What is WashTech?
What kind of work do WashTech members do? Where do they work?
Is WashTech only for temporary and contract employees?
How is WashTech run?
What does WashTech provide its members?
WashTech is a union? What does that mean?
Don't unions negotiate salaries, contracts and benefits?
Won't a union make rigid work rules and protect bad workers?
What is WashTech's vision for the future?

Q: What is WashTech?

A: WashTech is the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers -- a democratic, worker-driven union for all high-tech employees. We provide a strong and effective voice for IT professionals both in public policy and in the workplace.

Q: What kind of work do WashTech members do? Where do they work?

A: Our members work as writers, programmers, developers, network administrators, artists, software testers, customer service representatives and in most other positions at over 90 different high-tech companies in Washington state.

Q: Is WashTech only for temporary and contract employees?

A: Not at all. Our members work as permanent employees, independent contractors, vendors and agency temporary employess. WashTech addresses issues that affect all workers in the high-tech industry, regardless of their employment status.

Q: How is WashTech run?

A: WashTech is entirely member-driven. WashTech members decide what WashTech is. WashTech began in January 1998 as a group of high-tech workers who met independently to discuss workplace and industry issues. Currently, WashTech is partially funded by a grant from the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This grant was awarded to help WashTech build a membership large enough to become financially self-sufficient. However, dues income is a constantly growing part of the overall budget. Dues-paying members make all decisions about how to spend the budget.

Q: What does WashTech provide its members?

A: Our membership benefits will grow as our membership does, and will constantly reflect the wants and needs of our members. Currently, some of our benefits include discounted training courses, contract advice, legislative advocacy, a vote in all decisions on WashTech activities and opportunities to meet other technology professionals.

Q: WashTech is a union? What does that mean?

A: The word "union" carries a variety of connotations. In the sense that a union is a group of people who work in the same industry coming together to advance their interests, we are a union.

Q: Don't unions negotiate salaries, contracts and benefits?

A: WashTech does not yet provide some typical services associated with unions, such as negotiating pay rates and contracts. However, if the majority of employees at a given workplace wanted this type of union representation, we would certainly facilitate this kind of representation.

Q: Won't a union make rigid work rules and protect bad workers?

A: What we seek is decided by our membership. None of us want less flexibility, rigid rules, a reduction in autonomy or no reward for merit. Rather, we believe that to preserve autonomy and flexibility, we must band together to better advocate for these things.

Q: What is WashTech's vision for the future?

A: We intend to continue our legislative advocacy, our information services such as the WashTech News, and our proactive efforts to increase fair working conditions for all high-tech workers. We also will continue to build and expand our IT training program and facilities. The rest is up to you. Some ideas we have had are creating a worker-run contract agency, doing research on age discrimination in the industry, fighting the overuse of overtime, and, of course, getting benefits and a fair wage for all high-tech workers.