Hundreds set to rally to draw attention to their demands for a fair contract
September 26, 2023
Pullman, WA – On Wednesday, the union of 2,000 TAs, RAs, Tutors, Readers, and Graders (collectively known as Academic Student Employees, or ASEs) at Washington State University, WSU-CASE/UAW will hold Rallies and Mass Meetings across nine campuses to demonstrate they are united in their commitment to holding WSU Administration accountable to agreeing to a fair contract. ASEs began bargaining their first-ever contract in February, and have yet to reach agreement on several key issues including protections against sexual harassment and discrimination, wages and fees, and health insurance.
“We are coming together to demonstrate how serious we are about winning a contract that reflects our value and dignity as workers. We teach the students of WSU and we do the research that makes WSU a leader in the state. It’s time for WSU Admin to bargain fairly and agree to a good contract that does right by ASEs and this institution,” said Acacia Patterson, Research Assistant in Physics & Astronomy on the Pullman campus.
“WSU Admin doesn’t think they need to pay us fairly and that instead we can rely on the food pantry and travel across the state to find healthcare providers in our network. They aren’t taking our demands seriously, and they’ve even broken the law in bargaining. Enough is enough,” said Zoe Wilson, Graduate Teaching Assistant in Biological Sciences on the Vancouver campus.
WHAT: A Day of Rallies to urge WSU Administration to bargain in good faith.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 27
WHERE: Rallies will take place at every campus and extension center where ASEs work (nine locations in total). The Pullman Rally will be held from 12pm-2pm at Terrell Mall, across from the CUB/Holland Terrell Library. See full list of rally locations and times here.
WHO: Hundreds of Academic Student Employees, campus supporters, and community and labor allies.
Last week, WSU-CASE/UAW filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) complaint against WSU at the Washington State Public Employment Commission (PERC). Despite months of ASEs demanding to bargain over their health insurance plan, WSU failed to negotiate in good faith and made dozens of unilateral changes to the 2023-2024 plan.
Learn more at https://wsucase.org/
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