Bill > SB5119

This bill extends collective bargaining rights to student employees enrolled in academic or certificate programs at four specific public universities in Washington state: Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College. The bill allows these student employees to form bargaining units specific to each institution, with some notable limitations on the scope of bargaining. Specifically, bargaining cannot include decisions about academic requirements, termination based on academic performance, tuition amounts, academic calendars, or student class admissions. Compensation negotiations are restricted to amounts established by the legislature's appropriations act, though individual institutions may provide additional compensation beyond legislative allocations. The bill defines student employees as being considered enrolled even during campus academic breaks if they were enrolled in the preceding or subsequent academic term. Certain categories of employees are explicitly excluded from these provisions, such as those already covered by existing collective bargaining statutes. The bill includes an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately upon passage, and is designed to support the state government and its public institutions.

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https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5119&Year=2025&Initiative=false