Nearly 500 Washington Public Safety Workers Vote to Join Teamsters Local 117
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.