[In a vote of 606-104, researchers at the University of Washington
have voted to unionize across all three campuses. The bargaining unit
is made up of a total of 1,450 employees of the university across all
research areas.The new UW Researchers United joins the United Auto
Workers (UAW) Local 4121 alongside 100,000 academic employees at more
than 40 universities and colleges across the country. ]
[[link removed]]

RESEARCHERS AT UW VOTE YES ON UNIONIZATION  
[[link removed]]


 

Logan Gilbert
June 10, 2022
MyNorthwest.com
[[link removed]]

*
[[link removed]]
*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

_ In a vote of 606-104, researchers at the University of Washington
have voted to unionize across all three campuses. The bargaining unit
is made up of a total of 1,450 employees of the university across all
research areas.The new UW Researchers United joins the United Auto
Workers (UAW) Local 4121 alongside 100,000 academic employees at more
than 40 universities and colleges across the country. _

,

 

In a vote of 606-104, researchers at the University of Washington have
voted to unionize across all three campuses, with the Washington State
Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) to certify the union in
the next few weeks.

The bargaining unit is made up of a total of 1,450 employees of the
university across all research areas.

“UW Researchers worked so hard for this day, and are so excited that
we finally have our union. Now we’re ready to get to work and deal
with real issues that have been neglected for far too long: wages,
equity, stability, and transparency in our appointments,” Cara
Margherio, a research scientist at UW Seattle, said. “We have a lot
to do and look forward to making UW an even better place to do our
research by securing a strong contract.”

According to the union’s website
[[link removed]], the key issues the
union is fighting to gain include cost of living raises, annual merit
raises and reviews, and minimum one-year employment contracts.

The new union is frustrated at the slow process of unionization, for
which they originally filed in Dec. 2021 with signed authorization
cards, before stalls due to eligibility challenges from the university
caused the researchers to call for an official election.

“Honestly, I think emotions among research scientists and engineers
are mixed. We’re thrilled of course with the strong result from the
vote but also frustrated that nearly six months have passed since a
majority of us said we wanted a union,” Iván Cruz, a research
scientist at UW Seattle, said. “We keep seeing this at UW: a group
of workers wants to unionize, and then the administration makes all of
these challenges that stall the process.”

The new UW Researchers United joins the United Auto Workers (UAW)
Local 4121 alongside 100,000 academic employees at more than 40
universities and colleges across the country. UAW Local 4121 also
works with a separate union of postdoctoral employees and academic
student employees.

“Research Scientists are showing that they’re not going to let the
University administration slow them down,” Ron McInroy, Director of
UAW Region 4, which includes Washington state, said. “The UAW
International has their backs. We’ll keep fighting until these
workers get the respect they deserve.”

Supporters hope the UW Administration will be ready to meet at the
bargaining table to reach an agreement.

“The UW respects the rights of research scientists and engineers to
organize and we look forward to bargaining with this unit in good
faith,” UW spokesperson Michelle Ma said on KIRO Newsradio.

* University of Washington
[[link removed]]
* UAW Local 4121
[[link removed]]

*
[[link removed]]
*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

 

 

 

INTERPRET THE WORLD AND CHANGE IT

 

 

Submit via web
[[link removed]]

Submit via email
Frequently asked questions
[[link removed]]

Manage subscription
[[link removed]]

Visit xxxxxx.org
[[link removed]]

Twitter [[link removed]]

Facebook [[link removed]]

 




[link removed]

To unsubscribe, click the following link:
[link removed]