Thurston district court to hear case against Inslee’s mandatory vaccination requirement

A Thurston County district judge is set to hear a case filed by state workers against Gov. Jay Inslee’s mandatory vaccination requirement.

During the board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Superior Court update on Thur., Sep. 2, the county commissioners discussed an injunction order filed by the Washington State Federation of State Employees (WSFE).  According to the WSFE, Inslee failed to bargain in good faith before he implemented the statewide requirement. State workers also demanded the governor delay his mandatory requirement until both sides are able to reach an agreement.

The complaint came as a response following Inslee’s announcement on Mon., Aug. 9, that state employees working under the executive agencies are required to get vaccinated by Oct. 18. See related story.

Two weeks later, Thurston County also followed suit as county commissioners approved a resolution requiring county employees to be vaccinated. See related story.

While the case was initially scheduled for 9 a.m. today, the hearing was postponed for at least a week. The delay came after the union confirmed that the governor had reached out to WSFE. In a statement, Inslee’s office said, “Negotiations are continuing and they're happening in good faith. These vaccine requirements are necessary to protect our communities and workers from the tragic circumstances of this pandemic."

In a news release, WSFE union President Mike Yestramski said “Our union’s top priority is health and safety – for staff and the public we serve.” Yestramski believed, “That is why we need the state to make a good faith effort to bargain and to really think through how they’re going to implement this mandate in a safe, fair, and consistent manner.”