WATCH: Washington state workers set for July 1 raise as union contract talks begin

(The Center Square) – State workers in Washington are about to get a raise, while secretive union negotiations that could include another raise get underway.

A two percent pay hike negotiated as part of a 2025 contract kicks in on July 1. State employees got a three percent increase one year ago in the first year of the two-year contract.

Specific job classifications, such as those in the Department of Corrections, are getting higher general raises, with some receiving a 4% increase on July 1.

On Tuesday, the Department of Retirement Systems sent a notice to all state workers about the coming raise, advising them to use the additional compensation to:

pay off credit card debtsave for a big vacationopen an account or add to your child’s 529 college savings fundincrease your DCP contributions f...