Washington State Standard | August 17, 2026
Negotiations between the two sides will affect pay for about 80,000 workers and come as the state is grappling with budget trouble.
A powerful labor union and the governor’s office are at odds in contract negotiations for thousands of Washington caregivers, with the state proposing a wage freeze and the workers pressing for higher pay.
Caregivers from Service Employees International Union 775 initially asked for a 12% hike over two years — 6% next year, and another 6% the year after. This position would’ve reportedly cost the state around $367 million. Since the state balked, the union dropped its request to a 3% increase next year and 5% the year after.
“We were certainly deeply disappointed by the state’s proposal,” said Adam Glickman, secretary-treasurer for SEIU 775. “This will have a broad impact on the ability of seniors and people with disabilities to find caregivers, to keep caregivers.”
A state Office of Financial Management spokesperson declined to comment on the pending negotiations.
The negotiations would cover about 80,000 care workers across Washington. Most are union represented, while others work for private, state-contracted home care agencies. Even though the state’s offer doesn’t include pay hikes, other costs would total roughly $60 million extra from the state budget over the next two fiscal years, according to state estimates.
These contracts talks come as the governor and lawmakers expect the state to face a financial shortfall going into the 2027 legislative session.
On different pages over wages
This year, the state is paying $37.42 per hour in Medicaid reimbursements for caregivers, including health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off and mileage reimbursement. The workers generally make between $22 and $25 per hour, Glickman said.
The state would keep this hourly rate roughly the same next year, and up it to $38.13 in the 2029 fiscal year, to account for a requested increase in the workers’ health benefits and an updated mileage reimbursement rate.
The caregivers originally proposed $39.17 per hour in the next fiscal year, and $41.74 the year after, and are now countering the state with $38.44 next year and $40.68 the following. The total estimated cost of this plan for the state is around $224 million, about $140 million less than the union’s initial position.