BoT Votes NO to Voluntary Recognition
The following is a copy of correspondence sent out to the WCWU members email list on Mar. 04, 2026, published for archival purposes and to ensure important information is accessible to all of our members and supporters. Some information pertaining to meeting times and locations has been omitted.
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Hi y’all,
This afternoon, we received another letter from Jeff Hamrick stating that the College will not voluntarily recognize Whitman College Workers United.
While this news is disheartening, it does not come as a surprise. As we have stated, voluntary recognition demonstrates good faith from the College and a dedication to mending the incredibly frayed relationship between administration and employees. It is the right thing to do for any employer that values workers’ majority decision to unionize. In deciding to petition the NLRB for an election, the administration and Board are refusing to recognize the over 70% of workers who’ve already voted for union representation.
Whitman College would rather align with the current federal administration’s anti-labor agenda than proceed with voluntary recognition and good faith bargaining, and in doing so, chooses to negatively affect the college’s finances, reputation, and morale.
This is unacceptable.
We know Whitman College can be better. And we aren’t done pushing them to act accordingly and in alignment with their own values. Our demands are reasonable and we will continue to assert our majority support for unionizing and our right to collective bargaining. No matter what the administration says, we already have a union. Y’all are the union.
So, what’s next?
At tonight’s Organizing Committee meeting, we will begin formulating our rapid response to the College and preparing for any actions we can take. If you can come, please do. We need all your voices, be they angry, excited, anxious, exhausted or some mix of them all.
In solidarity,
Shelby
on behalf of WCWU Staff Organizing Committee