Contract Negotiations Update 6-1-2026
The Faculty Collective Bargaining Team has been meeting with the management team weekly. The FCBT continues to submit proposals and fight for changes to design a fair contract for the faculty of Edmonds College. Meanwhile, the management team seems content to extend the bargaining process as long as possible.
AI Proposal Submitted
Two weeks ago, the union bargaining team submitted its proposal regarding artificial intelligence. This would be a new section of the contract dedicated to addressing the following issues related to AI:
- Protecting the Faculty and our Workload: faculty would not replace teachers with AI or use AI as the basis for increasing our class capacities, course load, or assigned duties.
- Academic Freedom: faculty are allowed to use (or not use) AI as they choose.
- Intellectual Property: the college will not use our likeness or course material to train AI
- Accessibility and Equity: the college should ensure that AI will not create barriers to access for students or faculty
- Evaluation and Discipline: The college will not use AI to assess or monitor faculty.
At the latest bargaining session on May 27, management had many questions about this proposal, but did not signal any agreement or disagreements to the FCBT. The union looks forward to a response from management on this proposal.
Management Rejects All Faculty Raises
On the other hand, the union bargaining team got a response to our financial proposal. As a reminder, the faculty of Edmonds College have not received a raise in at least twelve years. Wages have stagnated in that time, leading to many associate and full-time faculty struggling to make ends meet. In response to this, the FCBT put together a financial proposal including the following measures:
- Full-time faculty raises of 5%
- Increase in associate faculty pay to 80% of full-time faculty pay
- Introduction of promotional lanes for faculty
At the negotiation meeting on May 27, the FCBT received this response to their proposal from management: no. There was no counteroffer, no negotiation, no requests for more information.
This response seems emblematic of management’s attitude towards any union proposal that would improve the financial stability of our members. We know that faculty who are not struggling to make ends meet have more time and energy to address the needs of our students. That’s why our demand to management is “Invest in our students, pay our teachers!”
While management claims there’s no money for raises for the workers who do the essential work of the college, it is plain to see where all the money is going: management raises.
| Name | Position | 2020 Salary ($) | 2024 Salary ($) | Change in Salary ($) |
| Singh, Amit | President | 251,700 | 341,300 | +89,600 |
| Chapman, Kimberly | VP of Instruction | 122,400 | 170,900 | +48,500 |
| Moreau, Suzanne | VP of Human Resources | 139,900 (in 2023) | 161,400 | +21,500 |
| Mulik, James | VP of Finance, Grants, and Institutional Effectiveness | 104,500 | 161,400 | +56,900 |
| Smith, Eva | Chief Information Officer | 105,500 | 144,300 | +38,800 |
When We Fight, We Win!
The faculty union wants a fair contract NOW. Here’s how you can support us.
- Learn more about the current state of negotiations at the Union Table on Mondays from 9 - 11 am in the lobby of Mountlake Terrace Hall.
- Follow us on Instagram at @aft_edmondscollege!
- Send a message to Dr. Singh (amit.singh@edmonds.edu) or VPI Kim Chapman (kim.chapman@edmonds.edu) and ask them to stop stalling and move forward towards a fair contract for faculty.
If you want to join the fight, contact our VP for Action and Advocacy, Chuck Mueller, at chuck.m.mueller@gmail.com.