WHO WE ARE
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Tutors, Teaching Assistants, Peer Advisors, Research Assistants, Library Assistants, Faculty Assistants, and Research Advisors
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We do a massive amount of the teaching, instructional, and research work that makes WWU run on a daily basis
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We filed a petition with the WA State Labor Board in December 2022
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We passed a law to clearly enshrine collective bargaining rights for academic student employees at regional universities in WA
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The WWU Administration has supported our legal right to unionize
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We won our Union with a 98% YES vote in May, 2023
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Finished bargaining our historic first contract May 22nd
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We elected our first Executive Board in October, 2024
Progress has been made!
On Friday May 29th WAWU and WWU made incredible progress on a tentative agreement for all student workers on campus! The first of its kind in Washington State. So far we have had 10 bargaining sessions… and student workers have shown their strength, showing up on...
Bargaining Update: Only 4 sessions left…
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...
Bargaining Update! Monday May 4th 2026
By Monday May 4th 2026, WAWU and WWU administration had met four times... nearly five... Five if it weren't for a surprise cancellation on our bargaining team just after 8AM day of.Here's a little recap of what's been happening at, and away, from the...
Bargaining Update: Session #2
What happened at the table? Yesterday WAWU sat down with WWU for the second session of bargaining. WAWU applied pressure, passing another 6 contract articles across the table for western to review. WWU countered, passing our Bargaining Committee members a total...
Bargaining Update #1:
Today, Western Academic Workers United sat down at the bargaining table with WWU for the first time ever as one unit, ESEs and OSEs, recognized under Washington state law. Student workers from across campus and disciplines came together to start the process of...
2026 Initial Bargaining Demands
Wages and Compensation Raise each job classification’s minimum wage and stipend rate yearly to keep pace with Bellingham’s rising cost of living and decades of inflation. Pay employees accurately and on time for all hours worked including but not limited to: required...
2026-02 EXECUTIVE BOARD VACANCY ELECTION RESULTS
On February 19th, 2026, four officers will be sworn into the Executive Board of Western Academic Workers United. We are pleased to announce the uncontested election of Heather Curfman, a Class Facilitator with Associated Students; Lily Eilebrecht, a tutor in the Math...
2026 BARGAINING COMMITTEE NOMINEES
The following candidates are running for the 2026 Joint Bargaining Committee as OSEs. 6 OSE positions are avaliable on the Joint Bargaining Committee. Nominations close on 2/12/2026, and voting will open on 2/26/26. Candidate statements will be posted prior to voting...
2026 BARGAINING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
Nominations are open for the 2026 Bargaining Committee! Our 2026 Joint Bargaining Committee will be composed of 12 student employees. 6 ESEs will be appointed internally by the Executive Board and ratified by the Membership. 6 OSEs will be directly elected. To qualify...
2026 BARGAINING SURVEY OPENS!
Our 2026 bargaining survey is out! This survey is open to all student employees at Western Washington University, and will inform our initial demands (to be voted upon by the membership at the February MMM. Complete your survey here! If there’s anything else you’d...
BARGAINING CENTER PAGE
Check out details about our first tentative agreement and vote to ratify our contract!