Negotiations Recap for January 22, 2015
This recap details the second session for renewal of the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and UAW.
Benefits Discussion
Request for Proposals
UW Benefits and the UW insurance brokers Parker, Smith, and Feek delivered a draft request for proposals (RFP) regarding the Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP) for UAW to review. UAW delivered initial feedback and questions, and a meeting was set for the following week to continue the evaluation and discussion. UAW agreed to submit all comments by close of business on January 29 so the RFP can be finalized.
GAIP Utilization Report
UW presented UAW with an updated GAIP utilization report showing claims incurred since the beginning of the current plan year (October 1, 2014) paid through December 31, 2014. The plan’s loss ratio is now at 99.5 percent, and an analysis of claims by service type showed increases in the in- and outpatient hospital, professional, and dental categories.
UW offered to send utilization reports to UAW on a monthly basis rather than quarterly, to which UAW agreed.
HR/Payroll Modernization Discussion
UW delivered a presentation presentation summarizing the scope and potential implications of UW’s impending transition to a new HR/payroll (HR/P) system. Through the HR/Payroll Modernization project, the UW is replacing its 32-year-old payroll system with a modern HR/P system called Workday. Workday will offer a more uniform, streamlined, and reliable experience for employees across the University, and is planned to launch on December 20, 2015.
UW walked through key components of the new HR/P system, including more robust data tracking abilities, a biweekly pay cycle, and enhanced reporting of work, earnings, and accruals.
HR/P Memorandum of Agreement
UW proposed a memorandum of agreement highlighting the core elements of the transition to a new HR/P system based on what the parties know to date.
The language would memorialize the parties’ mutual understanding of the anticipated impacts, while ensuring that discussions may resume if needed, and that no union will come away with a “better deal” than any other.
UAW Inclusivity Discussion
The parties further discussed some of the intricacies and goals underlying UAW’s bargaining demands related to inclusivity, including mitigation of microaggressions, opposition to the International Student Fee, and expanded access to genderless bathrooms.
Next Steps
The next UW-UAW bargaining session is scheduled for January 29.