A mediator will be asked to step in after bargaining on the re-negotiated University of Washington contract broke down today with management leaving the table.
The management exodus came after about 50 Local 1488 members staged a job action outside the bargaining site over the loss of their shift differential and assignment to new work shifts.
Management told the union team before they left they would call on a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission to step in.
Here is the report from our UW Bargaining Team:
The University of Washington Negotiation Team returned to meet with management for the first time since September 2008 in the hope of making some non-economic gains in the contract.
Management at this time is unwilling to sign off on any contract articles including those articles that were tentatively agreed to last year with no changes.
At around noon about 50 members and family members stormed the bargaining session and surrounded the negotiations table wearing red T-shirts that read "TOP- HEAVY MANAGEMENT = OVERWORKED STAFF + HIGHER TUITION." This statement of force was very visible and it showed management that the members are upset and want changes, not only in the contract, but in management personnel as well.
Management has requested that we get a PERC mediator to deal with the contract negotiations. At this time it is uncertain when negotiations will resume, or if it will or will not be with a mediator.
A special thanks to those members, and the spouses and children, who were able to take the time and come and show their support for the Bargaining Team.
We will keep you posted, so continue to check the WFSE HOTLINE for updates.
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