DECISIONS

University of Washington, Decision 12041-A (PSRA, 2014)

STATE OF WASHINGTON

BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

On January 21, 2014, the Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW (union) filed two representation petitions seeking to include the part-time and per diem Registered Nurses at the Harborview Medical Center (case 26226-E-14-3844) and Airlift Northwest (26227-E-14-3845) to its existing bargaining units of Registered Nurses at the University of Washington (employer).  The union’s Harborview bargaining unit was certified by the Higher Education Personnel Board and included the employees in the Nurse Practitioner job series.  See HEPB-RM 67 (1981).  The union’s Airlift Northwest bargaining unit is currently described as “All full-time and regular part-time Registered Nurses of the University of Washington working for Airlift Northwest, excluding supervisors, confidential employees and all other employees.”  University of Washington, Decision 9610 (PSRA, 2007).    

During the processing of the cases, the employer questioned the appropriateness of including employees who held dual-appointments in the bargaining unit.  Employees who hold dual appointments work in more than one University department.  The employer expressed concerns that including the dual appointment employees could lead to future work jurisdiction issues.  In order to provide stability to the parties and the part-time employees who did not hold dual appointment, interim orders were issued to include the part-time employees in both bargaining units.  University of Washington, Decision 12041 (PSRA, 2014) and University of Washington Decision 12042 (PSRA, 2014).  The matter was left open to determine if the employees who held dual appointments posed any work jurisdiction issues. 

The employer has subsequently indicated that the part-time Registered Nurses who work at the Harborview Medical Center and Airlift Northwest and who also hold dual appointments will not create work jurisdictions issues.  Accordingly, it is appropriate to include those part-time Registered Nurses in their respective bargaining units.  

NOW, THEREFORE, it is

ORDERED

1.      Case 26226-E-14-3844:  The bargaining unit of Registered Nurses at the Harborview Medical Center is modified to include the part-time and per diem employees who work at least 350 hours and who hold dual appointments.  The bargaining unit description shall be modified as follows:

All full-time and regular part-time Registered Nurses of the University of Washington working for Harborview Medical Center, excluding supervisors, confidential employees and all other employees.

2.      Case 26227-E-14-3845:  The bargaining unit of Registered Nurses at Airlift Northwest is modified to include the part-time and per diem employees who work at least 350 hours and who hold dual appointments.

Issued at Olympia, Washington, this  10^th  day of July, 2014.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

MICHAEL P. SELLARS, Executive Director