Today, we presented our Initial Bargaining Demands, ratified by over 700 Research Staff, with a clear message: we need the university to be a safe place to sustain a career in publicly funded research. With growing instability from the federal administration, these protections can’t wait. They need to be enshrined in our contract, including a livable wage tied to WA state minimum wage and overtime thresholds.
We passed over 4 high-priority articles to emphasize the importance of these demands, which included:
- Clearer reclassification timelines: pushing position review decisions out of departmental limbo and into UW Compensation, where they belong.
- Stronger corrective action & dismissal protections: so no one faces vague expectations or arbitrary discipline.
- Fairer grievance timelines: more room for informal resolution, clearer accountability from management, and alignment with other existing UAW contracts.
Additionally, we reached a tentative agreement on 7 articles, including continued access to the UPASS, the #1 priority from members on our bargaining survey!
Click the image below to hear from some of our bargaining team members with highlights from today’s session:
Screenshot
Review the bargaining portal for further information.
Next session: March 26th, full day, in-person. Join RS OC on Wednesdays at 4 pm or email bargaining-RS@uaw4121.org to get involved!
In solidarity,
Your Bargaining Team
Gabriel Beuchat
Iván Cruz
Tess Grover
KeliAnne Hara-Hubbard
Evan Howard
Jessamy Johnson
Lucas O’Bryan
N. Shane Patrick
Gracy Shaw