UW – UWHA Negotiations Recap for February 19, 2020
Background
This recap details the twenty-fourth session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and UWHA. This was the fifth session to be facilitated by a State-appointed mediator. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.
Employer Package Proposal
The Employer presented a second package proposal in which all provisions would need to be accepted in their entirety. Package highlights included:
General Wage Increases – The Employer proposed to increase wages across-the-board by 2% seventy-five days after contract ratification, with an additional increase of 2% on July 1, 2020 and 2% on July 1, 2021.
Vacation – In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer proposed to increase the amount of paid vacation to 24 days (18 weekdays and 6 weekend days) beginning July 1, 2020.
UPASS – In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer proposed that as of July 1, 2020 residents would be provided with a fully-subsidized U-PASS. The Employer proposed this benefit in lieu of all of the current contract language regarding bicycle benefits.
Meals – In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer proposed to increase the meal reimbursements to $8.50 per meal beginning July 1, 2020 and $9.50 per meal beginning July 1, 2021. Earlier in the same bargaining session, the Union had modified their proposal to $10 per meal beginning July 1, 2020 with a $0.50 increase each year.
Emergency/Safe Ride Home – The Employer proposed to increase its Emergency/Safe Ride Home program fund proposal to $700 per year.
Scheduling – In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer proposed a new side letter stating that yearly block schedules would be distributed by the beginning of the academic year. Complete schedules, exclusive of the first block of the academic year, would be provided no later than 30 days in advance of the rotation start date. GME would encourage distribution of complete schedules 60 days prior to the rotation start date, for those programs with a capacity to do so.
Next Steps
The next UW and UWHA bargaining session is scheduled for March 3.