Labor Relations

SEIU 925 Libraries – UW Negotiations Recap for February 4, 2026

This recap details the tenth session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the University of Washington and SEIU 925 – Libraries.

Union Counter Proposals

The Union presented a package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. Package highlights are outlined below.

  • Article 1 – Preamble and Purpose – As part of this package proposal, the Union would accept the Employer’s initial proposal for this Article as presented during the January 6 bargaining session.
  • Article 5 – Grievance – As part of this package proposal, the Union proposed to retain the current contract language in this Article.
  • Article 6 – Employee Rights – As part of this package proposal, the Union would accept the Employer’s initial proposal for this Article as presented during the December 16 bargaining session.
  • Article 9 – Probation for Professional Libraries and Press Employees – As part of this package proposal, the Union would accept the Employer’s counter proposal for this Article as presented during the January 23 bargaining session.
  • Article 14 – Appointments – As part of this package proposal, the Union would accept the Employer’s counter proposal for this Article as presented during the January 23 bargaining session.
  • Article 47 – Resignation Abandonment and Re-Employment – The Union proposed reducing the period from thirty (30) consecutive days to ten (10) consecutive days, after which an employee who fails to report to work or notify the employer of their absence would be deemed to have resigned.
  • Article 50 – Union Activities – As part of this package proposal, the Union would accept the Employer’s counter proposal for this Article as presented during the January 23 bargaining session.

The Union presented a package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. Package highlights are outlined below.

  • Article 49 – Contracting – As part of this package proposal, the Union proposed to retain the current contract language in this Article.
  • NEW Side Letter – Artificial Intelligence –The Union proposed a new article that would require the Employer and the Union to reopen the contract to bargain over technology use, including AI, in the event of a change in RCW 41.56.401.

Employer Counter Proposals

The Employer presented a package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. Package highlights are outlined below.

  • Article 2 – Non-Discrimination –The Employer accepted most of the Union’s previous counterproposal and proposed to relocate Union proposed language referencing “military status” to another section of the article.
  • Article 3 – Workplace Behavior – As part of this package proposal, the Employer reasserted their prior counter proposal for this Article as presented during the January 23 bargaining session.
  • Article 4 – Affirmative Action – As part of this package proposal, the Employer reasserted their initial proposal for this Article as presented during the December 16 bargaining session.
  • Article 7 – Employee Facilities – As part of this package proposal, the Employer reasserted their prior counter proposal for this Article as presented during the January 6 bargaining session.
  • Article 12 – Professional Development – As part of this package proposal, the Employer reasserted prior counter proposal for this Article as presented during the January 23 bargaining session.
  • Article 13 – Hiring – As part of this package proposal, the Employer reasserted their previous counterproposal for this Article as presented during the December 16 bargaining session.
  • Article 20 – Telework –The Employer accepted the Union’s proposed language recognizing telework as a workplace option. The Employer reasserted that regular telework must be governed by an agreement specifying the terms of the arrangement. In response to the Union’s proposal to allow employees to propose new or revised teleworking agreements when they believe new processes would allow for remote work, the Employer counter proposed new language that would allow for telework agreements to be reviewed and updated as needs change.
  • Article 35 – Reasonable Accommodation of Employees with Disabilities – The Employer reasserted their previous counterproposal for this Article as presented during the January 23 bargaining session.
  • Article 39 – Health and Safety – As part of this package proposal, the Union would accept the Employer’s prior counter proposal for this Article as presented during the January 23 bargaining session.
  • Article 41 – Transportation, Travel and Commute Reduction – The Employer reasserted their previous counterproposal for this Article as presented during the January 6 bargaining session.
  • Article 54 – Tuition Exemption Program – The Employer proposed to retain the current contract language in this Article.
  • Article 61 – Intellectual Freedom – The Employer proposed to retain the current contract language in this Article.

The Employer presented a package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. Package highlights are outlined below.

  • Article 15 – Promotion and Transfer of Professional Libraries and Press Employees – In response to the Union, the Employer proposed a modification to the Union’s proposed language to clarify that a classification is also referred to as a job profile.
  • Article 16 – Classification and Reclassification Professional Libraries and Press Employees –The Employer rejected the Union’s proposed language that included definitions for allocation, relocation and employee’s representative. The Employer accepted the Union’s proposed language throughout the article to include that an employee may also request to have their position be reviewed. Additionally, the Employer accepted Union proposed inclusion of a website link containing more information about the position review process for represented civil service exempt staff.

The Employer presented a package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. Package highlights are outlined below.

  • Article 23 – Holidays – As part of this package proposal, the Employer proposed to maintain current contract language in this Article.
  • Article 24 – Vacation Time Off – The Employer reasserted their previous counter proposal for this Article as presented during the November 13, 2025 bargaining session.
  • Article 25 – Sick Time Off – The Employer reasserted their previous counterproposal for this Article as presented during the November 13, 2025 bargaining session.
  • Article 27 – Federal Family Medical Leave Act – As part of this package proposal, the Union would agree to the Employer’s initial proposal for this Article as presented during the November 13 bargaining session.
  • Article 28 – Parental Leave –The Employer accepted the Union’s proposed strike-through of language related to the University recognizing the value of parental leave, employees’ ability to request schedule or FTE changes, and the Union’s right to bargain the impacts of any changes to the University’s parental leave policy as a mandatory subject of bargaining. Additionally, the Employer proposed new language stating that the Employer will not require the use of paid time off if doing so would result in the employee having fewer than forty (40) hours of accrued sick leave upon returning to work.
  • Article 29 – Shared Leave – The Employer reasserted their previous counterproposal for this Article as presented during the November 13, 2025 bargaining session.
  • Article 31 – Civil Duty Time Off and Bereavement Time Off – The Employer reasserted their previous counterproposal for this Article as presented during the November 13, 2025 bargaining session.
  • Article 32 – Leave Related to Domestic Violence Sexual Assault and Stalking – The Employer reasserted their previous counterproposal for this Article as presented during the November 13, 2025 bargaining session.
  • Article 36 – Miscellaneous Leave – The Employer reasserted their previous counterproposal for this Article as presented during the January 16 bargaining session.
  • Article 38 – Time Off Due to Family Care Emergencies – As part of this package proposal, the Employer proposed to retain the current contract language in this Article.
  • Article 42 – Paid Professional Leave – The Employer reasserted their previous counterproposal for this Article as presented during the January 16 bargaining session.
  • MOU – Time Grant – As part of this package proposal, the Union would agree to the Employer’s initial proposal for this MOU as presented during the December 19 bargaining session.

Next Steps

The next SEIU 925-Libraries and UW bargaining session is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17 and will be held virtually.