Take action
You can get politically active by contacting lawmakers, attending a lobbying event, and more. Contact WPEA lobbyist Seamus Petrie to find out how you can get involved.
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Our 2017-2019 state employee contracts are at stake this legislative session - along with the 2% cost-of-living adjustments we bargained. The legislature will have to decide whether to invest in Washington and fund our contracts for state employees, or to send everyone back to the bargaining table. WPEA represents state employees in every legislative district, and a 2% COLA would have a significant economic impact in communities across the state. We need to send a message reminding the legislators about that economic impact, so we're asking our members what they will do with a COLA. NOTE: Some questions in the survey defaulted to "required," when they should have been optional. If you were unable to submit your response before, please take the survey again. We want to hear from you!
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Our 2017-2019 state employee contracts are at stake this legislative session - along with the 2% cost-of-living adjustments we bargained. The legislature will have to decide whether to invest in Washington and fund our contracts for state employees, or to send everyone back to the bargaining table. WPEA represents state employees in every legislative district, and a 2% COLA would have a significant economic impact in communities across the state. We need to send a message reminding the legislators about that economic impact, so we're asking our members what they will do with a COLA. This week, both the House and Senate heard Governor Inslee’s budget in their relevant committees. Governor Inslee’s budget includes full funding for WPEA’s 2017-2019 collective bargaining agreements, and WPEA strongly supports this investment in our state’s public employees. Senate Ways and Means chair John Braun has called the state employee contracts “very expensive and unusual,” despite the fact that 99% of state employees are paid below market rate.
Do you support a 2% COLA for hardworking state employees? Your legislators need to hear from you. Find your legislator and call their office, or just call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and tell your legislators to invest in Washington state employees and fully fund our contracts. We’re entering the 2017 session with a divided legislature. Democrats have a 50-48 majority in the House, while Republicans hold a 25-24 advantage in the Senate. This is the environment in which we have to pass our contracts - including a 6% COLA over two years.
In 2015, we were able to pass the first COLAs in 7 years by joining together with other public employees, small businesses, and community partners to declare that Public Service Matters. We can do the same this year, by building that same coalition and asking the legislature Invest in Washington. |
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