Labor Relations

Union organizing petitions

Last updated: April 1, 2025

The content on this page is maintained as a resource for managers between the time the University receives notification of petition to form a new bargaining unit through the representation process to determine the job profiles and/or positions that should be in the unit, which may be followed by a vote on union representation by employees in the unit. This process can take a few months.

When a union representation vote is successful, the next step is to start the collective bargaining process. At that time, information on the newly formed bargaining unit can be found on this website under Academic & Student Union or Staff Union links.

Current petitions

UAW Research Coordinator and Research Consultant 

September 10, 2024: UAW filed a petition with the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) to add two additional professional staff job classifications to the Research Scientist and Engineers (RSE) bargaining unit. Specifically requesting to add:

  • All full-time and regular part-time employees of the University of Washington in the following job classifications of Research Coordinator; Research Consultant; excluding confidential employees, supervisors, managers as defined by RCW 41.56.021(1)(b), employees covered by chapter 41.80 RCW, employees covered by chapter 41.76 RCW, and all other employees.

March 27, 2025, UPDATE: Following the Union’s favorable results of an election by card check, PERC issued an interim certification. The existing bargaining unit represented by Researchers United/UAW Local 4121 shall be modified to include the Research Coordinator and Research Consultant for a bargaining unit described as follows: 

  • All full-time and regular part-time employees of the University of Washington in the following job classes: Research Scientist/Engineer – Assistant; Research Scientist/Engineer – I; Research Scientist/Engineer – 2; Research Scientist/Engineer – 3; Research Scientist/Engineer – 4; Research Coordinator; and Research Consultant; excluding confidential employees, supervisors, managers as defined by RCW 41.56.021(1)(b), employees covered by chapter 41.80 RCW, employees covered by chapter 41.76 RCW, and all other employees. 
Other Petitions 

Friday, June 28, the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) notified the University of petitions to form two new SEIU 925 bargaining units:

  • Professional staff employees who advise students and prospective students on financial aid funding for education, enrollment and admissions, academics and courses, career paths, and professional development.
  • Professional staff employees in UW Continuum College.
  • On September 11, 2024, the UW was informed that Continuum College employees voted to be represented by SEIU 925.
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