Evergreen faculty approves forming a union

OLYMPIA — Faculty members at The Evergreen State College have voted to form a union, the fourth at a four-year college in the state.

About 82 percent of those eligible, full-time professors who teach at least eight credits and instructors who teach classes at any of Evergreen's campuses, mailed in ballots during the three-week voting period and the tally was 55 percent yes, film professor and United Faculty organizer Laurie Meeker said Tuesday.

Marvin Schurke, executive director of the Public Employees Relations Commission, said the tally was 113 to 91 with 15 ballots in dispute and uncounted.

"We're legal, we're certified and we're looking to move forward with all our colleagues to form a strong union", Meeker said.

"We look forward to developing relationships with the representatives from the new United Faculty," Evergreen spokesman Anthony Sermonti said. "What's not going to change is the commitment to our students and the quality of the academic programs. "

The next steps for the union are to adopt a constitution, establish a governing council, elect officers and conduct a survey to establish priorities in negotiating a contract, Meeker said.

According to the state Higher Education Coordinating Board, Evergreen's average faculty salary in 2004-05 was $54,879, ranking the school in the 23rd percentile or the bottom fourth for similar institutions.

United Faculty, a partnership of the state and national offices of the National Education Association and National Federation of Teachers, also represents professors at Western, Eastern and Central Washington universities. Some community colleges in the state also have faculty unions.