Labor Relations

UW – WSNA Negotiations Recap for April 25, 2017

Background

This recap details the 3rd session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and WSNA. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.

WSNA Proposals

Initial Proposal

Cardiovascular Thoracic Operating Room (CVT OR) Premium – WSNA proposed a new premium for CVT OR RNs of $7.00 per hour for all hours worked.  WSNA also proposed that CVT OR RNs would receive an additional $2.25 standby premium on top of the current standby pay.

Other Proposals

Bulletin Boards – In response to UW’s proposal, WSNA proposed to reach tentative agreement on language that would allow bulletin boards for union use to be available in either break rooms or lounges, depending on space availability by unit.

Contract Distribution – In response to UW’s proposal, WSNA proposed to reach tentative agreement on language regarding electronic distribution of the collective bargaining agreement to union members to reflect current practices.

Compensatory Time Off – In response to UW’s proposal, WSNA proposed to reach tentative agreement on language to combine UWMC’s payoff dates for both overtime and holiday compensatory time to June 30th.

Shift Rotation – In response to UW’s proposal, WSNA proposed to remove shift rotation language from the contract.

Clinical Clusters – In response to UW’s proposal, WSNA proposed several changes to the clinical cluster designations and maintained that floating would be defined as working outside their assigned unit rather than their corresponding clinical cluster.

Layoff and Displacement Options – In response to UW’s proposal, WSNA proposed that no changes be made to the layoff and displacement options.  The union stated a preference for bumping over filling funded vacant positions.

Holiday & Vacation Leave – In response to UW’s proposal, WSNA proposed to keep the holiday and vacation provisions together in the contract.  WSNA proposed to include holiday proration calculations for part time RNs, and for union members to be able to choose when to request and use their accrued holiday credit.

UW Proposals

Negotiation Team – In response to WSNA’s proposal, UW proposed to incorporate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing parameters for the 2019-2021 contract negotiation team.  Proposal highlights include the following:

  • UW would provide paid release team for up to twelve designated bargaining team members for the first eight sessions
  • After twelve bargaining sessions, the parties would discuss additional paid release time
  • The union would provide labor relations with information about the designated negotiation team at least three weeks prior to the beginning of negotiations, and UW would notify managers of members to be released
  • Negotiation team members would request time off in accordance with normal leave policies
  • WSNA would provide the UW with the names and hours of the negotiation team directly after the end of each session, and all party representatives would sign the employer’s sign in sheet

Vacation Leave – In response to WSNA’s proposal, UW proposed to adjust the time frames for submission of peak period vacation requests as follows:

  • June 16 through September 15 requests would be submitted in writing by February 1 and would be approved or denied in writing by February 28
  • Thanksgiving though January 1 requests would be submitted in writing by July 1 and would be approved or denied in writing by July 31

Next Steps

The next UW-WSNA bargaining session is scheduled for May 10.