WFSE – UW Negotiations Recap for Thursday, September 5, 2024
Background
This recap details the ninth virtual session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the University of Washington and WFSE. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.
Tentative Agreements
The parties tentatively agreed to the following:
Article 28 – Inclement Weather and Suspended Operations
The parties agreed to expand the types of time off a non-essential employee, who is also ineligible for telework, could use during suspended operations; the time off type that is now included is Sick Time Off. Additionally, if the unpaid time off is used, because the employee had no other paid time available, then the employee would have up to fifteen calendars days after operations resume to make up work time lost.
Article 61 – Diversity and Inclusion
The parties agreed to modify language so that it reflects the current practice. Additionally, the parties agreed that the council workgroup would attend at least one all day workshop every twelve months. Additional training opportunities could be added with the mutual agreement of the council workgroup and the approval from the Harborview Medical Center CEO. Finally, the parties agreed to add that participants would be released with pay from their duties to attend this workgroup and would request release time from their manager in advance. Managers are encouraged to support employees participating in this workgroup and grant release unless there are operational needs where release time cannot be approved.
Side Letter G – Actual Time Reporting
The parties agreed to include a new side letter in the agreement where if the Employer were to begin migrating to an actual time reporting system, the Employer would provide the Union with at least six months’ notice. Additionally, the parties would meet to bargain the impacts of the change, and the Union could have up to six members serve as representatives, in addition to the two local presidents participating.
WFSE Counter Proposals
Article 26 – Civil Duty Time Off and Bereavement Time Off
In response to the Employer’s proposal, the Union countered that the employee could use personal leave as described in the personal leave days in their Article 20 – Miscellaneous Leave proposal. Additionally, in response to the Employer’s proposal, the Union proposed including a person with whom the employee has a dating relationship in the definition of family member.
Article 45 – Compensation, Wages, and Other Pay Provisions
In response to the Employer’s proposal, the Union proposed reducing salary range increase year one from 25% to 17% and the year two salary increase from 25% to 15%.
Article 47 – Contracting
In response to the Employer’s proposal, the Union maintained their reference to Attachment B – Contracting Out Form within the body of the article and modified their language to be the Employer would send an electronic overtime solicitation notice to all affected trades and shops. If the overtime solicitation notice was provided after noon, the day after notice was provided would be the first day of a four working day notice period for staff to inform management of their interest in the overtime assignment.
On the following provisions, the Union maintained their previous proposal:
- Article 17 – Vacations
- Article 20 – Miscellaneous Leave
- Appendix VI – Contracting Out Form
- Side Letter E – HMC Hospital Security Officers Compensatory Time
- Attachment B – Contracting Out Flow Chart
UW Initial Proposals
New MOU – Market Based Increases
The Employer proposed a new MOU that details salary range increases for several job profiles based on the market data of the Milliman Study presented earlier this round of bargaining.
UW Counter Proposals
Article 9 Hours of work and Work Schedules
In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer suggested language that would reference University Policy or UW Medicine Policy to reduce disagreements on this provision.
Article 12 – Licensure and Certification
In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer proposed reimbursing the employee for the initial cost of a new license or certification, including all required training, education, and fees as determined by the employer.
Article 45 – Compensation, Wages, and Other Pay Provisions
In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer proposed increasing the year one salary increase to 2% while maintaining 1% in year two.
Assignment Pay
In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer proposed allowing organizational policy to describe the height, rather than an actual measurement, when a person wearing a fall protection safety harness would receive assignment pay. Additionally, the Employer proposed if an employee was wearing chaps while operating power cutting tools during tree removal and pruning, they would receive assignment pay.
MOU – UW Medicine Pre-Scheduled Voluntary Double-Time Shift Incentive
In response the Union’s proposal, the Employer proposed allowing this MOU to expire.
On the following provisions, the Employer maintained their previous proposal:
- Article 10 – Overtime
- Article 14 – Hiring, Appointments, Promotions, and Transfers
- Article 17 – Vacations
- Article 20 – Miscellaneous Leave
- Article 26 – Civil Duty Time Off and Bereavement Time Off
- Article 40 – Mandatory Subject
- MOU – Trades Apprentice Program
- MOU – Apprenticeship Program Automotive Mechanic Implementation
- Side Letter E – HMC Hospital Security Officers Compensatory Time
Next Steps
The next WFSE and UW bargaining session is scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2024, and will be held virtually.