FAQ

General Questions

Can Exempt staff join a union?

Yes! Professional staff, sometimes called “exempt employees” have the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining under the Public Employees’ Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA), codified in Chapter 41.56. 021 RCW.

Who are Exempt staff? Who are Professional Staff?

In Washington State—especially in public universities, colleges, and state agencies—exempt staff (also called professional staff) are employees whose positions are exempt from civil service rules or classified service, under state law RCW 41.06. They often include academic advisors, financial aid officers, IT professionals, student services coordinators, development and advancement staff, mid-level managers and administrators, analysts, project managers, HR professionals, communications and marketing staff, and more! If you are curious or confused about whether your position would be considered an “exempt position” reach out to our organizing committee and we’ll help you figure it out!

Not all staff who are in “professional staff” unions are “exempt,” especially given recent changes in state law. But most of them are.

What is a Union?

A union is an organized group of employees who advocate and protect each other. We are the union! We make decisions democratically and collectively.

What is collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining is the negotiation of working conditions (that is, hours and location of work, compensation, benefits) between the employer and an organized group of employees. Without collective bargaining, our employer has unilateral control over our working conditions, but together we can correct this power imbalance and have a say in working conditions and compensation. Under collective bargaining, we will elect a bargaining committee that will negotiate a contract with the Highline administration. These negotiations will result in a proposed contract called a tentative agreement. The tentative agreement will go to a vote by our membership and if approved will be a legally binding contract.

Why do we need a union? What will a union do for me? What will our union fight for?

A union gives us the power to stand together and make real changes. It means we don’t have to navigate problems alone. Highline professional staff have long identified ways to improve our working conditions, retention and our ability to support students, however we have not had the power to negotiate as equals. A union gives us a legal voice and protects us when we speak up.
As a union, we will set our own bargaining priorities and we will elect representatives to negotiate with the administration for things like salary increases, cost of living increases, equal pay for equal work, experience and performance based steps, better anti-discrimination and harassment policies and procedures, and improved leave policies.
At other colleges in Washington, Professional Staff unions have won an end to annual contracts, salary scales with regular pay increases, and processes for reclassification when job descriptions change.

Will we have to go on strike?

Striking is a last resort! We don’t want to go on strike, it’s not the goal, but it is a tool we can use. If we ever went on strike, we would need a supermajority of all our members to vote for it. Striking is also a protected activity, and public employers have to get a court injunction to stop a strike, which is rare.

Could I get fired for organizing?

It’s illegal to be fired or disciplined for organizing a union. We have rights under federal and state law that protect us when we talk to coworkers, sign cards, or take collective action. AFT Washington will defend workers’ rights to organize.

What are the consequences if this fails?

If we don’t win union recognition or a strong first contract we stay where we are — without a real say in our pay, conditions, or job protections. Nothing will improve unless management decides to change it, and they’re not accountable to us. But when we organize, we build power together. We learn who’s with us, we push the conversation forward, and we show management we’re paying attention. Most importantly, we can always keep trying. The only real way to lose is to stop fighting.

Can people who are paid through grants be included in the union?

Yes. Being paid through a grant doesn’t disqualify you from joining a union. What matters is the work you do, not where the funding comes from. Lots of union members in higher education, healthcare, and research are grant-funded. You have the same rights to unionize and negotiate as anyone else.

How can the union help with HR issues?

A union gives us support when dealing with HR. Instead of going in alone we can have a representative who’s skilled and knowledgeable about our rights and our contract. With a union we will have a formal grievance procedure that can hold management accountable – leading to faster, fairer outcomes. It’s not just about fixing problems – it’s about preventing them in the first place.

How much will dues be?

We decide together based on AFT Washington and AFT’s “per capita” rates per member. Dues aren’t some outside fee, they are how we pool our resources to bargain strong contracts, defend our rights, and run our union. We’ll set dues democratically based on what we need to win and sustain the things we care about. And no one pays a cent until we ratify a contract we believe in. (Average for AFT Washington ranges between 1.4% and 1.6%.)

What are dues used for and how are dues monies allocated?

How dues are spent is in part up to us. We will elect officers, approve budgets and help make decisions about priorities. We can be involved in governance at the state and even national level.
Dues are an investment in higher wages; across the country and state, unionized workers make more than their nonunion counterparts.
Dues fund things that make our union strong, like contract negotiations, legal support, representation, training, and organizing. And some of our dues go toward creating new unions like ours!

I get paid more, have better benefits and flexibility than classified (unionized) staff on our campus. Will I lose that?

Your current pay, benefits, and working conditions are the “floor”, or the starting point, of bargaining. Exempt staff across the SBCTC system, including the seven pro staff locals represented by AFTWA, have better benefits, pay, and flexibility because their positions generally require a higher level of independent thinking, supervisory authority, and education; they’re a different job classification. There are also state laws governing “exempt” staff that are among the best in the country, and that we would enforce. When we bargain, we start with the status quo and go from there. If the boss tried to take anything away from you after unionizing, it could be considered retaliation, which is illegal.

Have exempt pro staff at formed unions at other colleges?

Yes! Clover Park, Everett, Greys Harbor, the Seattle Colleges (North, Central, and South), Walla Walla, Whatcom, and Yakima all have pro staff unions represented by the American Federation of Teachers Washington chapter (AFT-WA), the same union that we will be part of! By forming our union and affiliating with AFT Washington, we are joining thousands of other organized professional staff, classified staff and faculty. We are building a solidarity network all across the state, and together we have more power to protect workers and push our elected representatives to fully fund higher education.

Process of Forming a Union

How do we form a union?

We talk to each other, build support and eventually sign authorization cards to show we are ready. Once a strong majority is on board, we file for official recognition with the state labor board. After we’re recognized, we negotiate our first contract together.