RFPU-NW and UW Labor Relations (UW) met for the fourth (virtual) bargaining session.
UW Counter Proposals:
Article 2, Committee Memberships: UW proposed language for GMEC committee that RFPU representatives are members of the bargaining unit, instead of “RFPU-NW members.”
Article 5, Dues Deduction & RFPU-NW Membership: UW accepted RFPU-NW language memorializing that membership rosters are sent to RFPU-NW bi-monthly and increasing the amount of time RFPU-NW is allotted to present at orientation to 60 minutes. UW rejected RFPU-NWs proposal to provide contact information for incoming residents and fellows by April 1st, instead proposing additional language [by May 1st] “or as soon as available.”
Article 9, Housestaff Advisory Committee (HAC): UW proposed increasing the number of RFPU-NW members on the HAC to six members, but continues to reject the proposal that grievances will not be discussed at the committee unless mutually agreed upon.
Article 16, Leave – Vacation: UW proposes adding their own definition of a vacation days as “one (1) continuous twenty-four (24) hour period free from all administration, clinical, and educational activities.” RFPU-NW continues to assert that a vacation day needs to be defined as a calendar day, from 12:00am to 11:59pm.
Article 20, Non-Discrimination: UW proposed adding language encouraging employees to utilize the University’s Bias Reporting Tools, including links. Additionally, UW accepting RFPU-NW’s language stating that an alleged violation of this article has up to 180 days of when the individual knew or could have known about an alleged occurrence (in comparison to current grievance procedure of 60 days), and requiring the employer to implement measures (when a grievance is filed) to allow the resident to work in an environment free from discrimination, including changing their rotation schedule if necessary.
Article 25, Union Activities: UW accepted RFPU-NW’s proposal to update the article title to “Union Rights” and to allow staff representatives to have access to any UW-affiliated work sites when meeting with members.
RFPU-NW Resident Counter Proposals:
Article 5, Dues Deduction & RFPU-NW Membership: RFPU-NW accepted the employer’s proposal to use a web based reporting system for dues deduction.
Article 13, Leave – Miscellaneous: RFPU-NW reviewed the employer’s language concerning the employer providing paid parental time off for the first six weeks of the first approved leave, and proposed expanding to the first six weeks of each approved leave and increasing the number of days the employer will add to the resident’s remaining balance (if exhausted) so the resident will have fourteen days of sick leave and seven days of vacation added to their balance for the academic year.
Article 16, Leave – Vacation: RFPU-NW accepted the employer’s request to update language regarding time off to match their system, and updated the definition of a vacation day to end at 11:59pm, instead of 12:00am.
Tentative Agreement Reached
The proposals can be read in their entirety here, along with a short video summary from this session by RFPU-NW Lead Negotiator, Dr. Kevin Steehler.
Next (virtual) bargaining session: Wed, March 9th from 3:00-7:00pm.
RFPU-NW encourages all of our co-residents to attend, please RSVP here.
Resident & fellow physician union - northwest/CIR/SEIU 