Labor Relations

Union organizing petitions

Last updated: July 8, 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

SEIU 925 Advisors

Friday, June 28, the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) notified the University of a petition to form a new SEIU 925 bargaining unit:

  • 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.

July 3, 2025, UPDATE: PERC will be issuing an interim certification in the coming days.  We expect the bargaining unit description to be as follows:

  • All full-time and regular part-time employees exempt from chapter 41.06 RCW of the University of Washington performing advising work (including the following responsibilities which may occur through advising appointments, asynchronous communication, or in group settings, among other modalities: Academic Planning and Course Selection, Student Recruitment and Admissions, Career Development Counseling, Funding and Financial Aid Counseling, International Student and Study Abroad Advising, Accommodation Advising, Student Identify Development and Support Counseling, Student Organization Counseling, as well as secondary responsibilities that may accompany any primary responsibilities), excluding advisors at the Foster Business School, Intercollegiate Athletics, the Continuum College, the Office of the Registrar, civil service employees covered by chapter 41.06 RCW and chapter 41.80 RCW performing advising work, faculty covered by chapter 41.76 RCW performing advising work, supervisors, confidential employees, employees performing advising work who are exempt under RCW 41.56.021(1), and all other employees.
SEIU 1199 FHCC Pharmacists

On May 22, 2025, the University received notice from PERC that the Pharmacists employed by UWMC and working at a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (FHCC) location have petitioned to join SEIU 1199NW. The parties have agreed on a bargaining unit description and are in the process of resolving the matter though the card check process. As soon as the process is complete and PERC issues a Certification of the bargaining unit, the parties will meet to bargain this group into a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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