Providence Centralia Tech - Providence Centralia Tech - Providence Makes a Wage Proposal, but It Is Still Not Enough!

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2021 0728 - Providence Centralia Hospital Update TECH.jpg

On July 26, 2021 we met with Providence Centralia management. In our previous bargaining session on June 30, 2021, Providence proposed a 2% across the board wage increase (cost of living increase), but they did not propose a wage scale. In that session we told Providence that we deserved a wage scale like Providence St. Peter’s Techs and every union contract within the Providence system. 

In this bargaining session, Providence finally made a wage proposal which included a wage scale, but it is not enough. Providence is proposing: 

  • Year 1 (2021)—1.5% across the board increase (no wage scale)

  • Year 2 (2022)—employees will be placed onto a wage scale depending on their hourly rate and not based on years of experience

  • Year 3 (2023) and Year 4 (2024) 1.5% across the board increase and an increase on your anniversary date

  • Continuing the new PTO plan and eliminating EIB 

UFCW 21 is proposing: 

  • Year 1 (2021)—All employees shall receive at least a 4.5% wage increase and will be placed on a competitive wage scale depending on their years of experience

  • Year 2 (2022)—3% across the board increase and 2% increase on your anniversary date

  • Year 3 (2023)—3% across the board increase and 2% increase on your anniversary date 

  • Reinstating the 2020 PTO/EIB plan and a three-year contract which is the typical duration of a union contract 

We believe that their proposal is a step in the right direction, but it still does not consider how far behind we are compared to the surrounding hospitals or our individual job experience. 

Our strike authorization and other actions are the reason why we were able to obtain this proposal! We now need to fight for our EIB/PTO and a wage scale for all three years of the contract.

We are getting closer to an agreement, but the major hurdles we are facing are wages, EIB/PTO, and keeping benefits as is for the life of the contract.

In order to get passed these hurdles, we need you all to sign onto our strike pledge card to show Providence that we will strike over our PTO unfair labor practice and wages if we do not see improvements to their proposals. 

We will be planning an in-person action in August to present these strike cards along with St. Peter’s and community partners.

If you have any question please contact your union rep Erin McCoy. Our next bargaining sessions are on August 2 and August 25. 

In Solidarity, Your Tech Bargaining Team: Jen Mullins, Rad Tech; Verity Olsen, Pharmacy Tech; Kathleen Spencer, RT; Jen Frunz, Mammo Tech