‘You called us heroes, prove it’: University of Washington workers demand better pay, safety improvements

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The picket coordinator said wages for IT and student affairs workers were not keeping up with inflation.

TACOMA, Wash. – Workers gathered at Commerce Plaza, located on the University of Washington’s Tacoma campus, for an information picket.

The picket was part of a broader call to action by workers at the University of Washington’s three campuses in Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell, as well as Harborview Medical Center and Northwest Hospital in Seattle.

Jesse Cooley, who coordinated today’s event in Tacoma, said current salaries for workers in departments such as IT and student affairs are not keeping up with inflation and the rising cost of life.

“We kept the University of Washington afloat during COVID. We deserve fair compensation for these efforts,” Cooley said. “We have people who live in Federal Way who have to go to Seattle because…that’s where they can afford to live.”

But it’s not just about pay. Cooley says campus security also needs to be addressed because his office has no way to effectively evacuate the building if needed.

“If an earthquake, a fire or… an active shooter incident happened today, people in my office wouldn’t know where to go to gather because our assembly point is in the middle of an area of active construction, and has been for a year,” he explained.

Cooley is now warning that the University must do something quickly because, although the current contract expires next June, the hope is that the next one will be ready by October.

“They’re dragging their feet,” Cooley said. “We deserve to be paid. We deserve safe jobsites, and we’re presenting this information picket to make sure our voices are heard.

A University of Washington spokesperson sent KING 5 a statement that read, “We appreciate the hard work of our workforce and will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach a fair agreement.

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