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 17. Lia Andrews and Chuck Mueller also submitted their statements to the Board of Trustees.
Statements from Lia Andrews and other classified staff criticized the recent offer from state’s Office of Financial Management of a 0% wage increase in 2027 and a 0% wage increase in 2028. They asked the Board of Trustees to use their leverage with the OFM to encourage a wage increase for the classified staff. You can find the text of statements from Lia Andrews, Miranda Shook, and Manda Pelly at the links.
Statements from Chuck Mueller and other faculty members supported a contract proposal made by the Faculty Collective Bargaining Team to increase the number of full-time faculty at Edmonds College. The faculty condemned the low percentage of full-time faculty at the college, reminded the Board of Trustees about the correlation between hiring full-time faculty and improving student success, and demanded that the management bargaining team accept the union bargaining team’s proposal. You can find the text of statements from Chuck Mueller and Mary Whitfield at the link.
When we fight, we win!
The Edmonds College Federation of Teachers would like to thank all of the staff and faculty who raised their voices this last week. When we stand up for ourselves and each other, we build stronger unions and solidarity amongst all of the workers at Edmonds College. When we fight, we win!