Washington State University has offered a wage increase amounting to nearly $16 million for its academic student employees.
The increase is a part of a university package proposal in negotiation with the WSU Coalition of Academic Student Employees. The union, composed of about 1,500 academic student workers, announced it would strike beginning Jan. 17 if a fair agreement wasn’t made.
WSU President Kirk Schulz stated in a letter the university is confident the parties can reach an equitable agreement recognizing the value of academic student employees as well as the reality of the institution’s resources.
The offer includes a minimum pay raise of 20% that would cost the university $15.7 million through fiscal year 2026, as well as different pay for student workers across the WSU system.
Under the proposal, the minimum monthly salary for the union’s members in an assistantship would be about $2,300, with some amounts differing at its campus locations. Additional wage increases are available of up to 10% based on experience and education, as well as another 4% raise for student workers during their second year.
Other benefits offered are extended WSU-paid pregnancy and parental leave from four weeks to five weeks, new vacation time off and paid sick leave between 36-48 hours during a nine-month appointment.
The university also agreed to create a child and dependent care program that would allow academic student employees to apply for financial assistance up to about $2,000 during fall and spring semesters and around $1,500 for summer terms.
The union became certified in May 2022 and elected a bargaining committee in November of that year. Negotiations with WSU administration began February 2023. This would be the first contract between both parties if accepted.
