University of Washington Human Resources

UW – SAG-AFTRA Negotiations Recap for December 9, 2025

Background

This recap details the fifth session for the negotiation of the third collective bargaining agreement between the University of Washington (UW) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) for KUOW. Recaps are published online on the UW Labor Relations website.

Tentative Agreements

The parties tentatively agreed to the following:

Article 21 – Holidays

The parties agreed to housekeeping edits as well as including language that would clarify the use of Holiday Credit.

Article 35 – Union Representatives and Stewards

The parties agreed to housekeeping edits as well as paid release time for three bargaining unit members in future contract bargaining negotiation sessions.

New MOU – Unit Clarification

The parties agreed to a new MOU that would allow the parties to continue discussing their joint filing regarding the representation of temporary job profiles. This MOU would outline the affected job profiles and individuals currently in those positions.

SAG-AFTRA Counter Proposals

Article 3 – Non-Discrimination and Diversity

In response to the Employer’s proposal, the Union agreed to change the name of this article and agreed to strike subsections 3.3 and 3.4. The Union also proposed a new subsection, 3.3 Discussion. In this new subsection, the Union proposed that the parties could meet to discuss issues related to harassment, discrimination, and the American Scene, as defined by SAG-AFTRA.

New MOU – Seattle Washington Local News Journalism Funding

In response to the Employer’s proposal regarding the MOU – Seattle Locality Premium, the Union proposed this new MOU. In this new MOU, the Union proposed that in the event the State of Washington or City of Seattle created a program to financially support local news journalism, the Union could file a demand to bargain over the dissemination of such funding.

UW Counter Proposals

Article 7 – Union Security

In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer reasserted its initial proposal from November 4, 2025.

Article 22 – Vacation Time Off

In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer reasserted its initial proposal from October 15, 2025.

Article 30 – Layoff

In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer agreed to the Union’s language that the Employer would attempt to notify the Union of impending layoffs ninety (90) calendar days in advance, but no less than thirty (30) calendar days in advance of implementation so that the parties can discuss and consider reasonable alternative proposals. The Employer also reasserted its proposed language regarding this notice period not applying to emergency layoffs due to acts of nature, financial emergencies, suspension of operations, or furloughs.

Article 40 – Duration

In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer agreed to make this article the last article in the agreement. Additionally, the Employer proposed to keep the notification period for bargaining a successor agreement at 150 days prior to the expiration of the agreement.

Article 42 – Classification and Reclassification

In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer rejected the proposal in favor of current contract language.

New MOU – Proposal

In response to the Union’s proposal, the Employer rejected the proposal as it believed the MOU was already implemented.

Next Steps

The next UW and SAG-AFTRA bargaining session is scheduled for January 6, 2026, and will be held in person.