Democratic staffers in the Washington state Legislature unanimously approved a two-year contract days before the start of the 2025 session, but the terms will not go into effect until this summer.
Legislative assistants, communications staff and policy analysts in both chambers began unionizing after winning the right to organize in 2022. Republican staffers were the first to approve a contract when they reached a deal in September.
Democratic staffers, who are represented by the Washington Public Employees Association, had voted down a previous offer.
“These agreements secure vital protections and improvements for current staff, and make significant progress towards a stronger, more supportive work environment,” WPEA President Amanda Hacker wrote in a statement on Jan. 10 announcing the agreement.
Josie Ellison, a communications specialist with the House Democratic Caucus, said support swung from 0% to 100% between September and January, largely due to protections the unit won in the grievance process that allow for arbitration over contract disputes.
“We feel really strongly that we need an external third party,” Ellison told Cascade PBS in an interview.
Ellison was surprised the sides reached a deal after staffers turned down the offer in the fall. The contract also includes a wage increase of 3% in 2025 and 2% in 2026, the same offer given to other state employee unions. The contract goes into effect July 1, 2025, after the session is set to end.
“It’s a big relief,” Ellison said. “It’s a contract a year sooner than we thought.”
