Union leaders rally for longterm care funding

Joined by community advocates, union leaders representing first responders and nurses urged voters to approve Amendment 8201

SEATTLE, WA (October 10, 2025) — Voters will have only one statewide ballot measure to consider this year, Amendment 8201. If approved, the measure would safeguard monies in the state’s long-term care fund for aging adults and disabled Washingtonians, the WA Cares Fund. If passed, advocates say it would grow the fund by billions, helping keep premiums low without a cost to taxpayers. 

The measure would amend the Washington state constitution to allow funds from WA Cares to be invested in the stock market. It comes to the ballot by way of Senate Joint Resolution 8201, which was passed with supermajority bipartisan support by the state legislature this past session, putting the question of a constitutional amendment to voters for final approval.

The campaign to approve Amendment 8201 is supported by dozens of local unions and labor organizations, including Machinists District 751, Protec17, SEIU Locals 6, 775, 925, and 1199NW, Teamsters Local 117, UFCW Locals 367 and 3000, the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and more.

Greg Markley, IAFF, speaks at Thursday’s rally. Photo: Approve 8201 campaign via Facebook

Speaking at the rally and press conference on Thursday, Greg Markley, Division Chief for the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority and Secretary-Treasurer of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters shared why growing the WA Cares Fund will benefit all Washingtonians. 

“Fire fighters respond to many 911 calls for preventable falls, missed medications, and infections because seniors and people with disabilities don’t have needed support at home,” said Markley. “Growing our state long-term care benefit with Amendment 8201 will keep our most vulnerable Washingtonians safer by paying for home care and other services and supports.”

Justin Gill, President of WSNA and a nurse practitioner, shared how approving Amendment 8201 would both ensure people can get care rather than end up in the ER for preventable reasons — and support healthcare workers themselves, as very few working people make the kind of money that can cover longterm care out of pocket.

“As a nurse practitioner, I see older adults and people with disabilities cycle in and out of the ER for preventable reasons,” said Gill. “Washington’s long-term care benefit will soon provide a lifeline to help folks who can’t access or afford the services they need to stay home and out of the hospital.” 

“Nurses, like the vast majority of Americans, don’t have enormous wealth or nest eggs we can tap to cover the expenses of care,” continued Gill. “WA Cares is not only going to help our patients, it’s going to be a gamechanger for us and our families when the need for help with daily living activities arises.”

Voters reaffirmed their support for the long term care fund in the 2024 Election, voting down an initiative to dismantle the program. When ballots drop in just over a week, Washingtonians will have another opportunity to weigh-in on the path forward for the WA Cares Fund.