Labor Relations

Negotiations Recap for October 15, 2012

This recap details the tenth session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement between the UW/Harborview and SEIU 1199, and the first session to be facilitated by neutral mediators.

UW/Harborview Presentation

UW/Harborview Proposals
Hours of Work and Overtime
Establish two work period options for health care specialists and social workers for the purpose of calculating overtime payment.
A “Fixed shift” option would allow for an employee to accrue overtime pay for hours worked in excess of their scheduled shift, but any flexing of scheduled hours would be subject to supervisory approval. A “Flex shift” option would allow for flexible hours within an 80 hour work period, but overtime would only be accrued for hours worked beyond 80 hours in this work period.
Union Delegates
Establish one union delegate representing electroneurodiagnostic (END) technicians.
Joint Labor/Management Committees
Allow for one END technician representative to attend such meetings.

Tentative Agreement

Article 13.13: Staffing Practices
The parties tentatively agreed that for health care specialists, the collection of available data regarding relative value units – a measure used to compare the cost of performing certain services – will be discussed at joint labor-management meetings.
Articles 15.13 and 15.14: Leaves of Absence
The parties tentatively agreed to integrate language from the Washington State Nurses Association contract regarding domestic violence leave and military spouse leave, which both outline applicable state law.

SEIU Presentation

SEIU 1199 Counter Proposals
Union Delegates
SEIU 1199 proposed allowing for two union delegates representing END technicians, as opposed to UW/Harborview’s proposed one.
Education Support Funds
SEIU 1199 countered UW/Harborview’s October 4 proposal, requesting that the education support funds available to each registered nurse not be prorated according to their full-time equivalent (FTE).
SEIU 1199 also proposed that the education support funds guaranteed to respiratory therapists be increased from $200 to $500, and not prorated according to FTE.
Joint Labor/Management Committees
SEIU 1199 countered UW/Harborview’s October 4 proposal, voicing that of the three health care specialist representatives present at such meetings, the union should determine which department each comes from.

Further Dialogue

SEIU 1199 cancelled the bargaining session scheduled for October 24, indicating that after the October 19 bargaining session it will put the contract in its existing form to a membership vote.

Next Steps

The next UW/Harborview-SEIU 1199 bargaining session is scheduled for October 19.