Democratic legislative staff in Washington State have ratified their first-ever collective bargaining contracts, marking a historic achievement for the state's public employees. After months of negotiations and a rejected tentative agreement in September, the House and Senate Democratic Caucus staff have approved two-year contracts that include pay raises and a fair grievance process with third-party arbitration. This marks a significant milestone in the efforts of legislative staff to secure better working conditions, protections, and support. The agreements come after Republican caucus staff also approved their contracts in September, and now all eyes are on lawmakers to secure funding for these agreements in the upcoming state budget.