CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION urging the University of Washington to swiftly arrive at a fair and equitable contract with its academic student employees.
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WHEREAS, the University of Washington (UW) is a premiere, dynamic, world-class public institution and the second-largest employer in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, UAW Local 4121 represents the 4,500 academic student employees (ASEs) on the University of Washington's (UW) campuses in Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell, including research assistants, teaching assistants, graders, and tutors; and
WHEREAS, members of UAW Local 4121 report that, after four months of negotiations, UW has not agreed to a contract that meets their needs; and
WHEREAS, ASEs perform essential instructional and research work at UW, advancing scientific and humanistic knowledge, contributing to the intellectual and cultural life of Seattle and the region, and attracting investment from the federal government and industries, all contributing to the economic growth, ecological sustainability, social justice, and community development of Seattle and the region; and
WHEREAS, according to the UW 2017-2018 base rate salary schedule, ASEs are paid as little as $20,655 for a nine-month appointment, out of which they must pay back $951 in fees to the UW as a condition of employment; and
WHEREAS, ASEs at UW report that this low pay and mandatory fees, along with the rising cost of living in the Puget Sound area, have made it increasingly difficult for them to survive economically at UW; and
WHEREAS, according to a membership survey conducted by UAW Local 4121 last fall, the average ASE pays 44 percent of their income for housing, 82 percent are rent-burdened, and the majority of UW's ASEs make ends meet by cutting costs on food, clothing, child care, and other basic necessities; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle City Council recognizes the urgent need for housing affordable to workers including the ASEs at UW; and
WHEREAS, the UW co...
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