state employees

Roughly nine in 10 employees of the state of Washington are now vaccinated against COVID-19. Gov. Jay Inslee considers that a huge success and a win for public health. But his vaccine mandate has also led to the departure of hundreds of state employees. Now there are questions about the implications for some state services.

Monday is the deadline for Washington state employees, healthcare and long-term care workers and those working in the education field to be fully vaccinated. Those who aren’t could be out of a job by day’s end. Some of the state employees who face termination got exemptions, but not a workplace accommodation so they could stay on the payroll.

Washington state employees have not had a cost-of-living raise in six years. But that could change in the next budget cycle.A tentative contract deal has…

The state of Washington resumed bargaining sessions Wednesday with its unionized employees. Protesters showed up to criticize the secret nature of the…