Washington Conservation Action Workers Ratify New Contract

On October 1, Evergreen Workers Union (EWU-CWA), represented by CWA Local 7800, voted unanimously to ratify its second contract after 15 months of negotiations. Members work to advance legislation to protect state forests and waterways.

The three-year contract includes guaranteed annual raises at 2.5%, 2.75%, and 3%, respectively, from 2026 through 2028. Workers won adjustments to wage bands that will increase pay equity for new hires and newly promoted staff, a practice not implemented in the first contract. Some members will see as much as a 9% raise to put them in line with their peers. The contract also includes new protections for work-from-home/remote work and continues to have very progressive language around native rights, minority rights, and making sure the workplace is just and equitable for all members.

“The federal administration’s anti-democratic actions to cut funding to social and environmental services and instead fund war crimes and deportations are felt by every working person in this country,” says Aida Amirul, member of the EWU-CWA bargaining committee. “Although we didn’t meet our initial goal of a 3% minimum annual raise, we understand that the fiscal challenges faced by the organization are not unique to us, and we are grateful to arrive at an agreement that delivers on the needs of our workers at this difficult time.”

EWU-CWA members remain dedicated to their mission of environmental protection.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.