On October 21, 2024, the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) issued a statement admitting that they had provided false information to Language Access Providers (LAPs) about union membership requirements. 

After WFSE won the right to represent interpreters, they falsely sent a text message telling them: “Now that the union is certified, every interpreter needs to sign up to become a member.” 

This claim is completely false. Union membership is completely voluntary, and interpreters—like all government workers—cannot be forced to join or pay dues. After facing further legal scrutiny, WFSE was forced to publicly walk back their claim by posting a statement on their website calling it “inaccurate” and apologizing to affected workers. 

WFSE’s deception didn’t go unnoticed. The Freedom Foundation took action by sending mail and emails to over 30,000 state employees, exposing how WFSE misled its newest members. Many workers who had been pressured or misinformed about their rights were able to see the truth: WFSE will say whatever it takes to keep extracting dues. 

This outreach campaign ensured that interpreters and other government employees understood their rights—that union membership is a choice, not a requirement. WFSE’s tactics reveal a pattern of dishonesty designed to trap workers into paying dues under false pretenses. 
 
WFSE’s false claim wasn’t just a mistake, it was an attempt to pressure newly unionized workers into signing up for dues deductions under false pretenses. Many interpreters may have felt coerced into joining the union simply because WFSE misrepresented their rights. 

This occurrence is part of a larger pattern of deception and coercion unions have used to keep workers paying dues, even when they would prefer not to. 

No government employee is required to join a union or pay dues. Thanks to the Freedom Foundation, Washington’s state workers know the truth.