WFSE condemns contract backtracking, files grievances

The Washington Federation of State Employees is fighting back against moves by the state that would deny negotiated wages to secretarial workers

OLYMPIA, WA (July 14, 2025) — Washington’s Office of Financial Management (OFM) is challenging support staff pay increases for state workers won during 2025-27 contract negotiations, reports the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). OFM answers to the Governor, and is the state entity tasked with bargaining with public employees.

During negotiations, OFM proposed to eliminate the whole Secretary series, instead reallocating workers in those positions to different classes of Administrative Assistants, agreeing to pay increases for those reallocated workers, per WFSE. But now, union members are receiving notice that they are being reallocated to lower job classifications than what OFM committed to in bargaining, essentially denying many workers negotiated raises. Workers are impacted across the state, with OFM moving to incorrectly reallocate positions covered by the General Government & Department of Corrections contract, the Central, Eastern, and Western Washington University contracts, the Washington State University contract, and more.

In a statement, WFSE defended the workers: “While they’re ensuring we have clean air and water, support for children and families, safe roads and bridges, and much more, the Office of Financial Management is trying to back out of the union-negotiated raises they are owed. WFSE has filed grievances for all impacted members in the secretary series under all contracts and is considering an unfair labor practice charge.” 

WFSE is calling on labor supporters to stand with impacted state workers and send a message to Governor Bob Ferguson demanding that his OFM honor commitments made to workers during bargaining.

TAKE A STAND: use this form to send an email to Gov. Ferguson today and support the public workers who deliver essential services for Washingtonians every day.