No other workforce has more at stake in decisions made by elected officials than public employees, and that's especially true during budget downturns.
Use this page to learn about how we're lobbying decision-makers to fund our 2025-2027 collective bargaining agreements and pass pro-labor, pro-worker legislation.
Quick Links:
Contact Your Elected Officials: No Budget Cuts!
Take Action: Speak Out for Yakima Valley School and Rainier School
Take Action: Capacity Not Closures: Reentry Centers Provide Second Chances
Weekly Legislative Updates:
Washington for All, Not Just the Rich
The Governor has proposed across the board budget cuts to tackle Washington's projected $12 billion budget deficit, along with the closure of several public facilities that the most vulnerable depend on.
The House and Senate will release their budgets March 24 and 25.
That means we have until mid-March to convince our elected officials to reject cuts and balance the budget by having the wealthy and the most profitable corporations pay what they owe.
Contact Your Elected Official to Demand a Washington for All, Not Just the Rich
We can’t cut our way out of this mess. Our workloads are already through the roof. We can fix the structural budget deficit that got us here by asking the super-rich to begin contributing like the rest of us.
Every one of our members can attest to how having to do more with less every year impacts them and the general public that depends on their work, and how drastic budget cuts would make it worse.
That's what we’ll have to do protect the work we do and the people we serve – tell our stories.
Learn about Our Upside-Down Tax Code and Structural Budget Deficit
WFSE Priority Bills
Fund our 2025-2027 Raises and Contracts
We're calling on our elected officials to ratify and fund our 2025-2027 union contracts to ensure the state can hire and retain the workforce necessary to provide the vital public services we all depend on. Negotiating raises was no small feat given the budget deficit.
Make Washington's Wealthiest Pay their Fair Share
Our elected officials must address our upside-down tax code and ask the super-wealthy to contribute like the rest of us. We will never be able to address unmet needs across government until we solve our structural budget deficit. The ERFC projects revenue to flatten-out, so it’s vital we continue to pursue policies that ask the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes.
Fund existing state services before funding new projects or initiatives
The current state of our state services is chronically underfunded and understaffed, and the lack of investment is beginning to show in how our agencies operate. We must fully invest in our existing state services before funding new projects or initiatives. Without more revenue and lower workloads, we are on an unsustainable course that will crush our vital state operations.
(OPPOSE) HB 1472 / SB 5393 - Closing Rainier School and Yakima Valley School
WFSE opposes the plans in Governor Inslee’s proposed budget to close Rainier School and Yakima Valley School, which would significantly impact care for residents of institutions and threaten the jobs of dedicated public servants working there.
>> Take Action: Speak Out for Yakima Valley School and Rainier School
We Need a Hearing on 1908 by 2/21 - Take Action Here
We have good news in our efforts to save Yakima Valley School and Rainier School. We now have a vehicle to keep the life-saving work at Rainier School and Yakima Valley School running in the form of House Bill 1908.
(OPPOSE) Budget Item - Closing DOC Reentry Centers in Yakima and Bellingham
WFSE opposes the plans in Governor Inslee’s proposed budget to close two DOC Re-entry Centers- Bellingham and Ahtanum View (Yakima). This would shortsightedly reduce capacity in our criminal justice system for community custody, and isolate people in re-entry centers farther from their communities.
>> Take Action: Capacity Not Closures: Reentry Centers Provide Second Chances
HB XXXX (Parshley)/SB 5422 (Bateman) – Allow public workers to bargain over the implementation of AI and other technologies.
These bills would amend the management rights statute so that state employees can bargain over the implementation of AI and other emerging technologies in state government, just like private sector workers are able to.
HB 1105 (Fosse)/ SB 5433 (Ramos) Create a stand-alone contract for WFSE members members in the Community Corrections division at DOC.
This bill would create a separate contract for WFSE DOC members apart from the General Government contract, which they are currently a part of. This change would save time and simplify the process.
SB 5379 (Stanford)/ HB 1182 (Paul) – Interest arbitration rights for Parks employees.
This bill would grant interest arbitration rights to Parks employees to align workers, especially rangers, with protections that other public safety workers have won in bargaining.
SB XXXX (TBD)/ HB 1927 (Peterson) - Help renters increase their credit scores.
This bill would establish a pilot project to require landlords to report on-time rental payments to credit bureaus to help renters improve their credit score. If you can pay your rent, you can pay your mortgage.
HB 1217 / SB 5222 - Improve housing stability for tenants
These rent stabilization bills would require notice of rent and fee increases, limit fees and deposits, establish a landlord resource center and associated services, authorize tenant lease termination, and provide for attorney general enforcement.
HB 1129 (Stonier)/ SB 5121 (Frame) – Mandates insurance coverage for fertility services.
WFSE has fought for this bill for multiple legislative sessions. This bill would make it easier for state employees to become parents by requiring state-funded health insurance to pay for fertility services. It could also save lives.
HB 1419 - Protecting Washington's Limited English Proficient Population
Our members in WFSE Local 1671 Interpreters United ensure that anyone, regardless of the language they speak, can access services and resources offered by DCYF, DSHS, LNI and elsewhere.
This bill would require interpreters to complete national fingerprint background checks. Interpreting is a profession. Quality interpreters mean good outcomes for Washington's Limited English Proficient (LEP) population
If you're worried about the pending budget shortfall, here's what you need to know.
We’ve known about the budget crunch since June, and here’s the good news. We’re ahead of the game.
We Need Your Voice in Olympia!
You have a unique perspective on your working conditions and only you can tell legislators exactly why your work matters. Even coworkers in your exact position will have a different perspective.
2025's legislative session is a long one, and we need as many voices as possible from January through April to uplift the labor movement and fight against the billionaire lobbyists trying to take power away from working people in Washington.
We have Lobby Days for districts all across the state and days for specific departments as well. You can find your legislative district here and learn which lawmakers are representing you.
If you want to join your union siblings in the fight to hold lawmakers accountable to working Washingtonians, register for a 2025 Lobby Day here.
You can find out more about PEOPLE, our political action program, here.
Why Lobby Days Matter
Our direct action with legislators makes a difference. When lawmakers talk to us, they get a glimpse of the direct impact they have on Washington workers. We show them that everything from budget cuts to lowering staffing levels has real impacts on real people.
If you're the kind of person who wants to make changes in Washington to defend working families and hold lawmakers accountable, we want you to lobby with WFSE!
If you've never lobbied before, we can train you to ensure you have the right tools to effectively tell your story. Lobby Days training is not required, but is a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of lobbying before heading to Olympia.
