That's when their agreement with the university administration expires.
Nobody wants to go on strike.
The union represents 1,600 TAs, graders and tutors across campus. The university administration has said in letters to parents, students, faculty members and staff members that if teaching assistants strike, the campus will remain open, classes will continue and commencement ceremonies will go forward as planned on June 9. Our primary concern in the current circumstances is the impact a strike by the TAs may have on the education of our undergraduate students. UW Provost Lee Huntsman sent a letter May 18 to academic department heads, chairwomen, chairmen and deans asking them to make contingency plans in the case of a walkout. Suggestions included preparing a final exam that could be graded more easily, offering students the option of having final grades based on work prior to the final, and offering take-home exams.