt, and Tacoma Community College Exempt members negotiate on a different timeline and are not choosing bargaining teams right now.

How many team members will you be able to elect from your college/agency/region? 

What’s at stake? 

It's no secret that public services are under attack, here in Washington and across the country. Last bargaining cycle, we protected our raises and fought off attacks on our healthcare despite the worst budget shortfall in state history. 

Now, with the largest cuts ever to programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Apple Health, and an ongoing federal shutdown, the budget outlook is even worse. 

We'll need as many members involved as possible if we're going to hold the line and protect our jobs and the services Washingtonians depend on.

The negotiations that kick off in the spring of next year will determine:

• How much money will go in your pockets
• How much you'll pay for health insurance
• How many days off you'll have
• Your safety on the job
• And more.

Responsibilities of the bargaining team

The folks representing us at the bargaining table have serious responsibilities that affect the lives of thousands of WFSE members, including

• Formulating contract proposals and engaging with our employers
• Communicating with coworkers and WFSE staff to support an engaged and active membership
• A willingness to work long hours, travel, and take on projects as needed

It's an important decision. The bargaining structure has more information about bargaining team member responsibilities. 

Who can participate?

As you can see, negotiating the contract that spells out our wages, benefits, and rights is a critical part of being a union member. 

For this reason, you must be a full WFSE member to nominate, elect, or be a bargaining team member. 

Not a full WFSE member? Join now so you can nominate your team and fully participate in the process.

For more information on your current union contract, please visit the WFSE website at wfse.org/all-contracts. If you have questions, please contact the WFSE Member Connection Center at 833-MCC-WFSE or [email protected].

Contract proposals are open now!

While this process is underway, don't forget that we are also collecting contract proposals until 12/31/25, which our bargaining team members will consider before meeting with management. 

What's next?

When nominations close, nominees will have an opportunity to provide a bio which will be provided with online ballots during the elections. Dues-paying members will receive a link to vote and a voting PIN.

Bargaining team elections will run December 8 at 8am through December 12 at 5pm. You can find the complete roadmap to negotiations below.

Have questions?

Find more information about how we bargain over healthcare, ratify tentative agreements, collect and review contract proposals, and communicate with the membership during bargaining in the bargaining structure document below. 

If you can't find what you're looking for, reach out to your Council Rep or the Member Connection Center.