The Union of ALL Student Workers at WWU
Operational Employees
Program Support Staff, Recreation Assistants, Clerks, Laborers, Lifeguards, Resident Advisors, Assistants, Attendants, Editors, and many other jobs.
We do much of the work that keeps the lights on, keeps people safe, and keeps WWU running smoothly.
Signing a Union card is joining the majority of your coworkers and saying “Union Yes!”
A Union means democracy in the workplace. A Union means helping each other out and having people in your corner.
What the ESEs won this year in their first contract shows why saying “Union Yes!” means big wins for working students.
Educational Employees
Tutors, Peer Advisors, Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, Library Assistants, Faculty Assistants, Laboratory Assistants, and Computer Assistants
We do a massive amount of the teaching, instructional, and research work that makes WWU run on a daily basis
Signing up for WAWU membership is part of the community of care that we’ve been creating for the past few years at Western.
Our dues are our power, how we fight back against corporate greed.
The foundational contract that we fought for and won together can only be built on if we continue curating that culture of collective care in our workplaces – encourage your coworkers to sign up as well!
Enforce your rights
ESEs won big this year with a historic first contract. But just because Western agreed to these terms doesn’t mean they’ll actually follow through.
That’s why a group of ESEs and OSEs have come together and formed the Advocacy and Contract Enforcement (ACE) committee.
The ACE committee will help guide any student worker (OSE or ESE) through the process of fighting for their rights. If there’s something wrong in your workplace, email the ACE committee.
OSE Bargaining Survey
We are hopeful to begin negotiations with the WWU Administration for a union contract that will define the important rights and protections that affect our working conditions. For our union, bargaining is a participatory, democratic process. Everyone’s voice is important! Filling out the OSE Bargaining Survey will ensure that share your priorities and thoughts are taken into account when OSEs start negotiating our first contract!
Washington State Elections
With over 2500 members, WAWU student employees make up a large portion of the voting body in Bellingham. As members of the United Auto Workers, WWU ESEs and OSEs also help decide which candidates in local and state elections are officially endorsed by the UAW. As November gets closer, it is important for us to educate ourselves about each race’s candidate, and make informed decisions about who to vote into office – the WAWU-UAW endorsed candidates are linked below.