CIR-NW: UW Negotiations Recap for September 24, 2025
Background
This recap details the fourteenth virtual session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the University of Washington and the Committee of Residents and Interns Northwest (formerly RFPU). The parties were joined by a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.
Tentative Agreements
Article 24: Transportation
There was some language clean-up in this article. The parties agreed that residents will not be charged for weekend parking at UWMC, HMC, SCH and the VA starting at 4:00PM on Fridays, previously 12AM on Saturdays. The parties also agreed that residents will have access to free indoor bicycle parking at Harborview Medical Center.
Additionally, the parties agree that reimbursement for using the Safe Ride Home program will be provided 15 calendar days after an accepted receipt submission and that residents will be provided a written explanation if reimbursement was denied.
New Side Letter XX: Harborview Medical Center Offsite Parking
This new side letter states that there are no planned changes to the process or assigned parking locations for residents or ACGME fellows at Harborview medical Center. Should there be changes to Harborview Medical Center parking in the future that impacts residents or ACGME fellows, the Employer will comply with the conditions outlined in Article 24 Transportation.
Employer Counter Proposal
NEW Side Letter XX: Vacation Time Off Evaluation What-If
The Employer proposed that, if the Union accepts the Employer’s Last Best and Final Offer, that in July 2027, the Employer would conduct a vacation survey of residents’ vacation days in AY27 that did not start at midnight on the first day of vacation. The parties would discuss the data at a Joint Labor Management Committee Meeting.
Union Counter Proposal
In response to the Employer’s proposal, the Union proposed a package in which all aspects of the proposal would need to be accepted as written in its entirety.
In this package, the Union proposed the following:
Article 3: Childcare
In the context of this package, the Union would tentatively agree to the Employer’s childcare proposal from August 7, 2025.
Article 6: Fringe Benefits
The Union reasserted many aspects of its August 7, 2025 proposal. In response to the Employer, the Union is proposing to change the structure of the new relocation monies. Previously the Union proposed a one-time payment of $5,000 per eligible resident for relocation. The Union’s current proposal is that the Employer would provide a $500,000 relocation fund per year. The Union would be responsible for determining eligibility criteria for appropriate distribution to Residents.
Article 12: Time off Holidays
The Union reasserts its initial proposal from February 25, 2025.
Article 16: Time off Vacation
In response to the Employer, the Union proposed there would be a “best effort” standard to have the first vacation day off start at midnight. The Union’s previous proposal was that a vacation day would start at midnight on the first vacation day, and end at midnight the last vacation day.
Article 21: Professional Development and Licensing
The Union reasserted its counter proposal from May 27, 2025.
Article 22: Salary/Stipend
The Union reasserted its counter proposal from August 7, 2025.
NEW Article: Leave General Provisions:
The Union reasserted its counter proposal from May 13, 2025.
Next Steps
At this time, there are no additional bargaining-mediation sessions scheduled.
UW and CIR-NW have been engaged in negotiations for a successor contract since February. The current contract expired on June 30, 2025. For a summary of the parties’ previous proposals, please refer to the prior CIR-NW bargaining updates.