Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Claims state didn't negotiate in "good faith"
Inslee mandated state employees must receive a COVID vaccine and the Washington Federation of State Employees disagreed.
Inslee mandated all state employees be vaccinated against COVID by Oct. 18 or lose their jobs.
The union represents state employees and recently filed a lawsuit against the state claiming the state did not "bargain in good faith" when mandating forced COVID vaccinations.
The governor's office said the lawsuit allegations are "false" and "we look forward to the opportunity to respond in court" on an Olympia radio program, according to MyNorthwest news.
The union claims the state rejected their concerns about how the mandate would affect employees accepting vaccinations and ones not wanting them.
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center nurse Rebekah Zabel spoke to Seattle radio station KIRO and said at least 20-25% of her coworkers do not want the vaccine and are willing to quit rather than be vaccinated.
On Aug. 27, Inslee updated Proclamation 20-12 to include mandatory COVID vaccinations for university and college staff with the same potential penalty for refusal.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
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