Mediation Update: September 15/16
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We spent about 19 hours in mediation this session, not leaving the table until 4:00 a.m. today. Our team opened with two sets of proposed tentative agreements on language that the parties were largely in agreement on, in order to clear proposals from the table. OHSU presented a confidential supposal and we responded in kind. This was a productive session, and we reached TAs on several sections of the contract, but significant work remains to be done. The TAs are as follows:
8.3 Merit-Based Adjustments: This change clarifies that employees may ask for merit increases and that our contract does allow them. Although merit increases are extremely rare in our bargaining unit, this will prevent managers from incorrectly telling employees that our contract doesn’t allow them.
8.4.5 Flex Employees (Market-Based Adjustments): Flex employees will be eligible for market-based adjustments if they’re at the same wage as non-flex employees being adjusted.
8.5.3 Promotion/8.7.1 Upward Reclassification: Employees will retain their original anniversary date upon promotion or upward reclassification.
11.1 Recognized Holidays/Juneteenth MOU: This TA formally adds Juneteenth to the contract.
11.2.1 Compensation for Work-Unit Holiday Closures: This new language would allow employees whose work unit is closed around a holiday (such as the day after Thanksgiving) to adjust their schedule for the week or to float to a work unit that is open to make up the time.
15.1.4 Flex Employee Eligibility: Flex employees will be eligible for insurance coverage if they’ve had a minimum of 780 compensated hours during a six-month initial measurement period.
22.1.1 Education and Training Hours: Employees will be guaranteed 24 hours of job-related training (prorated per FTE) each contract year, up from the current 10 hours. Employees on an individual development plan will be guaranteed 30 hours instead of the current 15.
The teams will meet in mediation again on Tuesday, September 20.