Washington faces another push for austerity and damaging cuts. We must advocate in Olympia for education funding improvements. Even in our challenging revenue environment, wins are possible, and we have legislators and officials who want public education to flourish as much as we do.
Central issues on our 2027 agenda include:
- Protecting education at all levels from damaging cuts and from “supplanting” language.
- Wage increases for School-Related Personnel.
- Fully funded COLAs to free up local funds, and COLAs for Pro Staff and 4-year Faculty.
- Reforming the State Investment Board and college Boards of Trustees.
- Passing the SAFE (Secure and Accountable Federal Enforcement) Act and more protections for immigrant students and families.
- Making student complaint records more consistent and uniform.
- Revising relevant language to keep Parent Education programs and protect childcare from cuts.
- Working with Communities for Our Colleges to push for cost-free college for our students.
- Supporting Healthcare Is A Human Right’s advocacy for universal healthcare.
- Supporting advocates for gun violence prevention and living wages for childcare workers.
- And more!
The 2027 session is a long session that includes the state budget.
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 with any questions.
If you are interested in attending, please complete the registration below. Items marked with an asterisk* are required.
Please Note: For those that choose to register for the event, we will be having 3 training sessions via zoom on "How To Meet With Your Legislator" in order to prepare our participants for Lobby Day. You will received an email at the email address you provide on the registration form with the details and links for you to register for one of these trainings.
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.
