skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

US sues NY state officials over immigration enforcement; NM's national monuments face new development threats from Trump; NC community colleges get 'boost' to bring more students to high-demand jobs; Trump's resignation plan for federal workers can move forward; Advocates push for program to decrease wildlife collisions in VA.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Deregulation raises environmental and public health concerns, national monuments face potential risks, political neutrality in education sparks protests, and Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation fuels controversy.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rural America struggles with opioids and homelessness in unexpected ways, Colorado's Lariat Ditch could help spur local recreation, and book deliveries revive rural communities hit by Hurricane Helene.

Amid Retention Issues, WA State Workers Push for Raises

play audio
Play

Thursday, January 19, 2023   

Washington state workers face a bevy of challenges, but they hope to get a lifeline from lawmakers this legislative session.

Along with lagging pay, the Washington Federation of State Employees said the workforce has not grown at the same pace as the population. While the population has increased 26% over the past two decades, the state workforce has grown just 5%.

Brian Edwards, office administrator at the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center, said state jobs have lost the luster they might have had 20 or 30 years ago.

"Folks don't aspire to get a good-paying state job with a good pension and benefits because the private sector is outcompeting us," Edwards pointed out.

A state survey on compensation from 2022 found state jobs across the board lag the market by more than 16%. Workers have proposed raises in their new contracts for 2023 to 2025 and hope lawmakers will ratify the agreements.

Andrew Stubblefield, highway maintenance worker for the Washington State Department of Transportation, said the risk of getting hurt or killed on the job has increased over the past few years.

"The people who were coming here from out of state with job skills, a lot of whom were paid more than what they could get here, were paid more in those other states," Stubblefield explained. "And so looking for a low-paying, high-risk job is just not on their agenda."

Stubblefield added Department of Transportation workers provide a crucial service, and he hopes legislators will keep it in mind this session.

"If we weren't there, it would only take just a couple of days before roads would fall into disrepair," Stubblefield contended. "We're just barely keeping up with it with the people we have, and that's because we can't get anybody else interested in this because of the low wages."

The legislative session is scheduled to last through April 29.

Disclosure: The Washington Federation of State Employees - AFSCME Council 28 contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy and Priorities, Health Issues, and Livable Wages/Working Families. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Farmers markets encourage consumption of fruits and vegetables, which is much more climate-friendly compared with a meat-based diet. (Corey/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

By Gabriella Sotelo for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient/Just and Climate-Friendly …


Environment

play sound

As the Trump administration considers oil, gas and mining on lands owned by all Americans, including in national monuments designated under the …

Social Issues

play sound

Connecticut education advocates feel Gov. Ned Lamont's 2026-2027 budget proposal continues a history of underfunding education. While the new budget …


Alabama Senate Bill 76 would also protect individuals from having to leave someone under their care if finding a suitable replacement is impossible during jury service. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

An Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee has unanimously approved a bill that would exempt nursing mothers from jury duty. The proposal comes after an …

play sound

Ohio Senate Bill 1 is drawing strong reactions across the state, particularly from students in higher education. The bill, which its supporters say …

Cape Fear Community College is among the 15 colleges in the NC Community Colleges Boost pilot program. (Billy Hathorn/Wikimedia Commons)

Social Issues

play sound

An effort to increase students heading into high-demand jobs from North Carolina's community colleges is receiving a "boost." The N-C Community Colleg…

Social Issues

play sound

A January report shows that in rural counties home to large numbers of American Indians, including in Montana, people are more likely to rely on …

Environment

play sound

Virginia is the ninth-likeliest state for a driver to hit wildlife but environmental advocates are working to change it. One in 76 people in …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021