Western, Unions approve 2015-17 collective bargaining agreements

Western Today staff

October 2, 2014

Western Washington University, Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and Public School Employees of Western Washington University (PSE) have agreed to tentative collective bargaining agreements for 2015 to 2017.

The agreements between Western and each of the two employee unions will need to be approved by the Legislature as part of their final 2015-17 biennial budget in order to go into effect.

“In these challenging economic times, reaching tentative agreement with our classified unions on our 2015-2017 collective bargaining agreements was due, in large part, to the positive and productive working relationship Western’s leadership has with our employees who also serve as leaders of our local unions. This allowed a level of open discussion between the parties that was necessary to reach agreement while maintaining our strong working relationships,” said Richard Van Den Hul, Western vice president for Business and Financial Affairs.

The compensation agreement for Western and WFSE includes:

  • 3% across-the-board wage increase effective July 1, 2015 if fully funded by the state.
  • 1.8% across-the-board wage increase effective July 1, 2016 if fully funded by the state.
  • 2.5% increase in salary range assignments for specific job classifications represented by WFSE if fully funded by the state (this represents 4 classifications encompassing approximately 8 employees)
  • Compensation reopener if the above are not funded by the state at the above levels. Reopener to occur during the spring/summer, 2015 following adoption of the 2015-2017 State Budget.
  • Bring to within 25% of State Salary Survey if funded by the state to this level.
  • Increase shift differential hourly payment from 65 cents/hour to $1.00/hour. (PSE is already at this level.)
  • $250 one-time lump sum payment for WFSE represented employees (full- and part-time) who are employed both on Oct. 1, 2014 and on July 1, 2015.
  • “Me-Too” with General Government and PSE of WWU for wage adjustments, salary range/step adjustments and one-time payments.
  • Pilot paid Community Service Leave Day becomes permanent.

The compensation agreement for Western and PSE includes:

  • 3% across-the-board wage increase effective July 1, 2015 if fully funded by the state.
  • 1.8% across-the-board wage increase effective July 1, 2016 if fully funded by the state.
  • Bring to within 25% of State Salary Survey if funded by the state to this level.
  • 2.5% increase in salary range assignments for specific job classifications represented by PSE if fully funded by the state (this represents 12 classifications encompassing approximately 40 employees)
  • Compensation reopener if the above are not funded by the state at the above levels. Reopener to occur during the spring/summer, 2015 following adoption of the 2015-2017 State Budget.
  • “Me-Too” with General Government and WFSE of WWU for wage adjustments, salary range/step adjustments and one-time payments (excluding WFSE’s 2015 signing payment).
  • Pilot paid Community Service Leave Day becomes permanent.

The contracts have been submitted to the state Office of Financial Management and OFM will determine the economic feasibility of the agreements. If OFM determines the contracts are economically feasible then the governor will include the contracts in his proposed budget to the Legislature. The Legislature then will either approve or disapprove the contracts as part of their 2015-2017 operating budget.