Voter Information Center

Union Representation Election (UW Research Scientists A-4)

May 25 – June 8, 2022

Example of the email from PERC.

Make An Informed Choice!  Frequently Asked Questions about Voting and Unionizing.

Why do we have to have this vote?  I thought a majority of all RSE A-4s already signed cards saying that we wanted a union?
That is correct!  A strong majority of RSE A-4 did sign union authorization cards stating that we wanted to be represented by UW Researchers United / UAW 4121.  However In April 2022, after it became clear that the certification of this majority by “card check” (a process by which PERC verifies our majority through cross-checking cards against an employment list from UW) was going to be substantially delayed following UW challenges to the RSE A-4 bargaining unit, we requested that PERC hold a representation vote to more quickly certify the bargaining unit.  We believe this will be the faster path to certification.

Who is eligible to vote?
Eligible voters are:

“All full-time and regular part time employees of the University of Washington in the following job classes: Research Scientist/Engineer – Assistant; Research Scientist/Engineer – 1; Research Scientist/Engineer – 2; Research Scientist/Engineer – 3; Research Scientist/Engineer – 4; excluding confidential employees, supervisors, managers as defined by RCW 41.56.021(1)(b), employees covered by chapter 41.80 RCW, employees covered by chapter 41.76 RCW, and all other employees.”

The names of eligible RSE A-4s are included in the Election Notice.  Note that at the time the notice was issued, UW had identified more than 200 individuals who they believed were not eligible to be included.  While we await additional information from UW Admin as to why they are making many of these challenges (see more information here), PERC must treat the ballots cast by these individuals differently than non-challenged individuals.  Challenged ballots will therefore only be counted if they are determinative of the outcome (that is, if the number of challenged ballots is greater than the difference between non-challenged Yes and No votes).  If they are not determinative of the outcome, they will not be officially included in the final tally.

I’m listed as an eligible voter on the Election Notice but stopped working between April 29 and June 8, 2022.  Does that mean I can’t vote?
That is correct – if you are no longer employed as a UW RSE A-4 you are no longer eligible to vote.  Please contact PERC right away to update your information: 360-370-2220.

What do I do if I never received the physical mailer or email with voting instructions and my PIN?
Call the PERC Voter Help Center  at 360-370-2220 so they can provide you with the information you need.  If you have trouble getting a hold of anyone please notify us at contact@uwresearchersunited.org.

My eligibility was challenged by UW. How does voting work for me?
The process of voting online or via telephone will be the same for challenged and non-challenged voters.  You will receive instructions on how to vote via your home mailing address and UW email (see Election Notice) and can cast your ballot in the same way as non-challenged voters. Your vote will only be counted, however, if the challenged ballots are determinative of the outcome of the election (see “Who Is Eligible to Vote?” above).

Should I still vote if I’m challenged?
Yes!  The more of us who vote, the better. Challenged individuals can vote in the same way as non-challenged individuals, however challenged ballots will only be counted if they are determinative of the outcome (that is, if the number of challenged ballots cast is greater than the difference between non-challenged Yes and No votes). 

What is happening with all of UW’s challenges? Will they still hold things up?
They are still pending and we are still pushing for them to be withdrawn or resolved.  The Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) is holding hearings to compile information about the University’s challenges so they can eventually issue a decision, but this might take months.  You can read more information about the challenges here.  However, if we win the vote and get certified, UW has an obligation to begin bargaining with us.  This way, we can continue to work on resolving eligibility challenges but also start bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions so that we can begin making progress on issues Research Scientists/Engineers A-4 would like to address.

Is the election decided by a simple majority of people voting?
Yes.  This is why we are urging every eligible voter to make your voice heard!  A stronger showing in advance of bargaining creates more momentum and a mandate for negotiating a strong contract. 

What are we voting on exactly?
We are voting Yes or No on the question of whether we wish to be represented by UW Researchers United / UAW 4121.  This is very similar to the language on the union authorization cards we signed last year.

I (or someone I know) didn’t receive the email with voting instructions and PIN. How do I get these?
Instructions were sent by Intelivote (the organization administering the vote) to our UW emails.  First: check your spam folder. The email came from <voterinfo@intelivote.com> on Tuesday May 24, 2022 in the morning (around 6:20 am). If you still can’t find the instructions or PIN, check to see if you received them via physical mail (the Public Employment Relations Commission [PERC] sent mail to the home addresses on file at UW) or call PERC at 360-370-2220. If you’re still having trouble, contact us at contact@uwresearchersunited.org

I received two emails with voting instructions and two PIN numbers. What do I do?
Call PERC at 360-370-2220. There appears to have been a small number of people who were duplicated on the Election Notice and may have received two PIN numbers. Please let PERC know so they can be sure your vote is accurately counted.

Regarding the 1.44% union dues: are they mandatory and can they be changed? Are there examples of how dues are used? 
RSE A-4 won’t pay dues until we’ve democratically approved a contract and no one can be required to pay dues. The dues rate can be changed in two ways: 1) Through a vote of delegates at the International Union Constitutional Convention (to increase or decrease dues across all of UAW), or 2) By a vote of a unit within Local UAW 4121 (ASEs, Postdocs or Researchers) to increase dues for that unit above the level set at the International Union Constitutional Convention. You can see the financial reports of UAW 4121 here, and a summarized breakdown here of how dues support bargaining and advocacy work for represented employees.

Some additional examples of expenses supported through dues paid by current UAW members (such as UW Postdocs and UW Academic Student Employees) include: (a) the costs of having to litigate the University’s hundreds of challenges to this petition (one might also ask how much it is costing Washington state taxpayers to support a state-funded Attorney General, state-funded UW employees, and state-funded agency, PERC); (b) the costs of having to win health insurance coverage for international paid-direct Postdocs after it was unfairly denied; (c) the costs of mobilizing for a free U-Pass for all UW staff; (d) the costs of defeating the ICE directive requiring international students to attend classes in person or face deportation.  And more.

The question on the ballot is “Do you wish to be represented for the purpose of collective bargaining by UW Researchers United / International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Workers of America, Local Union 4121”. If a majority of us vote Yes will we all join the UAW as dues-paying members?
No. If a majority of us vote Yes we will create a union of Research Scientist/Engineers A-4 that is part of UAW so that we can collectively bargain with the UW Administration.  This is not the same as choosing to join the UAW as a dues paying member.  After the contract has been negotiated and democratically approved we can each individually choose whether to become a member of the union and pay dues, or not.  You can read more here on the FAQ page under ‘FORMING OUR UNION.’

I still have some questions/concerns about forming a union.  Where can I find more information?
We have compiled an extensive FAQ here.  If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please email us at contact@uwresearchersunited.org  We will be updating this FAQ throughout the voting process.