UAW-Backed Union Bosses Push Western Washington Student Workers Into Strike Aimed at Shutting Down Campus
Student workers at Western Washington University, under pressure from union officials aligned with the United Auto Workers (UAW), have walked off the job in a strike designed to disrupt campus operations. The strike, led by Western Academic Workers United (WAWU), was launched by union activists openly aiming to halt university functions entirely.
“Our main goal for all of campus is just to shut it down,” said Olive Dillemuth, WAWU vice president.
The walkout affects critical services across the university—including Western’s Child Development Center (CDC), which provides early childhood education and care. The center relies on student-teacher assistants classified as Operational Student Employees (OSEs). With OSEs walking out under union orders, those who remain on the job are raising alarms about child safety due to reduced staffing.
Despite these concerns, union kingpins continue to push their disruptive agenda, choosing political theater over constructive dialogue. Rather than advocating for practical workplace improvements, union leaders are prioritizing shutdowns and public spectacle—at the expense of students, families, and campus stability.
Western Washington administrators are working to keep essential operations running, but the strike highlights the growing reach of national union power plays on college campuses, particularly those orchestrated by larger labor organizations like the UAW.
Amid these disruptions, it’s critical for student workers and staff to know their rights: participation in any union-ordered strike is voluntary. Thanks to the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision, public employees—including student workers—can resign from union membership at any time and are not required to pay dues or participate in politically motivated walkouts.
Those who choose to continue supporting students, families, and campus operations during this strike have the law—and their conscience—on their side. Union officials may be focused on shutting things down, but individual workers can choose to keep serving their community.
Source: The Front
For more information on your rights as an employee regarding unions, visit Know Your Rights.
