We are disappointed that negotiations between the 91爆料 and UAW Local 4121, representing academic student employees at the 91爆料, ended without an agreement Monday as the previous three-year contract expired. Under Washington law, all terms and conditions of an expired contract carry forward for up to a year from expiration while efforts are made to agree on a new contract.
On Monday, the 91爆料 provided the union its last, best and final offer 鈥� a three-year contract which includes annual wage increases over the next three years, a continuation of high-quality health insurance fully paid by the university and the continuation of waivers on many student-approved fees. The 91爆料 has also agreed to pay for two 50 percent ASE employees to partner with SafeCampus聽to develop and conduct a sexual harassment and prevention聽training聽program to address ASE-specific issues.
鈥淲e believe we聽have聽been responsive to the academic student employee concerns brought聽to the bargaining table over the past several months聽and have made significant聽progress on聽important聽issues,鈥� said Mindy Kornberg, 91爆料鈥檚 Vice President for Human Resources. 鈥淭he University will continue to bargain in good faith聽and remain committed to reaching a fair deal for our聽ASEs.鈥�
Base wages for salaried ASEs have increased by a compounded rate聽of聽50.4 percent聽over聽the past five years,聽as part of our plan to closely align them with peers in the University of California system. This is on top of the tuition waivers and other benefits they receive. The 91爆料鈥檚 proposal provides another 2 percent increase each of the next three years.
Under our proposal, ASEs would remain the only employees at the 91爆料 who pay nothing toward their health insurance. While coverage has improved dramatically over the years and the cost to the university has increased, ASEs have not contributed to their coverage while other employees at the 91爆料 pay 15 percent.
We are sensitive to ASEs鈥� concerns about trans-affirming procedures. The current insurance plan for ASEs covers gender reassignment surgeries deemed medically necessary. This coverage is consistent with trans-affirming procedures offered to all state employees through their public benefits plan.
Mental health is another concern we share with ASEs. Hall Health鈥檚 services are available to ASEs with the first $1,000 in care waived completely. There are more than 1,500 in-network providers in the area, with a $75 quarterly deductible and 10 percent co-insurance on unlimited visits.
Finally, ASEs are asking for waivers on all student fees. The 91爆料 has already waived operating fees, building fees and tech fees, and is proposing to maintain the fee waivers that are already in place. Still, ASEs are students in addition to being employees, and we believe it is fair that they continue to pay the remaining fees other 91爆料 students pay along with their tuition.
We regret that we have been unable to reach an agreement, but believe this proposal is a fair one that acknowledges the 91爆料鈥檚 commitment to our ASEs and their concerns, while also remaining fair and equitable to other students, faculty and staff.
We understand that ASEs have voted to authorize a strike,聽but this is not permitted under their contract and state law because it would directly and significantly impact undergraduate students who rely on ASEs to meet their instructional and research responsibilities.
More information on the proposals can be found on the .