Washington For All: Day of Action

State workers and allies will rally April 9 urging the Legislature to tax the rich, reject furloughs and benefit cuts

OLYMPIA, WA (April 4, 2025) — Organized by WFSE Local 443, state employees, labor, and supporters will join a mass rally on April 9 at noon in Olympia to reject attempts to cut state employee pay and increase healthcare costs. Satellite rallies are also planned in Bellingham, Bremerton, Ellensburg, Everett, Richland, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima and more. A full list of locations and times can be found at the end of the article. 

The rally comes as the Legislature enters the thick of budget negotiations. For weeks, working people have been urging legislators to avoid devastating cuts and instead secure new revenue from corporations and the ultrawealthy to fund public services. While both chambers have embraced the need for new, progressive revenue, the Senate proposal also calls for deep cuts to state workers’ pay and benefits, harming both workers and all Washingtonians who rely on essential public services.

In a rally announcement, organizers said, “Senate Democrats’ proposed budget threatens to cut our pay, require us to take mandatory unpaid leave (furlough days) every month, eliminate our ability to bargain healthcare, and increase our healthcare costs. Many of us can’t afford to lose this income, or to pay more for the healthcare we need.”

Healthcare proposals are especially troubling. SB 5793, introduced by Senator June Robinson, chief budget writer for the Senate Democrats, unilaterally halts PEBB and SEBB agreements bargained in good faith and gives the Legislature the sole authority to determine the value of health care financial contributions. Effectively, this revokes public employees’ right to bargain over health care costs, a clear attack on bargaining rights that sets an unacceptable precedent.

And with a proposed loss in pay from furloughs, the workers who pave our roads, keep our parks clean and safe, provide healthcare, help workers access benefits, and take care of our loved ones are fighting back against the idea that a budget can be balanced by taking money from the pockets of essential workers, instead of taxing the immense amount of wealth in Washington state.

“The Governor and the Legislature need to honor our collective bargaining agreements and find solutions that don’t balance the budget on the backs of the people who make our state work. Rather than proposing so-called “furlough days”, which mean working for free, we want to hear solutions about revenue options that make the extremely wealthy pay what they truly owe,” said Mike Yestramski, President of WFSE.

TAKE ACTION: On April 9, join the rally in Olympia (rally starts at 12 p.m., meet at the Tivoli Fountain at 11 a.m., RSVP here) or a satellite rally near you! Locations below.

Locations (underlined listings are different times/dates):

Spokane – Sponsored by Local 1221
B.A. Clark Park, 3922 N. Normandie St., Spokane, WA 99205

DCYF/DSHS Yakima Office – Sponsored by Local 1326
1002 N. 16th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902

Costco Union Gap – Sponsored by Local 1326
Intersection of W. Valley Mall Blvd. & Longfibre Rd, Union Gap, WA 98903

Denny’s Union Gap – Sponsored by Local 1326
Intersection of E. Valley Mall Blvd. & Rudkin Rd., Union Gap, WA 98903

DCYF Richland Office – Sponsored by Local 1253
1661 Fowler St., Richland, WA 99352

John Dam Plaza, Richland (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) – Sponsored by Local 1253
815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352

DDA/DVA Kennewick Office, SE corner of parking lot – Sponsored by Local 1253
500 N. Morain St., Kennewick, WA 99336

DCYF Bremerton Office – Sponsored by Local 1181
4210 Wheaton Way, Bremerton, WA 98310

DCYF Lakewood Office
6010 Main St., Lakewood, WA 98499

DCYF Tacoma Office
1949 S. State St., Tacoma, WA 98405

DCYF King West Office – Sponsored by Local 889
100 West Harrison St., South Tower, Seattle, WA 98119

Patricia A. Clark Children and Family Justice Center – Sponsored by Local 889
1211 E. Alder St., Seattle, WA 98122

Harborview Park, (11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) – Sponsored by Local 3488
779 Alder St, Seattle, WA 98104

UW Triangle Garage Lawn, (April 8, 11:30 a.m.) – Sponsored by WFSE Local 1495, UAW, and SEIU
2121 NE. Pacific Pl., Seattle, WA 98195

DCYF/DDA Kent Office – Sponsored by Local 889
1313 W. Meeker St., Kent, WA 98032

DCYF King East Office – Sponsored by Local 889
805 156th Ave NE., Bellevue, WA 98007

DCYF MLK Office – Sponsored by Local 889
3600 S. Graham St., Seattle, WA 98118

DDA Cherry St. – Sponsored by Local 889
1700 Cherry St., Seattle, WA 98122

DCYF Vancouver Clark Office – Sponsored by Local 313
800 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684

DCYF Smokey Point Office – Sponsored by Local 948
3906 172nd St. NE., Arlington, WA 98223

DCYF Everett Office – Sponsored by Local 948
840 N. Broadway, Everett, WA 98201

DCYF Bellingham Office
1720 Ellis St., Bellingham, WA 98225

Ellensburg, (5:00 p.m.) – Sponsored by Local 330/1301
Intersection of E. University Way & N. Wildcat Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926