Labor Relations

UW & SEIU 1199NW RHH Negotiations Recap for July 18, 2025

Background

This recap details the fourth session for the negotiation for the 2025-2027 collective bargaining agreement between the UW and SEIU 1199NW Research/Hall Health. This and all other bargaining sessions for this contract have been held virtually. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.

SEIU 1199NW RHH Counter Proposals

Article 9: Wages and Other Pay Provisions

The Union reasserted their initial wage proposal including the following across-the-board increases for all SEIU 1199 represented employees

  • July 1, 2025, a 3% increase to pay tables BQ and BR.
  • July 1, 2026, a 2% increase to pay tables BQ and BR

In response to the Employer, the Union lowered their initial proposal that  effective July 1, 2025, pay tables BQ and BR would be increased by five dollars ($5) per hour prior to the proposed increases in Article 9, and instead, proposed that effective July 1, 2025, pay tables BQ and BR would be increased by four dollars ($4) per hour prior to the proposed increases in Article 9.

UW Counter Proposals

Article 9: Wages and Other Pay Provisions

We are now past the contract expiration date of July 1, 2025,  therefore, the Employer updated their  proposal, to be effective within ninety (90) days of ratification on the first available pay period as determined by the Employer SEIU 1199 represented employees would receive a 3% increase and SEIU 1199 represented employees would receive a 2% increase on July 1, 2026.

New MOU: Non – Monetary Steps

In response to the Union, the Employer proposed effective July 1, 2026, the Employer would eliminate all non-monetary steps for all pay ranges on pay tables B2 and BW. Where there is a non-monetary step, the Employer will increase the value of the non-monetary step by half the difference between the step below and the step above the non-monetary step.

New MOU: New Top Step for Registered Nurses and Research Registered Nurses

In response to the Union, the Employer proposed that effective within ninety (90) days of ratification on the first available pay period, as determined by the Employer, the Employer will add:

  • Step AE for the Registered Nurse pay ranges 1 and 2 on pay table B2. The new top auto step AE will be one percent (1%) above Step AD.
  • Step AE for the Registered Nurse – Research pay ranges 1 and 2 on pay table BW. The new top auto step AE will be one percent (1%) above Step AD.

Employees who have been on Step AD for at least a year by the effective date will be placed on Step AE.

Article 6: Bargaining Unit Classes / Definitions

In response to the Union, the Employer proposed a Husky Health Registered Nurse 2, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant, may serve as a preceptor after being determined by their supervisor to be qualified, and agreeing to, being appointed to be specifically responsible for planning, organizing, and evaluating the new skill development of one or more Husky Health employees. This may include planning, organizing and evaluating the new skill development of the new employee. The Employer added preceptor pay does not apply to the required teaching activities for employees with clinical faculty appointments  Additionally, the Employer proposal included that it is understood employees, in the ordinary course of their responsibilities, will be expected to participate in the general orientation process of new employees and this is not considered precepting.

Tentative Agreements

Article 11: Vacation Schedule

The Parties agreed to keep current contract language with a s housekeeping edit that clarifies vacation time off maximum is 280 hours.

Article 15: Sick Leave

The Parties agreed to housekeeping edits, that change references from sick leave to sick time off. The Parties further  agreed to adding, under reasons for sick time off usage, that if the employee or the employee’s family member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking as defined in RCW 49.76.020  and, the Parties also agreed to add that effective July 27, 2025, employees would be able to use sick leave to prepare for, or participate in, any judicial or administrative immigration proceeding involving the employee or employee’s family member.

Article 18: Classifications

The parties agreed to keep current contract language, with a small housekeeping edit.

Article 27: Mandatory Subject

The Parties agreed to reduce the amount of time the Employer must wait after sending notice to the Union of change in a mandatory subject from 60 days to 30 days.

Article 33: Duration of Agreement

The parties agreed to a contract in effect from time of ratification until June 30, 2027

MOU: Salary Overpayment Recovery

The parties agreed to make this MOU an article and update the method of payback definition to be active employees can payback an overpayment using voluntary wage deduction or vacation (if under 280 hours only) or compensatory time balances and separated employees can payback using cash or check.

Side Letter C: U-PASS

The parties agreed to keep current contract language and make a small housekeeping edit.

Next Steps

The Employer requested PERC mediation to assist with this bargaining and a mediator has been assigned to assist and they will be invited to our next bargaining session. The next UW & 1199NW RHH bargaining session is  scheduled for August 1, 2025, and will be held virtually.