From: VPBFA Office
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 3:00:26 PM
Cc: VPBFA Office; WWU Employees BCC
Subject: Update on Operational Student Employees and Collective Bargaining Developments
Dear University Community,
With all that is going on this term, we want to keep you informed of our conversations and work with operational student employees (OSEs) at Western.
As you may be aware, the OSEs are seeking collective bargaining rights similar to academic student employees. Western Washington University (WWU) fully supports the rights of all employees to organize and collectively bargain. Over the past year, WWU has actively supported proposed legislation in the Washington State Legislature that would grant bargaining rights to operational student employees, similar to the legislation enacted in 2023 for academic student employees. Unfortunately, this year’s bill did not pass. WWU is not in a position to voluntarily recognize a bargaining unit without statutory authorization, which makes passage of this enabling legislation a necessary first step in the formal process.
Despite these constraints, WWU is committed to ensuring equity across our student workforce. Ahead of the 2024–2025 academic year, President Randhawa and I met several times with the OSE Organizing Committee. Subsequent to those conversations, we implemented pay increases for OSEs to align their compensation with that of unionized student employees. University leadership continues to meet regularly with the organizing committee to address safety and workplace conditions.
The Western Academic Workers United (WAWU) announced earlier this week that OSEs have voted to authorize a work stoppage. Based on our understanding, this vote does not mean that a work stoppage is imminent. Further deliberations are expected to take place in the coming weeks. Should it appear that a work stoppage involving OSEs is likely, we will provide additional information.
While WWU is unable to formally recognize OSEs as a bargaining unit without legislative approval, our commitment to supporting all student employees remains unchanged. We will continue to support the OSEs in their work with the State Legislature to establish a statutory framework for bargaining.
Sincerely,
Joyce Lopes
Vice President