A Quick Look at University of Washington's Union Contract...

After getting through the one more layer of needless bureaucracy...there are many important things negotiated within this contract...It is encouraged that every student at WSU take a look at the UW contract and compare that to what they are getting here through GPSA.

What We Get at Washington State University Without a Contract...

1. At least one graduate student representative on the committee to re-design and negotiate health insurance coverage.
2. At least one graduate student representative on the WSU Children's Task Force Committee (and in reality far more than 1 were invited to participate).
3. Our salaries are already set to increase at 4% annually.
4. Our assistantships are already set at 20 hours per week (or 50%/half-time) - no more and no less - the actual hours of work are negotiable with individual departments.
5. All students on campus already get childcare through the WSU Children's Center subsidised and can apply for more financial aid if they have significant childcare costs.
6. Most assistantships already come with a full tuition waiver, if the assistantship doesn't come with one it is made known to the graduate student - this further testifies to the fact that we are students first and these employment experiences are academically and professionally enhancing.
7. There is an Ombudsman on campus to handle complaints, as well as at minimum 2 other avenues for filing complaints - The Center for Human Rights and The Office Equity and Diversity
8. Graduate Students on appointment already have one of the best health care plans in the nation and it is greatly subsidized by the university.
9. Many departments already provide letters of hire for new GA/RA/TA positions.
10. We already have the right to purchase parking permits the same as staff or faculty, there are already significant university policies in place for faculty and staff in regards to personnel files, intellectual property, plagiarism, non-discrimination and harassment amongst many other things - you can find all you never wanted to know in the university's Business Policies and Procedures Manual.
11. The commitment of the university to increasing graduate student pay is also quite evident by the recent remarks of President Floyd.
12. The WSU administration in their efforts to move the institution to AAU status is investigating the need for a Family Leave Policy for Graduate and Professional students. This policy would provide for time off for things like the birth or adoption of a child or medical issues. Here is a document that explains more: GPSA Grad Stu Leave.doc 

So What Exactly Would We Be Paying Dues or Agency Fees For?