Negotiations Recap for April 30, 2015
This recap details the seventh bargaining session between the UW and the UWHA to form the first union contract for UW medical and dental residents and fellows (collectively referred to below as “trainees”).
UW Proposals and Supposals
UW put forth the following “supposal” – not a formal proposal, but the parameters of a possible one for the purposes of discussion – in response to UWHA’s proposal on moonlighting:
External Moonlighting Supposal – UW submitted that trainees would be allowed to perform patient care services at non-UW affiliated sites if they meet certain provisions. Trainees would need to meet requirements related to, among other things, good academic standing, licensure, duty hours, legal compliance, and requirements specific to individual programs. Decisions on external moonlighting would be at the discretion of program directors and would be subject to review by the GME Office.
UW agreed to work toward presenting a formal proposal on moonlighting at the next bargaining session.
No Strike, No Lockout – UW proposed language to memorialize that UWHA may not strike (in accordance with state law), and to prevent lockouts by UW.
UWHA Proposals
Parking – UW presented information related to parking policies and usage patterns at relevant parking sites. The parking information was related to the transportation presentation at the bargaining session on March 23.
UWHA reaffirmed its proposed notion of “cost-neutral” parking through a thought experiment, and clarified that “cost-neutral” refers to parking costs incurred by trainees. UWHA requested a specific proposal on parking from UW. UW reiterated that such a proposal must be evaluated in the context of all of the union’s proposals with financial implications, some of which the union has not yet delivered.
Grievance Procedure – UWHA presented a counter-proposal on the grievance procedure. The proposal would lengthen the time for an appeal from seven to 14 days. The proposal also designated the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services as the source for a list of arbitrators for grievances advanced to arbitration.
Tentative Agreements
After the parties verbally agreed to UW’s proposal on Non-Discrimination at the last meeting, the parties signed a tentative agreement on the article at this meeting.
Next Steps
The next UW-UWHA bargaining session is scheduled for May 11.