Members are making their voices heard! Below, you’ll find updates regarding your contract and the results of the membership survey.
2027 Wages
OPEIU represented employees who are within their pay range will receive a 4.6% wage increase.
OPEIU represented employees who are at the top of their pay range will receive the equivalent of a 4.6% increase as a lump sum payment.
The increase will take effect on December 18, 2026, and will be reflected in the first paycheck in January 2027.
2027 Merit Pay/ Merit Leave
In addition to the across-the-board increase, OPEIU represented employees will once again be eligible for merit pay or additional leave based on performance evaluation scores.
Depending on the evaluation score, eligible employees may receive:
A 0–2% merit pay increase (or a lump sum payment for employees at the top of their pay range); or
8–40 hours of additional leave.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Thank you to everyone who participated in our AI survey! Your feedback is important as we work to understand how AI is being used at SHA, identify members’ concerns, and advocate for appropriate workplace protections. Results:
How familiar are you with AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, or similar platforms?
- Very familiar 33%
- Somewhat familiar 31%
- Heard of them but I don’t know much 31%
- Not at all familiar 5%
Have you used AI tools in your personal life or at work?
- Regularly at work 5%
- Occasionally at work 12%
- Only in my personal life 15%
- I’ve tried but don’t use them regularly 34%
- Never used them 34%
If AI tools were available to assist with your work, how would you feel about using them?
- Very comfortable 15%
- Somewhat comfortable 12%
- Neutral/unsure 16%
- Somewhat uncomfortable 16%
- Very uncomfortable 41%
What are your biggest concerns about the use of AI in the workplace?
- Job loss or reduced staffing
- Inaccurate or unreliable information
- Privacy or confidentiality concerns
- Monitoring or surveillance of employees
- Increased workload or productivity expectations
- Loss of professional judgment or expertise
- Environmental impact
- Bias or discrimination
- Lack of training
- No major concerns
Which statement best reflects your view?
- AI should not be used in my workplace 41%
- AI may be used in limited circumstances with strong protections 28%
- AI should be available as an optional tool for employees 18%
- AI should be broadly integrated into our work processes 2%
- Unsure / I don’t feel strongly 11%
While SHA’s current AI policy makes the use of AI optional, we believe additional safeguards are necessary to protect employees and our work. Our goal is to ensure that as technology evolves, employees’ rights and protections remain a priority.
We’ll continue advocating for this and will keep you informed as these discussions progress.
_____________________
Message sent to OPEIU Local 8 represented Seattle Housing Authority on November 9, 2026