Happy New Year!
As we enter 2022, the Resident & Fellow Physician Union – Northwest (RFPU-NW) and the University of Washington begin bargaining for the third collective bargaining agreement. The last two negotiations were both lengthy and challenging. We hope that the next six months will be different with each side coming to the table with goodwill and shared commitment towards collegial, productive discussions.
The UW GME Office looks forward to celebrating housestaff wins. Our role in negotiations is to advocate for the housestaff to UW Medicine leadership, serve as subject matter experts regarding matters of policy, accreditation, and finances, and to connect with other subject matter experts whose scope affects residents and fellows.
Accordingly, the GME Office commits to the following values as we enter negotiations in 2022:
- Be at the table regarding decisions that affect our residents and fellows
- Articulate clear common goals in support of the work that residents and fellows do and to secure resources for them
- Serve as an expert in accreditation and education, bridging UW Medicine and the housestaff during and after negotiations
- Appreciate and enculturate a healthy, diverse and inclusive learning environment
- Promote well-being so that our community can grow and thrive
- Consistently interact in a professional and collegial manner with all parties involved in negotiations
All contract negotiations are challenging, and the reality is that compromises are necessary to arrive at any agreement. We expect difficult conversations but look forward to a process that is collegial and ultimately elevates us all.
Byron Joyner, MD, MPA
Vice Dean for GME and DIO