1 Day Left, Rallies, and a Trespassing Threat - UW Bargaining Update
Let's Finish Strong! Join Us and Get Loud:
- Thursday, 9/17- Rally Outside SEIU Negotiations – 5pm, Gateway Bldg by the U District Light Rail
- Friday, 9/18 Rally at the UW Recognition GALA – 4:30 pm UW Seattle Quad
In-Person Bargaining Update
Yesterday, your UW bargaining team met with management for the first of two in-person negotiations sessions this week. We meet again this Friday, September 18th.
At 4:30pm, hundreds of UW employees represented by SEIU and WFSE marched outside the Gateway Building near the U District light rail station where negotiations were being held.
We went down to meet them, and then we all flooded inside the building lobby to make sure our voices were heard.
After a few threats to charge us with trespassing, we went back upstairs to continue fighting for a fair contract.
Progress Made
We made some progress on parking, AI protections, footwear, and sick leave.
We reached a tentative agreement on the shared leave article of our contract and are hopeful the changes will increase the visibility of our coworkers who need leave and the number of people donating to them.
We also won better protections for members and their families from the impacts of immigration enforcement actions.
But many of the most important issues to our members remain unresolved, and we have just one scheduled bargaining date left, this Friday.
Where do we go from here? If we reach a tentative agreement on the entire contract, dues-paying members will have the opportunity to vote YES or NO to accept the agreement. See details here.
How We Win
As public workers, there are two key factors that determine how much we’re able to achieve every two years at the negotiating table:
- The state of the economy
- How many members show up and get loud
The best way to ensure the economy and the state budget are benefitting working people, not just the rich, is at the ballot box and in the legislature.
When the economy is weak or uncertain, we need as many members participating and getting loud as possible.
Now is that time.
Join Us and Get Loud
Thursday, 9/17 Rally Outside SEIU Negotiations – 5pm, Gateway Bldg by the U District Light Rail
Yesterday, our coworkers represented by SEIU got loud outside our contract negotiations. Let’s return the favor tomorrow!
Friday, 9/18 Rally at the UW Recognition GALA – 4:30 pm UW Seattle Quad
Invitations for all the folks who make UW campuses, hospitals, and clinics run must have gotten lost in the mail.
Join us as we rally outside the UW’s exclusive, invitation only event to remind them who deserves recognition – surprise, it’s not university executives.