Year-long labor disputes at WSU were settled in talks on Wednesday.

“Negotiations were very amicable,” said Kathylu Szabo, a WSU local union leader. “Both sides worked very hard at being fair and I’m hoping this is the beginning of good labor relations once again.” In the settlement, the Washington Federation of State Employees agreed to let bargaining units decide if they want to be a part of the union.

Bargaining Unit 2 supervisors, consisting of approximately, a dozen members, and Bargaining Unit 3, which represents more than 300 people, will be able to have their own decertification elections to decide if they wish to remain a part of the union, said Tim Welch, public affairs director for WFSE.

Through the agreement, WFSE also agreed to withdraw an Unfair Labor Practice complaint concerned with voting in the contract ratification election last year. By withdrawing the complaint, bargaining units can vote on the decertification, Welch said.

Another point in the agreement provides an increase in compensation for Bargaining Units 1 (Research Extension Units) and 11 (College of Nursing Staff). Salaries found to be 25 percent lower than the current rate will be increased in accordance with the Department of Personnel’s 2002 Salary Survey.

“For some people it’s about a 12 percent raise,” Szabo said. WSU also made policy changes. WSU agreed to tighten e-mail policies and restrict state resources – such as university computers, copiers, etc. – when used to promote decertification elections.

WSU agreed to publish the settlement in WSU Today, WSU Today Online and WSU Announcements to clarify the terms.

According to Welch, WFSE is satisfied with the agreement. “It’s a great settlement,” Welch said. “It ensures fair elections in the work site and fair treatment of workers.” Decertification elections should take place in the next few weeks, Welch said.