HEALTHCARE VICTORY! We Held the Line

Yesterday our multi-union Healthcare Coalition reached a tentative agreement with the State that maintains our current healthcare cost share for employees — a huge victory in an incredibly difficult budget environment. 

Takeaways defeated, again

With healthcare costs continuing to rise, maintaining our current benefits will require the State to invest an additional $348.5 million.

But the State came to the bargaining table proposing instead to shift thousands of dollars in additional healthcare costs onto state employees and their families. 

We made it clear: our members have already given enough.The state's negotiators said they couldn’t afford our healthcare, and that they too couldn't afford their groceries. 

Our WFSE Vice President Ashley Fueston replied:

 "Well we can't afford groceries either, but now the state wants us to also buy theirs by sacrificing our healthcare and increasing the cost to our families?”

State employees are already dealing with staffing shortages, increased workloads, layoffs, and an affordability crisis of their own.  We were not going to accept making healthcare less affordable too. 

After a tough fight and a grueling day of bargaining, the State withdrew its takeaway proposal and agreed to maintain our current cost share.

In this budget environment, defending what our members have earned matters. The State came looking for major concessions, and our coalition held the line.  

We did the same in 2025, when proposals emerged in the Legislature to increase employee healthcare costs by more than 30% and suspend our right to bargain healthcare for two years.  Once again, when our healthcare was threatened, we fought back and protected it. 

What's Next?

With a tentative healthcare agreement secured, it’s time to turn that sam energy into winning the best possible contract by attending upcoming job actions en masse. 

• RSVP for the 8/31 Walkout with Washington! Let’s show state leadership that when we stand united, we win. RSVP here.
• Save the Date: 9/5 Labor Day Rally in Olympia!Learn more here.

Looking for more information on healthcare negotiations? Like what we can bargain over, and who is covered by the agreement? See our first update from this round of negotiations here.

Find all negotiations updates from all contracts at wfse.org/fair-contract.

In solidarity,

Your WFSE Healthcare Coalition Bargaining Team