OLYMPIA (Oct. 1, 2021) — Members of the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) this week voted to ratify an agreement with the state to provide “the largest pay increase and lump sum payment negotiated in several years” for the state’s General Government employees in 2022.

Here is the announcement from WFSE:

General Government Pay Raise Agreement Ratified

The vote concluded Wednesday night with 98% of participants casting their ballots in favor of ratification. This General Government agreement will bring the largest pay increase and lump sum payment negotiated in several years.

A special thank you goes out to the bargaining team and WFSE members who took action to help secure this agreement. Stay tuned and stay active as we return to the bargaining table in 2022 to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for the next biennium.

●  Download and review the agreement here. (PDF) See red text for changes. This is an amendment to an existing contract article.
●  Watch a Zoom Webinar review of the agreement here.

This agreement addresses the lack of a general wage increase in 2021 and acknowledges the impacts on those who adjusted to telework, those on the frontlines, and lower wage earners who were most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

WFSE members made this possible. Not a member? Join today.

What We Secured

●  A general wage increase of 3.25% for all employees who fall under WFSE’s General Government contract.

●  A lump sum payment (determined by base income as of June 30, 2022) for workers employed as of July 1, 2021, who remain employed as of July 1, 2022, and earn less than $99,000.

How We Did It – The Union Difference

●  Union members here in Washington and across the country lobbied Congress to ensure passage of the American Recovery Act, providing critical funding for state and local governments.

●  WFSE members sent more than 6,000 letters to the Inslee administration calling for wage increases.

●  A special thanks goes out to members and staff on the bargaining team who worked tirelessly to negotiate this agreement.

What’s Next?

●  The agreement will be sent to the governor for inclusion in his supplemental budget proposal.

●  The state legislature will need to approve the agreement in the next session.