UW Library & Press workers put admin on notice

Hundreds of UW workers, students, and community members signed a petition in support of Continuum College, libraries and press workers

SEATTLE, WA (February 26, 2025) — UW Library, Press, and Continuum College workers marched through the university’s Seattle campus on Wednesday, carrying a petition signed by more than 400 university community members and allies — including readers of The STAND. The petition calls on UW President Dr. Robert Jones to finally settle a fair contract with the workers. It’s an escalation in a months-long fight to secure a new contract.

Despite multiple bargaining sessions last month, no agreement was reached before the workers’ contract expired on January 31. Workers have been keeping the pressure on management to come to the table and negotiate in good faith, rallying on the UW Seattle campus in late January with support from students and other university employees. In negotiations for past collective bargaining agreements, workers have been foced to move forward with a strike threat in order to secure a fair contract.

Currently, the major sticking point at the table is wages. The University has offered library and press workers only a meager 1% raise over the entire three years of the contract. With inflation, that effectively amounts to a pay cut. Meanwhile, many staff are already pushed farther and farther away from campus as housing costs increase. Despite working tirelessly to ensure a quality education for UW students, many workers can’t afford their student loan payments and rely on food stamps to cover grocery costs, per SEIU 925.

Workers are also fighting for layoff protections and parity between professional staff and librarians and layoff protections.

As negotiations continue, allies can still register their support for the workers’ demands by signing the petition to UW President Jones. The text of the petition is as follows:

I am contacting you today to express my support of the University of Washington Libraries and Press Employees obtaining a fair contract in a timely manner. A fair contract includes better pay, layoff and DEI protections, and equity for Professional Libraries Employees (PLEs).

As a [student/staff/community member], the UW Libraries and Press staff serve a vital component of my academic growth and engagement. Librarians and PLEs also have an important role in strengthening the community both in and outside of UW with programming and outreach. Moreover, the work of UW Libraries and Press helps continue the UW’s contributions to ongoing global research.

However, it’s clear that the University of Washington does not fairly value this work. 1% raises are not enough for staff to keep up with inflation. PLEs and Librarians often have to move farther from campus to afford housing, can’t make student loan payments, and can’t pay for food without assistance programs like food stamps. And if UW Librarians and PLEs don’t have fair working conditions, student learning and engagement WILL suffer, too.

I fully support the UW Libraries and Press Union in their fight for a fair contract. As a member of this community, I’m ready to amplify and stand with UW Librarians and PLEs in whatever way they need. With no bargaining sessions left and the contract expiring on January 31st, it’s imperative that UW needs to agree to a fair contract NOW.