State estimates labor contracts will cost $583M

OLYMPIA, Wash. — State officials estimate the cost of implementing labor contracts for Washington state employees and home care aides will add up to $583 million or more.

The Olympian reports the estimates from the Office of Financial Management assume the union contracts will also change pay and benefits for non-union employees in state government and Washington higher education.

The estimate also includes people who work for the Medicaid program, who are not state employees.

The Office of Financial Management still has to determine if the contracts are financially feasible. And the Legislature still has to approve the contracts, which they won’t do until early next year.