CWU Bargaining Update #1: We Know Who Keeps CWU Running
On June 9, your Central Washington University bargaining team met with management for our first bargaining session, and we're off to a strong start.
In our opening session, your team brought forward 13 proposals and responded on four tentative agreements. It was a productive day at the table and an important first step toward securing a fair contract that recognizes the work our members do every day.
Why We're Here
Our bargaining team's mission is simple:
If we don't do our jobs, no one can.
Every day, CWU workers keep classrooms functioning, services available, campuses operating, and students supported. The work we do is essential, not optional.
That's why this bargaining process matters.
When decisions are made about priorities, budgets, and the future of our university, the people who do the work deserve a voice. Your bargaining team is committed to making sure management's decisions align with the reality our members experience every day.
We've heard concerns from members across campus about increasing workloads, vacant positions that remain unfilled, and the expectation that workers continue doing more with less. At the same time, we see resources being allocated elsewhere. Those realities raise important questions, and your bargaining team intends to ask them.
Accountability matters.
We're prepared to have those conversations and to keep the focus where it belongs: on the people whose work keeps CWU moving forward.
This Is About More Than a Contract
A union contract is about more than wages and benefits.
It's about respect.
It's about sustainable workplaces.
It's about ensuring that when positions are left vacant, the burden doesn't simply fall on the workers who remain.
It's about making sure the people closest to the work have a voice in the decisions that affect them.
Every proposal we bring forward is guided by the same principle: CWU works because you do.
We Need to Hear From You
Your bargaining team can only prioritize what members tell us matters most.
If you haven't already, please complete the bargaining survey by June 30, 2026.
The survey helps us understand your priorities and ensures we're bringing member-driven concerns to the bargaining table. The more members who participate, the stronger our voice becomes.
We need to hear from you!Please fill out the bargaining survey here.
What's Next?
This was a strong start, but bargaining is a marathon, not a sprint.
We'll continue meeting with management, advancing proposals, and advocating for the priorities identified by CWU workers. As negotiations continue, we'll keep you informed about our progress and the actions you can take to support a fair contract.
Together, we're building the power necessary to win the respect, resources, and accountability our members deserve.
AFSCME Council 28/WFSE
Speaking Up for Our Jobs, Families & Communities
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