Union votes herald a new era for workers in Washington Legislature

The stage is set for the first-ever contract negotiations between Washington state lawmakers and some of their most trusted employees.

Democratic staff in the state House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to unionize Monday, joining their Republican peers in both chambers who elected to form bargaining units last month.

Now workers in each of the four partisan caucuses will sit down with administrative leaders of the House and Senate to negotiate separate agreements covering wages, benefits and working conditions.

“It’s a historic moment,” said Josie Ellison, a communications specialist with the House Democratic Caucus. “It’s been a lot of years in the making. It means a lot to the folks who are here. It also means a lot to folks who aren’t here because they couldn’t afford to stay.”

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/07/09/union-votes-herald-a-new-era-for-workers-in-washington-legislature/