On Friday, March 15th a Superior Court Judge dismissed the University’s attempt to challenge collective bargaining for ASEs employed by the Law School. While the Washington State Labor Board (PERC) had already twice ruled that Law ASEs have collective bargaining rights under the same statute as all other ASEs, the University has mounted consecutive legal challenges to block this ruling from being implemented. Thus while Law School students employed as ASEs elsewhere on campus have been covered by the terms and conditions of our collective bargaining agreement, ASEs doing the same work as they do on campus but employed within the Law School have not. UW agreed after losing (again) last Friday that they would not appeal the case further and that they would begin bargaining immediately on inclusion of these law students in the contract.
We will keep you apprised as we continue discussions with the University about this matter. If you have any questions or want to get more involved please let us know.