UW – SAG-AFTRA Negotiations Recap 11/30/22
Background
This recap details the thirteenth session for the negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Washington (UW) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) for KUOW. Both parties were joined by Public Employment Relations Commission mediator Karyl Elinski. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.
Tentative Agreements
Article 7 – Union Security
Article seven refers to dues deduction. The Employer plans to build a new web based electronic reporting system for the Union to transmit authorizations for deductions of dues to the Employer. The Union may provide input to the Employer regarding the web based electronic reporting system’s development and prior to implementing the system, the Employer would provide the Union with notice and opportunity to bargain.
Article 14 – Temporary Hourly Fill-In Employees & Project Appointments
Article 14 now refers to Temporary Hourly Fill-In Employees and Project Appointment employees. New language was added around project appointment employees to the temporary hourly fill-in article. The new language states project appointments would be for up to twelve months in duration, and filled as determined by the Employer. The Employer will provide the Union with the name of project appointment(s) within ten business days of their hire. The usage of project appointment employees may also be an appropriate agenda item for Joint Union Management committee meetings.
New Article – Classification and reclassification
A new article was added around classification and reclassification. The new article describes the allocation and reallocation of positions, including how the Employer may decide to create, eliminate or modify class specifications and the Union may propose a new classification or edits to existing classifications. The article describes the position review process, the appeal process of the position review, how hearings are conducted for appeals and how hearing officers are selected. The article also states that the Employer would agree to notify the Union of any proposed reclassifications outside of the bargaining unit at least 30 days prior to implementation.
New MOU – Job Class spec review
This new MOU discusses how the parties will meet at least quarterly for the next twelve months to discuss a list of job class specifications that the Union proposed adding to the bargaining unit.
Counter Proposals
Article 39 – Compensation
The Union altered their previous proposal regarding minimum salaries by spreading the increases over the life of the contract. The Union’s new proposal is to increase minimum salaries retroactive to July 1, 2022, by 9.75% in the first year, and by a total range of 22.5% to 24.5%, depending on the position, by the end of the contract.
Next Steps
The next UW and SAG-AFTRA bargaining session is scheduled for December 12 and will be held virtually.