Negotiations Recap for May 11, 2015
This recap details the eighth 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
Grievance Procedure – UW accepted the union’s proposal to lengthen the time allowed for a grievance appeal from seven to 14 days, as well as the union’s proposed language surrounding the selection of arbitrators.
UW declined the union’s proposed requirement that notice of intent to file a grievance remain confidential from all parties outside the union. Instead, UW proposed language establishing that the University will not tolerate any retaliation against trainees for filing a grievance, and directing trainees who believe retaliation has occurred toward recourse.
Vacation Leave – UW maintained its proposal for trainees to receive 21 vacation days (15 weekdays and six weekend days) at the start of each one-year appointment period. This would be pro-rated for trainees appointed to less than full time but greater than a 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent), and would not apply to trainees working less than a 0.5 FTE.
UW’s proposal included language establishing that programs will make every effort to honor vacation requests that are made in a timely manner.
External Moonlighting – UW proposed that trainees be allowed to perform patient care services at non-UW affiliated sites if they meet certain provisions, and provided that it does not interfere with the responsibilities, duties, and assignments of their training program. Trainees would need to meet several requirements, including academic/program performance, licensure, duty hours, legal compliance, and requirements specific to individual programs.
Program directors would review requests for external moonlighting and apply the agreed-upon factors. Automatic denials of external moonlighting requests would be prohibited. Any denials would be supported by specific reasons as well as objective criteria by which the trainee could improve their program standing. Denials could be challenged up to Step 3 of the grievance procedure.
Next Steps
The next UW-UWHA bargaining session is scheduled for May 18.