OLYMPIA (Oct. 19, 2021) — If you have chosen to leave your job rather than comply with your employers’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the Washington State Employment Security Department is teaming up with organized labor, workforce development experts and other state agencies to offer a series of virtual Reemployment Resource events. The sessions will be held […]
OLYMPIA (Oct. 7, 2021) — A large bipartisan, bicameral group of Washington state legislators has signed a strong letter of protest urging the Biden administration to withdraw its challenge to the Washington state law strengthening workers’ compensation access for workers at the Hanford nuclear site. The 2018 law grants presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for sick workers […]
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: […]
Senate labor committee chair bemoans Biden administration decision to continue Trump-era effort blocking workers’ comp benefits for sick nuclear cleanup workers OLYMPIA (Sept. 16, 2021) — Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), chair of the Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee, issued the following statement Wednesday after the announcement that the Biden administration will […]
The following is from the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE): OLYMPIA (Sept. 13, 2021) — Members of the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) ratified an agreement with the state addressing the effects of Governor Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate. The vote concluded Thursday night with more than 80 percent casting […]
To comply with governor’s order, first shots are needed as soon as Sept. 6 OLYMPIA (Sept. 2, 2021) — Gov. Jay Inslee has established a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for most Washington state employees; higher education, childcare, and K-12 education employees; state contractors; and most healthcare and long-term care providers. Under the governor’s proclamations, all […]
OLYMPIA (Sept. 2, 2021) — The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the $2.2 trillion federal economic stimulus bill approved in March 2020 in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, temporarily expanded and extended unemployment benefits. It is expiring this week and here’s what that means for recipients of […]
Under American Rescue Plan Act, some in Washington now get health coverage for $1 per month or less. Nearly half of all Exchange customers pay less than $100 per month. OLYMPIA (Sept. 1, 2021) — Washington Health Benefit Exchange announced Tuesday that more than 57,000 Washingtonians signed up for health care coverage between Feb. […]
The following is from the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28: OLYMPIA (Aug. 30, 2021) — In response to Washington state’s failure to bargain the effects of Governor Inslee’s vaccine mandate in good faith, the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) filed a lawsuit Thursday with Thurston County Superior Court. “Our union’s […]
(Este mensaje se repetirá en español.) The following is from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I): TUMWATER (Aug. 27, 2021) — While dairy workers already have the right to earn overtime, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5172 grants the same right to agricultural workers starting in 2022. The law includes a three-year phase-in […]
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