On Monday, our WAWU bargaining committee passed over 9 articles – tentatively agreeing on only two: Our travel article, as it currently stands; and a new Article – Reclassifications. Reclassifications will allow student workers to challenge their classification and receive pay for a higher classification, retroactive to the date when the challenge was put out. This is a win!
We caucused for a total of three hours throughout the course of Monday's session – during those caucuses, student workers on the WAWU bargaining team worked through every detail of Western’s proposals. After those hours, WAWU put out same day counter proposals to seven of Western initial proposals. Yet still, we only were able to tentatively agree on two articles… After a full eight-hour day of bargaining.
Student workers on the WAWU bargaining committee refused to waive a student worker's right to just cause termination, or ability to grieve unfair treatment regarding remote work needs.
Western’s sluggishness in this session, and in all subsequent sessions proves one thing, that the fight is not happening at the table – but across campus, in every workplace.
During this session we heard that WWU admin believe it is their ‘managerial right’ to monitor where you do remote work, to change your schedule with no notice in the instance of 'unforeseen operational situations’ and that they do not need to compensate you for prep work, often an essential and unavoidable element of a student's job …
For these reasons, we organize, we go for a majority of workers in every workplace being informed, and empowered to fight for improved working conditions and respect.