June 2, 2022
UW Research Staff continue to be the most underpaid among Professional Staff
According to UW’s 2021 Professional Staff Salary Survey, Research Staff are now paid 23% below market rates on average. According to UW’s analysis, we are the most underpaid group of professional staff. The salary survey offers some data disaggregation, by which we can see that some research positions have fallen even further behind. RSE-2s and RSE-4s are both paid, on average, 31% below market rates.
Each year that they have conducted the salary survey, we have fallen further behind market rates–a pattern that is not true for the other job families within professional staff. That is, not only are we the most underpaid professional staff group relative to market rates, we are also the only group that has consistently fallen further and further behind market rate salaries.
Throughout our organizing campaign, we have heard over and over again that improving our salaries is a top priority. By forming a union, we will gain the right to bargain as equals with UW Administration, giving us the power to bargain necessary and long-delayed salary improvements. We deserve to be equitably paid for the value that our hard work brings to UW.
By voting Yes in our union vote happening right now, we move one step closer to making our collective voice heard at the bargaining table. Please take a moment to vote Yes now and let us know when you have voted!
Still have questions?
We’re continuing to add to our list of Questions and Answers about the vote. Please reach out and let us know if you’d like to chat (contact@uwresearchersunited.
UWRU/UAW Election Organizing Committee
Thaddeus Armstrong
Jared Bechtel
Jai Broome
Shelly Carpenter
Iván Cruz
Kellie Dunn
Abby Gambrill
Sharon Garrett
Victor Han
Phil Hurvitz
Maddie Jones
Eli Kaufman
Julia Kobelt
Cara Margerhio
Deborah Nemens
Katie Osterhage
Daniel Pfalmer
Van Redila
Sam Richardson
Jacob Tietsort
Amanda Winans
Tricia Wu