February 7, 2023
Bargaining Update—COMPENSATION
Wow. Just, wow. After more than 2 months of delay, today UW proposed their counter on our Compensation article. UW Admin claimed that this delay was due to its complexity, and that they needed time to “price it out”. Take a look for yourself— it’s not very complex or very costly to the University. Frankly, UW’s counter is demeaning and out of touch with the needs of our unit. We’ve summarized the differences between our proposals and theirs below.
We should point out that the merit increase that we were denied last year was 3.25%. To put our proposal in perspective: our compensation increase was calculated to keep up with costs of living in Washington per the state-recognized income levels in the Washington Minimum Wage Act. And to make up the gap that the University’s own salary survey identified between RSEs here and at other peer institutions (UW pays RSEs 30% below market). When asked, Admin told us that this proposal is an opening proposal but isn’t necessarily meant to address these major discrepancies (we should note that they didn’t acknowledge these discrepancies).
Additionally, Admin told us that they would not agree to provide any funding toward childcare or bridge funding, claiming that their compensation proposal was “responsive to those [union] proposals”. It seems to us that a 2% salary increase does little to offset the costs of childcare, or a sudden end to employment due to funding loss. 2% also doesn’t reflect inflation or the current cost of living in Seattle. When asked how these minimal increases will impact research at the University, the bargaining team was told “we don’t have problems with turnover or recruiting excellent candidates.”
If you have additional questions about the Compensation proposals, drop into this Zoom link any day this week between 3-4pm.
We also bargained today around Employment ; Disability Accommodations; Classification and Reclassification; Time Off and Leave; Work Location; Resignation And Abandonment;
Hiring Promotions and Transfers; Holidays (TA); and Corrective Actions (TA).
You can see all of the proposals we passed today, along with previously passed proposals and Tentative Agreements, at our Bargaining Center.
VOTE TODAY on the Strike Authorization Vote
Are you mad after reading the above? Please take a minute to vote Yes on the Strike Authorization Vote! With continuous delays, slow progress in bargaining, and an unacceptable Compensation proposal, we need to step up, take action, and wield our collective power.
I’ve voted! What can I do next?
If you’re fired up and ready to talk to colleagues in your department, email us (contact@uwresearchersunited.
Stay up to date with our latest news and actions by following our social media accounts: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and also, reach out if you have any questions.
In solidarity,
UW Researchers United Bargaining Committee
Thaddeus Armstrong, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Leila Blair, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Nick Bolten, Computer Science
Jai Broome, Medical Genetics
Erin Carll, Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity
Shelly Carpenter, Oceanography
Bonnie Chang, The Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES)
Morgan Crotta, Department of Comparative Medicine
Iván Cruz, Biological Structure
Abby Gambrill, Physiology & Biophysics
Jay Mas Gilvydis, I-TECH/Global Health
Anya Kalata, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Julia Kobelt, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Katherine Lasdin, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Ellen MacLachlan, I-TECH/Global Health
Katie Osterhage, Family Medicine
Deborah Nemens, School of Environmental and Forest Science
Van Redila, Otolaryngology
Annelise Smith, Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors
Galen Stewart, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Kambiz Tavabi, I-LABS
Jacob Tietsort, Comparative Medicine
Stacey Wedlake, Information School
Ryan Will, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Tricia Wu, Biological Structure
Joshua Yee, Pharmacology