As 2024 came roaring to a close, Washington public employees achieved a historic milestone in the fight for financial freedom.
Thanks to the efforts of the Freedom Foundation’s Washington outreach team, more than 6,200 government workers broke free from union control — a 90 percent increase over the previous year.
This success highlights a growing movement of workers prioritizing their hard-earned dollars in the wake of a challenging economy.
Here are the highlights of this record-breaking year:
- The Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) lost nearly 1,500 members, slashing more than $1.4 million in annual revenue. WFSE’s desperate emails now routinely mention the Freedom Foundation’s “nefarious” efforts — advertising we welcome with open arms.
- SEIU 1199NW, the largest healthcare worker union in the Pacific Northwest, saw an exodus of 1,200 members, with most opting out during the first three months of 2024. This wave followed a strategic email from Washington’s outreach team exposing SEIU’s “Bright Future” vote campaign, which raised dues on many intentionally uninformed members.
- In an unexpected twist, the powerful Washington Education Association (WEA) — known for its grip on teachers and their wallets — lost just under 1,000 members. Even one of Washington’s largest and most politically entrenched unions couldn’t stop the momentum of 2024.
Nearly every government union in Washington shattered opt-out records, contributing to the 40,000 public workers across the U.S. who freed themselves from union control this year.
In tough economic times, public employees are reclaiming their paychecks and prioritizing savings over funding ineffective union representation.
This sentiment was echoed by a public-school employee in the Pasco area, who shared, “I’m spending way too much on union dues, all for a union that does absolutely nothing for us and uses it more like a popularity contest.”
Her union, Public School Employees/SEIU 1948, felt the impact, shedding just under 700 members in 2024.
The powerful momentum is further explained by a worker represented by WFSE, who exclaimed, “(The Freedom Foundation staffers) are the unsung heroes. I’m free from the shackles of the union because of your efforts.”
This heartfelt gratitude perfectly encapsulates the mission and impact of the Freedom Foundation.
The results speak for themselves — 40,000 public employees broke free from union control in 2024 alone.
The fight for worker freedom is gaining unstoppable momentum, and unions should brace for an even bigger and bolder opt-out wave in 2025.