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UW Extension Lecturers Vote to Unionize

Washington News Service | March 28, 2011

Seattle, WA - While labor unions – and union-busting efforts – are making headlines elsewhere in the nation, a new union local is being formed on the University of Washington campus without a controversy. The lecturers who work in the Educational Outreach English Language Program say the nature of their work has put them in a kind of limbo. They want to clarify how they are classified on the job, and to have a voice on campus. Comments from Richard Moore, one of the lecturers. [more]

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UW Extension Lecturers Approve Union

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                        March 25, 2011

Contact: Sandra Schroeder, President, 206-715-1824; Sylvia Watson, 206-261-3603

UW Extension Lecturers Approve Union
First lecturers at UW to unionize

SEATTLE – Extension Lecturers at the University of Washington (UW) have overwhelmingly agreed -- by 83 percent -- to unionize. The Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission certified this week that 56 out of 67 approved unionization – the state’s first bargaining unit of its kind. [more]

 

 

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Statement from Faculty Regarding Lay-offs at Bates Technical College

NEWS RELEASE

 

April 22, 2010

Contact: Sylvia Watson, AFT Washington, 206-261-3603; 206-432-8084

On April 9, with little notice, the Board of Trustees at Bates Technical College called a special meeting when college employees were on spring break. The purpose: to take advantage of a technicality in a little-known law that allowed them to declare a "financial emergency" and thereby contravene portions of their contract with the faculty at the college. The vote was 3-1 in favor of the declaration. The board acted at the behest of the interim college president, Lyle Quasim, who had served on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges when that board took steps to allow the colleges in the system to take this dramatic step.

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Higher Education Biggest Loser in House Budget Plan

March 31, 2009

News Release

Contact:
Sandra Schroeder, 206-715-1824 or sschroeder@aftwa.org
Sylvia Watson, 206-261-3603 or swatson@aftwa.org

Shortchanges Students, the Unemployed, and State's Economic Future

"The House's proposed budget today dealt a devastating blow to higher education in our state, and thousands of students will not be able to access higher education,” said Sandra Schroeder, union President of the American Federation of Teachers in Washington State.

Rep. Kathy Haigh, one of the budget writers, said at today's press conference, "This budget gives the biggest hit to the higher education system." [more]

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The Olympian, Higher education: Part-time pay, full-time positions at issue

[1/19/07] College faculty unions are making the case this year that offering higher pay to part-time instructors and adding full-time positions could improve graduation rates and student learning. (more)