Negotiations Recap for June 4, 2014
This recap details the first session for the renewal of the UW–WFSE Police Management collective bargaining agreement for the 2015-17 contract term.
Ground Rules
The parties agreed upon ground rules for negotiations. UW will pay up to eight hours of release time for WFSE’s two designated bargaining team members for the first eight scheduled sessions.
WFSE Initial Proposal
Key points of WFSE’s initial proposal included:
Public Safety Protection Program – WFSE proposed establishing automatic monthly deductions from employee wages to fund the WFSE/AFSCME Public Safety Protection Program.
Vacation Time – WFSE proposed expanding the vacation accrual schedule such that accrual rates continue increasing up to an employee’s 16th year of service, as well as allowing for employees to accrue up to 360 hours of vacation time.
Bereavement Leave – WFSE proposed allowing for employees to use their accrued paid leaves or leave without pay to take more than three days off for bereavement purposes, on a case-by-case basis.
Holidays – WFSE proposed an extra personal holiday per year, and that employees receive holiday pay according to the length of their shift, instead of the standard eight hours per holiday for full-time employees.
Special Event Pay – WFSE proposed that employees who work a shift the night before or after a UW football game not be required to work the game. WFSE also proposed that recharge overtime be compensated at a rate of two-times an employee’s regular rate, and that it apply to employees assigned to stadium or patrol coverage for football games.
Overtime Pay for Exempt Employees – WFSE proposed increasing the rate of overtime paid to Lieutenants for qualifying events from time and one-half to two times their regular rate, and providing a minimum of four hours of overtime per assignment.
Hours of Work – WFSE proposed that no employee be assigned more than 16 hours in a 24 hour period except during an emergency or by mutual agreement, and that employees be granted a minimum rest period of eight hours between shifts.
Tentative Agreement
Article 29: Duration – The parties tentatively agreed to update the contract term to reflect the 2015-17 biennium.
Next Steps
The next UW-WFSE Police Management bargaining session is scheduled for July 23.