Bargaining Committee Members: Kim Vasenda, Casey Paredes, Donita French, and Leanne Potts

We wanted to share a comprehensive update on the economic proposals discussed with Jefferson Healthcare management at our fourth and fifth bargaining sessions on October 25th and November 1st. Here’s where we stand:

Session Highlights from October 25

• Bridging Benefits (Article 6.7): Jefferson Healthcare proposed changes affecting bridging benefits for those who leave and rejoin the bargaining unit within 24 months. We’re analyzing the impact and will be ensuring that this is not a “take-away.”

• Nine-Hour Shifts (Article 8.1): Both sides discussed adding nine-hour shifts to the work period article to align our contract with the current scheduling practices in some departments. 

• Meal and Rest Periods (Article 8.3): We firmly rejected management’s proposal to remove language in Article 8.3, which ensures proper meal and rest periods. Maintaining this language is critical. With the recent passing of SB 5236, supported by UFCW 3000, WSNA, and SEIU 1199NW, Washington state is enhancing enforcement of meal and rest period laws. The new law has allocated funding to the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) to create a division that will monitor meal/rest periods and seek compensatory damages for missed breaks. Including this language reinforces our right to breaks and increases awareness among caregivers about their legal entitlements.

Session Highlights from November 1st

Health Benefits Proposal:

Caregivers have voiced concerns about health insurance costs, with the current premium structure requiring caregivers to cover 20% of the premium. We proposed a shift to a flat weekly rate for health insurance, with more affordable options:

• PPO Plan: $9/week for employee-only coverage and $23/week for family coverage.

• HMO Plan: $5/week for employee-only coverage and $19/week for family coverage.

Additionally, we proposed allowing caregivers to opt out of the insurance plan if they have other coverage, providing more flexibility.

Payroll Error Corrections:

To reduce delays and improve accuracy, we proposed a streamlined process for payroll error correction, ensuring faster resolutions and clearer communication.

Economic Proposal Overview:

We presented a competitive wage proposal based on research on neighboring hospitals, including St. Michael Medical Center and Olympic Medical Center. This proposal included:

• Wage Increases: Boosts across all classifications to help recruit and retain staff.

• Premiums & Differentials: Increases to standby and shift differentials to ensure fair compensation for specialized roles and schedules.

• Additional Shift Bonus:  We proposed new language to offer a bonus plus 1.5x or 2x pay for taking on additional shifts, encouraging better staffing coverage.

PTO Enhancements: To better support caregivers, we proposed:

• Granting PTO on day one for new employees.

• Increasing the frequency of PTO cash-outs, so those approaching their accrual cap can cash out more regularly.

• Floating Holidays: These holidays could be used for personal reasons or for times when units close on designated holidays, giving caregivers more flexibility in holiday scheduling.

Grievance Update:  

We have filed grievances for missed meal periods and for instances where HUC shifts were improperly assigned to RNs. Addressing these issues is crucial to protecting our contract rights and ensuring fair treatment for all caregivers.

Next Steps & Upcoming Meetings

Our next sessions with the Hospital will be on November 22 and December 13. Additionally, we’re holding an in-person contract update meeting on November 22 at 4:30 pm at the Manresa Castle Ballroom. This is a great opportunity for all members and per diems caregivers to hear more details, ask questions, and provide feedback. We look forward to seeing you there!