Negotiations Recap for June 30, 2015
This recap details the eighth session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and WSNA, which expired on July 1, 2015.
Package Proposals
Throughout the day, the parties exchanged package proposals that would need to be accepted in their entirety.
UW Last, Best, and Final Proposal
At the end of the day, UW submitted a “last, best, and final” package proposal that included the following provisions:
Association Membership – UW declined WSNA’s proposal to require all UWMC nurses to join the union as dues-paying members, in favor of maintaining current contract language.
Rest Between Shifts – UW would accept WSNA’s proposal to maintain a required break of 10.5 hours between 12-hour shifts and 12 hours between all other scheduled shifts.
On-Call – UW would withdraw its proposal on mandatory call and maintain current contract language regarding call.
Wage Rates – In addition to adding a new step 30 to the top of the pay range, UW proposed an across-the-board increase of 3 percent in 2015 and 2 percent in 2016.
Staffing – UW would accept WSNA’s language regarding staffing to facilitate rest breaks, meal breaks, and ultimately nurse safety. UW proposed to maintain the language memorializing that staffing plans are not subject to the grievance procedure.
WSNA Package Proposal
WSNA put forth a responsive package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. Provisions included:
Association Membership – WSNA proposed that all current dues-paying members would be required to remain dues-paying members and all newly hired nurses would be permanently required to be dues-paying members.
On-Call – WSNA proposed to limit on-call to the Operating Room, all PACUs, Interventional Radiology, and the Cath Lab, and to prevent new hires from accepting mandatory call as a condition of hire.
Wage Rates – WSNA proposed a 3 percent across-the-board increase in 2015 and a 4 percent across-the-board increase in 2016, as well as the new top Step 30.
Staffing – WSNA proposed to eliminate the contract language that makes staffing plans not subject to the grievance procedure.
Next Steps
The parties agreed to meet again to continue negotiations on July 8. Since the contract has expired, the previous contract will remain in effect until the parties negotiate a successor agreement.