Tukwila, Wash. – September 15, 2026 -- Nearly 500 public safety employees across King and Snohomish Counties have voted to affiliate with Teamsters Local 117, shifting representation away from the Public Safety Employees Union (PSEU) Local 519.
Workers approved the switch in an August 31 election
The vote, conducted by the union on Monday, August 31, 2026, resulted in an overwhelming majority favoring affiliation with Local 117. The workers span a range of classifications across numerous worksites in the two counties.
Certification from state labor board expected by year-end
The change in representation must first be certified by the Public Employment Relations Commission. Local 117 anticipates that certification will occur by the end of 2026, at which point the workers will formally become union members and Local 117 will be recognized as their exclusive bargaining representative.
Union leadership pledges stronger contract bargaining
Paul Dascher, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 117, said the union is committed to securing strong contracts for the incoming members, citing their critical role in protecting communities across King and Snohomish Counties.
Court administrative specialist cites union's specialized experience
William Welty, a court administrative specialist in the King County Department of Judicial Administration, said Local 117's experience representing legal administrative specialists in other departments gives the union a stronger grasp of the workflow specific to his role. He pointed to the union's staffing and resource base as a factor benefiting the growing team.
Local 117 expands its Washington footprint
Teamsters Local 117 currently represents 19,500 workers across public and private sectors in Washington State. The addition of nearly 500 public safety employees would mark a further expansion of the union's presence in the region's public sector labor market.