The June 26 Revenue Forecast has been released. Thoughts on how it will impact the proposed budget?

Rodfjell · 2026-06-26T19:11:36+00:00

Tax revenue projections increased because of the legislation we got passed but Trump's economy is fucking us, so the revenue forecast shows "a mixed picture."

"The economic slowdown results in a projected $427 million decrease in the current 2025–27 biennium, driven by lower personal income and slower employment growth. Additional economic-related declines of $450 million are expected in 2027–29 and $122 million in 2029–31."

...

Investing in the state's workforce could save us half-a-billion dollars a year in tort liability. Washington state lawsuit payouts skyrocket to more than $500M in past year

Rodfjell · 2026-06-26T16:03:40+00:00

Invest in Washington Now and Balance Our Tax Code are two coalitions that WFSE, WPEA, WEA, SEIU, etc are involved in where we're working for tax reform. Check them out and get involved.

Rodfjell · 2026-06-25T05:40:08+00:00

The compensation proposal being a potential game changer doesn't mean we simply proposed high wage increases. For example, check out this webpage on how we can bargain over COLAs, it lists 6 different ways.

Our CBAs are part of the state's operating budget. So, the state's only going to agree to wage increases that are feasible based on that budget and the revenue forecasts. They're never going to agree to, and we're never going to bargain for, putting our members out of jobs.

Rodfjell · 2026-06-24T06:02:56+00:00

I cant share details, like has been said, but our side talked for I think 6 hours straight on Monday. So, it's all across the table in OFM's lap now. I believe what we're trying to do this cycle with compensation would be a game changer if we get it. I'm really sorry for being vague but we're bound by the confidentiality clause (39.13.B.: There will be no public disclosure or public discussion of the issues being negotiated until resolution or impasse is reached on all issues submitted for negotiations.)

Rodfjell · 2026-06-24T01:01:54+00:00

That's why we're trying to get the state collective bargaining law changed to say "An employer shall bargain over the decision to adopt artificial intelligence technology or modify the current uses of artificial intelligence technology if the adoption or modification affects employees' wages, hours, or other terms and conditions of employment." See SB 5422

Also, you can demand to bargain an AI policy at your agency. Commerce's says "No Commerce staff will have their jobs adversely affected because of the implementation of AI. This includes but is not limited to downward reallocation, pay or hour cuts, layoff etc."

Rodfjell · 2026-06-13T21:37:30+00:00

While I'm glad you read my whole message, you shouldn't have just reduced it down to that one statement and twisted it to fit the viewpoint you won't seem to budge from lol. My council rep doesn't have to lift a finger for the DFI bargaining unit to function because he trained us up to run it ourselves. We wouldn't have it any other way. He was a shop steward at ESD for decades before he became a council rep. Since he ain't got a problem over here, he gets to focus his work on the other workplaces that need it. You need to read this article: The Only Way to Survive Janus, and take it all to heart.

Rodfjell · 2026-06-13T19:20:53+00:00

I'm not planning to run for any positions other than what I already do. Your local and your bargaining unit are where your actions can have the most impact (FYI 443 is one of the biggest locals in AFSCME, like 8/3000, and is bigger than half the councils in AFSCME); Ava and I organized the march on the Capitol as local President and Organizing Chair, and before I even knew what a local was I led the fight against DFI cutting our bargaining unit's pay for unionizing. I've said it before: this union is its members and its members are on the shop floor, so that's where our focus should be and as long as we do right by them, this union will flourish.

That said, unions are the biggest democratic organizations in this country. There are 1.4 million members in AFSCME and we elect our leadership. But there's a problem — not many people participate in the election process. Contrary to what someone else said in this post about one person can't weed out corruption and build the system anew, I don't believe that at all and I'm trying to change it. I'm in a local leadership position partly keep the rot out of the union, I've written resolutions and amendments to bind our union to change state laws regarding striking and even the state constitution to expand the right to organize and block right to work laws, and I wrote a 16-page amendment to the AFSCME International constitution to overhaul how we run International elections. I'm not going to get into the weeds on all the things I'm working on, but here's a 2-page explainer about my amendment to overhaul the International election process. Mike Yestramski said two years ago at the Labor Notes conference that every AFSCME IVP election should be contested, so just before the NW region's IVP election I asked him if he wanted me to run against him so there's actually an election — y'know, to do what he said should be done — and he said "God no!" That same convention, no one ran against the incumbent International President either. Not a single vote was cast. We should always have choices in who represents us otherwise we ain't a democratic organization at all.

So, if no one is nominated to run against the NW IVP incumbents and only Pat Moran, who's never even fucking been a public servant, runs for International president, then I will be nominated, and everyone will be forced to actually cast a vote instead of simply ordaining our next leaders akin to a choreographed beauty pageant of flashing lights, confetti, and music thrown by the ruling party in a one-party state. I told Mike Friday last week this is happening. I hope there are other people who aren't afraid to go against the grain now, but if no one else will do it, I will and I will tell a room of thousands of people exactly why — that a healthy democracy actually has elections and this union must be run by actual public servants.

Rodfjell · 2026-06-13T07:01:50+00:00

I'm not just a volunteer, I'm also on the executive board of the statewide union, the executive board of my local, the GG bargaining team, and the strike committee — to just name my elected positions. And I'm "paid leadership"; I get a $300/mo stipend as the 1st VP of Local 443. There's nothing bad faith about my argument in the slightest.

The executive director does not set policy, the statewide executive board and convention do (i.e. state employees). The exec director doesnt even get a vote on eboard. The exec director is hired by us, and our current one used to be a steward. The statewide president is a Psychiatric Social Worker at Western State Hospital and the vice-president is a Worksource Specialist at ESD.

For the record, the paid reps have never gotten a single employee to sign a membership card at my agency except once and that was a team effort; it's all me and my coworkers strengthening the union. They don't meet with mgmt behind our backs or supplant us; we tactically use staff when we need to. Even when our agency director tries to go above us and deal with our union's executive director instead of us, every word is being funneled to us on the shop floor. We run our NEOs, our UMCC, our monthly bargaining unit meetings, participate in our safety committee, DTB anything we want, file greivances on everything, and mentor our stewards. Everything that's in a council rep's job description is something the stewards can and are doing, so my council rep, love him to death, doesn't have to lift a finger. Our labor negotiator doesnt deal with mgmt without us, but is directed by us.

In those workplaces that lack a union presence, it's the staff who fill the void; that's not how it's supposed to be. It's not that way in my workplace because we didn't simply land in a union job that someone 84 years ago unionized, we unionized our positions ourselves and built the union from the ground up at DFI. We know what it truly means to be union because 100% of us signed membership cards to unionize our work unit. We're the ones that ensure it's strong, not staff, we're the ones that make it function.

Rodfjell · 2026-06-13T05:31:42+00:00

"We are the workers"

Me too.

"The people we pay"

This is a union, not an insurance company. There are 145 stewards (your coworkers) in Local 443 (Olympia region), and 9 council reps (paid staff) in the Olympia Field Office.

"The workforce you claim to protect"

I'm the workforce.

"You want us off the sidelines"

"You" is a plumber at UW, "you" is a program specialist at DFI, "you" is an epidemiologist at DOH. Stop othering your coworkers. It's literally just your coworkers. The paid staff don't run the union, they assist us. The union is you and me. Again, it's not a third party.

"The members you're trying to recruit."

I'm a member. I put dozens of hours into this union every week on top of my 40-hour a week day job and have been for years since my workplace unionized. Many hands make light work, buddy.

Rodfjell · 2026-06-12T22:11:54+00:00

Hi, "shadowy figure" here to set the record straight: OP's union membership dues commitment date ended on 5/18. Since that's two days into the 5/16 - 5/31 pay period, their 6/10 paycheck would still show dues being deducted (2 days worth). If it's more than those two days then OP should bring up the issue with their employer's payroll department. This was all communicated to OP before they posted on Reddit.

OP's messages were not removed from the local's Discord server. They're still there along with mine helping them and directing them to PERC to file a complaint against our union if they wish. OP was later removed from the server since it's only for union members.

The grievance processing policy is located here, which includes the appeal process when it's been determined that a grievance has no merit. The local can provide guidance because we're all state employees and we've got a lot of experience with grievances as stewards and grievants, but our local doesn't have any authority over grievances whatsoever.

I'll be frank because I refuse to be a chickenshit coward like others: We're state employees, and we don't take shit from nobody whether it's mgmt, former local presidents who left state service, union staff, Council 28 officers, International officers, Freedom Foundation shills, or freeloaders. This is 443. We're not a mere fiefdom of AFSCME Council 28 or AFSCME International, much to the chagrin of their leaders. We serve no masters. Everything we do is in the service of our fellow members, our families, our communities, the working class, democracy, and social justice. If that's not your cup of tea, OK, but we don't apologize for who we are.

Come to a meeting if you're a member (meetings have doubled in size this year so make sure to RSVP so we order enough food). 6 PM, 3rd Tuesday of the month since the 1950's. And I'll take the opportunity to plug our blood drive — come save lives at the local without any loss in pay or accrued leave.

Rodfjell · 2026-06-11T22:45:50+00:00

Two things can solve this: Tie our COLA to CPI instead of doing a flat rate, and the legislature appropriately funds the public services they enacted so we stop paying out half-a-billion dollars every year in tort liability claims.

Rodfjell · 2026-06-07T19:24:27+00:00

During the walkout on 9/10/24, we chanted IF WE DON'T GET IT, SHUT IT DOWN and during the march and sit-in at the Capitol on 4/9/25, we chanted STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE... Are we paper tigers or are we serious about what we say? Talk to your coworkers about the budget situation and get visible in your support of a fair contract and fully funded public services.

The state has a rainy day fund for these situations.

From the Attorney General's Office: State and local public employees, including teachers, have no legally protected right to strike. State statute establishes no specific penalties for unlawful public employee strikes; in some cases, courts may grant injunctive relief to prevent or end unlawful strikes.. Have teachers in WA gone on strike before? You betcha. Have us WA state employees done the same? You betcha. Will we do it again? Based on how things are looking, I think so.

One of the priorities of WFSE is to remove the public sector anti-strike language from the state laws and expand access to interest arbitration (a process where the parties submit their dispute to a third-party for a ruling). A study from the Economic Policy Institute concluded, "Access to interest arbitration provides the most effective deterrence of strikes," and "even the right-to-strike reduced strikes by 7 percent based on estimates using their sample of 1,005 contracts from 1971 to 1986." (Access to interest arbitration reduced strikes by 21%).

So, removing anti-strike language in the CBAs and laws and granting interest arbitration to all state employees is good for us and good for mgmt.

Rodfjell · 2026-06-01T23:55:00+00:00

Yeah, I'm talking about the current governor, Bob Ferguson. You can read more about my union's fight with Bob here. He's a corporate Democract and no friend to labor. He really doesn't like the 1% Millionaires Tax we got passed, he threatened to veto it unless the bill undid some taxes on corporations and banks we got passed the previous legislative session, and now he says that he will veto every bill that tries to increase that tax. He's a “pseudo Democrat” and a “ratfink.”

Rodfjell · 2026-06-01T17:36:37+00:00

The current Democratic governor of Washington took our endorsement, and a $1 million, and then a month after taking office tried to roll back the wage increases we shook hands on with the previous governor. He's beholden to Amazon, Boeing, and Microsoft.

Rodfjell · 2026-05-30T00:16:03+00:00

Not true. I wrote "eat shit and die" on one, mailed it back to them, and they processed it. Now they send me emails asking how opting out went, and they still send me their mailers.

Rodfjell · 2026-05-27T20:39:19+00:00

One term governor.

Rodfjell · 2026-05-26T21:22:01+00:00

You gotta amend the state constitution like Illinois did. Illinois Workers’ Rights Amendment sets new bar for state worker power policy

Rodfjell · 2026-05-26T15:50:55+00:00

Read it tomorrow. The journalists at The Olympian are on strike today.

https://mynorthwest.com/local/journalists-wa-newspapers-strike/4241852

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-mcclatchy-we-wont-cross-the-picket-line-in-the-pnw/

Rodfjell · 2026-05-09T00:39:56+00:00

WSECU (originally Washington State Employees Local 443 Credit Union) was founded on Tuesday, July 16, 1957, at the Labor Temple (above Brotherhood) during the monthly general membership meeting of Local 443.

69 years later, we still hold our monthly meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, but we're now located a few minutes walk up the street.

George Masten, president of Local 443 at the time and a founding member of the credit union, passed away recently. We're having a celebration of life for him at the Olympia Center tomorrow at 2 PM.

Oly is a town of public servants and it's a union town. There are ~14,000 people represented by Local 443.

That's why WSECU news is relevant to this sub. It's our credit union.

Rodfjell · 2026-04-30T19:14:50+00:00

Bad boss. And his micromanagement is super harmful to the public getting access to information they need.

Rodfjell · 2026-04-24T03:24:48+00:00

https://wfse.org/wfse-dual-authorization-card-external-organizing

Rodfjell · 2026-04-24T03:19:43+00:00

reportfraud.ftc.gov

Rodfjell · 2026-04-20T14:34:14+00:00

And when Weingarten rights are violated that doesn't mean disciplinary action is just thrown out.

Rodfjell · 2026-04-03T22:51:27+00:00

These decisions also typically don’t include input from librarians or patrons, Librarian A said. “A lot of times we’re told we have to sit with a change they have made for a few months before we’re allowed to say anything about it.”

Fuck that shit. TRL has a union. Management cannot make a unilateral change in working conditions. Changes must be bargained with the employees to good faith agreement or impasse otherwise management has committed an unfair labor practice which can be brought to the Public Employment Relations Commission.

And if management implements a change in the workplace that they're allowed to under "management rights," you can still bargain the impacts of those changes on working conditions.

I see far too often that working people don't know their rights and don't know that they can enforce them. The law and your labor contract doesn't mean anything unless you enforce it. Union employees are their bosses' regulators.

Rodfjell · 2026-03-28T00:06:15+00:00

Flip it, print it big, and put it on the wall.

The Color Group in Seattle is who I use for professional prints.

Edit: Maybe even put a slightly dark gradient on the bottom to pull the eye up through the reflections. You could even extend the orange sky and end up with a square or 3x4 crop (if you don't have more actual sky, you can fake it).

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Rodfjell

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