University of Washington workers rally

SEATTLE--Hundreds of workers rallied August 21 at the University of Washington (UW) and Harborview Medical Center to demand a decent wage increase. The rally was a step forward in the unity of all the unions on the UW campus.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 925, which represents office and technical workers, joined the rally called by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) Local 1488, which includes janitors, groundskeepers, food service workers and building trades workers. The unions are seeking a two-year contract beginning July 2009.

Negotiators from both unions were joined on the stage by representatives of the United Auto Workers, which represents teaching and research assistants at UW, and representatives from the Building Trades Council, the King County Labor Council and United Office and Professional Workers. Jobs with Justice and the Student Labor Action Project also mobilized.

In the face of inflation running at almost 6 percent, UW has so far offered wage increases of just 1.25 percent and 1 percent over two years. Workers are angry and see the offer as a gross insult. The tone of the rally was optimistic, and enthusiastic chants of "¡Sí se puede!" rang through the crowd. "We want enough to keep food on the table and gas in the car!" said one negotiator at the rally. "Is this asking too much?"

Several speakers reminded the crowd that the negotiators could only win a decent contract if the membership supported them with more rallies and pressure on UW.

The unions realize that it will take much more to force a decent offer out of management. SEIU is organizing an e-mail campaign and planning pickets and rallies, while WFSE has circulated a petition in support of the workers. Both unions have talked about a joint petition campaign, and representatives from both unions have committed to solidarity actions, including more joint rallies.

There is also talk of a strike if UW management doesn't move off of its pathetic offer.