University of Washington Human Resources

UW & UAW ASE Negotiations Recap for February 9, 2024

Background

This recap details the first session for the negotiation for the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and UAW ASEs. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.

UAW Initial Bargaining Demands

UAW presented their bargaining demands and priorities, structured around several themes.

• Equity and inclusion- UAW demanded that the UW improve workplace equity by expanding the EPIC program, supporting non-citizen ASEs and ensuring an accessible workplace.
• Union rights & appointment security- UAW demanded UW expand union rights and expand appointment security by providing ASE appointments that are “commensurate with their department’s normative time to degree”.
• Healthcare & caregiving- UAW demanded UW administration improve GAIP healthcare, increase support for caregiving, including a $0 insurance premium for dependents and increase the childcare fund available to eligible ASEs.
• Compensation, benefits & fees- UAW demanded that the UW “Significantly increase ASE compensation and waive all student fees.”

UAW ASE Initial Proposals

Article 4- Appointment and Reappointment Notification and Job Description

UAW proposed that ASEs would be provided “appointments commensurate with their department’s normative time to degree, including summer appointments or equivalent compensation”. UAW proposed changing instances of “appointments” to “specific assignments” when talking about the work activities ASEs are assigned during their appointment period. UAW proposed language to include information regarding the Disability Services Office (DSO) and the Voluntary Investment Program in academic-year appointment offer letters.

Article 5- Childcare

UAW proposed to increase the University’s childcare subsidy currently available to all eligible ASEs from $1,350 per quarter to 2.5 times the monthly employee-grade tuition for the infant rate at Radford Court (currently $2.648 per month) per quarter for childcare expenses. UAW proposed to raise the maximum cap the University would spend on ASE childcare expenses from $70,200 to $200,000 per year. UAW proposed that ASEs would have access to the “University of Washington’s DCAP program” and may enroll at any point during their employment. Additionally, UAW proposed the University would guarantee 30 spaces at each of UW’s childcare facilities for ASEs with dependent(s).

Article 8- Grievance Procedure

UAW proposed to extend timelines related to when an ASE can file a grievance and the timelines for moving the grievance to the next step; as well as reduce timelines for how long the University has to meet with the grievant and UAW and to issue a written response. UAW also proposed language stating that failure to respond within the specified time periods would constitute the Employer’s granting of the grievance, inclusive of its requested remedies. Finally, UAW added language stating when a grievance or complaint is filed, the University would implement interim measures as appropriate.

Article 16- Layoff

UAW proposed to strike the language “in an academic year” as to when the layoff articles apply.

Article 29- Union Rights

UAW proposed language making a thirty-minute union orientation mandatory for all ASEs. UAW also proposed that the University would provide up to eight (8) FTE (40 hours/week) ASE appointment(s) as UAW bargaining committee member(s) to participate in system-wide bargaining for the two (2) quarters in which bargaining occurs. Additionally, UAW proposed that UAW would be able to request conference and meeting rooms with the same cost as Registered Student Organizations, however, they would not be subject to the same time limit restrictions RSO are.

Article 30- Union Security

UAW proposed that the University would provide an option for ASEs to join UAW in the Registration Portal’s “Insurance/Optional Charges” Page each term.

New Article- Immigration

UAW proposed a new article that would focus on international students. UAW proposed language that the University would reimburse all visa processing fees, the University would fund both legal advisors and peer advisors, the University would establish a $200,000 per academic year International Student Worker Assistance Fund, and the University would provide paid immigration leave for appointments and/or proceedings related to immigration or citizenship status of an ASE or a family member or dependent and to enable eligible ASEs to vote in non-U.S. elections. UAW proposed language stating UAW and University would meet every academic quarter to discuss issues arising from academic student employment, immigration status, and work authorization.

Next Steps

The next UW & UAW ASE bargaining session is scheduled for February 20, 2024.