Strike by university teaching assistants averted

Associated Press

SEATTLE — A strike by University of Washington graduate teaching assistants was averted early today, officials for the school and the graduate students’ union said.

Members of the Graduate Student Employee Action Coalition, affiliated with the United Auto Workers, got picketing assignments Sunday in preparation for a walkout the next morning.

Early today, however, an agreement was reached, UW Associate Vice President for university relations Norm Arkins said.

"In the wee hours of the morning an agreement was reached and the strike was averted. That’s good news," Arkins said today. "We’re very glad we were able to come to some resolution on this."

The two sides agreed to lobby the Legislature to authorize collective bargaining rights for the union, Arkins said. In the meantime school officials have agreed to recognize the union as the representative for teaching assistants "who’ve said they wanted GSEAC/UAW to be their representative," Arkins said.

The university still won’t collectively bargain with the union until legislation is passed but will talk with union leaders about issues they want to discuss.

"We are genuine about our desire to sit down and talk to them about issues of mutual concern," Arkins said.

Melissa Meade, a union spokeswoman, called the agreement a "win-win situation."

"We’re thrilled," Meade said. "The strike has been recessed. We now have the right to meet and confer."

Meade also said she was confident they would be able to get the legislation needed for official recognition passed.

UW President Richard McCormick wrote in an e-mail to all faculty and students last Friday that school officials were willing to work with the union but first must have "a legal framework" approved by the state Legislature.

Union leaders maintained that the administration did not need legislative action, adding that any such measure would be unlikely to win approval in Olympia because the Legislature is so closely divided — a 49-49 tie in the House and a 25-24 Democratic advantage in the Senate.

Earlier this year 80 percent of the school’s 1,650 teaching assistants and tutors signed union cards, which were then filed with the state Public Employment Relations Commission. About 1,000 members of the union voted to go on strike last week.

McCormick then offered the union formal recognition but no negotiations.

The union will make wage and benefit demands after school officials grant recognition, Meade said.

Students feared a strike could disrupt grading of final examinations for the fall quarter. Teaching assistants help professors evaluate coursework, and many teach classes independently.

According to the Coalition of Graduate Employee Unions, graduate student unions are officially recognized as collective bargaining agents in the State University of New York system, the University of California system, 14 other state universities and the City University of New York.

Copyright ©2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett

People lined Broadway with signs and flags, similar to other protests across the country

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.