The Washington Federation of State Employees is planning to have some state workers walk off the job next month to raise awareness of what’s been happening during contract negotiations.
“ What I can say is that the management side has been beyond disrespectful, both in the actual offers made or even the lack of significant or realistic counterproposals,” said Mike Yestramski, the president of WFSE.
The state’s finances are strained by costly litigation and declining revenue. The state has forecasted a nearly $900 million budget deficit for the 2028 fiscal year.
For years, Yestramski said these workers have been underpaid and overworked.
“We've known for a long time the state budget outlook was bad. We've been preparing our members for that reality,” Yestramski said.
But he said he worries the state’s compensation offers for WFSE members’ 2027-29 contracts won’t even keep up with inflation.
“No one went into these jobs to become rich. We did it because we care about our communities, and we still have bills to pay. And the last time I checked, you can't pay your rent with good karma,” Yestramski said.
The union is organizing a one-day walkout on Aug. 31. The walkout won’t endanger public safety, Yestramski said, and employees will participate for a short period of time during their workday.
“ It's just to send a message of here's what'll happen if we're not here,” Yestramski said.
The union represents workers in community corrections, the Washington State Department of Transportation, Western State Hospital and other civil service roles. Yestramski said the union has problems with staffing levels at all state agencies.
Yestramski said the union has proposed measures to improve workplace safety and job satisfaction, which the union says are no cost and could retain workers, but Yestramski said they have yet to gain traction on those at the bargaining table.
The state’s Office of Financial Management said that it cannot comment while bargaining is ongoing. NWPB reached out to the governor's office and has not received a response.
Read the audio transcript here.
