Posts tagged Washington
Washington Democrats propose collective bargaining for farmworkers
January 21, 2026 // Washington Farm Bureau director of government relations Breanne Elsey told the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Jan. 19 that farmworkers are excluded from the federal law for good reasons. Untimely labor disputes would bankrupt farms, she said. “Striking during harvest could threaten the small window of time farmers have to produce their income for the entire year,” she said. SB 6617 would apply to housekeepers and employees of some small businesses, as well as farmworkers. Senate Bill 6045 and House Bill 2409 are confined to collective-bargaining rights for just farmworkers. Those bills are scheduled for initial hearings Jan. 20.
Maine Considers Setting Minimum Rate of Pay for Rideshare Drivers on Platforms Like Uber and Lyft
January 21, 2026 // At the close of their testimony, the group suggests that lawmakers consider implementing a “portable benefits” program wherein drivers can accrue benefits across multiple platforms without “sacrificing their independent contractor status.” “We share the goal of ensuring that rideshare drivers can earn a fair living,” Chamber of Progress said. “But the evidence is clear: in city after city, minimum pay mandates have backfired by raising prices for riders, compressing earnings for experienced drivers, and degrading service for everyone.”
Feds warn Oregon, other states, on paying unemployment benefits to striking workers
January 15, 2026 // “An individual who is on strike must engage in activities that demonstrate to the state (unemployment insurance) agency that he or she is able and available for work and actively seeking work under state law,” Michelle Beebe, head of the U.S. Employment and Training Administration, wrote in a note to Oregon and other state agencies last week.
Commentary: Right-to-Work States Dominate U-Haul Growth Index
January 12, 2026 // Among the top ten growth states in the U-Haul index, nine have a Right-to-Work law that protects workers from being forced to pay dues to union bosses as a condition of employment. -Among the bottom ten states in the U-Haul index, NONE has a Right-to-Work law. All are forced unionism states. -Of the 25 top ranked cities in the U-Haul Growth Index, 24 are located in Right-to-Work states. The 10 best ranked states in the U-Haul Growth Index are Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Alabama and Georgia. All are Right-to-Work except Washington.
Washington Democrats now let striking workers collect unemployment while businesses bleed
January 3, 2026 // What the law does not address is the imbalance it creates for employers, particularly those who have no comparable safety net when a strike halts operations, disrupts contracts, or threatens the survival of a business entirely. That’s intentional. While workers can now rely on unemployment benefits during a strike, businesses are still expected to absorb the losses, with no relief and little recourse. The law further tips the scales toward unions that already wield extraordinary power in Washington, allowing them to prolong strikes with fewer consequences while businesses shoulder all the risk.
Majority of Starbucks’ striking baristas are returning to work
December 30, 2025 // At the end of last week, the union informed us that partners at 166 of the 215 coffeehouses on their strike list would like to unconditionally return to work, meaning they are ready to return under the current terms of their employment," Kelly wrote. While some employees will resume their roles, about 25% will continue to strike, the union said, adding that the timeline for the strike is open-ended, with a number of workers ready to join the picket line in January if progress hasn't been made. Read more at: https://www.mahoningmatters.com/news/business/article313938985.html#storylink=cpy
Report: Government unions spent $915 million on politics in 2024
December 17, 2025 // The Commonwealth Foundation’s most recent report found the top four public sector unions: the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees spent over $915 million on politics during the 2023-2024 cycle. The unions spent $755 million on federal elections and policies while their state affiliates spent $160 million on state races and policies.
Moses Lake teachers begin strike Monday as negotiations continue
December 2, 2025 // All MLSD schools will remain closed until the strike ends, due to safety concerns without MLEA staff. As of 4 p.m. Monday, no contract has been reached between the two entities. “We understand this is a difficult time for our families, and our community as a whole,” MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said. “While the current work stoppage temporarily paused classroom instruction, it has not eliminated instructional time. Every day that is missed will be made up. The school calendar will be adjusted once school resumes.” This is the third school strike in Washington this year. Evergreen Public Schools classified staff went on strike for three weeks, and the La Center School District teachers struck for one week at the beginning of the school year.
Opinion Parents and students come second in Randi Weingarten’s teachers union
November 17, 2025 // Former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, once an organizer for the AFT’s Los Angeles affiliate and currently a gubernatorial candidate in California, has in recent years called the union “the largest obstacle to creating quality schools.” Under Weingarten’s presidency, the American Federation of Teachers has reduced the intellectual level of its publications. It has aided a slide away from accountability based on measurable student performance. It was also responsible for massive learning loss during the covid lockdown and is working to limit school options desired by parents. On the other hand, the union now enjoys greater political clout than ever.
WATCH: Questions about solvency, union membership remain regarding WA Cares
November 16, 2025 // Opponents of WA Cares argue that the program is not primarily designed to help all Washingtonians, but rather to benefit unions like SEIU 775, which advocates for more taxpayer-funded caregivers, particularly regarding the possibility of family caregivers being required to pay some of their income to a union. “We still don't have clear guidance on whether or not family members are going to be allowed to opt out of union representation,” said Elizabeth New, director of the Center for Health Care and the Center for Worker Rights at the free-market Washington Policy Center think tank. “They say that they will be. But I've been waiting for it for a couple of years now, and I keep asking at every opportunity.”