2024 ASE BARGAINING CENTER

ACADEMIC STUDENT EMPLOYEES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FIGHTING FOR A STRONG CONTRACT!

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ASE Strike FAQ for Postdocs & RSEs

Are ASEs going on strike? What could a strike look like?

ASEs have authorized strikes if necessary through a successful Strike Authorization Vote in April. The bargaining committee would recommend striking if they believed it to be the only way to achieve a fair deal, and ASE membership would collectively determine where and when the strikes will take place. A strike is a complete work stoppage. During a strike, ASEs would not perform work duties and instead would participate in picket lines to increase the visibility of the strike. Strikes can be fixed duration or open-ended. The ASEs will decide and communicate to its members how a strike could create conditions for maximum participation and maximum impact. We would of course prefer that UW change course, bargain in good faith and promptly reach an agreement that addresses the needs of ASEs.

What is a picket line, and what does it mean to pledge to not cross the picket line while ASEs are on strike?

A picket line is a public expression by striking workers of their dispute, which conveys a request for other workers and community members to join them in solidarity and not to undercut their decision to withhold labor. As a postdoc or research scientist, you can increase the impact of a strike by pledging not to cross the line and by not engaging in any activities that weaken the workers’ decision to withhold their labor. 

Respecting a picket line can look like many different things, depending on the nature of our work, and the organization of our labs or work areas. RSEs and postdocs are making individual decisions about how best to do this but are discussing collectively the best strategies. The guiding principle of “respecting the picket line” is to take actions that when operationalized collectively at scale, maximize the disruptive potential of a strike.

Postdocs and RSEs who have pledged to honor the picket line are individually choosing to not come into the lab; not hold class or office hours; make arrangements to be on the picket line, etc. They are also asking PIs and Department Chairs to put pressure on UW Admin to move on critical issues for both units. Every individual has to make their own decision about what it means not to cross a picket line, but like any decision made in response to mistreatment or injustice, is strongest when it is visible and creates more power for the striking workers. Think about an action that you can take in your work area that can be both meaningful and disruptive – discuss options and make a plan with other RSEs and postdocs in your lab: the more people that participate, the better.

How does RSEs/postdocs pledging to respect picket lines make a strike more effective?

Striking is a powerful collective action built on mass participation, engagement, and solidarity. The prospect of visible mass participation on picket lines with workers and community members will create a crisis for UW.  As RSEs/postdocs, you can play a powerful role by pledging not to cross a picket line. We can demonstrate that ASEs are not alone, and that we will not let management get away with engaging in unserious bargaining.

Can I get in trouble if I respect the picket line?

The statute governing RSE/postdoc collective bargaining neither prohibits work stoppages by public employees nor grants the express right to strike or respect a picket line. Many public sector unions in Washington—including our own—can and do hold strike authorization votes, go on strike and respect picket lines. Many K-12 teacher strikes have happened in Washington State. At UW: in 2001, a huge majority of UW Academic Student Employees (ASEs) struck without getting fined or disciplined and without the union being sued. The same was true in 2018 with a one-day ASE strike, in a 2022 one-day UW Librarians strike, and last year’s 8-day postdoc/RSE strike. As with all other union action, our solidarity and willingness to be public is our best protection. The law doesn’t specifically prevent our employer from taking disciplinary action against those who engage in this action, up to and including termination. However, this has not happened at previous UW strikes because participation was so strong. In the case of disciplinary threats, we would require the employer to apply our collectively bargained “just cause” standard and demand that any disciplinary action taken was appropriate and applied equally to every member of the bargaining unit. In other words: they’d have to take on all of us in order to take on one of us.

Do I need to tell my supervisor or PI that I will be respecting the picket line?

No, but you may individually choose to tell them if they ask, and you can ask your PI or chair to put pressure on Admin to meet ASEs demands.

Am I allowed to respect the picket line if I am an international or undocumented postdoc or RSE?

International and undocumented workers can participate in union activities, just as domestic workers do. If you want to be connected to a community of non-citizen workers, reach out to the International Solidarity Working Group at intl-workgroup@uaw4121.org.