A Strike Is Likely as Negotiations Stall Between UW and Student Employees
With contract negotiations stalled, teaching assistants and other student employees at the University of Washington say they’re ready to strike next week.
Members of UAW 4121—which represents 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students who work as researchers, tutors, graders, teaching assistants, and resident assistants—announced Wednesday night that if they don’t reach a deal with UW, they will strike for one day next Tuesday. According to the union, it would be the biggest walkout in Washington State since teachers went on strike in 2015. According to the union, a walkout would disrupt classes and research on UW campuses in Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell.
The union and university leadership have been bargaining for months. Employees’ current contract expired on April 30. Last week, union members voted 2,272 to 196 to reject the latest contract offer from the university. During their final scheduled bargaining session Tuesday, the two sides bargained for 15 hours with a mediator present, according to the union, but again failed to reach a deal.
As negotiations dragged on last month, union members authorized a potential strike. UAW 4121 members also authorized a strike in 2015. In both 2015 and this year, the university has said a strike would be against state law. The union disputes that characterization. Asked about whether the university would take action against student employees in the event of a strike, UW spokesperson Victor Balta said, "Academic student employees are critical to our mission as a research university and we do not intend to take any action against them if they walk out."
Read more: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/05/10/26161105/a-strike-is-likely-as-negotiations-stall-between-uw-and-student-employees
