RFPU-NW and UW Labor Relations (UW) met for the ninth (virtual) bargaining session.
Articles discussed:
Article 3, Childcare: UW proposed increasing the childcare fund by another $10,000, for a total of $70,000/year.
Article 4, Disciplinary Action and Just Cause: UW proposed adding that a focus of concern remediation period will be three months (typically).
Article 6, Fringe Benefits: UW proposed increasing the meal reimbursement by another $1 starting in AY23-24 to $12/meal, with $11/meal starting in AY22-23, and accepted RFPU’s language around programs making meaningful efforts to purchase from locally owned and BIPOC businesses for catering, in accordance with procurement services policy.
Article 7, Grievance Procedure: UW agreed to add “or union” to the sixty (60) day timeline for when a grievance needs to be filed after the grievant or union knew or could have known of the occurrence.
Article 8, Health & Safety: RFPU-NW accepted language from the employer regarding work related injuries, and the resident’s right to receive disability leave, and state worker’s compensation.
Article 13, Leave – Miscellaneous: UW added language to their proposal which memorializes ACGME requirements to allow residents on paid parental leave to maintain at least seven vacation days, if they use up all their sick time, and have less than 7 vacation days left after the first six weeks of leave – to say “In June 2024, the Employer will provide the Union with data on the number of employees to which this provision has applied. The Union may request a HAC meeting to discuss the data.” RFPU already has the right to this data and ability to request a HAC meeting, so this language is unnecessary.
Article 22, Salary/Stipend: UW proposed increasing salary by 3-1-1% over three years (from their previous 2-1-1% proposal), increasing the housing stipend to be $4,000/year with no increases between years, and increased the Chief Resident stipend by $25/month, for a total of $200/month. RFPU decreased the salary proposal to be 7.6% increase each year of the contract (from their previous 8-8-8% proposal) to align with cost of living increase in 2022, and decreased the Chief Resident stipend proposal to $400/month.
Multiple packet proposals were proposed by both groups, and none were accepted.
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, May 18th from 3:00-7:00pm. RFPU-NW encourages all of our co-residents to attend, including incoming residents and fellows – please RSVP here.
Resident & fellow physician union - northwest/CIR/SEIU 