February 16, 2023
Great news! Tonight, our Strike Authorization Vote concluded with 959 total votes cast, and 91.7% of Research Scientists/Engineers A-4 voting Yes. A supermajority of all UW RSEs have voted to authorize our Bargaining Team to call a strike if circumstances warrant. It’s clear that RSEs are united in our efforts to stop UW’s unlawful behavior at the bargaining table.
What Happens Next
While we remain hopeful that UW will cease its unlawful bargaining and delays and join us in working to create a research environment where all can thrive, this resounding vote makes plain that we are nonetheless prepared to take strong action if UW continues its bad faith tactics. While we continue to show up prepared and willing to bargain in good faith, we cannot bargain with no end in sight. And, we’ll have trouble reaching a fair agreement if UW continues breaking the law, as they did when they refused to bargain with us over overtime conversions.
UW’s Pattern of Anti-Union Behavior
This week, a supermajority of our UW Postdoc colleagues also voted to authorize their union’s bargaining committee to call a strike should circumstances justify, with 96.3% voting Yes. Also this week, UW Postdocs filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge due to the University Administration not complying with the salary thresholds in the Washington Minimum Wage Act.
Strong Majority Participation is Critical to Winning a Fair Contract
Thank you again to everyone who participated and a big shout-out to those of you who took the time to join on the ground canvassing, make phone calls, and send emails. Strong and engaged participation is truly the most critical and powerful way to demonstrate to UW that we are united in our commitment to winning fair contracts.
In solidarity,
UW Researchers United Bargaining Committee
Thaddeus Armstrong, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Nick Bolten, Computer Science
Jai Broome, Medical Genetics
Erin Carll, Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity
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