Category: Uncategorized

We want to invite you to participate in the 3rd Annual Environmental Justice Conference:

WHEN: May 19, 2020 | 1:00 – 5:00pm

WHERE: Virtual Event (an email with the login information will be sent to those who RSVP a day before the event)

Climate change poses one of the greatest threats to humanity and it is happening right now. Unfortunately, not all of us are impacted in the same way. Communities of color and underprivileged groups are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to structural inequities.

The 3rd Annual Environmental Justice Conference entails to bring awareness on environmental and climate justice initiatives, as well as to create a space for dialogue across scales, affiliations, and worldviews. Through presentations and interactive sessions, participants will be able to explore approaches to inclusive and meaningful engagement through innovation and collaboration. The main objective of this conference is to reflect on best practices around equitable partnerships within the context of environmental/climate justice.

RSVP at: https://environment.uw.edu/deievents/

For more information visit: https://environment.uw.edu/envjustice2020

VOTE NOW

We represent you so make sure your vote is counted.

Submit your vote by May 15, 2020.

Technology note: The PSO Board application is in a Google form. In order to access the form you must be logged in to Google Apps with your UW account. Users should log out of all personal Google accounts before launching the voting form.

https://forms.gle/j9qncyKneVs327XF7

IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE OPENING THE VOTING GOOGLE FORM:

* We sent out an incorrect Marketo redirect link in the PSO newsletter – please dont use that link, use the one above.

* Due to the way we implemented the PSO election this year using a google form, in order to vote you must have google apps for education enabled on your UWNETID.
* Many UW Professional Staff do not have this enabled by default, but it is quick and free to do so.
* Enabling Google Apps for education does not change your email forwarding or affect your Office 365 setup. They will peacefully coexist.

Enabling Google Apps for EDU on your UWNETID directions are here: https://itconnect.uw.edu/connect/email/google-apps/getting-started/#activate

Summary: The UW is seeking staff, faculty and student input on its newly released draft Sustainability Strategy. Help shape UW’s future by providing feedback and learning more at http://green.uw.edu/plan

Sustainability Action Plan solicits feedback:

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the UW has released a draft Sustainability Strategy to guide institutional initiatives over the next five years. The Strategy proposes measurable targets and actions across the University to ensure a sustainable, equitable and responsible future. Your input on this Strategy is vital, especially during this unprecedented time of Covid-19. Learn more and provide input at http://green.uw.edu/plan

 

2020-2022 PSO Board Election Process

Why Run for the PSO Board

Being part of the PSO board is a tremendous way to learn more about UW and the professional staff role, share ideas, resources and connections, and make impactful contacts all across campus! The PSO works with UW leadership at the President’s office, Human Resources, WholeU, faculty committees, and the membership to support professional staff and advocate for their needs and priorities. In addition, board members come from all across the Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma campuses, Harborview Medical Center, and UW Medical Center providing opportunities to meet other professional staff members in a variety of areas.

If you are looking for leadership opportunities that you don’t have in your daily work at the UW, there are many ways a PSO position can provide this professional growth for you. Chairing a committee, organizing outreach, and supporting our various events are just a few of the ways you can expand your skills with a supportive group of colleagues.

Not only can you develop your leadership skills but you can make an impact on the more than 10,000 professional staff. Board members work together to advocate for and enrich our roles at the UW.

We are now accepting applications for 2020-2022 board members.  The application deadline is:  April 30, 2020.

Apply now

Technology note:  The PSO Board application is in a google form.  In order to access the form you must be logged in to Google Apps with your UW account. Users should log out of all personal google accounts before launching the voting form. Please contact your department IT person if you have any issues accessing the form.

Duties and Responsibilities

UPDATED 3/2020
PSO Board Member Job Description
Current PSO Bylaws
(Excerpt from the Job Description document linked above)
Board members are required to:
● Serve in accordance with all bylaws.
● Participate in monthly Board meeting from September through June.
● Attend the Board retreat, which happens in August and is scheduled collaboratively to align with Board members’ calendars.
● Participate in at least one Board committee.
● Participate in a minimum of 1 PSO event a year (Diversity Forum, Annual Meeting/Awards Ceremony, or outreach/engagement events).
● Represent the PSO Board at 2 or more UW Welcome Days, which are held bi-monthly throughout the academic year.
● Engage with PSO business on all relevant platforms (email, Teams, shared Google Drive, etc.), including responding to PSO member queries as appropriate.

Benefits

• Meet and network with other professional staff across campuses (Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma, Harborview, UW Medical Center).
• Hear from UW departments and administrators on topics that impact professional staff.
• Develop skills to advocate for professional staff on topics such benefits, salary, recognition, etc.

Questions? Contact us at psoboard@uw.edu.

Professional Staff, please review and comment on HR 6074

This is an Important Federal Bill under consideration in Congress

HR 6074 the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations contains stipulations for

– Free testing
– 14 days paid sick leave
– 3 months paid family leave
– Expanded unemployment insurance & food security
– Medicaid funds

Check it out at

https://congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6074/

And then contact your legislator to let them know your feelings about this legislation

A new Bill to fund UW Employees transit passes was recently introduced in Olympia. Sponsors are Reps Macri, Chopp, Pollet, and Valdez

HB 2949 – 2019-20
Requiring transit passes to be provided by certain entities.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2949&Year=2019

This bill is now scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 11:00 AM this Saturday 2/29/2020

Full Text: HERE

Bill would also amend the state commute trip reduction law and add additional reporting requirements and tools for implementing compliance.

Click here for current full text of WA CTR – RCW 70.94.531

Erin Rants, PSO Member, testified in favor of the Bill and read a PSO Board endorsed statement (Thank you Erin!)

PSO Statement here:

Audio and Video, as well as a computer-generated transcript of the proceedings can be found here:

https://www.tvw.org/watch/

UPDATE 2/7/2002: Please review changes to UW Parking system. Page now live here: https://transportation.uw.edu/parking-product-changes

Several PSO board members and constituents were present at the January 29th hearing on parking rate increase in the Husky Union Building.

the University Transportation Committee voted on Monday to recommend to the UW Regents a rate increase of 6% to parking and bicycling products . The UW regents have the ultimate say on what will happen here and will consider the proposal at their next meeting. The intent of the public hearing was to gather employee feedback and summarize it to the Regents so they may use it in their decision making process.

The hearing itself was lightly attended, with just a few dozen UW employees present. Almost everyone who took the time to testify mentioned appreciation of the lack of increase and support for a future fully subsidized U-PASS. This is a big win for our effort to raise awareness at the University about the topic, and it was evident in the hearing that other employee groups share PSO members’ passion for this proposal.

We were disappointed that there were not more PSO members present at this hearing. Please remember that you can’t have your voice heard unless you lend it to the conversation. We strongly encourage professional staff members to attend hearings on policy proposals that affect your important work here at the University of Washington. For those who are uncomfortable with public speaking, written comment can still be provided in regards to proposed parking rate increases by emailing tsfeedback@uw.edu .

PSO president Brett Bass has done this kind of public speaking for some time and has some tips for staff who are interested in providing testimony:

* If you’re particularly nervous, it’s perfectly acceptable to read a prepared statement.
* You can take notes and move through bullet points, but many prefer a more structured way of presenting their case.
* Always be respectful. Nobody is right all the time, most people are acting in good faith, and reasonable people can—and-do—differ in opinion.
* Remember to stay on-topic and be professional.
* Be concise. Having one or two points is more engaging than a whole list.
* If you want to expand on ideas, consider submitting written testimony as a supplement to your presentation.”

New Bike houses

While the UW has a lot of bicycle parking, it hasnt always been located where the need is highest. UW Transportation Services has been working hard behind the scenes to rebalance and add additional capacity based on the length of waitlists at various locations. As a result of these efforts, there are three new bike houses available to UW Members at the following locations:

Skagit Lane (Behind Smith-Gowen) – November 1
29 permits

UWMC Surgery Pavilion – November 1
53 permits

Cascade Tower – November 8
29 permits

The Waiting list for these bike houses are now open – sign up today at:

https://transportation.uw.edu/getting-here/bike/parking

 

More Bike houses on the docket for 2020

More Bike Houses in FY20
CSE II
HUB (in C17 parking lot)
Central Plaza Garage

Other Bike related news:

Bike Houses & secure bike parking are being incorporated into campus development at:
– Founders Hall
– Health Science Education Building

There is also a Campus Bike Plan in development

Did you know that UW Transportation Commute options
Services provides Personalized commute planning for faculty, staff and students?
For more information, contact ucommute@uw.edu

 

 

see: https://www.washington.edu/diversity/staffdiv/hiring-toolkit/

Letter sent 9/26/2019 from UW Human Resources

Good morning,

With over 1,000 open positions at the UW, hiring managers have an important job in recruiting and selecting candidates. Learn how to improve outreach efforts and build an inclusive applicant pool with the Staff Diversity Hiring Toolkit. Developed by the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA&D), the toolkit provides helpful guidance, checklists and resources:
https://www.washington.edu/diversity/staffdiv/hiring-toolkit/

The toolkit will be enhanced this winter as UWHR Total Talent Management and OMA&D are partnering and developing new content to be added in early 2020.

This reminder is sent as part of UW’s current collective bargaining agreements with SEIU 925, SEIU 1199 and WFSE. Contact your employment team with questions related to staff recruiting.

Best,
Mindy

Mindy Kornberg J.D.
Vice President for Human Resources
University of Washington

In August the PSO conducted a Catalyst survey of all 10,000 professional staff asking if the PSO board should advocate for a fully subsidized UPASS. The response rate was a whopping 49% and of the 4932 responses received, more than 90% of them favored this advocacy.

Many excellent comments and suggestions were also received

The main concerns voiced are as follows:

– Concerns about where the funds will come from to pay for this
– Concerns about what the costs of the program will be
– Concerns that an increase in UPASS subsidy would cause a parking rate increase
– Concerns that an increase in UPASS would be instead of a raise or other compensation
– Assertion that UW is not paying market rate for salaries
– Concerns about affordability of living in Seattle
– Concerns about diverting funding from teaching, research, or other UW missions/goals
– Concerns about cross subsidies to other staff groups
– Voiced interest in more subsidized, but not free UPASS

The UPASS program is a “pay by use” program, meaning the UW only pays for trips that are actually taken. The program pays for every swipe of your UPASS/Husky card on transit. This demonstrates why it is important for UPASS users to understand the “tap on, tap off” system of light rail to avoid generating large trip costs the UPASS program must then bear.

The classified staff are not a single entity. There are around 10 separate bargaining units at the UW. Not all Classified staff have received a fully subsidized UPASS but more than half of UW employees have it now.

Thank you for your comments – we have ve de-identified them and offer them as a sample of what your coworkers are thinking.
The comments page is here: (as of 8/22/2019 @ 11:30am)

https://www.washington.edu/pso/2019/08/22/comments-from-2019-upass-survey/

Thank you for participating in our survey

-The PSO Board