Budget Signed Without WPEA - Bargaining Begins in June
Every connection we build lays the foundation for the future we deserve. Every hand we extend is a declaration that we will not surrender. When we come together, our unity becomes a powerful act of defiance. We don’t need permission--we need each other. The system will not save us, but together, we still can. We are not too small; we are simply not yet aligned. But we can be. And we will be. Because this is how movements begin—not in silence, not in waiting, but in us: rising, reaching, and refusing to let go of one another.
|
Show up for UNITY Meeting Wednesdays at 12:00, 5:00, or 6:00pm.UNITY stands for Union Networking and Information Team for You and is a weekly meeting space for you to come and learn what is going on, meet co-workers, and share information.
Meeting ID: 819 2269 9344
Passcode: 716299 Solidarity: Sit. Eat. Share. Build.Solidarity means more than standing together—it means coming together. Sit. Eat. Share. Build. When we make food and break bread, we do more than nourish our bodies—we rebuild the bonds that hold our movement together. Like the builders of change before us, we find strength in community, resilience in unity, and power in shared purpose.
Join our Discord
|
Not Funded, Not Finished
Click here for 2024 bargaining journey.
To view the signing check out:
|
May 20th, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed the 2025 state operating budget without calling a special session.
What does this mean? It means the contracts our members bargained for, through tireless effort, honest negotiation, and in good faith, have not been funded. These contracts represented the voices and needs of thousands across the WPEA Higher Education Coalition and General Government. They were hard-won, and their dismissal is a gut punch. According to RCW 41.80, if a contract isn’t funded, it does not go into effect. By signing the budget as written, the Governor has confirmed these agreements will not be implemented. So where does that leave us?
This is an actively developing situation. WPEA leadership is already moving, organizing, strategizing, and building a plan of action. We will continue to keep you informed with updates as they come. Be sure to join UNITY and steward meetings for updates and directions. Stay connected. Stay ready. Stay strong. |
We Moved Together, And We're Not Done Yet
Last week, we did something we’ve never done before.
In just six days, 447 WPEA members signed on to a public letter to the Governor. Nearly 10% of our entire union, speaking with one voice. We collected over 700 total signatures, even across a weekend. It’s a level of engagement that’s nearly unheard of in a union of our size, on such a short timeline.
And that wasn’t all. On May 7th, 60 members from across the state took time off work, drove into Olympia, and gathered together in solidarity. That’s a first for us, too.
We didn’t just show up. We showed power.
We Were the Rally
We planned to hand-deliver a letter over 30 pages long, filled with signatures, comments, and testimony to Governor Bob Ferguson. The timing was intentional. Just across the Capitol, a stage was set for an event honoring public service workers.
But while we stood united in our blue WPEA shirts, with picket signs held high, the Governor never came. His spot was filled by the Lieutenant Governor, Danny Heck, who gave a short speech to a sparse field.
The one corner that wasn’t empty?
Ours.
As the speech ended, our members tried to meet with him, but were turned away by staff and security. We were told to deliver the letter to the Governor’s office instead.
So we marched to the office together… and found it closed.
Denied but not Defeated
The next morning, WPEA President Amanda Hacker returned to the Governor’s office to try again. Amanda was told by staff that the office would not accept the letter in person, and then had security escorted her out with the instruction to “mail it, like everyone else.”
So we did.
The full letter, signatures and all, was mailed that same day.
And now we have confirmation: the Governor’s Public Information Officer has verified that he received the letter and is reviewing it. Our message made it through.
This Moment Matters
This entire campaign, from digital organizing to physical turnout, came together in a single week. A year ago, it would’ve been impossible. But the WPEA of today is different.
We're more connected.
We're more strategic.
And we’re being heard.
This moment shows how far we’ve come and how far we’re ready to go next.
Where We Go From Here
The Governor has just signed the budget by May 20th. We have a meeting with our stewards Tuesday, May 20th at 6:30pm to discuss next steps.
In the meantime:
It’s the beginning of something bigger.
Let’s keep building.
In just six days, 447 WPEA members signed on to a public letter to the Governor. Nearly 10% of our entire union, speaking with one voice. We collected over 700 total signatures, even across a weekend. It’s a level of engagement that’s nearly unheard of in a union of our size, on such a short timeline.
And that wasn’t all. On May 7th, 60 members from across the state took time off work, drove into Olympia, and gathered together in solidarity. That’s a first for us, too.
We didn’t just show up. We showed power.
We Were the Rally
We planned to hand-deliver a letter over 30 pages long, filled with signatures, comments, and testimony to Governor Bob Ferguson. The timing was intentional. Just across the Capitol, a stage was set for an event honoring public service workers.
But while we stood united in our blue WPEA shirts, with picket signs held high, the Governor never came. His spot was filled by the Lieutenant Governor, Danny Heck, who gave a short speech to a sparse field.
The one corner that wasn’t empty?
Ours.
As the speech ended, our members tried to meet with him, but were turned away by staff and security. We were told to deliver the letter to the Governor’s office instead.
So we marched to the office together… and found it closed.
Denied but not Defeated
The next morning, WPEA President Amanda Hacker returned to the Governor’s office to try again. Amanda was told by staff that the office would not accept the letter in person, and then had security escorted her out with the instruction to “mail it, like everyone else.”
So we did.
The full letter, signatures and all, was mailed that same day.
And now we have confirmation: the Governor’s Public Information Officer has verified that he received the letter and is reviewing it. Our message made it through.
This Moment Matters
This entire campaign, from digital organizing to physical turnout, came together in a single week. A year ago, it would’ve been impossible. But the WPEA of today is different.
We're more connected.
We're more strategic.
And we’re being heard.
This moment shows how far we’ve come and how far we’re ready to go next.
Where We Go From Here
The Governor has just signed the budget by May 20th. We have a meeting with our stewards Tuesday, May 20th at 6:30pm to discuss next steps.
In the meantime:
- Talk to your coworkers about what’s happening.
- Share the letter and the story of what we did together.
- Invite others to our UNITY meetings so we can decide together what happens next.
It’s the beginning of something bigger.
Let’s keep building.
Frequently Asked Questions: Are our contracts funded?
- Which WPEA contracts were funded?
- Yakima Valley College
- House Democratic Legislative Staff
- Senate Democratic Legislative Staff
- Which WPEA contracts were not funded?
- General Government
- Higher Education Coalition
- Highline College
Will we get pay raises (i.e. COLA)?
- No, not on July 1st 2025 – the legislature did not include the WPEA General Government, Higher Education Coalition, or Highline College contracts in the 2025 budget.
Can there be retroactive compensation?
- While we cannot guarantee this, we are working on a few potential ways to achieve this; bargaining and/or mediation are our top priorities.
Will the classifications get a salary increase?
- No, RCW 41.80 provides that contracts are either funded and implemented or not funded and renegotiated.
The compensation isn’t funded, but will the other parts of the ratified contract still apply?
- No - RCW 41.80 provides that contracts are not implemented if they are not funded. They will need to be renegotiated.
- Under RCW 41.80, the terms of the existing 2023-2025 agreements will stay in effect for one year.
What happens now?
- Under RCW 41.80 provides that contracts are not implemented if they are not funded.
- They will be renegotiated.
- The terms of the existing 2023-2025 agreements will stay in effect for one year.
- We will have more updates to come.
Where are we in the 2025 budget process?
- The governor now has signed the budget in full.
- No, Governor Ferguson’s proposed furloughs are not included; neither is a similar pay cut the Senate proposed earlier this year.
- The final budget does not include the proposed 33% increase in monthly premiums that was originally proposed by the senate. It does include an elimination of the smart health program and wellness incentives, starting in plan year 2028.
- The legislature also made cuts and investments in various agency programs, including:
- Department of Natural Resources
- $4 million cut to fire engine staffing levels
- $4 million cut to aerial support contracts
- $3.1 million cut to forest treatments
- $3.7 million cut to pre-positioning fire personnel and equipment
- $1.3 million cut to recreation land maintenance
- $2.7 million cut to recreation lands/cultural resources
- $6.4 million cut to urban forest assistance
- $2 million investment in surface mine reclamation
- $2.8 million investment in Forest Practices adaptive management program
- $2.2 million investment in equipment replacement
- Department of Revenue
- $3 million investment in Working Families Tax Credit administration
- Liquor and Cannabis Board
- $12.8 million cut to IT systems modernizations (reflecting projected expenditures)
- Department of Agriculture
- $630 thousand investment for equipment and modifications for the department’s food safety lab
- $630 thousand investment for equipment and modifications for the department’s food safety lab
- Department of Natural Resources
- Can the employer be required to pay from a different source (local funds)?
- No – under RCW 41.80 the General Government, Higher Education Coalition, and Highline College contracts are funded through the legislature and the employers cannot fund the contracts with a different source.
- No – under RCW 41.80 the General Government, Higher Education Coalition, and Highline College contracts are funded through the legislature and the employers cannot fund the contracts with a different source.
- Does this mean we do not have a contract?
- It means that our current contract will expire on June 30, 2025. If there are not funded agreements by that date, the contract will expire. The "terms and conditions" of the contract will continue and the Employer will need to continue to abide by the expired 2023-2025 agreement until a successor is in place.
- It means that our current contract will expire on June 30, 2025. If there are not funded agreements by that date, the contract will expire. The "terms and conditions" of the contract will continue and the Employer will need to continue to abide by the expired 2023-2025 agreement until a successor is in place.
- What non-monetary issues are we missing out on?
- Depends on the contract
- Depends on the contract
- How does the lack of a signed contract impact our current medical benefits for the 2025-2027?
- There should be no impact on healthcare.
- There should be no impact on healthcare.
- For folks retiring in the next FY, does that impact their benefits when they hit retirement?
- WPEA does not advise on retirement issues because it is not within our scope. You will need to contact Department of Retirement Systems at (800) 547-6657.
- WPEA does not advise on retirement issues because it is not within our scope. You will need to contact Department of Retirement Systems at (800) 547-6657.
- What does not having a contract for an entire year for our classified staff?
- We will still be under the terms and conditions of the expired agreement and everything must remain "status quo" - meaning that nothing can be changed until an agreement is reached with the Union.
- We will still be under the terms and conditions of the expired agreement and everything must remain "status quo" - meaning that nothing can be changed until an agreement is reached with the Union.
- So for 2026 will we be able to get a raise?
- If the Legislature funds our contracts in the supplemental budget, then we would get raises for July 1, 2026.
- If the Legislature funds our contracts in the supplemental budget, then we would get raises for July 1, 2026.
- Will the minimum wage bump to $18 be implemented?
- No, but the State minimum wage is still in place, so anyone falling under the minimum wage after January 1, 2026, will need to be brought up to that amount.
- Why did some legislators believe the contracts were funded?
- The budget committee, which includes only a subset of legislators, decided not to fund our contracts. Those subset of legislators then produced information and talking points that said that the contracts were funded, with no mention of the 3 WPEA agreements, that were not funded. This has caused confusion with agencies, colleges and other elected officials who all thought that the "contracts were funded" statement applied to all labor agreements.
- The budget committee, which includes only a subset of legislators, decided not to fund our contracts. Those subset of legislators then produced information and talking points that said that the contracts were funded, with no mention of the 3 WPEA agreements, that were not funded. This has caused confusion with agencies, colleges and other elected officials who all thought that the "contracts were funded" statement applied to all labor agreements.
- If I don’t pay dues, will I still be impacted by this?
- Yes, all positions covered under WPEA contracts are impacted by the budget writers choice not to fund these contracts. If your position is covered under the contract, it will be impacted - whether you pay dues or not.
Glossary of Terms
Check out our glossary of terms! Click Ctrl + F to find a term