Skagit Regional Health Bargaining Continues
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On August 17th and 25th our Bargaining Team met with Management for our 12th & 13th negotiation sessions. We discussed staffing, wages and other economic issues we believe are important to all of us working for Skagit. Our team was disheartened to see Management’s economic proposal. After our bargaining session on the 17th, Management claimed “More than 80% of the bargaining unit would receive between a 4.5% and 16% increase in 2022 under our proposal.” Please read that carefully! This apparently includes market adjustments or longevity steps you have ALREADY received or are due in 2022. Increases that had to be done because SRH cannot attract and retain new workers in many departments.
The truth is they offered a fixed base wage increase of 3% in year 1 and a total increase of 7.5% to cover a proposed nearly three-and-a-half-year term. While we continue to push for additional market adjustments and believe those are important, the Employer’s base wage proposal averages less than 2.5% per year. Our Union Bargaining Team does not believe such a proposal is a serious attempt by Management to remedy staffing shortages or creates a compensation package competitive enough to attract new workers. We also believe it is unfair to existing employees who are experiencing increased housing, food, gas and living costs.
In addition to the economic proposals, our Bargaining Team continues to push for agreements regarding safe staffing practices, including rest between shifts, limitations on the amount of standby employees must work or time they may be held over the end of their shift, and compensation for per diems in order to make SRH more competitive in attracting additional help. We also made proposals we believe are important reflections of the organization’s claim to be more inclusive like requirements to have Spanish and Russian speaking interpreters available at the Hospital to assist us with patient care. We proposed adding Juneteenth as a holiday, an already federally recognized holiday, but it was rejected by Management. Skagit Regional Health tells us they value diversity-but they are yet to show it. Upcoming bargaining sessions will be September 2, 8, and 14.
Our team will continue to fight for wage increases for all classifications as well as ways to address staffing and safety issues. We will continue to bargain in good faith but we need to hear from you.
