UW and SEIU 925 Negotiations Recap for July 20, 2022
Background
This recap details the first virtual session for the 2023-2025 collective bargaining agreement between the UW and SEIU 925. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.
During the first bargaining session, both parties gave introductions and subsequently agreed upon ground rules for these negotiations.
Employer Initial Proposals
Critical Recruitment and Retention Wages Increases – The Employer began by acknowledging the staffing challenges present throughout the University and the importance of immediate implementation of wage increases for recruitment and retention purposes. The Employer proposed an MOU that would increase wages for specified classifications facing critical recruitment and retention challenges. The proposal includes regular employees and nonpermanent intermittent employees to be placed on their current step in a new range. Temporary hourly employees not on steps would receive an increase in their hourly rate if below the new range, if applicable. The proposal included increases ranging from 5% to 20% for the following job profiles:
| Job Profile | Table | Current Range | Proposed Range | Average % Increase |
| Advanced Cardiac Technologist | B8 | 100 | 113 | 13% |
| Advanced Cardiac Technologist Lead | B8 | 105 | 118 | 13% |
| Advanced Cardiac Technologist Supervisor | B8 | 109 | 122 | 13% |
| Cardiac Monitor Technician | B8 | 020 | 038 | 20% |
| Cardiac Technologist | B8 | 079 | 091 | N/A |
| Cardiac Technologist Lead | B8 | 084 | 096 | N/A |
| Cardiac Technologist Supervisor | B7BX | 089 | 101 | N/A |
| Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist 2 | BT | 050 | 058 | 8% |
| Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist 3 | BT | 057 | 065 | 8% |
| Hospital Security Officer – UWMC-ML | B4 | 047 | 049 | 5% |
| Hospital Security Sergeant – HMC | B4 | 062 | 064 | 5% |
| Hospital Security Sergeant – UWMC-ML | B4 | 057 | 059 | 5% |
| Medical Assistant | B7BX | 042 | 047 | 5% |
| Medical Assistant Apprentice | B4 | 032 | 034 | 5% |
| Medical Assistant Lead | B7BX | 050 | 055 | 5% |
| Medical Assistant Registered | B7BX | 036 | 041 | 5% |
| Medical Assistant Supervisor | B7BX | 059 | 064 | 5% |
| Pharmacy Technician 1 | BG | 047 | 052 | 5% |
| Pharmacy Technician 2 | BG | 052 | 057 | 5% |
| Pharmacy Technician Lead | BG | 057 | 062 | 5% |
| Phlebotomist | B8 | 015 | 029 | 15% |
| Phlebotomist Lead | B8 | 022 | 036 | 15% |
| Surgical Technologist | BG | 054 | 061 | 7% |
| Surgical Technologist Lead | BG | 061 | 068 | N/A |
The Union accepted the Employer’s proposal on August 1, 2022, and the increases will become effective as of this date.
Union Initial Proposals
Following the Employer’s proposal, the Union gave three presentations for market adjustment increases for Medical Interpreters, PSS/Operations Supervisors, and Sleep Technicians. The Union also presented their priorities for this contract, which included the following items:
- Across the Board Wage Increases
- Equitable Staffing and Workload
- Flexibility, including Work from Home and Scheduling Accommodations
Compensation, Wages, and Other Pay Provisions – The Union proposed an across-the-board increase of 13.25% effective July 1, 2023 and 13.25% effective July 1, 2024. The Union emphasized the importance of wage increases to their membership and stated they do not intend to bring many contract language changes in their initial proposals.
Next Steps
The next UW and SEIU 925 bargaining session is scheduled for August 4 and will be held virtually.