Central Washington University (CWU) Bargaining Updates

2023-2025 Contract Ratified!

Congratulations! Your 2023-2025 CWU contract was funded by the legislature. You can expect to see the following wins effective July 1, 2023:

Contract Achievements

The AFSCME/WFSE “The Central Washington University” classified staff 2023-2025 contract achieves several major goals identified by the bargaining unit as priority items:

  1. 7% across the board increases for everyone covered by the agreement over the life of the two-year contract! 4% 7/1/23 and 3% 7/1/24;
  2. An additional $0.25 per hour to Shift Differential for a total of $1.50 per hour (see Article 40);
  3. An additional $3.00 per hour to the Minimum Wage Rate for a total of $18.00 per hour (see Article 40);
  4. A retention and recruitment wage increase for all Electricians (Leads and High Voltage) between 2.5% and 12.5%, retroactive to July 1, 2022 (see Appendix C);
  5. Assignment pay for Asbestos and Lead work with respirator and full suit (certified) of an additional 20% pay while performing the work (see Appendix C);
  6. Footwear allowance of $75.00 each year of the Agreement for all WFSE represented members. This is the 1st time in CWU bargaining history that CWU agreed to a footwear allowance (see MOU);
  7. Plus, there were notable improvements to other non-economic articles which you can review in the TA summary below.

Read a more detailed summary of the agreement here.
Read the full agreement here.

Congratulations, again, on your win!

In solidarity,

Your CWU Classified Bargaining Team

Jeff Johnson
Jordon Ross
Terll Stone
William Everett
Betty Hawkins
Thomas Wray - Lead Negotiator

2023-2025 Contract Bargaining Updates

August 18, 2022

On August 4, 2022, your bargaining team met with Central Washington University to continue bargaining over improving your working conditions and securing reasonable wage increases. During our latest bargaining session, both parties took a big step in ensuring your and the University’s futures are properly addressed and obtainable, and we have tentatively agreed upon numerous issues related to your working conditions. Your bargaining team are encouraged by our progress at the bargaining table and believe we will be able to present you with a new contract (2023-2025) that you will find acceptable.

Next Bargaining Session: On August 31, we will resume contract negotiations with CWU.

Your CWU bargaining team: Jeff Johnson, Jordon Ross, Terll Stone, Chris Everett, Betty Hawkins and Thomas Wray, Chief Negotiator.

Strong worksites. Strong contracts. Keep working hard and continue providing excellent service to the CWU staff, students and community.

June 13, 2022

Let’s show Central Washington University we’re united. Will you join us in wearing green on July 6?

Help us secure a strong contract for our future. These current negotiations will determine what the 2023-2025 biennium will look like for state and higher education workers. We want your help to ensure every state employee is paid fairly and treated with respect. It’s about attracting and retaining employees so we can provide the best possible services to Washingtonians. Our interests are Washington’s interests. Strong worksites. Strong contracts.

Be ready: On July 6, we will begin contract negotiations with CWU and their negotiator. Please join us in wearing WFSE green for our jobs, families and communities!

Your Central Washington University contract bargaining team has been working hard on your behalf preparing for the upcoming contract negotiations. Your bargaining team along with WFSE Labor Advocate Thomas Wray will be meeting with CWU’s Labor Relations and the Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs on Friday, June 24, to listen to CWU’s “State of the University” regarding CWU’s budget and enrollment. The following dates are the other bargaining dates the WFSE and CWU have agreed to:

  • July 6  
  • July 13                
  • August 4            
  • August 31          
  • September 6 (if necessary)
  • September 7 (if necessary)

Stay tuned here for more bargaining updates.

2023-2025 Contract Bargaining Team

Jeff Johnson
Jordon Ross
Terll Stone
William Everett
Betty Hawkins

Previous Cycle Final Bargaining Update-September 17, 2020

CWU CLASSIFIED BARGAINING UNITS

Negotiations concluded on September 17, 2020 for the 2021-2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement.  The AFSCME/WFSE “The Central Washington University” classified staff tentative agreement for the 2021-2023 contract achieves several major goals identified by the bargaining unit as priority items: 

  • The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) ensures the Periodic (aka: Step) increases will continue over the next two (2) years - See Article 40; 
  • The CBA ensures a “Me Too” clause, which provides an across the board wage increase for WFSE represented staff at CWU, if General Government WFSE members or another represented Union at CWU receives an across the board wage increase - See Article 40:
  •  Provides remote work opportunity - See Article 7;
  • The contract HOLDS THE LINE ON HEALTH CARE COSTS with the current 85/15 premium rate. You will continue to pay 15 percent of your health insurance premiums.

This was a unique year for bargaining due to unprecedented economic and social challenges. To secure protections for members, we reached a tentative agreement with management for your contract through 21-23. I am also pleased to report that we have successfully reached a tentative agreement that held the line against increased healthcare premium contributions.

CWU Law Enforcement Units

This was a unique year for bargaining due to unprecedented economic and social challenges. To secure protections for members, we reached an agreement with management to extend to the contract through 21-23. I am pleased to report that we have successfully reached a tentative agreement that held the line against increased healthcare premium contributions.

You will notice that campus police now have their own collective bargaining agreement. Following the passage of legislation last year granting campus officers interest arbitration, the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission ruled that campus police were in a bargaining unit separate from other higher education employees. 

RETURN TO TOP