University of Washington Libraries and Press employees, represented by SEIU 925, voted by 94.2% to authorize a one-day strike. The last scheduled contract negotiations with the University will take place Friday, May 8. Today’s strike vote authorizes the bargaining team to call for a one-day strike as early as Monday, May 11 if they feel they are not close to a tentative contract agreement on Friday.
The UW Libraries chapter of SEIU 925 has been bargaining with the University since the fall of 2025. Their union contract expired on February 1, and they have since continued working without a successor agreement.
“People are feeling frustrated,” said Tricia Schroeder, president of SEIU 925. “A central issue throughout bargaining has been the UW’s refusal to acknowledge the high cost of living and adjust their wage proposals accordingly.”
That frustration has led librarians to organize several recent public demonstrations – including marches to deliver petitions, rallies on campus, and a half-day work stoppage.
“Our work is critical to the University of Washington’s mission. But with the cost of living expected to increase 3% annually, and with the UW’s consistent refusal to offer us living wages, working here is becoming unsustainable,” said Jason Sokoloff, head librarian at the UW Foster Business Library. “At this rate, a greater number of librarians and professional staff will increasingly need to work second jobs, rely on government assistance, relocate, or leave the field and the UW entirely.”
“I voted to strike because UW owes its workers raises that at least keep up with inflation,” added Laura Dimmit-Smyth, Fine Arts and Data Librarian at UW Bothell. “My colleagues across all 3 campuses, and at UW Press, deserve to be able to live in the communities we serve without taking a second job to make ends meet.”
In 2022, when negotiating their first union contract, Libraries and Press staff held a one-day strike; then, following further lack of progress in bargaining, voted to go on strike indefinitely. They reached a tentative agreement with the UW three hours before workers were scheduled to show up at picket lines.
Click here to read statements of support from workers in other library systems.