11/9/2026

When we fight, we win!

The Faculty Collective Bargaining Team met with management for a bargaining session on Friday, Nov 6.

During that session, the management team backed down on a proposal to replace department head reassigned time with a flat stipend. This is a huge success for our union! It represents the combined effort of our bargaining team, the Action and Advocacy team, and members of the union who stood together to oppose this disrespectful proposal. Big thanks to everyone who stepped up!

Let’s take a minute to remember how we got here.

• Department heads and other faculty were no

10/26/2026

The Faculty Collective Bargaining Team (FCBT) met with management on Friday, Oct 23, 2026. Here’s what happened.

Special Assignment Rate

After a discussion about scheduling the next few bargaining sessions and reviewing which teams needed to provide counterproposals, a discussion about the Special Assignment pay rate began. The Special Assignment rate is the hourly rate that some faculty work is compensated at, including certain types of work done by associate faculty and some work that is done by full-time faculty over the summer. This rate has been at $45 per hour for years, and the

10/16/2026

The Edmonds College Board of Trustees met on Thursday, Oct 15, 2026. During that meeting, union members Erik Ray, Karen Sanchez, and David Breed shared their concerns about a contract proposal submitted by the management bargaining team that would replace the reassigned time granted to department heads with a stipend. They shared how department heads are already overwhelmed with administrative tasks and that requiring department heads to work their full teaching load while being paid a small stipend for department head duties was the same as mandatory overtime. You can find their

October 12, 2026

The Faculty Collective Bargaining Team (FCBT) met with the management team at the bargaining table on Oct 9, 2026. 

And they weren’t alone: over a dozen faculty from across campus gathered outside the Clearview Building while the bargaining teams met inside. With buckets, drumsticks, and kazoos, we made some noise in the north side parking lot and along 196th St SW to let management know that faculty are paying attention to what happens at the table. And they heard us: our bargaining team reported that the noise carried right into the room. A dozen people were enough to be heard

9/28/2026

The Faculty Collective Bargaining Team (FCBT) met with management on Friday, Sept 25. This was the first time the parties have met since August. At its last session, the union team provided management with a comprehensive package that included all outstanding articles. The FCBT told management ahead of this session that they expected a response on their economic proposal and their AI proposal.

Discussion of FCBT’s AI Proposal

In May, the union brought a proposal that prohibits the college from reassigning, replacing or contracting out faculty bargaining work with AI tools. The language

9/21/2026

Convocation Speeches Express Solidarity

WPEA Shop Steward Lia Andrews and Federation President Chuck Mueller spoke at the 2026 Convocation on Sept 14. The full text of Lia’s speech and Chuck’s speech can be found here. Both union leaders spoke about the integral roles that staff and faculty play in student success and expressed support for solidarity between the WPEA and AFT locals at Edmonds College.

Demands for Wage Increases and More Full-Time Faculty at BOT Meeting on Sept 17

WPEA and ECFT members also submitted public comments at the Edmonds College Board of Trustees meeting on Sept