Washington State Workers Go on Strike

Washington’s largest state employees’ union began targeted walkouts Wednesday and disrupted cargo traffic at three ports in a bid for higher pay.

Frustrated that state teachers received bigger pay hikes through a referendum voters approved last fall, the 19,000-member Washington Federation of State Employees also rejected higher medical costs included in budget proposals.

Workers picketed the ports of Tacoma, Vancouver and Kalama, where longshoreman have honored the lines and refused to unload cargo, Welch said.

The union has asked for pay raises matching the 3.7% and 3.1% annual increases for teachers. Washington Gov. Gary Locke’s two-year budget, citing fiscal constraints, proposed increases of 2.2% and 2.5%.

The WFSE represents 28,000 state employees, including 9,000 workers who do not pay dues.