Western Academic Workers United – UAW
The union of all student employees at WWU
The results are in: 98% of educational student employees at WWU have voted YES for WAWU-UAW. By a final margin of 805 Yes : 19 No, student workers have voted overwhelemingly for a democratic voice on campus.The vote’s massive 75% voter turnout–in a vote held during exams week and commencement–shows just how incredibly important this is to ESE’s accross the University.
The next step is to move on to bargaining! If you’re an educational student employee, please go to our Bargaining Center and sign on to the Initial Bargaining Demands and fill out your bargaining survey! Remember, bargaining is a participatory and democratic process, and we can’t do this unless we do it together!
Joining Together for a Better Western
We are Western student employees, and we are proud of our work as teachers, researchers, and tutors at Western. However, many of us lack secure rights and protections in the workplace, struggle with low compensation and inadequate health care, and face uncertainty about our careers. We are undergraduates and graduates across all WWU’s colleges and disciplines, and we share a vision of a University that’s a better place to work and study.
We have witnessed the power of organized student employees to dramatically improve their working conditions through unionization with the United Auto Workers (UAW). We are coming together to form a union with the UAW so that we can improve our workplaces and our lives—and in turn create a stronger, more equitable Western.
Educational Student Employees are starting bargaining
We’ve asked the Washington labor board to hold an election so we can get officially certified as a union and start bargaining with WWU Admin. Take a minute to pledge to Vote Union Yes!
Building Our First Contract!
Before negotiating with WWU administration, a majority of Educational Student Employees need to ratify the Initial Bargaining Demands. Look through these first demands and see what we can fight for and win together!
Operational Student Employees are newly unionizing!
We’re beginning our campaign to collect signatures from accross campus. Add yours today or get involved!
Sign your authorization card!
We’re collecting authorization cards so we can petition to legally form a union.
Recent News
BC Election Updates, Tuesday Sept 19th
Last night, nominations for the Bargaining Committee closed. The results of the nomination period are shown below. 4 candidates were elected by acclamation (they were not contested), and 1 seat will be decided via election later this week. The following 4 positions...
Meet Your Bargaining Committee Candidates
I want to be part of the conversation as I’ve been a research assistant for 5 years at western. I also am I communication major so I know how to communicate effectively our demands. Hello! My name is Paige and I'm running for the research assistant (RA) bargaining...
We’re holding a vacancy election!
Bargaining Committee Elections Announcement Nominations for the WAWU Bargaining Committee are now open. Accept your nomination (here) before the deadline on Monday, Sept 18th! Western Academic Workers United (WAWU) will soon start bargaining with the WWU...
Upcoming Events
Fall 2023 Orientation
If you are a student and WWU is also your employer, this event is for you! Come gather with your fellow Western Washington University student employees to learn about what it means to be a member of Western Academic Workers United! More details forthcoming, stay...
Fall 2023 Orientation
If you are a student and WWU is also your employer, this event is for you! Come gather with your fellow Western Washington University student employees to learn about what it means to be a member of Western Academic Workers United! More details forthcoming, stay...
Fall 2023 Orientation
If you are a student and WWU is also your employer, this event is for you! Come gather with your fellow Western Washington University student employees to learn about what it means to be a member of Western Academic Workers United! More details forthcoming, stay...