Thousands of Washington state employees are planning on taking one-day strike action beginning next month as contract negotiations continue between the state and the Washington Federation of State Employees. The Washington Federation of State Employees represents various labor unions, and these unions represent over fifty thousand employees who work in the state government, public higher education, and public service. Workers are set to walk out on September 10th to demand greater pay and better working conditions. The Washington Federation of State Employees states that the state has a forty percent worker turnover rate, and this rate will likely increase if pay and benefits do not improve. The two parties began contract negotiations in the spring, and the federation turned down a contract the state proposed in July.
See "Washington state employees set to participate in one-day strike as contract negotiations continue", Jerry Cornfield, Laurel Demkovich, Washington State Standard, August 27, 2024