Before, it was likely PSE’s two higher education chapters would be forced to negotiate as one entity with the state Labor Relations Office (LRO) in Olympia.

“We don’t want to bargain in Olympia, we want to bargain locally with the administrators we know,” said Jeannie Gilbert, Scientific Instructional Technician at the WWU Biology Department.

“Our higher ed units are different and we have unique needs, demographics and priorities to negotiate,” she added. “When we negotiate locally, there’s more trust at the bargaining table because both sides have to live with the outcome. Plus, we already know each other and that makes things more workable.”

Lindsay Groce, Secretary Senior in the CWU Foreign Language Department, said she thinks multi-employer bargaining is more responsive to the wishes of the membership.

“The one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for all of us,” she said. “It’s important that we preserve the sense of community where our universities are located by negotiating close to home.”

Groce, who testified in favor of HB 1560 before the Senate Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee on Feb. 22, said she was excited to experience the legislative process up-close.

“I’m looking forward to being more involved in the future!”

University and other state employees gained collective bargaining rights in 2002 with the passage of the Personnel System Reform Act (PSRA). Under the law, unions representing more than one bargaining unit must negotiate a master collective bargaining agreement covering all represented employees.

Both WWU and CWU chapters enter into contract negotiations later this Spring.