After almost half a year of contract negotiations, public service workers who are members of Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE/AFSCME Council 28) have ratified a new general government contract.
Applicable to a majority of the members, the new contract includes strong wage increases, a minimum wage of $18 an hour, and expanded leave, among other things.
The two-year agreement came after state employees walked out of their jobs to stand in solidarity with each other and demand fair contracts. The Walkout for Washington, held on Sept. 10, mobilized thousands of our union’s members across the state.
The victory by WFSE members is especially significant given the state’s challenging budget projections. Mike Yestramski, WFSE president and an AFSCME vice president, credited the workers for organizing, making their voices heard and never giving up.
“Facing a massive budget deficit and original offers that amounted to a pay cut, our members organized and made themselves heard, resulting in an economic package that was close to double what the state originally planned on providing,” Yestramski said. “This contract addresses some long overdue pay raises specifically for support staff and skilled trades, across the state of Washington.”
Among other things, the new contract includes:
- General wage increases of 3% in 2025 and 2% in 2026.
- Over $300 million in new funding to ensure that the health care premium share remains 85%/15%; an increase in the Flexible Spending Account benefit to $300 while making it available to anyone making $68,004 per year or less.
- A starting wage for state employees of $18 an hour.
- More than 330 classification-specific increases, as well as raises through reallocations for more than 40 additional classifications.
- Expanded leave that includes improved bereavement and new leave types, such as for those experiencing wildfire emergencies.
- Maintained and expanded eligibility for 24/7 pay.
Kurt Spiegel, WFSE executive director, said the union had achieved “a record number of class-specific increases,” and that the starting wage of $18 an hour would bring “much needed pay increases to the state’s lowest wage earners.”
WFSE’s victory could not have been achieved without the power of worker solidarity.
“When we fight, we win!” said Ashley Fueston, a WFSE vice president. “Without member action we never would have seen a tentative agreement like the one we ratified. Getting loud and fighting are the reason management made movement.”