Bainbridge Island Closure – Bargaining Update

WPEA and KRL met for 18 hours over a three day period to bargain the closure of the Bainbridge Island branch. The Employer took multiple positions that were illegal and will require formal filings. First, the Library stated that they did not believe that they had a bargaining obl

Bainbridge Branch Closure: What We Know and Your Rights

WPEA Logo Bainbridge Closure We were in “bargaining” for 7 hours today discussing the closure of the Bainbridge branch through November 29^th. Through that time, we only had management in the room for 25 minutes. We did not get any clarity on: What the schedules for the affected

Morale

Layoffs and bumping have deeply affected classified staff morale, leaving many employees anxious about job security and the college’s future. In these uncertain times, awareness of the Staff & Faculty […]

Vacancy List

During our recent Labor Management meeting, we discussed ongoing concerns about numerous unfilled classified staff positions that have remained vacant for extended periods. Many of these roles have yet to […]

Demand to Bargain Recap

AI Policy (DOR Administrative Policy 6.4.8) WPEA met with DOR and OFM representatives to discuss the agency’s new Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy and its potential impacts on employees. Thankfully, management was open to discussion and collaboration. You c an review all relat

Question from a Member: Fire Alarm Testing

Clark College has recently conducted several fire alarm tests during work hours. The loud noise and flashing strobe lights are difficult for many staff and students to handle, with some impacted more than others. Earplugs are offered, but the disruption still affects everyone on

Policy Revisions and Union Notification

Members raised concerns about how policy revisions are shared and when the union is notified. WPEA brought these concerns to the Department of Revenue during the Labor-Management Communications Committee. As a result, DOR committed to clarifying which policies affect represented

Federal Agents Arrest Firefighters at Bear Gulch

On Wednesday, US Customs and Border Protection agents arrested two private-sector firefighters deployed to the Bear Gulch fire. Agents stopped two contracted hand crews for three hours as they checked identification. The arrests were presumably on immigration charges, though fede

Respect Our Agreement

Respect Our Agreement: Stop Misusing the Law to Undermine Classified Staff At Highline College, classified staff and the administration came together in good faith to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). That agreement included two key components: 1. Cost-of-liv

Transformer Replacement Project

As of right now, the transformer replacement project should be ended Friday, June 27. If the project is pushed out further, we want to ensure members are given the tools and resources needed to continue working. If you experience any impacts to your work in the coming weeks due t