Washington State faces ongoing revenue challenges that, last year, led to painful cuts. This year, we need to get down to Olympia and advocate with the Legislature to oppose balancing the state’s budget on the backs of working Washingtonians. Our priorities for this session include strengthening and increasing progressive revenue, preventing further cuts to education, and keeping the conversations around school-related personnel, professional exempt staff, and contingent faculty wages alive for 2027. We know that it is crucial to not merely survive but to make the investments that allow us to thrive.
Central issues on our 2026 agenda are:
- Protecting education at all levels from damaging cuts.
- Reestablishing the provisos for education funding that were removed in the last session.
- Preparing legislators for pay increases in the 2027 budget session.
- Working with Communities for Our Colleges to push for cost-free college for our students.
- Working with the Balance Our Tax Code coalition to advocate for increased progressive revenue.
The 2026 session is a short session, but we still have the opportunity to make improvements even in a non-budget year.
Please plan to join with colleagues, meet with legislators, and push for progressive change. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided, and transportation will be coordinated. Contact Richard Burton, State Affiliate Political Organizer, at rburton@aftwa.org or (206) 225-0621 with any questions.
If you are interested in attending, please complete the registration below. Items marked with an asterisk* are required.
(Disclaimer: this event is still in the planning stages. The event details/agenda is subject to change. Any changes to the event will be communicated with you to the email address that is provided upon registration.)
Registration:
We strive to be inclusive in our advocacy work and realize the Capitol is a challenging place to navigate for those of us who are disabled. Do you have any accessibility needs? If so, let us know and we will reach out.
RESOURCES FOR YOUR VISIT TO THE CAPITAL
Capital Main Page
Planning a Visit to the Capital
Directions, Parking, Bus, Shuttle
Parking Around the Capital in Olympia
Presidents’ Day Monday is officially a city holiday, so on-street parking will be free that day. Here is a link with an interactive map that allows you to see parking facilities around the capital campus.
This is bus #14. It departs every 30 minutes, at the 15s and 45s, for example, at 7:15 and 7:45 AM. It is a seven-minute ride and short walk for this trip. Park anywhere in the area of the Olympia Farmers Market down by the water. There are usually lots of parking places. Get on the bus at the Farmers Market. The bus goes right up Capitol Way, so just ride it till you get to the intersection of 9th and Capitol Way (just after the Chase Bank). Get off there and walk one block west to Columbia Street SW. Our lobby day room is at 906 Columbia Street SW (the WSLC’s Davis Williams Building) in the 2nd floor conference room.
The InterCity Transit Authority bus system in Olympia has been committed to a zero- fare policy for five years, and plans to continue this. So, riding the bus is free.
