Search
WPEA is calling on all members to take action!
Our fight for fair wages continues, and we need your voice more than ever!

Our actions are having an impact! SBCTC sent out a letter to college administrators telling them to ignore us. We've modified letters 1 and 3 to address this action by SBCTC.

​Letters sent as of 8/20/2024: 69
For over two decades, our wage increases have failed to keep pace with inflation, steadily eroding our purchasing power and quality of life. While we achieved our largest increases ever in our last contract – 4% and 3% – even these historic gains fell short of matching the soaring cost of living.

The reality is stark:
  • Grocery prices have nearly doubled in just the past year.
  • Housing costs have doubled over the last five years.
  • The state's minimum wage is increasing faster than our current wages, compressing pay scales across our membership.
​
Our work is essential, yet our compensation continues to lag behind the economic realities we face. As public servants, we keep Washington's community colleges, governmental departments, and libraries running smoothly. 

This letter-writing and email signature campaign is our chance to send a clear, unified message to management: Cost of living increases are not just desirable – they're essential for the wellbeing of our members and the continued quality of public services in Washington state.

Your participation in this campaign is crucial. By sharing your experiences and concerns with management, you'll help paint a vivid picture of why fair, inflation-matching wage increases are necessary. Together, we can push for the compensation we deserve and have long been denied.
​
Your letter will make a difference. Join us in this important effort and click here for more ways to support the bargaining team! 
How to Participate
Choose Your Letter
  • Select one of the four pre-written letters below, crafted by our bargaining representatives.
  • Alternatively, if you have the time and desire, consider writing your own personalized letter.

Personalize Your Message (Optional but Impactful)
  • If writing your own letter or adapting a template, consider including
    • How low wages have directly impacted your daily life
    • Whether low wages have increased your thoughts of seeking employment elsewhere
    • How low wages have affected hiring or retention in your department
    • Emphasize that most employers agree wages should increase
    • Highlight the disparity between staff wages and the larger increases seen by faculty and similar roles

Select Your Recipients
  • Choose at least one management contact from the list below
  • If possible, send your letter to multiple or all listed contacts for maximum impact

Send Your Letter
  • Use your personal email to send your letter
  • Send your letter by August 15th

CC the Following to helps us track the campaign
Spread the Word
  • Encourage your colleagues to participate in this campaign
  • Set your email signature by following the instructions below.
  • Check back daily to see our progress - we'll update the total number of letters sent across the union

We are stronger together always!
Email Signature
Email signatures are a subtle yet powerful tool for raising awareness. By adding a brief message about our contract negotiations to your email signature, you can inform colleagues and spark discussions with every email you send. This campaign aims to spread information about our push for fair compensation and to keep our cause visible in day-to-day communications. The signature includes key points about our situation and a link to more detailed information, allowing recipients to easily learn more and potentially lend their support.

Signature

Fair Wages Now!
2024 Statewide Bargaining
WPEA monthly newsletter 

How to set your signature

Windows
MacOS
Mobile

Letter Templates

Letter 1: Economic Pressure and Fair Compensation
View this letter

This letter focuses classified staff at colleges, highlighting:
  1. The growing gap between current wages and rising living costs
  2. The significant underpayment of classified staff compared to private sector equivalents
  3. The inadequacy of benefits and "job security" as compensation for low wages
  4. Increased workloads due to budget cuts and program reductions

Key points:
  • OFM salary survey shows classified employees are over 30% underpaid compared to similar private sector jobs
  • Many staff rely on additional income sources to manage current economic pressures
  • Rising healthcare premiums and increased workloads are not reflected in current wages

The tone is factual and urgent, appealing to leadership's sense of fairness and responsibility.
This letter is ideal for members who want to emphasize the economic realities and data-driven arguments for wage increases.

Letter 2: Urgent Call for Substantial Wage Increases
View this letter

This letter addresses the critical need for significant compensation increases, emphasizing:
  1. The severe inadequacy of the proposed 1% pay increase
  2. The ongoing economic challenges faced by state employees
  3. The widening gap between public and private sector wages

Key points:
  • The proposed 1% increase fails to address historic inflation and cost of living increases
  • Current wages are not competitive with private sector growth
  • WPEA's proposal for double-digit increases over each of the next two years

The tone is direct and assertive, challenging leadership to take meaningful action.

This letter is well-suited for members who want to express frustration with inadequate proposals and push for more substantial increases. It's particularly effective in highlighting the stark contrast between the proposed increase and economic realities.

Letter 3: Equity, Fair Compensation, and Institutional Impact
View this letter

This letter focuses on the broader implications of fair compensation for classified staff at colleges, highlighting:
  1. The disconnect between leadership's commitment to equity and the current wage situation
  2. The long-term impact of insufficient wage increases over the past 20 years
  3. The personal and professional consequences of inadequate compensation
  4. The institutional benefits of providing fair wages

Key points:
  • Classified staff wages have consistently fallen behind cost of living increases for two decades
  • Many staff work multiple jobs due to insufficient primary employment compensation
  • Current wages negatively impact hiring, retention, and overall college operations
  • Fair compensation would improve staff morale, fill crucial vacancies, and enhance student services

The tone is respectful yet assertive, appealing to leadership's stated values and long-term institutional goals.
This letter is ideal for members who want to emphasize the broader impacts of fair compensation, including institutional effectiveness and alignment with stated values of equity and employee wellbeing. It also provides personal context to the issue, making it suitable for those who wish to share how inadequate wages affect their daily lives.

Letter 4: Comprehensive Appeal for Fair Compensation
View this letter

This letter presents a well-rounded argument for substantial wage increases, focusing on:
  1. The inadequacy of the state's current proposals (0% and 1%)
  2. The stark contrast between rising living costs and stagnant wages
  3. The personal and professional impacts of insufficient compensation
  4. The broader implications for workforce retention and public service quality

Key points:
  • Current proposals do not reflect the financial realities faced by state employees
  • Many employees are experiencing significant financial stress and are forced to take on additional work
  • Fair compensation is crucial for maintaining morale, retention, and attracting skilled professionals
  • Adequate wages are essential for maintaining the quality of public services
    ​
The tone is professional and comprehensive, balancing personal experiences with broader workforce and public service considerations.
This letter is well-suited for members who want to present a thorough, multi-faceted argument for wage increases. It's particularly effective in connecting personal struggles with the overall health of the public sector workforce and the quality of services provided to citizens.

Key Points for Personal Letters

​Here is a summary of key points for members writing their own letters:
  1. Personal impact of low wages on your daily life
  2. How inadequate compensation affects your job and department
  3. Comparison to inflation rates and private sector wages
  4. Historical context of wages falling behind over the past 20 years
  5. Benefits of fair wages for staff morale and public services
  6. Support for WPEA's proposal for double-digit increases
  7. Your commitment to your job and value as a public servant
  8. Urgent call for leadership to advocate for fair compensation

Remember to include personal examples and maintain a professional tone.
​
Management Contacts

Here is a copy of the spreadsheet if you want to mail merge your letter, sending it to all contacts:
ManagementContacts.xlsx
​
If you're sending your letter to all contacts, be sure that you alter the contents to be broad since there are both Higher Education and General Government contacts in the complete list. If you would rather send your letter only to Higher Education or General Government contacts, here are separated spreadsheets to use for a mail merge:
HE Contacts.xlsx
​GG Contacts.xlsx

Location

Contact Us