A new agreement could get Washington state workers the wage hikes they lost

Washington state employees are considering a new contract that could restore a 3% pay raise they missed due to a delay in contract approval. Nearly 5,300 members of the Washington Public Employees Association are voting on the revised agreement, which began on August 22 and ends on September 14. If ratified, the agreement would provide retroactive salary increases and back pay. Union negotiators faced a challenging bargaining period and have emphasized that while not all demands were met, significant gains were made. State government employees would receive back pay regardless of their employment status on the effective date, which contrasts with community college workers who face stricter eligibility conditions.

The 2025-27 budget has already funded multiple contracts that include pay hikes, but the association previously rejected a tentative agreement that they viewed as insufficient. The outcome of this vote will be crucial for future funding decisions by the Legislature. Union officials plan to comment after the vote results are in.