Here are answers to some of the questions that people may have about HB 2403/SB 6440, the collective bargaining bill that is under consideration by the legislature. The text of the bill is available at:

http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/billinfo/dspBillSummary.cfm?billnumber=2403

WHAT WILL IT DO?

The bill extends to faculty a basic right enjoyed by 90% of employed Americans, the right to engage in collective bargaining if a majority votes to do so. It does not mandate or promote unionization. It does make that a legal option. The bill establishes procedures for certifying a collective bargaining agent (an election) and rules and parameters for the conduct of bargaining.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER ENABLING LAWS?

HB 2403/SB 6440 is tailored closely to the needs of higher educational institutions. Modeled after the California Higher Education Act, it recognizes the existing framework of shared governance, academic freedom, and the rights of faculty as delineated in the Faculty Code, strengthening these critical features of the university by setting them into statute. It also conforms to conditions established by the UW Faculty Senate and President McCormick, namely a single bargaining unit for all voting faculty, no mandatory interest bargaining, and no strikes or lockouts. Finally it delineates what may be bargained (employment issues) and what may not be bargained (academic issues including curriculum, admissions, tuition, or any of the university's programs or services).

HOW WAS IT DRAFTED?

Through multi-party negotiations over the course of several months. The principle drafters were Richard Ludwig (Faculty Senate Legislative rep.), Vice Provost Steve Olswang, and Wendy Rader-Kanofalski (Legislative rep for the Washington Federation of Teachers). Marv Schurke, Director of the Public Employee Relations Commission that administers the law, also contributed to the process, as did the Council of Faculty Representatives (representing the faculty senates of the six higher Ed institutions). Both the UW chapter of AAUP and the AAUP national office assisted in various ways. The result is an unprecedented agreement on a formula that meets the requirements of all six universities while finally providing Washington faculty members with the kind of work place rights that are standard in public universities in other states.

WHO SUPPORTS IT?

The UW Faculty Senate has tried repeatedly over the course of three decades to secure enabling legislation and support among the faculty has always been very strong. Faculty have different reasons for supporting enabling legislation. Some because they think collective bargaining is needed now. Some because they want an insurance policy in case the system of shared governance fails. Some purely as a matter of principle, because they believe faculty deserve the same rights that nearly every employed American enjoys.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT?

Central Washington and Eastern Washington Universities will see an immediate impact. The United Faculty of Eastern (WFT/WEA) has been bargaining successfully with the administration on that campus since 1994 even without covering legislation. The United Faculty of Central has also won an election but Central's president has refused to bargain until the law is changed. Those campuses will now have full and complete bargaining. At UW there will be no immediate changes. Only if the faculty at some point decide that collective bargaining will be helpful will the law fully come into play.

DOES THE FACULTY REALLY NEED THIS?

Faculty at most public universities (outside the South) have collective bargaining rights. Some have unionized, many have not. But like an insurance policy, the right to unionize is valuable even if you don't plan to use it. There have been a number of occasions where an emergency certification campaign was enough to stop the implementation of policies that faculty found very threatening. A plan to abolish tenure at the University of Minnesota in 1997 was stopped that way and only because that state already had a collective bargaining law. In addition HB 2403/SB 6440 actually strengthens the system of shared governance and the role of the Faculty Senate and Faculty Code by putting them into statute.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES IT WILL PASS?

The chances have never been better. This is the first time that the administration and faculty have joined in writing a bill and the first time that all of the higher education campuses have cooperated. In addition the bill has the support of the Washington State Labor Council. Although this is going to be a short session of the legislature and dominated by the nightmare budget shortfall, there have been encouraging signs. Thirty-seven members of the House signed HB 2403 and nine members of the Senate signed the companion bill SB 6440.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Contact your legislators. Call, write, or email the Senator and two Representatives from your district and tell that this bill is about rights and choice and that you support it. A short letter is best. REMEMBER: DO NOT USE UNIVERSITY EMAIL, STATIONARY OR OTHER RESOURCES

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The addresses for the State House and State Senate are:

The Honorable [First name, Last name]

Washington State House of Representatives

P.O. Box 40600

Olympia, WA 98504-0600

The Honorable [First name, Last name]

Washington State Senate

P.O. Box 40482

Olympia, WA 98504-0482

If you do not know your representatives, go to http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/ and type in your address. Phone numbers and E-mail addresses are also available at that site but not all legislators pay equal attention to e-mail messages.

When you write your letter, indicate immediately if you reside in the district of the legislator to whom you are writing - legislators pay particular attention to letters from their own constituents.

List the bill (HB 2403/SB 6440 Collective Bargaining Rights) at the top of the page, so that it is easily identifiable. Concisely state your message, and thank the legislator for

taking the time to listen. Include your home address with Zip Code, and your telephone number. If you wish to have a response, please be specific about that request. Not all legislators have time to respond to all correspondence.

American Association of University Professors- University of Washington

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http://staff.washington.edu/uwaaup/

James Gregory, chapter president 543-7792

Kathleen O'Neill, chapter vice-president

Jane Koenig, Secretary/Treasurer