PRMCE RN Negotiations & Upcoming Action

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During our meeting with PRMCE on January 22, we presented a comprehensive proposal based on the thorough feedback from nurses. This proposal encompasses retroactive pay dating back to December 15, 2023, across-the-board wage increases scheduled for 2025, heightened step increment percentages for steps 26 to 35, stronger staffing language, and clarifications addressing ambiguous language. We were encouraged that PRMCE came to the table willing to listen and even accepted some of our language proposals.

Highlights of our proposals:

  • Clarified that charge nurse assignments are always voluntary

  • Extra shift incentive for all vacant shifts - a full-time or part-time nurse will receive double-time pay when picking up an extra shift beyond their FTE, and per diem nurses will receive 1.5 times pay for picking up more than two shifts in a pay period and double time if they work above a 0.5 FTE

  • Clarified Christmas day pay for night shift nurses

  • Clarified holiday substitute pay

  • Twelve break relief nurse positions will be posted within 21 days of ratification, and there will be a mandatory discussion about break relief nurses in closed units

  • Market analysis will include Level 2 trauma centers in Western WA, and a mandatory market adjustment if PRMCE RN wages fall below the market average

  • Boarder premium pay for ED nurses, along with limitations on border assignment makeup

  • Clarified EIB can be used on the first day of any illness or injury

  • Increased wage increments for Steps 26 through 35, given their overall across-the-board increases were below less senior RNs

  • Bonus for RNs who have been employed with PRMCE since December 31, 2001

  • Retro pay from December 15, 2023

  • $5/hour staffing premium for each nurse working two hours or more below the staffing plan

  • Increased the across-the-board increase in 2025 to 6%

  • January 1, 2026 contract reopener

  • Innovative staffing model like co-caring pilot must reach a consensus in the Hospital Staffing Committee prior to implementation

Meal Waiver Information:

Our recommendation is that RNs DECLINE both questions on the meal waiver. If you receive a late first meal period or carry a phone with you during your meal period, you should receive 30 additional minutes of pay. These 30 minutes of additional pay may place you into overtime depending on the length of your shift. Additionally, we requested information several weeks ago about PRMCE’s meal period scheduling to determine if shifts will be extended or remain the same. We expect to have more information about shift lengths next week.

Upcoming actions:

  • January 26 Ambulance Wait Times Bill In-person Capitol Meeting at 8am (see below)

  • January 28 Update Meeting 5pm-6pm - Click here to join >>

    • Update/Next Steps

    • Legislative Bills

    • Information on Meal Periods/Meal Waiver

    • Need Volunteers for Community/Media update

  • January 30 10am-2pm Olympia Lobby Day at the State Capitol (meet at Pritchard Building)

  • Early February Media Engagement

  • February 5- 9 Yellow and Blue Scrubs Week

  • February 9 Mediation with PRMCE

  • February 12 Mediation with PRMCE

Take Legislative Action for Ambulance Waiting Times and Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers

In response to community concerns, particularly from firefighters and nurses, Rep. Mary Fosse (D-Everett) introduced HB 2466to address ambulance waiting times. The legislation would require a hospital accept a patient transferred by ambulance within 30 minutes of arrival or be responsible for reimbursing the ambulance service for costs over 30 minutes. Exceptions include extended patient surge and ER capacity due to damages (water damage or system outages) but NOT for staffing. We think this is a great bill to weigh in on.

The bill will be heard this Friday morning, January 26, in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee at the Capitol (Olympia) at 8AM. If you are interested in giving testimony in person, please email Tom Lambro, tlbambro@ufcw3000.org. It will be available online live on TVW's website and a recording will be available afterward.

You can do two things now:

  1. Sign in PRO on the legislation so legislators know where constituents stand on HB 2466 >>

  2. If you'd be interested in writing written testimony so it's in the legislative record you can do that here >>

UFCW 3000 is also prioritizing a bill to ensure workers who go on strike are able to file for Unemployment benefits. HB 1893 in the House and SB 5777 in the Senate are both quickly moving.The Senate bill passed the Labor Committee on January 16 and the House bill is scheduled to pass the House Labor Committee January 24 after which it will go to the full House. Weighing in directly with your own legislators will go a long way in ensuring we pass this in 2024. There are two quick ways you can do this:

  1. Call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and let the person who answers the phone know you are in strong support of SB 5777 and HB 1893.

  2. You can also write to your own legislators directly! If you are not sure which district you live in you can find that here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/. After you fill in this form it will provide you with phone number and email to your legislators. If you are writing to your senator mention SB 5777 and to your two state representatives mention HB 1893.