Labor Relations

Negotiations Recap for January 25, 2016

This recap summarizes the 17th bargaining session between the UW and the UWHA to form the first union contract for UW medical and dental residents and fellows. This was the third session to be facilitated by a State-appointed mediator.

UW Proposals

Union Dues – UW proposed minor adjustments to the process outlined in UWHA’s proposal to deduct union dues/fees from residents and fellows.

Union Proposals

Holidays – UWHA maintained its proposal to enable trainees who are assigned clinical responsibilities on one of the 10 UW holidays to either be paid for an additional day or receive a day off in lieu of each holiday worked. The union clarified that its overriding priority is to establish more uniformity for the holidays recognized across the four primary training sites (UW Medical Center, Harborview, Seattle Children’s, and the VA).

Pregnancy and Childbirth Leave – UWHA maintained its proposal for up to six weeks of paid leave for the time in which a trainee is sick or unable to fully perform required duties because of pregnancy or childbirth. UWHA proposed that overnight call not be scheduled and that duty be limited to 12 consecutive hours during the last trimester of pregnancy and two months post-partum.

Parental Leave – With some minor rewording, UWHA maintained its proposed notion of at least two full weeks of paid leave for a father or same-sex domestic partner, to be granted any time from known conception to 12 months after delivery or adoption of a child.

Next Steps

The next UW-UWHA bargaining mediation session is scheduled for February 1.