SPOKANE, Wash. — Hundreds of state workers around Washington walked off the job during their lunch break today to protest Governor Bob Ferguson’s pay and their own compensation.
The walkout was organized by the Washington Federation of State Employees, with 11 protests happening in the Spokane area.
“The governor keeps talking about how much state employees are doing for the state, but he’s not recognizing that we also need to have pay raises and we need to have stronger language in our contracts to protect all of our state employees,” said Shauna Lowery, a local union vice president who works at the Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Ferguson is paid $234,275 a year and received a 7% raise in each of the last two years. His salary is set by an independent citizens committee.
The Washington Federation of State Employees is in the middle of negotiating new contracts. Union leaders say most of its 56,000 members make $40,000 to $60,000 per year. They received a 2% raise this year and a 3% raise last year.
Union leaders say they are asking for pay that matches inflation and better benefits. However, they say the state has been unwilling to make any changes to the contracts.
One woman says many of her co-workers struggle to make ends meet.
“These are very real realities that people are having to live with, and when we don’t have our contract that ensures that we’re getting fair wages, it is unfair for everyone who serves the state and everybody who serves the public,” said Nahaci Torres, who works for the Department of Labor and Industries.
In a statement, the Governor’s office wrote:
The governor appreciates and respects our state workers. Collective bargaining in times of budget crisis will always be very challenging. In the past 18 months, we implemented billions of dollars in budget reductions. We’re also facing billions in draconian cuts from the Trump Administration in vital areas, including the elimination of health care coverage for thousands of Washingtonians. In the face of those challenges, we are working to meet the needs of Washingtonians and adopt a balanced budget. As he develops his budget, the governor is focused on preserving core services for the most vulnerable people in our state. In working to accomplish that goal, the governor will face many difficult choices, and understands not everyone will be happy with his decisions.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.