The newest college in the community and technical college system in Washington state now has the Washington Federation of Teachers' newest union on board. On May 14, ballots were tallied for the 100-person unit, and the count was 34 to 3 for the union. The union will represent 22 full-timers and 78 part-time faculty. Cascadia is a "beautiful, high-tech new college," says WFT field representative Rebecca Jaffe, that has a strong transfer mission. While its faculty feels rewarded to be part of the new enterprise, it also wanted a union to ensure that it will have a strong voice in shaping the college as it continues to establish itself. The faculty didn't feel it could "rely on temporary good will or temporary personalities," Jaffe reports. "They wanted a union to be part of the permanent structure."  [Barbara McKenna]

[June 5, 2002]