Labor Relations

Negotiations Recap for September 17, 2015

This recap details the 11th session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and WSNA, which expired as of July 1, 2015. This was the first session to be facilitated by a State-appointed mediator.

Introduction to Mediation

The parties were joined by a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) to help facilitate the remainder of contract negotiations. Both parties outlined their priorities and discussed the remaining issues with the mediator. The primary areas on which the parties remain apart are:

Wages

  • UW’s Most Recent Position – UW proposes a 3 percent general wage increase in the first year of the contract and 2 percent in the second year, with an additional step added to the top of the pay range.
  • WSNA’s Most Recent Position – WSNA proposes a 3 percent general wage increase in the first year of the contract and 4 percent in the second year, with an additional step added to the top of the pay range.

Union Membership

  • UW’s Most Recent Position – UW proposes to maintain existing contract language, allowing nurses to have the option to join WSNA or opt out.
  • WSNA’s Most Recent Position – WSNA proposes to require union membership for new nurses.

Staffing

  • UW’s Most Recent Position – UW has agreed to new language regarding staffing goals, but proposes maintaining existing contract language on the ability to grieve staffing plans.
  • WSNA’s Most Recent Position – WSNA proposes removing existing language that exempts staffing plans from the grievance process.

On-Call

  • UW’s Most Recent Position – UW proposes maintaining existing contract language and making no changes to where mandatory on-call currently exists.
  • WSNA’s Most Recent Position – WSNA proposes removing on-call staffing from several units.

Next Steps

The parties will meet again to continue negotiations at a later date that is still being determined. Since the contract has expired, the previous contract will remain in effect until the parties negotiate a successor agreement. Similar to the approach used across the University and in prior contract negotiations, UW has stated that it does not intend for wage increases to be applied retroactively, meaning wage increases would not begin before the new contract goes into effect.