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Thousands of WPEA members stood together and ratified new contracts for Higher Education, General Government, and Highline members. But until the legislature funds those agreements, our pay increases, protections, and gains are just promises on paper. The legislature is deciding the budget right now—and without immediate action from members like you, our contracts could go unfunded.

Unfunded contracts would mean:
  • No raises
  • Higher health care costs
  • More understaffing and burnout
  • Greater risk of losing good coworkers to better-paying jobs
We’ve come too far to stop now.

What’s Happening in Olympia?


Here’s the big picture:
  • WPEA represents nearly 6,000 state workers at 9 agencies and 14 colleges.
  • Our contracts were delayed—not by us—but by OFM dragging out bargaining and refusing to negotiate fairly.
  • Even so, members still ratified the agreements—despite the raises falling short of inflation—because we know how badly public services and frontline workers need stability.
  • If the legislature doesn’t fund these contracts, WPEA workers will be paid less than coworkers doing the exact same work—just because we stood up and bargained.

Step 1: Contact Your Legislators


They need to hear from you directly. It takes just a few minutes to make a call or send an email.

Call Script / Email Template


My name is [Your Name], I work at [Your Workplace], and I’m calling as a member of the Washington Public Employees Association. I’m asking the legislature to fund the WPEA contracts.

State employees work hard to serve the public every day—through pandemic and recession. But increasing workload and falling pay have made that work harder. Turnover is high. Salaries haven’t kept up with inflation: we’ve lost over 20% of our purchasing power in the last 20 years.
Now, the legislature is considering a budget that could cut our wages again and increase what we pay for healthcare.
I understand there’s a budget crisis. But if lawmakers keep hurting public employees, people like me—who care about public service—won’t be able to afford to do this work anymore.
Please approve and fund all of WPEA’s contracts in the final budget, so that my coworkers and I can continue serving the public.

Step 2: Talk to a Coworker before April 19th


Your voice matters—but it’s our collective action that makes the difference. After you’ve made your call and sent your email, reach out to a coworker and:

  • Ask if they’ve contacted their legislators
  • Offer to help them look up their district
  • Invite them to make a call within the next day or two
Even just one more voice makes our union stronger.

Share the Word!


Want to help turn individual action into collective momentum? Print and distribute these materials in your workplace to make it easy for others to join the fight.
  • Desk Drop: A simple, eye-catching half-sheet to place directly on coworkers’ desks. It includes all the info they need to take action quickly—no digging through emails required. Great for offices, shared spaces, high-traffic areas, and union events.
  • Flyer: Designed for bulletin boards, breakrooms, or anywhere people might pause. The flyer summarizes what’s at stake, why their voice matters, and how to contact legislators.
These tools are made for you to use:
  • Print a stack (not using state resources) and leave them where coworkers will see them
  • Hand them out during breaks or before meetings
The more visible our message is, the more likely others are to step up. Every printed flyer is another reminder: this fight isn’t over—and we need everyone in it.

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