UW – WSNA Montlake Negotiations Recap for May 27, 2025
This recap details the tenth session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the UW and WSNA Montlake.
Union Counter Proposals
Article 15 – Other Leaves of Absence – The Union’s counterproposal includes new language stating that in the case of suspended operations, nurses released would receive pay for the duration of their scheduled shift. In response to the Employer’s initial proposal, the Union counter-proposed to maintain current contract language regarding make up time for suspended operations. The Union also rejected the Employer’s proposal that requests for WSNA leave follow established departmental processes.
Article 17 – Conference Committee – In response to the Employer’s proposal for new language requiring agenda items for Conference Committee meetings to be provided at least one week in advance, the Union counter-proposed language stating that the parties would make their best efforts to share agenda items at least one week in advance of Conference Committee meetings.
Article 19 – Corrective Action (Progressive Discipline) Dismissal and Resignation – The Union counter-proposed to maintain current contract language that the Employer proposed to strike that allows nurses to withdraw a resignation notice if said withdrawal is submitted to the Employer within 72 hours of the resignation notice being submitted.
In response to the Employer’s proposed new language stating that employees who fail to appear for work and report their absence on three consecutive workdays would be deemed to have resigned, the Union’s counterproposal would extend that period to five consecutive workdays before an employee would be deemed to have resigned. In response to the Employer’s proposed new language that would allow an employee to petition for reinstatement with proof that an absence couldn’t be avoided within fourteen calendar days of the Employer mailing the separation notice, the Union’s counterproposal would extend that period to twenty-eight days for employees to petition for reinstatement.
Article 20 – Grievance Procedure – In response to the Employer’s proposal for new language around the arbitration scheduling process, the Union counter-proposed language stating that the parties would use their best efforts to begin the arbitration scheduling process and schedule an arbitration hearing date within 6 months of a grievance being advanced. Additionally, the Union rejected language proposed by the Employer stating that if the Union failed to contact the Employer to provide availability and begin scheduling, the grievance would be considered withdrawn.
Next Steps
The next UW and WSNA bargaining session is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, 2025, and will be held in-person at the UDSB Gateway building. This session will be held jointly with both WSNA-Montlake and WSNA-Northwest.