January 17, 2024
We have a Tentative Agreement! Our short strike has been successful and has come to a resolution! ASEs can come in out of the cold, resume work, and get ready to vote for contract ratification. Read on for details about the Tentative Agreement (TA) and information about the ratification vote that comes next.
This strong TA is the result of ASEs’ collective power and solidarity. Just the very beginning of our strike was enough to bring WSU Admin back to the bargaining table with important movement on wages, fees, healthcare, and leaves.
All ASEs will have the opportunity to vote to ratify this Tentative Agreement. The ratification vote will be conducted online and will begin on Friday, January 19th and close on Thursday, January 25th.
Here are some highlights of the new benefits and protections we have won in our Tentative Agreement:
- Wage increases:
- Minimum base wage of $2318.50 per month for salaried ASEs in Pullman (and adjusted for the regional cost of living for other campuses and RECs) within 90 days of ratification (39% increase, up from $1670)
- Minimum 5% increase to all ASE salaries within 90 days of ratification (for those at higher steps who are not affected by the raise to the base wage)
- Hourly minimum wage of $17.09 in Pullman (maximum $39.50); hourly rates for other campuses and RECs adjusted for cost of living
- 3% increase to all Salary Ranges and Hourly Wage rates on October 1, 2025
- Experience-based step increases effective August 16, 2024
- Guaranteed partial fee remission:
- Guaranteed tuition remission for salaried ASEs appointed at 50%
- Waiver of the Building Fee beginning in Fall 2025 (about $189 per semester, depending on campus) for salaried ASEs appointed at 50%
- Healthcare plan improvements:
- In-network deductible $300 (down from $500)
- Out-of-network deductible $300 (down from $1000)
- The right to negotiate further improvements for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026
- Strong protections against harassment, discrimination, and all other abusive conduct, enforceable with a fair, transparent grievance process and interim measures
- Immigration support including informational workshops and work-related visa fees paid by WSU
- An improved interactive process for disability accommodations including interim measures for immediate relief
- Six weeks of paid parental leave
- Child and dependent care subsidy of $2025 per semester and $1550 in summer term
- Workload maximum protections
- Paid vacation time of 12 days for a 9 month appointment
- Protection against firing without just cause, and a clear, transparent discipline process
- The right to refuse to work in unsafe or unhealthy conditions
- Contract expiration of August 15, 2026
You can find the full text of all Tentative Agreements here by 3pm today.
We will hold informational sessions tomorrow (Thursday January 18) via Zoom at 1pm and 6pm (as well as others soon to be scheduled), so that all ASEs have a chance to ask questions and discuss the Tentative Agreement before they vote.
If you have been or believe you may be marked as on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) by WSU for the 17th due to being on strike, you can still sign up for strike pay.
Strike pay sign up for Pullman ASEs will be today until 4PM (1/17/2024) in Avery Hall 110. Non-Pullman campus ASEs can sign up tomorrow (1/18/2024). If you are on a different campus or an REC, please keep an eye on your email for more information on how to sign up for strike pay.
This is a momentous occasion for WSU! This Tentative Agreement, if ratified, will be the FIRST Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of Academic Student Employees at WSU. Take a moment to reflect upon the work we have collectively put into making this a reality. We are following in the footsteps of ASE leaders who paved our way here and we are now carving a path for ASEs who come after us.
As always, please respond with any questions or concerns.
In Solidarity,
WSU-CASE Bargaining Committee:
Acacia Patterson, Physics & Astronomy (Pullman)
Adam Bozman, Carson College of Business – Finance (Pullman)
Andre Diehl, Comparative Ethnic Studies (Pullman)
Arianna Gonzales, Psychology (Pullman)
Aurora Brinkman, Psychology (Pullman)
Chelsea Mitchell, School of the Environment (Puyallup Research and Extension Center)
Chia-Hui Chen, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Spokane)
Claudia Skinner, School of Languages, Cultures, and Race (Pullman)
Cody Lauritsen, College of Veterinary Medicine (Pullman)
Dano Holt, School of the Environment (Pullman)
Evan Domsic, Crop and Soil Science (Mount Vernon NWREC)
Gavin Doyle, English (Pullman)
Hannah Cohen, Veterinary Clinical Sciences (Pullman)
Kartik Sreedhar, Physics & Astronomy (Pullman)
Kayla Spawton, Plant Pathology (Mount Vernon NWREC)
Kelsey King, School of Biological Sciences (Vancouver)
Miles Hopkins, School of the Environment (Pullman)
Miranda Zuniga-Kennedy, Clinical Psychology (Pullman)
Naseeha Cardwell, Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering (Pullman/Tri-Cities)
Natalie Yaw, Chemistry (Pullman)
Ninh Khuu, Plant Pathology (Prosser)
Peter Obi, Pharmaceutical Sciences (Spokane)
Raymond Bennett, Psychology (Pullman)
Rebecca Evans, Biology (Vancouver)
Shawn Domgaard, Communication (Pullman)
Tazin Rahman, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (Pullman)
Tholen Justin Blasko, Animal Sciences (Pullman)
Victor Moore, History (Pullman)
Victoria Oyanna, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Spokane)
Whitney Shervey, Sociology (Pullman)
Yiran Guo, Mechanical and Materials Engineering (Pullman)