Negotiations Recap for February 18, 2015
This recap details the fourth session for renewal of the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and UAW.
UW Responses
UW shared initial thoughts on several of the union’s proposals, including:
International Student Fee – UW explained that the International Student Fee is an institution-wide initiative that affects populations well beyond UAW’s membership, and that to change such a broad-based policy is likely outside of the parties’ scope in contract negotiations. UW committed to bring more information to a future bargaining session.
Bathroom Equity and Lactation Facilities – UW expressed a philosophical agreement with the union’s desire to make genderless bathrooms and lactation facilities as accessible as possible, but raised concern over the UAW contract’s ability to enforce construction and building plans institution-wide. UW committed to bring more information to a future bargaining session.
Grievance Procedure – UW expressed concern over UAW’s proposal for any missed deadline on the UW’s part to automatically award the union’s remedy, rather than the current practice of automatically advancing to the next step of the grievance procedure.
Union Proposals
Intellectual Property – UAW proposed a requirement that the UW notify ASEs of their right to consult with a union representative prior to deciding whether to consent to a policy relating to assignment of intellectual property.
UAW proposed eliminating language recognizing UW’s right to change applicable policies in the University Handbook, and proposed to grant the union a position on any UW committee on intellectual property and commercialization issues.
Union Security – UAW proposed language updates surrounding the dues deduction authorization process as well as expansions to the employee data that is regularly reported to the union.
Union Request for Information
UAW delivered an extensive information request mirroring the themes presented in the union’s list of initial bargaining demands, including information on hourly ASEs, fee waivers, micro-aggressions, and the Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP).
Next Steps
The next UW-UAW bargaining session is scheduled for February 19.