Who We Are
We are your colleagues from divisions across campus—from student life to facilities— seeking to ensure fair labor practices at Whitman College by exercising our right under the National Labor Relations Act to form a labor union. We are organizing with the support and guidance of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Whitman College has historically underpaid most of its workforce, but for many employees the benefits package that Whitman offered made the lower wages tolerable. This delicate balance is now changing. In Summer 2025 we saw 10 staff members laid off and many more positions eliminated to balance the College’s budget. Now, employees are being asked to accept higher healthcare costs in addition to other potential changes to benefits and staffing to come this Spring. We are unionizing to make sure that the College takes its employees’ needs, welfare, and demands seriously.
Learn more about our vision, mission, and organizing leadership below.
Our Vision
Whitman College Workers United envisions a campus where every staff member is valued as a vital contributor and empowered as an equal partner in building a thriving, equitable campus. By addressing historical inequities and uplifting voices that have been overlooked, we aim to ensure that all workers can fully participate in shaping the college’s future.
We seek a collaborative relationship with college leadership and the Board of Trustees, grounded in transparency, open communication, and shared decision-making. Through collective representation, we strive to improve workplace conditions, strengthen trust, and prioritize staff well-being as essential to the health of the institution.
Ultimately, we look toward a sustainable future in which Whitman College remains a strong and caring part of the Walla Walla community. By investing in the people who make the college run, we can build a resilient institution where all members grow together with mutual respect and shared stewardship.
Our Mission
We are at a turning point in our country, community, and in higher education. Rapid changes in culture, technology, politics, and the economy have left us in a vulnerable and unsustainable environment at Whitman College. We cannot continue to maintain a vibrant and strong community without considering the needs of that community from the ground up. Whitman College Workers United is working towards giving staff equal say as we begin to address our current issues and build a better future.
We believe that the well-being of staff is essential to the well-being of the institution. Fair pay, strong benefits, flexibility, work–life balance, and the ability to shape our own working lives are not too much to ask for, they are the foundation of a healthy community. When the people who support Whitman are themselves supported, the entire college benefits.
Collaboration happens best with representation. Through collective bargaining and a unified voice, we ensure that decisions affecting staff are made with us, not for us. Representation gives us the power to advocate for sustainable workloads, transparent policies, and a workplace built on respect and shared responsibility.
Above all, we value open conversations. We believe that honest dialogue, equal voice, and mutual accountability are essential to building a campus where all workers can thrive. Whitman College Workers United exists so that every staff member has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the direction of the college, today and in the years to come.
Core Values
Fair Representation
Solidarity Across Divisions
Fair Wages
Substantial Benefits
Flexibility
Work-life balance
Interested in getting involved?
Many hands make light work! In order to tackle the many tasks necessary to move our collective towards a timely unionization vote and eventually a contract, we’ve divided the main Organizing Committee into 6 sub-committees : Communications, Data, Research, Events & Actions, Partnerships, and Faculty. We invite any interested colleagues to email the chair of the committee(s) that interest you, or reach out to our general email by clicking the button below.