WSNA – UWMC – ML and NW Tentative Agreement Recap
Background
This recap details the third and fourth virtual session between the University of Washington (UW) and Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) for the renewal of two collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), one for University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) – Montlake (ML) and one for UWMC – Northwest (NW). Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.
On September 30, the parties came to tentative agreements for each contract. The contents of each agreement are outlined below.
Both UWMC-ML and NW Tentative Agreements
Across-the-Boards
- 4% across-the-board on July 1, 2023, and 3% across-the-board on July 1, 2024, for all WSNA jobs
Bargaining Unit Recruitment and Retention Increases
- 4% increase January 1, 2023, and 5% increase on July 1, 2023, for all WSNA jobs
Nurse Pay Ranges
- The parties agreed to increase by 2% the first 5 ranges on the registered nurse pay tables
Standby
- Increased standby from $4.25 per hour under 30 hours of standby worked and $6.25 per hour over 30 hours of standby worked to a flat rate of $7 per hour for all hours of standby worked
Pre-Scheduled Voluntary Double-time
- New MOU states pre-scheduled voluntary double-time shifts could be offered after the initial scheduled bid is incorporated and posted
- Permanent FTE nurses eligible to volunteer for pre-scheduled double-time shifts when they are scheduled to meet their permanent FTE within the pay period.
- Nonpermanent and Intermittent (Per Diem) nurses not be eligible to volunteer for pre-scheduled double-time shifts until they have scheduled up to 36 hours in the week of the pre-scheduled double-time shift, and will only be compensated at double-time if they worked all those scheduled hours that week.
- Nurses calling in sick on voluntary double-time shifts will not receive sick pay.
Temporary Salary Increase (TSI)
- Adjusted contract so that nurses receive a TSI for any amount of time the Employer assigns a nurse in writing to regularly perform the principal duties of a higher-level nursing position, instead of only receiving the TSI if they perform higher level duties for a period of five or more days.
Tentative Agreements for UWMC-ML only
Emergency Department Mandatory Standby
- Struck the MOU stating that standby would be mandatory in the Emergency Department at UWMC-ML.
Float Premium
- Increased float premium for nurses solely in the Resource Team/Float pool from $4 to $5, which now matches UWMC-NW
Preceptor
- Added language stating that the definition of preceptor includes planning, organizing, and evaluating the new skill development of a traveler or senior student fulfilling their practicum
NICU Resource Premium
- Added new premium of $1.50 for NICU nurses assigned to the role of Resource Nurse in the NICU. The premium does not apply to hours worked in any other department or unit.
Tentative Agreements for UWMC-NW only
Double-Time Premium
- Added language stating that the double-time premium shall be paid for hours worked in excess of 12 hours, which now matches UWMC-ML
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Premium
- Nurses who attain an MSN shall receive a one-step pay increase with proof of degree, which now matches UWMC-ML
Shift Differential
- Modified language such that nurses will be paid shift differential on second or third shift if the majority of hours are worked during the designated shift
- Added language stating that an RN permanently assigned to second (evening) or third (night) shift will receive the shift premium assigned to that shift. An RN who is temporarily assigned, within the RN’s FTE, to another shift with a lower shift rate will receive the higher shift rate if the temporary assignment was not greater than five consecutive working days. An RN who is using paid time off will receive the shift premium if the RN has a permanent work shift designation of evening or night.
Next Steps
The members of WSNA will be holding a vote on whether to ratify these contracts.