Thousands of Washington state workers lose out on wage hikes

More than 5,300 state government and community college employees in Washington will not receive a 3% pay raise in July due to a delay in contract ratification by their union, the Washington Public Employees Association. The contract was approved on April 3, past the statutory deadline for inclusion in the state budget. Amanda Hacker, the association president, criticized the situation, arguing it penalizes workers for exercising their bargaining rights. The approved budget does provide raises for other state employees and legislative staff, with a total estimated cost of $55. 8 million for the biennium.

Hacker noted that this decision will exacerbate wage disparities between public sector employees and the private sector. The union is exploring options to mitigate the immediate financial impact on its members. They plan to pursue negotiations for a new contract ahead of the October 1 deadline for future budget considerations. Legislative staff in the House and Senate secured similar wage hikes, reflecting a broader trend in state employee compensation.