Earlier today, March 4th, 2026, our OSE Collective Bargaining Bill was passed by the Washington State Senate, 29 to 19! It has passed both houses of WA state legislature, and is now headed to Governor Ferguson to be signed into law! This is an incredible milestone for collective bargaining rights in higher education, and we are grateful for all the support and dedication shown to us through the years long process of getting a fully recognized undergraduate workforce at Western Washington University! This monumental victory is a direct product of WAWU workers and allies advocating relentlessly for this bill through signing in Pro, contacting legislators, and meeting with them on the ground in Olympia.
Once Governor Ferguson signs it, Washington’s Public Employment Relations Commission will conduct an authorization card count, checking to see if a majority of OSEs at WWU have signed authorization for WAWU-UAW 4929 to be their exclusive bargaining representative. If you’re an OSE and you still haven’t signed an auth card, now is the time!!
Our Bargaining Kickoff Meeting with Admin was held yesterday, and our Joint Bargaining Committee roster will be published soon. Stay tuned for more updates on the state of our bargaining for the next contract for student employees at WWU!