Members:

WPEA is still actively bargaining for the 2025-2027 collective bargaining agreement (CBA). We are currently discussing compensation and salary adjustments for the two year CBA. The State’s initial offer to the Union was a 1% salary increase in July of 2025 and no increase in 2026. With the reality around inflation, subpar COLAs over the past 20 years and the increased cost of living, this is wholly insufficient and is an insult to the work that classified staff do. In an attempt to get the message across to the College administration that this is not appropriate, we have asked members to write letters in support of increasing the compensation offer at the bargaining table.

Thank you to all of the members who have already written letters. After receiving a number of letters from represented staff, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) sent out an email to HR staff at the Colleges. A portion of that email states the following:

WPEA is engaged in a letter writing campaign.

I wanted to give you a heads-up and urge caution in responding to these letters or other campaign activities. In the past, a sympathetic response to these kinds of communications (in writing or in person) have resulted in the filing of unfair labor practices, hearings and, in some cases, findings. If you get questions from staff about coalition bargaining and/or the compensation proposals, below are some statements/information that may be useful in navigating conversations. Please note these are not intended to be used as written responses and you are not required to respond to letters you have received. I would caution you not to respond to letters from classified union leaders or staff and/or letters you receive from other colleges.

• As provided in state law, we have chosen to bargain as a coalition. Bargaining is done at one table for consistency across the colleges and with general government for employees represented by the WPEA and the WFSE. As such, bargaining is going on now and I cannot comment on what is happening at the table. Our college is represented by the Office of Financial Management for bargaining.
• I encourage you to contact your union if you have any questions or concerns.
• If you get questions about how the faculty, exempt staff or non-represented employees will be treated: State law provides for faculty bargaining to be done separately (exempt staff if represented) and their contract negotiations are not necessarily influenced by what happens at other bargaining tables.
• We value the work and dedication you provide to the college.

On one hand, this is good news because it means we are making waves and people are asking questions. On the other hand, this narrative that local College administration should ignore classified staff is extremely problematic – ignoring classified staff salaries is a large part of what has led to classified staff not keeping up with prevailing wage. WPEA also does not agree that a “sympathetic response” to our concerns has, or would, lead to an unfair labor practice. Based on this, we are asking that you add the following paragraph to your letters going forward:

I am aware that the State Board of Technical and Community Colleges (SBCTC) sent out an email encouraging you to ignore this communication. Ignoring classified staff is the same advice that SBCTC and OFM have been giving to the College’s for decades – classified staff believe that it is time to stop ignoring us as an employee group and start putting action behind the narrative that you “value the work and dedication we provide to the college.” Classified staff are tired of being ignored and continuing to do so will result in increased attempts to get a response from our leadership. WPEA cannot, and will not, file an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) if you respond to my communication. OFM is your exclusive bargaining representative – they work for you; you don’t work for them. Therefore, you are complicit in their actions at the bargaining table.

Please continue to talk to your coworkers about writing letters. We are getting their attention, we just need to keep the pressure up until we see a change at the bargaining table.