It was so wonderful to see everyone on Thursday for pizza! We got a few updates on the state contract, and answered questions about the local contract with Highline.

The state contract saw few changes, but no COLAs for employees for 2027 or 2028. This is a heavy blow and one that our team fought hard for, but sadly lost in the end.

On a local level, however, we had several successes including a huge pay bump for graveyard shifts, simplification of the staff professional development process, as well as emergency funding and pay increases when covering vacant positions. We also secured a $500 signing bonus for this contract. The bonus will be available to employees still working for the state on June 30, 2027. While this is a lot lower than past years, we still consider it a win since it was originally $0, and getting any movement on that was a struggle.

Our big discussion was the need for recruitment and onboarding of new employees. Once a new classified staff member is hired, they are automatically represented by WPEA, but in order to vote and receive any additional benefits, they do need to become a dues-paying member within six months of hire. While we are much better at tracking down new employees than we used to be, there is still a gap. If you know of a new classified staff member, please refer them to Gerald Jackson (GJackson@highline.edu), our unofficial welcoming committee.

We also have several stewards who are stepping back/stepping down in the near future. If you are interested in becoming a steward, please watch your personal inbox for the weekly Friday emails from WPEA, which list all upcoming trainings.