Episode
State Workers Get Raises Amid Budget Crisis
- Published
- Jun 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 100
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Summary
Washington state workers are set to get a 2 percent pay raise starting July 1, with some in corrections earning up to 4 percent — money that could help pay bills, save for vacations, or fund education. But as unions begin negotiating the next two-year contract amid looming $10 billion budget shortfalls, critics are sounding alarms. Salaries consume a huge slice of the state budget, making these talks high-stakes. Meanwhile, top university coaches earn millions from private sources — a stark contrast to everyday state employees. And with negotiations shrouded in secrecy and no public input, many question why the state hands out raises like a private company wouldn’t — especially as taxpayers watch their dollars shrink. Support the show: Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: [email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/6ee183920722b184