June 8, 2022
We cannot contain our excitement when we say, after incredible participation in our union election, we have a union!
Here are some numbers to help contextualize our success:
✓ By an overwhelming margin (85%!), Research Scientists/Engineers A-4 voted union YES!
✓ Voter turnout was a powerful 63% – thank you to the hundreds of Researchers who voted, and to everyone who called, texted and encouraged colleagues to cast their vote.
✓ Because our victory was so decisive, the state labor board did not need to tally the 206 votes cast by those Researchers currently challenged by UW. The (unofficial) tally is:
- Yes 606
- No 104
- Challenged Ballots 206
- Total Ballots 916
- Total Unit Size 1458
We are only the second group of academic researchers to form our own bargaining unit in the U.S., and the first to be certified by representation election!
We are joining UAW Local 4121 as a separate bargaining unit, which means we will bargain our own contract and make individual unit decisions, but can also benefit from sharing administrative resources, bargaining expertise, and solidarity with the 5,800 Academic Student Employees and 900 Postdoctoral Scientists at the UW.
Now we will prepare to bargain. By having an equal voice to the UW Admin, we have the power to make real change to address the inequities and challenges that UW Researchers face.
What happens next?
- In the coming days we will send UW Admin a formal request to bargain. This helps formalize the University’s obligation to meet and negotiate with us in good faith, and is an important step in resolving any promotions, wage increases, or other changes UW has been stalling due to “status quo.”
- Attend our General Meeting Thursday, June 16 at 5:00 PM on Zoom (RSVP here). We’ll discuss formation of our bargaining committee, working groups for writing our initial bargaining proposals, and other details for our union’s next steps. Afterwards we’ll socialize and celebrate this milestone, made possible by so many UW Researchers and supporters!
- We continue to slog through the process of resolving UW challenges to ensure that every eligible RSE A-4 has full collective bargaining rights. There will be additional PERC hearings on 6/14 and 6/15 on Zoom that you are encouraged to attend to watch the University present their “case.” Read more about previous hearings here and email us (contact@uwresearchersunited.
org) if you’d like to attend.
Thank you for your continued support. Onward!
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