Washington State workers to get windfall. State workers claimed they were paid less than other government employees in the same kinds of jobs.

Settlement on pay disparities affects about 9,000 current, ex-employees

Washington has agreed to pay $30 million to state workers who claimed they were paid less than other government employees in the same kinds of jobs.

The settlement, which still must be approved by a judge, will result in payments to an estimated 9,000 former and current state agency employees and state college and university workers. The first group of them, current employees, could receive checks before the end of year.

Martin Garfinkel, a Seattle lawyer who represented the employees in the class-action lawsuit, said the pay disparity arose more than 35 years ago when state general government workers and state community college and university employees were overseen by two different personnel boards. But it persisted long after the two boards were consolidated in 1993.

JOSEPH TURNER; The News Tribune

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