WPEA stewards met on April 28 and again with management at the LMCC on May 6 to raise member concerns and push for clarity on key issues.

A key discussion focused on sick leave use. Some supervisors have been requiring approval before employees use short-term sick leave, such as for a doctor’s appointment. The contract does not require this. Approval applies to vacation or longer-term leave, not routine sick time. Stewards raised this as a contract issue and called for better supervisor training to prevent misapplication.

Backpay was also discussed. Bellevue College is coordinating with a statewide group, with a tentative target of August 25, 2026 for a lump sum payment. HR will contact separated employees to confirm eligibility. Some details, including step increase timing, are still being finalized.

Additional topics included improving union communication access, ensuring visibility of union boards, and addressing onboarding gaps for temporary and part-time staff.

These meetings are where member concerns move forward and get addressed collectively.

A brief summary of both meetings is available below. Download Meeting Notes