Posts tagged Washington state
Commentary: Strike by 23 staffers leaves blue-state commuters stranded – too bad state fired 120 staffers for vax refusal
October 7, 2026 // According to local NPR affiliate KUOW, "[t]housands of ferry riders in the Puget Sound region were left in the lurch Monday morning as major routes and dozens of sailings were canceled. "Nearly two dozen engine room employees called out sick, according to the state, and backup crew declined to fill in. The union representing the workers said Monday’s shutdown highlighted Washington State Ferries’ failure to hire more staff." The outlet said that "dozens of sailings were upended Monday" due to the sick-out, with only a few boats in operation. Washington State Ferries said on X that not only had the employees called out, but all employees qualified to keep the boats running declined to help out. "All of the employees calling in sick, and declining to fill those vacancies, are represented by the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) who represent engine room employees," WSF said. As a result, all but five of the ships were out of service. If only there was something they could have done to avoid this. Oh, wait: Expand article logo Continue reading Fact check: Accurate. From a 2022 Washington State Ferries workforce planning report: First, the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing labor shortages in the maritime labor market. An estimated 3.2 million workers nationwide left the labor market between 2019 and 2021, impacting every sector of the economy. Second, WSF was particularly hard hit by employees not complying with the state vaccine mandates. It lost 120 crew members or approximately 6% of its operational workforce. Not only is this nearly double the state employees' rate of 3.2%, but the losses were also concentrated in critical occupations: 20 oilers and 40 temporary assistant engineers left their positions.
New Rule in Washington State Conflates Labor Policy with Public Health
September 28, 2026 // Simply put, if an operator doesn’t pay the tab for an alleged violation, they will get a sign posted in their restaurants’ windows that alerts the public of a failure to comply. The sign also states, “Due to this non-compliance, this establishment is subject to additional food safety inspections,” implying the violation is about food safety rather than an unpaid fine over a labor dispute. Perspective customers upon entering may be shocked by the red warning placard claiming the restaurant is a threat to public health.
A Boeing strike could give the state’s UI fund a much bigger test
September 24, 2026 // This year, benefits paid for by employers and traditionally meant for workers who lose work through no fault of their own became available to people who are employed but who choose not to work, too. And the Washington state Employment Security Department told me that as of Sept. 14, 174 striking workers have been paid benefits so far in 2026, accounting for 814 paid weeks and $604,491 from the Unemployment Trust Fund. That is up surprisingly little from Aug. 5, when ESD reported 151 paid claimants, 741 paid weeks and $565,714. (I say “little” recognizing that even a dollar given to a person choosing not to work takes away from a fund that has been relied on as a safety net for workers who lose their jobs.)
Union workers at Seattle Hilton reach deal to end 85-day strike
September 17, 2026 // The new contract comes as rising operational costs, including labor, continue to impact the hotel industry. Hotel owners and operators have previously expressed concerns about how rising wages might affect total revenue and hotel profitability. In New York City in May, union members of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council ratified a new contract with the Hotel Association of New York, averting strikes ahead of the World Cup.
Striking Seattle hotel workers apply for unemployment benefits
July 15, 2026 // Washington's law, which took effect Jan. 1, allows workers to collect up to six weeks of unemployment benefits while on strike during a contract dispute. The latest: Hotel workers at the Hilton-owned Embassy Suites in Pioneer Square have applied for the benefits and expect to start receiving them next week, their union, Unite Here Local 8, tells Axios.
WATCH: Eight years later, quiet opt-out rules can’t stop millions saved in union dues
July 1, 2026 // But according to Washington Policy Center’s Director of the Center for Healthcare and Worker Rights Elizabeth New, many employees still don’t understand they have an “opt out” option. “A lot of workers still don't know about this right. It isn't included on required workplace posters about a worker's rights. It's not listed on a state website where other rights are listed," said New in a Thursday interview with The Center Square. "So, if your membership is truly voluntary, and we care about all workers' rights, employees should receive neutral information about membership before a union gives them paperwork to sign up.”
Seattle Art Museum Workers Are Unionizing
May 15, 2026 // Unbothered by grey skies, dribbling rain, and that stale-ass statement, SAMWU and its supporters held a rally and press conference outside the museum at 1st Ave and University. Before the press conference started, members chomped on pizza and cupcakes, handing out union t-shirts and buttons with the SAMWU logo—Jonathan Borofsky’s “Hammering Man” sculpture, mid-hammer, natch—and socialized. Representatives from SAM Visitor Service Officers (VSO) union, Tacoma Art Museum Workers United, and the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO all commingled.
Ocean State Media Staff Members Announce Intent To ‘Go Union,’ Join SAG-AFTRA
May 14, 2026 // Staff employed at Ocean State Media - Rhode Island’s NPR and PBS station, have announced their intention to form a Union with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). A majority of Workers - including Hosts, Reporters, And Digital, Audio and Video Producers, have signed a petition to Unionize. Ocean State Media was formed following a merger between The Public’s Radio, Rhode Island’s NPR affiliate, and Rhode Island PBS. The combined organization provides news and cultural coverage on the unique stories of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.
The fight continues: a look at union efforts in Washington state
April 10, 2026 // A Washington state cleaning company that receives hundreds of thousands in taxpayer dollars, is in negotiations with its unionized workers over the employees’ contract.
Seattle’s Minimum Wage Laws Backfired on Uber and Lyft. Now the Union Wants To Limit Drivers.
March 31, 2026 // As demand for trips has plummeted in the wake of the wage hikes, more rideshare drivers are finding themselves working longer hours to achieve the same number of rides as before. Instead of fixing the root of the problem, a union representing Seattle rideshare workers has a new solution: Limit the number of people who can work as Uber drivers. According to the Drivers Union, which represents Lyft and Uber drivers in Washington State, there is a severe glut of rideshare drivers on the road in the Emerald City. The union bases this on a new report it released (with funding from the state Department of Ecology), which concludes that "a majority of miles driven by Uber drivers are now without a passenger."