At this week’s bargaining session, both bargaining teams continued the process of presenting initial proposals on various subjects in the collective bargaining agreements, taking the time to explain the issue each proposal is intended to resolve and to answer the other team’s questions about the proposals. The University presented proposals on several topics, including salary increases, increases to the lump sum payment to encourage savings, holiday pay, maternity and parental leave, and cell phone stipends. The University also presented a proposal regarding vacation in response to prior discussion and to address HOA concerns about situations where house officers’ scheduled vacation hours could be subject to change.  The HOA presented its proposals related to re-certifications, house officer dedicated lounge areas, HOA access to new house officers at orientation, cell phone stipends, and information that will be provided to prospective house officers about the HOA.   The HOA also presented a proposal for an entirely new contract provision providing for on-call pay.

Between bargaining sessions, the teams will work to fine-tune language in some of their proposals in the hopes of reaching agreements at future bargaining sessions.  As individual issues are agreed upon at the bargaining table, they are designated as tentative agreements.  Tentative agreements remain as such until a final ratification vote is held on the entire contract when negotiations are concluded.