Your Pro-Staff Union Updates! PERC Progress and What the Heck is Happening on Campus

Hi everyone,

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for our union. Here’s the latest:

• You may have seen flyers around campus announcing a card count date, which included a list of about 70 names of eligible unit members. That list was inaccurate and has since been rescinded, and the card count delayed.
• Representatives from AFT Washington and Highline have been meeting to discuss the makeup of our union. Right now, the college is contesting a number of assistant directors it claims supervise other bargaining unit members. We are actively working to include as many exempt staff as possible in our union. If you are unclear about your status, please contact AFT Washington representative Kaitlin Gillespie with clarifying questions (206-604-8877 or kgillespie@aftwa.org).
• We have demanded voluntary recognition of our union. That’s what prompted Interim President Jamilyn Penn’s message last week. She has not answered explicit questions regarding voluntary recognition, leaving us in a frustrating limbo of non-answers.
• We are working with the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) to reschedule a card count.

Though the bureaucratic process has been slow and frustrating, none of this should stop us from continuing to mobilize and organize toward first contract negotiations. Several of you have spoken out this month in support of our union. Thank you for your leadership and bravery!

While we work through this with PERC, we need more members willing to join our Bargaining and Mobilization Committees. We meet every other Tuesday from 1:00pm-2:00pm on Zoom, including tomorrow.

Hi-Pro Bargaining Committee Meeting

👉Tuesday, April 28th, 2026

🗓️ 1:00pm-2:00pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85775734034?pwd=iw1QzQtPxSYuJiDURWppVBRkyFZJRe.1

Meeting ID: 857 7573 4034

Passcode: 449003

Can’t make it to the next meeting? The next one is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12th. Mark your calendars!

Want to get involved?

Join the Hi-Pro Discord Server: https://discord.gg/ApN9Smmdtj 

Visit our website: Hi-Pro: Highline Professional Staff 

 It’s important that our bargaining committee is  a large, diverse, and representative group of Exempt Staff employees all across Highline. Please reply to this email with any questions you have, even if you are not ready to join the committee, your help and your voice are needed and wanted.  AFT offered bargaining training in January, if you would like to look at the slide information click on this link. In solidarity,
– Kirsten, on behalf of your Highline Professionals Union Organizing Committee