UW – WSNA Northwest Negotiations Recap for April 17, 2025
This recap details the third session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the UW and WSNA NW.
Union Initial Proposals
Article 6 – Seniority – The Union proposed new language around low census, stating that employees placed on low census would be released for their entire shift or alternatively, if the Employer places a nurse on low census for less than their entire shift, the nurse should only be placed on low census for a four (4) hour increment at either the start or conclusion of the nurses’ shift. The Union also proposed to increase the notice time given to nurses being called off for low census for day shifts from one- and one-half (1 ½) hours to two (2) hours.
Article 9 – Other Compensation – The Union proposed to create a new section of this article stating that STAT nurses whose sole role is that of a STAT nurse would not be floated or pulled outside of that role. Additionally, the Union proposed to add language on incentive shifts that would give the hospital discretion to designate individual shifts in certain departments as eligible for incentive shift pay. Under this proposal, only those nurses working an extra shift during the pay period would be eligible for shift incentive pay when the hospital makes such a designation. Additionally, the proposal states that nurses already scheduled to work the designated shift as part of their regular schedule would not be eligible for incentive shift pay.
Employer Initial Proposals
Article 5 – Employment Practices – The Employer proposed to strike language that requires nurses to present their notice of resignation to their manager in-person, and proposed to strike language that requires nurses to provide proof of illness when using sick time off during the resignation notice period. The Employer also proposed to add language laying out the policy for resignation and abandonment, which would state that an employee who fails to appear for work and report their absence on three (3) consecutive days would be deemed to have resigned.
With respect to discipline, the Employer proposed to update language on discipline to more accurately reflect general principles of corrective action and progressive discipline. The Employer also proposed to add language that lays out the steps of the corrective disciplinary action process including formal disciplinary counseling, final disciplinary counseling, dismissal, and demotion as well as provisions that allow for Union representation in the steps of the corrective action process.
Article 6 – Seniority – The Employer proposed to adjust the priority list for addressing temporary periods of low census by increasing the priority of asking for volunteers. Additionally, the Employer proposed new language stating that the Employer would take skill mix and shift length into consideration before cancelling nurses due to low census. Under this proposed language, the Employer would also not be required to cancel travelers due to low census if doing so would exceed what is permitted by the traveler’s contract. The Employer also proposed to update the low census groups to more accurately reflect the various departments within the hospital.
Appendix D – Clinical Clusters Pertaining to Article 6 – Seniority – The Employer proposed to update Appendix D to better capture units and departments across UWMC-Northwest. The Employer proposed to include all inpatient units in Cluster One and all critical care units in Cluster Two. For Cluster Four, the Employer proposed to strike references to specific primary care units and instead include all UWMPC Ambulatory Nursing and Population Health (excluding OB/GYN). For Cluster five, the Employer proposed to strike references to specific specialty clinics and instead include UWMPC OB/GYN and all of UWMC Ambulatory Care. Additionally, the Employer proposed to create a new Cluster Six, which would include behavioral health units such as the Long-Term Civil Commitment Unit, Geropsychiatry Unit, Behavioral Health Intake Evaluation Unit, and the Behavioral Health Float Pool.
Next Steps
The next UW and WSNA bargaining session will be held jointly with WSNA-Montlake and WSNA-Northwest and is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, 2025 and will be held in-person at the UDSB Gateway Building.