UFCW 3000 Member Story: Kris Wood

Kris Wood, super-steward

Kris Wood works at Mason General Hospital in the lab and has been a union member since 2012. Over the years Kris has held various positions of leadership and advocacy for her coworkers and community. Since she became a steward in 2015, she has participated in workplace organizing campaigns to fight for a better work environment and way of life for her coworkers. She even stepped into the role of union representative for a time, ensuring that her colleagues' and other member voices were heard. Currently, Kris is a member of the bargaining team, who are fighting for wages and better working conditions for workers at Mason General Hospital.

Outside of her career at the hospital, Kris brings her passion for community service to her role as a volunteer firefighter with Cosmopolis Fire Department where she is also the Vice President of Cosmopolis Firefighters Association; a role that underscores her leadership and commitment to her fellow firefighters and the safety of her community. Recently, she achieved her Red Card certification, qualifying her to fight wildland fires—a testament to her bravery and dedication. This January, Kris will embark on EMT classes, with plans to complete Fire Academy afterward, further expanding her ability to protect and serve her community.

In her free time, Kris enjoys running in any event that takes her outdoors and spending time with her two children. Driven by a deep desire to care for people and to make a difference, she is always looking for ways to improve the lives of those around her. Her dedication to her community, both in her professional and personal life, makes her an inspiring example of service and resilience. She even wears a cape!

Multicare Women's Center Clinics - Pre-Bargaining Update

On the morning of November 20, our Women's Center Clinics bargaining team met to finalize proposals to kick-off negotiations with MultiCare. Now that we have won our union election, we are eager to enter the existing Clinics Collective Bargaining Agreement with UFCW Local 3000!

In order to prepare, we spent time reviewing wages, PTO, and a number of the articles in the existing contract to make sure that we are coming to our first day of negotiations with MultiCare stronger than ever. The terms of our bargain will mainly focus on how we are compensated on the union pay scales, and how the existing provisions of the union contract will impact our wages, hours, and working conditions.

After our review of the existing contract- and making sure our specific proposals matched the work we do at the Women's Center clinics- we provided availability to management through January 2025. We look forward to hearing back & getting to the bargaining table to fully realize our position as union members!

Once dates are set, we will continue to keep our coworkers in the loop throughout the process with bargaining updates after each session with the Employer.

"We're looking forward to moving forward! We feel stronger than ever before after seeing how high our unit's support for unionizing was. I think we're just feeling energized by the position we're in!"

—Liam Hughes, Medical Assistant @ Women's Center Sunrise; Carol Krings, Medical Receptionist @ Women's Center Puyallup

Northwest Administrators Bargaining Update

Our Union Bargaining Team met with Northwest Administrators Management for three joint sessions November 18-20. We have come to Tentative Agreements on almost all outstanding non-economic issues.

After our eighth pass at an economic package proposal Management has only been able to move from 1.25% increases on wages to 1.5% in each year. This is far less than the 3% each year we received in the last collective bargaining agreement!

We will have one more bargaining session on December 9th but have messaged to the Employer that we will be holding a vote on the offer that we receive by the end of that day.

If we cannot recommend the offer on the table by the end of that day, we will be recommending a NO vote. We do, however, hope Management will bring us an offer we can recommend.

PLEASE SAVE THESE DATES

pre-bargaining general membership update

December 5 at 6:00pm we will hold a Zoom meeting to discuss where we are in this process. Use this link to join the Meeting on Dec. 5 @ 6pm Meeting ID: 858 9205 3121 Passcode: 096731 >>

pre-contract vote meeting

December 12 at 6:00pm we will be holding a pre-vote meeting to discuss the offer prior to the contract vote. Use this link to join the meeting on Dec. 12 @ 6pm Meeting ID: 879 7252 0449 Passcode: 572147 >>

December 19 we will hold an online contract vote with details to be announced shortly.

Washington Beef - Contract Ratified | Contrato Ratificado

El día 14 de noviembre se llevó a cabo la votación para la aprobación de la oferta final del contrato colectivo laboral que la empresa Washington Beef le ofreció a los trabajadores(as) miembros de la UFCW 3000. El contrato fue ratificado por la mayoría de los votantes. 

Para la UFCW 3000 y sus miembros, esta fecha marca el inicio de una lucha que deberá mantenerse los próximos 3 años para lograr mejores condiciones laborales.  

En cuanto a los beneficios económicos, se logró un aumento de salario para los trabajadores, y apoyos para compra de equipo para empleados con más de un año de antigüedad en la empresa. 

Todas estas prestaciones y muchas otras, beneficiarán a los trabajadores de Washington Beef y la Unión UFCW 3000 trabajará para continuar con los entrenamientos voluntarios para los delegados de la Unión y así fortalecer el movimiento. 

Invitamos a todos los trabajadores a unirse a los grupos de Whatsapp y estar pendientes para los siguientes pasos. 

El día 14 de noviembre se llevó a cabo la votación para la aprobación de la oferta final del contrato colectivo laboral que la empresa Washington Beef le ofreció a los trabajadores(as) miembros de la UFCW 3000. El contrato fue ratificado por la mayoría de los votantes. 

Para la UFCW 3000 y sus miembros, esta fecha marca el inicio de una lucha que deberá mantenerse los próximos 3 años para lograr mejores condiciones laborales.  

En cuanto a los beneficios económicos, se logró un aumento de salario para los trabajadores, y apoyos para compra de equipo para empleados con más de un año de antigüedad en la empresa. 

Todas estas prestaciones y muchas otras, beneficiarán a los trabajadores de Washington Beef y la Unión UFCW 3000 trabajará para continuar con los entrenamientos voluntarios para los delegados de la Unión y así fortalecer el movimiento. 

Invitamos a todos los trabajadores a unirse a los grupos de Whatsapp y estar pendientes para los siguientes pasos. 

Summit Pacific Medical Center Technical and Service - Tentative Agreement Reached! Contract Vote Scheduled

Our Bargaining Team is excited to announce that after several months of bargaining, we have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for Technical and Service Workers!

The tentative agreement includes:

• Wage increases

• Ratification Bonus

• Increased Premiums

• Increased PTO Accrual

• Medical Assistant Training Pay

• Workforce Development Trainer Pay

• Education Leave

• New provision regarding Workplace Equity

Contract Vote Scheduled
Drop-in Tuesday, November 26

Summit Pacific Medical Center
11:00 AM-2:00 PM and 5:30 PM-7:30 PM
Rainier Conference Room
600 East Main Street
Elma, WA 98541

McCleary Healthcare Clinic
8:30 AM-9:30 AM
Conference Room
105 W Simpson Avenue
McCleary, WA 98557

The Bargaining Team recommends a “YES” vote!

UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract. For additional information, contact Union Representative Kimberly Starkweather at (206) 436-6515 or talk to the Bargaining Team: Barb Ford, Judea Prouty, Kurt Phillips.

Lourdes Clinics and Urgent Care Health RNs - Tentative Agreement Reached on a First Contract

Lourdes Clinics and Urgent Care Service and Technical

VOTE SCHEDULED
November 25, 2024
12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Lourdes West Pasco Conference Room
7425 Wrigley Drive, Pasco, WA.

The Bargaining Team is recommending a YES vote.

Our bargaining team is encouraging all employees covered by this agreement to join them on November 25, 2024 any time between 12:00 AM and 7:00 PM in the Lourdes West Pasco Conference Room at 7425 Wrigley Drive, Pasco, WA. This is a great time to learn about the new contract, ask questions and vote. The new contract guarantees 2 wage increases each year of the contract, a competitive wage scale, additional paid time off, job security, grievance process, continuing education reimbursement, union security and much more.

We are excited, hopeful and confident the first contract will lay a strong foundation for an even stronger future. We believe equality and fairness has been achieved in this three-year contract. We now have a voice and a seat at the table to discuss wages, benefits and working conditions. WE CAN ONLY GO UP FROM HERE. Ask your bargaining team how to get involved.

Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Juanita Quezada at (509) 340-7407 with any questions or concerns.

Our Bargaining Team: Jennifer Medrano MA, Jose Munoz Lazo MA, Kaylene Kuhn, Radiological Technologist, Amy Brown LPN, Sandra Pineda MA.

“We came together as a group, asking for fairness and security. After many months of hard work, we have achieved it! The more unified we are, the stronger we become.” 

— Kaylene Kuhn

“Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved”

— Jose Munoz Lazo

“I love my Lourdes team, and no matter what position or role you play in this company, we are ALL VITAL employees. Looking forward to a better future for all with a YES vote on this initial (first) contract.”

 — Amy Brown 

Lourdes Clinics and Urgent Care Health RNs

VOTE SCHEDULED
November 25, 2024
7:30 AM and 10:00 AM
Lourdes West Pasco Conference Room
7425 Wrigley Drive, Pasco, WA

The Bargaining Team is recommending a YES vote.

Our bargaining team is encouraging all Nurses to join them on November 25, 2024 any time between 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM in the Lourdes West Pasco Conference Room at 7425 Wrigley Drive, Pasco, WA. This is a great time to learn about the new contract, ask questions and vote. The new contract guarantees 2 wage increases each year of the contract, a competitive wage scale, additional paid time off, job security, grievance process, continuing education reimbursement, union security and much more.

We are excited, hopeful and confident the first contract will lay a strong foundation for an even stronger future. We believe equality and fairness has been achieved in this three-year contract. We now have a voice and a seat at the table to discuss wages, benefits and working conditions. WE CAN ONLY GO UP FROM HERE. Ask your bargaining team how to get involved.

Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Juanita Quezada at (509) 340-7407 with any questions or concerns.

Our Bargaining Team: Kimberly Edwards, RN and Leilany Garcia, RN