UW advising staff win their union

Workers are now preparing their first contract campaign after overwhelmingly voting to unionize

SEATTLE, WA (July 8, 2025) — Over 500 advising staff across the University of Washington system have voted to join SEIU Local 925, the union announced on Thursday. Advising staff first announced their intent to unionize nearly two years ago; after months of organizing, the workers voted 334 to 43 in favor of unionizing, a strong show of support.

As the workers look towards negotiating their first collective bargaining agreement, they’re celebrating the rights they can now exercise as union members, like the right to representation from their union in meetings with management — and crucially, the employers obligation to negotiate any changes to working conditions, even before a CBA is approved.

Some of the newly union UW advising staff members. Photo: SEIU 925

UW Advising staff are part of a wave of organizing across higher education, as the workers who provide direct services to students and do the essential work that allow education institutions to function are uniting together to secure better working conditions and fair pay. As the ripple effects of threats to federal funding spread across higher ed, working people are ensuring they have a voice on the job.

Once bargaining gets under way, Advising staff expect to keep fighting for improvements to the working conditions that pushed them to organize. Central to their unionization drive have been pay equity, anti-racist healthy work environments, pathways for professional development and promotions, sustainable workloads, and equity for students across all departments. 

For now, the workers are celebrating their win and putting together the groundwork for a successful, member-led contract campaign.

SEIU 925 represents more than 19,000 education, local government, and non-profit workers in Washington. Learn more at seiu925.org.