“Bargaining has been back and forth, and we have TA’d some Articles. However, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done and CWU needs to recognize our work is more than just numbers on a piece of paper." Terll Stone, Local 330 President and CWU Bargaining Team Member
Bargaining for your 2025-2027 contracts at Central Washington University kicked off on July 23rd. Your elected bargaining team and university management met on July 23 and July 24, to discuss various aspects of the upcoming contract, including job security, overtime, healthcare, compensation and more.
Based on your contract proposals, we proposed a wide range of edits and additions to our bargaining agreement. Discussions included funding for salary increases, parking rates, vacation leave, footwear and clothing allowance, and shift differentials.
Our goal is to make CWU the employer of choice for the positions we represent; with fair pay and benefits to keep pace with other Washington employers and private sector positions.
We believe that the work of CWU employees is valuable and should be treated as such, with fair compensation and benefits that retain current employees and draw new talent to the university. Becoming the best employer possible will aid the staffing crisis and stop the burnout current employees feel from CWU’s understaffing.
We will continue to fight for your rights, working to ensure a better workplace for all employees at Central Washington University.
A solid contract is especially valuable considering the impacts of inflation and other financial strains in Ellensburg, Kittitas County and Washington. The workers who make CWU’s prestigious facilities function deserve the best benefits possible, keeping up with the options that workers could get at private workplaces.
Remember—CWU works because we do!
So what’s next?
We will be meeting to bargain again on August 1st. CWU’s negotiators will be responding to our compensation counter-proposals to what we presented on July 24. We’re asking you to wear union swag (WFSE green, your Local shirts, anything union!) on August 1st. Show management we’re sticking together, and we mean business!
For more resources, make sure to check out our bargaining toolkit. The toolkit has everything from virtual backgrounds to printable posters. Reach out to your Council Representative to get some of these materials
