WA state workers walk out again over pay negotiations with governor | The Seattle Times

seattletimes.com · Joseph O’Sullivan · September 5, 2026

# WA state workers walk out again over pay negotiations with governor | The Seattle Times

Author: Joseph O’Sullivan Published: 2026-09-05T16:09:27-07:00 Source: seattletimes.com (seattletimes.com) Language: en

## Story

WA state workers walk out again over pay negotiations with governor | The Seattle Times

By

Seattle Times breaking news reporter

OLYMPIA — Jeanette Obelcz stood at the base of the Capitol steps Saturday holding a sign that read: “We keep WA running not the governor.”

Obelcz was one at least 300 state workers who rallied to call on Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s administration to approve fair union contracts.

“You have to respect your workforce,” said Obelcz, a child welfare supervisor at the state Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Saturday’s walkout came after a similar one earlier in the week, in an effort to call attention to what state employees say are unsustainable workloads for difficult jobs, like caring for people with disabilities and protecting vulnerable children.

To reckon with a state budget crisis that began to take shape before he took office, Ferguson in June directed state agencies to submit frugal budget requests before the coming legislative session. In the scheduled session that begins in January, lawmakers and the governor are tasked with writing new two-year state budgets.

Warming up the crowd Saturday, the president of the Washington Federation of State Employees, Mike Yestramski, said it’s well known that the state has budget problems.

“But the inability of the state to manage their budget doesn’t mean that we should have to shoulder the responsibility,” Yestramski said. “Doesn’t mean that we can’t respect the workforce.”

In an interview after his speech, Yestramski said the union and state “has come to agreements on some small things.”

“We’re still kind of apart on some pretty major issues,” he said.

Those don’t just include pay raises that the unions are seeking, Yestramski added, but also workplace standards and language about how the state can use artificial intelligence.

“Things that don’t cost the state money,” he said. “State’s saying they’re broke, like, OK, let’s work toward solutions that don’t cost money. And we’re offering solutions.”

Union negotiators and the state held their last bargaining session Friday, and are scheduled to meet again on Thursday, he said.

Yestramski said the union “didn’t come into this expecting major dollars.”

“And yet, we’re still just getting stonewalled,” he added.

After speeches, demonstrators marched around the Capitol on a path that passes the governor’s mansion.

In an email, Ferguson spokesperson Brionna Aho reiterated the office’s prior statement on union negotiations, saying the governor respects and appreciates state workers, and that the state’s budget crisis and cuts from the Trump administration have made for a difficult situation.

In the face of those challenges, “we are working to meet the needs of Washingtonians and adopt a balanced budget,” Aho wrote. “As he develops his budget, the governor is focused on preserving core services for the most vulnerable people in our state.”

Standing in the crowd Saturday was Zoe Ortega, 25, a program coordinator for The Evergreen State College. Asked if she had a message for the governor, Ortega pointed to her sign. It read: “Bob better have our money.”

Joseph O’Sullivan: josullivan@seattletimes.com. Joseph O’Sullivan is a breaking news reporter at The Seattle Times.

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