UW Wants to Renegotiate Your Civil Rights | Not a Dime for State Workers
Yesterday’s bargaining session brought some surprises.
Management at the University of Washington began proposing rollbacks on your civil rights and affirmative action protections, to please the federal government.
Management said that to protect potential federal grant funding they want to decimate protections for race, gender, and age—legally protected classes This is a slap in the face to a workforce that is proudly composed of diverse backgrounds and contradicts UW’s carefully cultivated image.
When they want to cater to international students’ wallets and the Seattle community, they are focused on equity. But when it comes to protecting their workers and students, UW is happy to comply with the federal government.
We’re Fighting for Everything; UW Doesn’t Want to Budge
All our non-economic proposals have been presented.
So far, we’ve put forward 42 contract articles, Memoranda of Understanding, and side letters for negotiations. UW has opened 26 in return.
Management isn’t bargaining with the same intensity that your bargaining team is. They don’t want to give us anything. An institution worth $10 billion wants to use the weak financial situation at the state level as a way out of giving us better benefits and pay.
We must hold the line. We must show the UW that we are united and they cannot steamroll our membership.
RSVP for these upcoming events, and scroll down to see more in the coming weeks.
- July 23 - RSVP Here: HMC Board of Trustees Meeting, 8:15 am - 11:00 am, Board Room across from the gift shop
July 25 - RSVP Here: 1495 Summer Picnic, 11 am-4 pm, Ravenna Park Shelter 1; 2000 NE 58th St, Seattle, WA 98105
Sign Our Letter Campaign and Tell UW Leadership: Fair Contract Now!
Governor Ferguson’s negotiations team just told our WFSE siblings at the General Government table that they’re not willing to spend anything, not even a dime, on their contract this round.
That gives you an idea of what we may hear from the UW when they present their proposals for our pay.
Sign our letter campaign to remind our governor and UW leadership that WE run the University of Washington and WE deserve a fair contract!
Get active today and fight for the contract you deserve.
Tell Us What Job Actions You Need
Engaged members are the best way to do this. We need to show up to actions, strengthen our Member Action Teams, and use our creativity to fight back.
Management wants us divided, disengaged, and weak. But we know that WFSE members are the opposite.
Across our worksites and across the state, WFSE members are fighting back. From the green solidarity armbands around UW to doll drops emphasizing how bad contracts hurt children, our membership is creative and wants to get involved.
Now is the time to share all your ideas to make a difference in our contracts!
Reach out to your bargaining team, your Council Representative/Member Connection Center, or your local leaders and let them know any ideas you have for job actions. Everything from lunch and learn topics to informational pickets could use your creativity!
Tell Your Story
The University of Washington could not function without people like you who show up every day to do vital work. From librarians to mail carriers, food service workers to plumbers, janitors to mental health practitioners, all your work is essential.
Sharing the story of why your work matters to patients, students, alumni, and the greater Seattle community is one of the biggest tools we have to fight against UW. The University hates bad publicity, and if people know how workers at UW are treated, this can and will make a difference in our contracts.
Show Up: Wear Green and Take Action!
One of the simplest ways we can show management that we’re standing together is by wearing green alongside our fellow WFSE members on Wednesdays and bargaining dates (bargaining dates can be found here).
We need to remind management that their workforce is unionized, organized, and watching negotiations closely. To win the best possible contract, they need to know that our members are everywhere, ready to mobilize when we need to.
Come to our events! Your bargaining team and union siblings have been planning throughout the summer, and we need you to show up and show solidarity.
A sea of green shows management how strong we are. Show up, get WFSE swag, and organize with coworkers!
- July 22 - Local 1495 (University of Washington, UW Bothell, UW Tacoma and UWMC) Membership Meeting
- July 23 - RSVP Here: HMC Board of Trustees Meeting, 8:15 am - 11:00 am, Board Room across from the gift shop
- July 25 - RSVP Here: 1495 Summer Picnic, 11 am-4 pm, Ravenna Park Shelter 1; 2000 NE 58th St, Seattle, WA 98105
- July 27 - Information Picket, Light Rail Station Husky Stadium (University of Washington stop)
- July 29 - Local 3488 Membership Meeting, HMC MB-118 and on Zoom
- July 30 - Information Picket, HMC, NJB area 4:30-6:30pm
- August 6 – BBQ for facilities staff on main campus, 11:30 am-1:30pm; put on by UW management for staff, WFSE will be there!
- September 9 – UW Board of Regents Meeting. 2 pm, Zillow Commons at Gates Building
- September 13 – Local 3488 Back2School Splash Family Picnic, 11 am-2 pm at Crossroads Park (Bellevue) Spray Park Shelters A&B; close to many public transit options!
Questions on the above? Contact your local unions here.