WSU ASEs strike, quickly win tentative agreement

Agreement includes major pay increases, more affordable healthcare, longer parental leave

The following is from WSU-CASE/UAW:

PULLMAN, Wash. (Jan. 17, 2024) — This morning, Academic Student Employees at Washington State University hit the picket lines at all campuses and extension centers after they failed to reach agreement with WSU Admin by their strike deadline. Soon after the strike began, the WSU Coalition of Academic Student Employees-UAW (WSU-CASE/UAW) bargaining team announced they reached a Tentative Agreement with Washington State University, after WSU administration made key, last-minute concessions that secured a fair agreement.

The tentative agreement includes major pay increases, more affordable healthcare, longer parental leave, a building fee waiver, and other expanded benefits aimed at fostering equity at the University. If ratified, this would be the first contract for ASEs at WSU.

Highlights of the agreement include substantial wage increases, guaranteed partial fee remission, healthcare plan improvements, strong protections and harassment and discrimination, immigration support, six weeks of paid parental leave, child and dependent care subsidies, paid vacation time, protection against firing without just-cause, and much more. (Details will be posted soon at wsucase.org.)

“I am so proud of what we were able to accomplish with our first contract—important protections and gains that will improve our workplaces right away and that we will be able to build upon going forward,” said L. McKinley Nevins, School of Biological Sciences, Plant Biology PhD Student. “Our goal was always to create a better WSU for Academic Student Employees, students, and the entire WSU community, and we are confident that is what this agreement will enable us to do.”

“While we are disappointed that in the days leading up to the strike, WSU Admin engaged in intimidation tactics to discourage us from striking, they did not break our spirit or the strong support for our demands. Winning better pay, more affordable healthcare, and longer parental leave means we can focus on the research and work we came here to do, rather than struggling to get by,” said Mario Luppino, Entomology, PhD Candidate.

“Through their determination and mass collective action, Academic Student Employees at Washington State University enshrined their rights at work for the first time ever. Their contract paves the way for a stronger, more equitable workplace for current and future ASEs at WSU, and for academic workers everywhere,” said Mike Miller, Director of UAW Region 6.

The contract will now go to all bargaining unit members for a ratification vote, which will take place Jan. 19-25.

The WSU Coalition Academic Student Employees-UAW (WSU-CASE/UAW) represents more than 1,800 ASEs at WSU, who play a crucial role in advancing WSU’s teaching and research mission. ASE labor brings in tens of millions of dollars in grant money and drives innovation and understanding in areas such as climate change and the environment, mental health, engineering, society and culture, journalism, and much more.

PREVIOUSLY from The STAND — WSU Academic Student Employees prepare to strike on Jan. 17