OLYMPIA — Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D–Seattle) introduced landmark legislation Thursday that she calls one of the most significant of her 10-year legislative career and a major milestone in her final year in the Legislature. 

Senate Bill 6045 would give Washington state agricultural workers the explicit right to organize and negotiate their working conditions through the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). 

“This bill is about fairness, dignity, and giving farmworkers a seat at the table,” said Saldaña, chair of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee. “For too long, agricultural workers have faced unique challenges that make it difficult to organize and advocate for themselves. This bill ensures these workers have the same fundamental labor protections and collective bargaining rights as workers in other industries.” 

Key provisions of the bill include: 

  • Collective bargaining rights: Agricultural workers would gain meaningful new abilities to secure agreements regarding wages, hours, and working conditions without interference or intimidation. 
  • Support for seasonal and limited-English proficient workers: Requires procedures that are quick, culturally competent, and accessible in workers’ languages. 
  • Fair representation: Establishes clear processes for certifying exclusive bargaining representatives and resolving disputes between employers and employees, including mediation and arbitration. 
  • Protection against unlawful practices: Employers would be prohibited from coercing, intimidating, or interfering with workers’ rights to organize, with enforcement through PERC and Washington courts. 
  • Preserves the right to strike: Agricultural workers retain the ability to strike without interference. 

Agricultural workers play a vital role in Washington’s economy but have historically faced obstacles to exercising basic labor rights. Seasonal employment, high numbers of limited-English proficient employees, and dispersed worksites have limited opportunities to organize and negotiate collectively. The bill addresses those barriers, strengthens protections, improves workplace conditions, and fosters more equitable labor relations across the state. 

The bill is expected to receive a committee hearing early in the 2026 legislative session, which begins Jan. 12.