Western student workers ratify contract

99% of voting members voted to ratify the first contract to cover both operational and educational student employees

BELLINGHAM, WA (June 24, 2026) — Hundreds of student workers at Western Washington University have ratified a new contract, a culmination of four years of organizing to secure union rights for operational student employees and a collective bargaining agreement to cover student employees across job classifications. A tentative agreement with the University was announced June 12, with the vast majority of workers voting to ratify the historic contract June 22.

Under the new contract, student workers secured guaranteed wage increases for all job titles, both those paid hourly and by stipend, of at least 2% per year as well as 2% longevity pay increases for hourly student workers returning to the same position after one academic year. Compensataion for resident advisors increased significantly, with gains made in pay for trainings and increased meal per diems.

Occupational Student Employees celebrating filing for their union. Photo: WAWU-UAW

Student workers also won workplace protections and support for immigrant workers in this contract. Workers, particularly resident advisors, pushed for post-traumatic event response to ensure all student workers who respond to a potentially traumatic situation get the support they need to care for themselves. The contract ensures outreach within 48 hours of a traumatic event from a supervisor, including info and resources for mental health support, as well as access to compensated leave time and mental health care.

Immigrant student workers will see significant protections under the collective bargaining agreement. Workers secured three weeks of immigration leave for visa renewals, clear notice of intent and timelines from the University in case an individual student worker is at risk of losing their job, and a defined reinstatement protocol should a student’s immigration status impact their ability to work, and a requirement that the university notify student workers in care of ICE presence on campus. And if a student worker is unable to reenter the U.S., the contract commits the university to providing that worker with an alternative work arrangement as reentry barriers are resolved. In social media posts, student workers described these protections as some of the strongest in Washington state.

Student workers at WWU first moved to unionize in 2022. In just four years, they have organized hundreds of workers, changed state law to enshrine collective bargaining rights for operational student employees at Western, walked out on strike to pressure the administration to negotiate, and now secured a landmark contract covering all student workers at the university.