Labor Relations

Negotiations Recap for October 30, 2015

This recap details the 23rd session for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and SEIU 1199, which expired as of July 1, 2015. This was the 11th session to be facilitated by State-appointed mediators.

SEIU 1199 Proposals

Per Diem Proposals

  • Per Diem Compensation Policies – SEIU 1199 proposed expanding UW’s language to maintain current per diem pay practices, such that it would include policies that are outside of the contract.
  • Per Diem Step Increases – SEIU 1199 maintained its proposal for per diem nurses to receive annual step increases upon reaching 1,872 hours, as frequently as once every 12 months, and that UW track this data and report it annually to the union at the parties’ first joint labor-management meeting in January.
  • Per Diem Float Premium – SEIU 1199 maintained its proposal for per diem nurses to be eligible to receive float pay.
  • Applicable Contract Provisions – SEIU 1199 maintained its proposed additions to the list of regular contract provisions that apply to per diem nurses.

Research/Hall Health Nurses

  • Rest Between Shifts – SEIU 1199 proposed language to make Hall Health nurses eligible for the rest between shifts pay premium.
  • Credit for Past Experience – SEIU 1199 maintained its proposal for UW’s evaluation of Hall Health nurse experience to result in salary step adjustments retroactive to July 1, 2015. UW’s proposal would provide additional wage step increases to eligible Hall Health nurse based on an evaluation of their experience.
  • Standby Assignments – SEIU 1199 proposed a prohibition on mandatory standby assignments for Hall Health nurses without the union’s permission.
  • Grievance Procedure – SEIU 1199 proposed contract language that the parties have since agreed to replace in the main contract, whereby steps B, C, and D of the corrective action process would be subject to every step of the grievance procedure.
  • Research Nurse Wage Increases – SEIU 1199 proposed the following wage increases for research nurses in addition to any across-the-board wage increases:
    • Research Nurse 1: 4 percent increase retroactive to July 1, 2015, and another 4 percent increase effective July 1, 2016.
    • Research Nurse 2: 3 percent increase retroactive to July 1, 2015, and another 3 percent increase effective July 1, 2016.

Negotiations for a Successor Contract – SEIU 1199 proposed that UW provide paid release time for 15 union designated bargaining team members for all sessions during future rounds of contract negotiations, as well as for two bargaining team members to attend statewide Healthcare Coalition bargaining.

UW Proposals

Per Diem Proposals

  • Per Diem Wage Differential – UW is proposing no change to the per diem nurse wage differential.
  • Per Diem Nurse Overtime – UW maintained its last proposal with language memorializing that time worked beyond 40 hours in one week is considered overtime and will be paid at one and one-half times the regular rate of pay.
  • Per Diem Step Increases – UW supplemented its proposed process for per diem nurses to request step increases, such that eligible nurses would be guaranteed a wage increase effective the date of their request.
  • Per Diem Hours Worked – UW proposed that management provide the union with a report of all regular hours paid to union-represented per diem nurses in the prior calendar year, to be delivered at the first joint labor-management committee held in the new calendar year.

Research/Hall Health Nurses

  • Rest Between Shifts – UW accepted SEIU 1199’s proposal to make Hall Health nurses eligible for the rest between shifts pay premium, with minor language changes to better align with the Hall Health workplace.
  • Grievance Procedure – UW declined SEIU 1199’s proposal to utilize outdated language regarding grievability and arbitrability, in favor of matching the language that was recently agreed upon for the main contract.

Negotiations for a Successor Contract – UW increased its previous proposal such that it would provide paid release time for two bargaining team members to attend statewide Healthcare Coalition bargaining. UW maintained its proposal for paid release time for up to 15 union designated bargaining team members for the first 10 sessions (for up to eight hours per session) during negotiations for the 2017-2019 contract. After 20 sessions, the union could request that the parties discuss additional paid release time for union team members.

Next Steps

The next UW-SEIU 1199 bargaining session is scheduled for November 13. Since the contract has expired, the previous contract will remain in effect until the parties negotiate a successor agreement. Similar to the approach used across the University and in prior contract negotiations, UW has stated that it does not intend for wage increases to be applied retroactively, meaning wage increases would not begin before the new contract goes into effect.