July 15, 2022
WSU-CASE organizers are staying busy over the summer as we continue to build support for our union. Scroll down for important information to share about the next monthly meeting, updates about the certification process, and a reminder to take the bargaining survey.
Monthly Meeting: Save the Date
Mark your calendars because our July Monthly Meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 27th at 6:00pm over Zoom. It’s our last regular meeting before the semester starts, so we’ll be discussing the filing process and our continuing organizing efforts as classes ramp up again. We’ll also have an update on where things stand with our petition at the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). If you will be able to make it, register here. See you there!
“Status Quo”: Health Insurance and Pay Increase Updates
As we mentioned in a previous email, during the current certification process the University has entered a period of “Dynamic Status Quo,” in which the administration is prohibited from making unilateral changes to terms and conditions that they hadn’t regularly made or approved before the petition was filed. This is a short term legal measure designed to ensure that workers are neither penalized nor rewarded for forming a union.
Several of us are looking into the recent announcement by the Graduate School that the premiums for the student healthcare plan were being increased. While further analysis is needed to ascertain the reasons for this change, it might represent a violation of this status quo standard. It also would (if allowed to be implemented) disproportionately affect certain Academic Student Employees – for example those with covered dependents. We’ll discuss possible next steps at the upcoming meeting; in the meantime please let us know if you would be affected by this or would like to participate in the process of analysis: contact@wsucase.org.
Similarly, some have heard from their departments that planned wage increases cannot now go forward as a result of our union petition. Please note that “Dynamic Status Quo” is not the same as a “freeze.” In fact, under law the employer is required to move forward with any increase they’d planned prior the filing of our union petition. Please let us know (contact@wsucase.org) if you are having any issues so we can discuss and help strategize about your situation.
As we learn more we will provide updates and together determine what action we can take. We are hoping that once our union is certified we will be able to quickly enter into bargaining with the University.
What do you want to bargain for? Fill out the survey!
Higher wages? Better health Insurance? Broader fee waivers? Protections for International Students? More support for child and dependent care? All of the above? Make your voice heard by filling this survey out today! The process takes about 15 minutes and all responses will remain confidential. This is a critical part of preparations for bargaining so please be sure to give your input and share with your colleagues.
If you’d like to discuss any of this information further don’t hesitate to reach out to us at contact@wsucase.org.
In solidarity,
Aurora Brinkman, Psychology (Pullman)
Priyanka Bushana, Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience (Spokane)
Carla De Lira, Computer Science (Pullman)
Sarah Fakhoury, Computer Science (Pullman)
Danielle Holt, School of the Environment (Pullman)
Aaron Jesch, History (Vancouver)
Kelsey King, School of Biological Sciences (Vancouver)
Kathryn Manis, English (Pullman)
Daniel McCloskey, Anthropology (Pullman)
Kyle Rakowski, Sociology (Pullman)
Sadie Ridgeway, Sociology (Pullman)
Claudia Skinner, Languages, Cultures and Race (Pullman)
WSU CASE/UAW Organizing Committee