Student workers from Western Washington University are headed to Olympia for the third year in a row, in an attempt to get the university to recognize their union.
Operational student employees, which include more than 1,000 employees such as recreation assistants, lifeguards and resident advisors, filed to unionize with Western Academic Workers United-UAW (WAWU) in December 2023, after complaints of low salaries and insecure work scheduling.
After a similar bill died in committee last year, Senate Bill 5119 would grant operational student workers at Western, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University and Evergreen State College the right to collectively bargain. The bill, whose primary sponsor is Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest), is currently being considered in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee.
About 1,100 educational student employees — such as teaching and research assistants — were granted union protection with a bill that passed in June 2023.
Associate Vice President of Human Resources Liz Parkes said Western isn’t “authorized to recognize” the OSE union without a “specific legislative act,” but is committed to supporting the bill in Olympia.
“Since finalizing the contract with WAWU Educational Student Employees (ESE) last year, the administration has actively engaged with OSE representatives, with a continued focus on achieving wage and working condition parity across all student employee groups,” Parkes said in a statement to CDN.
WAWU organizer Anika Erickson argued there isn’t anything prohibiting the university from recognizing the OSEs right now.
“WAWU is ready though, and we’re working to pass this bill so that we can help Western get over their hang-up and recognize operational student employees,” Erickson said.
Western submitted a fiscal note to the Legislature, estimating that it could cost the university $83,276 annually in recurring costs, with “further indeterminate expenses tied to the bargaining agreement.”
Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) is supporting the bill as a secondary sponsor. Shewmake is also a professor of environmental economics, urban economics and energy policy at Western.
“I think as educators, we want our students to speak up for themselves and organize and show leadership,” she told CDN. “I think that’s what they’re trying to do and I think we should support that.”
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
