Bargaining update - Joint Session #3

Your respective bargaining teams met jointly with the employer today for our 3rd full day joint session.  Both parties are still presenting their initial proposals. We aim to have all of our opening proposals including our economic proposals on the table by the middle of May.

UWMC Montlake

Yesterday, the employer proposed eliminating your ability to schedule your FTE in a 28-day period.  Self-scheduling as you know it, along with your work life balance are under attack! If this were to be put into place, RNs would become hourly and would have to satisfy their FTE hours within either a one or two-week schedule period. [work within the confines of a one to two week schedule period.]

WSNA knows how important this scheduling option is to our Montlake RNs.

This would negatively impact your ability to self-schedule, trade shifts and remain FLSA exempt.  Many RNs have already indicated that this is the very reason they work at UWMC Montlake. The employer is making the claim that a move away from the Kronos Rounding system along with the transition to an "Actual Time Worked" system would mandate this change.

Your Bargaining Team does not agree with this proposal or assessment.

The employer also proposed:

• A two year contract duration
• A modified salary overpayment article
• Modified promotion definition
• Modified Release Time language
• Altered Trial Service language
• A change in probation definition that allows for extensions for up to one year (currently 6 months)
• A restricted version of Comp Time Accrual that eliminates "Straight Time Comp Time Accrual"

WSNA proposals included:

• Employer provide $600 parking credit for RNs opting out of U-Pass
• An extended schedule posting period prior to schedule start date.  We proposed moving it from 16 days prior to the schedule start, to 28 days.
• The employer to pay cost of annual RN licensure
• Adding "Humanitarian Leave" to allowable use of professional leave time
• We requested a Tuition Reimbursement up to $3000 per year per RN
• Modifying mandatory "On Call" and voluntary "Standby" to improve pay when working contiguously on either side of an existing shift; and modifying “On Call” pay so that RN is paid the On Call premium for all hours scheduled as "On Call" whether you are called in or not (currently you are paid the On Call premium for all hours you’re on call, but not for the hours you’re called in to work.)

Your WSNA Montlake Bargaining Team:
Cris Jakubowski - LU Chair - Cath Lab
Doug Harper - Co-Chair - 4SA NICU
Jan Bower - Grievance Officer – OR
Claire Rovang - Membership Officer - 4SA NICU
Erika Speckhardt - Unit Rep - 5SA CTICU
Melissa Sanchez - Unit Rep - 5S
Lizzy Ryden - Unit Rep – ED
Melissa Humphrey - Unit Rep - Digestive Health
Amber Callison - 7SA
Sorrel Orr - Unit Rep - 7SE
Mark Beaumont - 5SA CTICU

UWMC Northwest

Today's session was a bit quieter for NW since yesterday's exchange of proposals. Your team worked on responses to the employer's previous proposals along with some new proposals to benefit the existing contract.

Some proposals from the employer included:

• A two year contract duration
• A modified salary overpayment article
• Modified promotion definition
• Modified Release Time language
• Altered Trial Service language
• A change in probation definition that allows for extensions for up to one year (currently 6 months)
• A modified definition of what would qualify for preceptor pay
• The introduction of "Comp Time Accrual"

Your WSNA NW Bargaining Team:
Elizabeth Gebretsadik - LU Chair – Float
Kaitlyn Fochs - LU Vice Chair – CBC
Mary Stupek - Grievance Officer – Float
Alec Willis - Grievance Officer – Float
Trish Bouzek - Grievance Officer – SPU
Celis Serrano – LTCC
Anthony Snyder - CPU

We can’t do this without all of you. Each of us can do two simple things to secure a strong contract.

1. Come observe negotiations!
   
   We're inviting observers to come and see the negotiations process for themselves! This will keep our process transparent and hold management accountable. The next session will be on May 8. Bargaining schedules are often unpredictable, so we can't give you exact times and locations yet.
   
   We encourage observers to sign up here so we can keep track of how many people plan on attending (it helps when we order food), but you are not required to sign up to observe. If you plan on observing, please make sure to read through this document so you know what to expect. For any questions about observing negotiations, reach out to WSNA Organizer Zach at 206-406-7203 or zseikel@wsna.org.
   
2. Stay in the loop! 
   
   Make sure you've joined our private Facebook group and our Instagram. As we continue negotiations, it's crucial to read the email updates and stay informed about what's happening at the table. Click here for our social media links. For any questions get in touch with your negotiation team at wsna.uwnorthwest@gmail.com or wsna.uwmontlake@gmail.com

Negotiation Dates:

April 8
April 14 At NW Campus
April 17 At NW Campus
April 23** at UW Gateway Building
April 24** Virtual at NW Campus
May 8 Montlake Team
May 12**
May 15**
May 22**
May 27 Montlake Team
June 3**
June 17**
**Planned Joint Session

You can contact WSNA Northwest Nurse Representative Stephenie Troftgruben at stroftgruben@wsna.org, or WSNA Montlake Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org.