Wash. Fed'n of State Employees Council 28 v. State

The sole question herein is whether Substitute Senate Bill 5007, 47th Legislature (1982) (SSB 5007) adopted in Laws of 1982, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 51 violates arti*679ele 1, section 23 of the Washington Constitution.1 We hold SSB 5007 adversely affects the existing pension rights of those State employees who began service prior to October 1, 1977, and thus is unconstitutional.

Prior to 1952, State employees were entitled to 14 days of vacation time per year under RCW 43.01.040. If an employee failed to take the allotted time prior to termination, it was lost. In 1952, many municipal and county…