By October, the total opt-outs for the year surpassed 5,000, fueled by a major mail blitz that extended from Q3.
More and more workers are recognizing the substantial savings they can achieve by leaving their union. A large percentage of these opt-outs come from three of the state’s biggest public-employee unions — the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), the Washington Education Association (WEA) and Public-School Employees/SEIU 1948 (PSE/SEIU 1948).
What’s even more exciting is that Washington is on track to close out 2024 with three unions losing more than 1,000 members each.
WFSE and SEIU 1199NW have already crossed that threshold, and thanks to a well-executed summer opt-out campaign, WEA is just 200 members shy of reaching the 1,000 mark.
The success of the WEA summer campaign was not only reflected in the numbers but also in the feedback we received from workers opting out. One former WEA member, after receiving a reminder email to opt out before the September deadline, shared, “Thank you for sending this. I will be opting out in plenty of time. I’m so grateful that I don’t have to support the radical agenda of our union. I hated their voting recommendations and wanted to tell them so!”
Another member, facing personal financial strain, expressed gratitude for the relief. “Honestly,” he wrote, “going through a divorce and being a single dad is hurting the wallet right now, so every penny counts.”
These stories underscore how the Freedom Foundation empowers workers to find their voice.
And with the recent surge in opt-outs, it’s clear workers are speaking up loud and clear.
