On January 20, we met with Providence. We proposed increases to annual wage increases, shift differentials, certificate pay, weekend pay, stand-by pay, and callback pay. In the past year, short-staffing has been rampant throughout the Hospital. It is clear to us that Providence is having difficulty hiring and retaining nurses.

Also from your feedback in bargaining surveys and contract action team meetings, we have heard that wages and proper staffing are the two things we should be fighting for. Until this date, Providence has continued to pushback on our contract changes. Our goal is to win better contract language which gives us the opportunity to give feedback to Management regarding staffing, unit restructures/mergers, and scheduling.

Providence will not agree to our language unless we pressure them. One way to pressure them is through legislation in Olympia. UFCW 21 along with other healthcare unions are lobbying to pass a financial transparency bill which forces hospitals to be transparent with their finances. We have launched a financial transparency petition to support this bill and are using this petition to hold Providence accountable for the COVID-19 government relief money they received in 2020.

We are asking that you please sign onto this petition and take a stand with Providence caregivers from Centralia and St. Peter’s. We will have a contract action team meeting to discuss bargaining on January 26 at 8pm.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep, Anthony Cantu—acantu@ufcw21.org or 206-436-6566.

In solidarity, Your RN Bargaining Team: Juan Stout, ER; Kimball Conlon, ER; Betsy Bourg, Glasgow; Cindi Dyson, Float Pool; Jenney Gannon, L&D; Madison Hamilton