Good evening, Dr. Wooten, members of the Board, and colleagues. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to provide this report on behalf of the faculty union.
I would like to address three items this evening: a renewed tradition of community, the upcoming cycle of collective bargaining, and concerns regarding the handling of high-demand nursing stipends.
First, on behalf of the Federation’s Executive Council, I would like to extend an invitation to you, the members of the Board of Trustees, to join us for dinner on Wednesday, October 22nd, at the College Café. This dinner will be catered by our outstanding culinary students, who have earned regional and national recognition for their work.
This event was once an annual tradition, paused in 2017, that brought trustees and faculty leadership together in a spirit of collegiality and open conversation. We would very much like to bring it back. The dinner is an opportunity to recognize your service to the college and to the broader community. It is not about serving only the president of the college; it’s about strengthening the direct connection between trustees and faculty who carry out the college’s mission every day.
We can determine the menu and the exact time together. And while I am reminded that the Board covered the cost of this dinner back in 2017, this year the dinner is hosted by the union. We hope you will accept our invitation and help us revive this important tradition.
Second, I want to note that this is a collective bargaining year. Faculty are eager to meet with administration this quarter, with the goal of beginning negotiations later this fall or in early winter quarter. Our aim is simple: to engage in good-faith discussions that support both the mission of the college and the well-being of the faculty who make that mission possible.
Finally, I would like to provide an update regarding the high-demand and nursing stipend issue raised by Taylor Smith from Nursing during the public comments an hour ago. Faculty earned this compensation, yet the college made a unilateral decision to withhold it. Dr. Singh has said the union was “informed” of this decision in late June. Respectfully, that is not collective bargaining.
The reality is that the first meeting between union representatives and administration on this matter was not until July 18th, well after the decision had already been made to withhold high-demand pay. During that meeting, the union made it clear that they disagreed with the administration’s interpretation of the contract and the Legislature’s intent. Importantly, although the administration had initiated a “demand to bargain,” they came to the table without an offer or proposal of any kind. As the initiating party, that responsibility rested with them.
Faculty present at that meeting, including myself, Erika Ferrari, and Jennifer Casperson, can testify that the administration promised to provide a written proposal within one week. That never happened.
On August 28th, I filed a formal Step One grievance on behalf of affected faculty. The grievance identifies three main concerns:
- The unilateral nonpayment of the Summer 2025 nursing stipends.
- The college’s stated intent to withhold stipends again in Fall 2025.
- Procedural violations, including the administration’s failure to provide a timely written response or proposal as required under the CBA.
The union’s position is straightforward:
- The April 25, 2025 High Demand MOU, and the CBA nursing stipend provisions remain binding.
- The absence of a legislative proviso is not a “change in funding” and does not trigger renegotiation.
- The college is obligated by law to maintain the status quo on wages during bargaining until agreement or impasse.
Equally concerning was the decision to allow the administration to provide its interpretation of the issue during public comment, while preventing the union from offering clarifying remarks. That is inherently improper and in conflict with the free speech protections of CBA Section 1.10, which states that the Federation “shall be allowed to speak on any question on any agenda.” In an era when speech is increasingly under attack, faculty must be able to present their perspectives openly and without constraint, especially in a public forum such as this.
In conclusion, I respectfully ask for your partnership in three ways:
- Please join us for dinner on October 22nd to help rebuild a vital tradition of dialogue and connection directly between the Board and faculty.
- Encourage timely and constructive engagement in this year’s collective bargaining process.
- Affirm the faculty’s right to speak, to be respected, and to have our contracts honored.
Thank you, Dr. Wooten and members of the Board, for your time and for your ongoing service to Edmonds College and the community we serve.