Labcorp - We’ve Been Patient Long Enough
/
Last Friday, our bargaining team met with LabCorp for the first time after our informational picket at Swedish First Hill to continue negotiations. Meditation helped us make movement on many of the final outstanding language pieces, and LabCorp promised us a comprehensive non-economic counter at our next session on Monday May 13. At the end of the day, LabCorp gave us their latest economic counter, which is summed up below.
| Union Proposals | LabCorp Counterproposals |
|---|---|
| 11% - 14% increases to base wages (over what members are currently making) | 1% - 6.29% increases to base wages (over the wage rates listed in the 2021 contract) |
| 5% COLA increases for 2024 and 2025 | 2% COLA increase for 2024 and 2025 |
| Eliminating Ghost Steps & getting members to the top of the scale faster | ✅ |
| Lower monthly healthcare premium costs | Higher monthly premiums, higher out-of-pocket maximums, and higher co-pays |
| Expansion of covered benefits to match non-union plans (e.g. HRA, optional insurance, LifeWorks, adoption assistance, 401k improvements) | ❌ |
| Tuition reimbursement coverage for union employees | ❌ |
| Telehealth coverage for union employees | ✅ |
| Reduced wait for new employee healthcare coverage | ✅ |
| Market increases to premiums and differentials | Extra 0.25¢ for third shift differential only |
| Lead pay included in PTO accrual | ❌ |
| Market increases for per-diem pay in lieu of benefits | ❌ |
LabCorp’s new wage scale proposal only increases each step by 0.75% - 1.5% over their last proposal from March (which moved up by less than 1% from their December proposal!). We are almost a year into negotiations. Members have waited too long for the raises they’re due for management to be passing back and forth incremental pieces of paper. We’re here to bargain in good faith and work together to find creative solutions to serious workplace issues. LabCorp knows they must make meaningful improvements to their wages, premiums, and benefits if they want to be competitive in the Western Washington market. We’ve already been patient enough for the fair contract and fully staffed labs we deserve! LabCorp needs to step up and come prepared to reach an agreement.
If you feel like we do, and believe that we’ve been patient long enough, sign the strike pledge card, come to a union meeting, raise your voice, and talk to your coworkers about taking action to win a fair contract.
DROP-IN CONTRACT ACTION TEAM MEETINGS
Wednesday May 15 from 7:30am-9:00am @ Swedish First Hill
Wednesday May 15 from 5:30pm-7:00pm @ Swedish First Hill
Details for virtual meetings and in-person strike information sessions to come soon!
OREGON LABCORP UNION ELECTION VICTORIES!
More than 400 lab professionals at LabCorp across seven Legacy Health facilities in Oregon voted YES to unionize last Friday! Despite facing a tough (and expensive!) anti-union campaign, these workers won their union elections with the Oregon Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals – AFT Local 5017 (OFNHP) by an overwhelming 86% majority. We’re excited to support each other and coordinate our fights for a better future for LabCorp workers, and to work together to grow our LabCorp union power.
WORKDAY TIMEKEEPING ISSUES
Issues with Workday were brought to our attention, and we asked LabCorp while we were at the table to address it. Management said they advised supervisors to be careful and to review Workday submissions diligently while they try to resolve the problem. Please continue to check your paystubs thoroughly and reach out to a member of our bargaining team or our Union Rep if you need help ensuring your pay is correct.
Union Rep Christie Harris @ (206) 436-6606 (landline)
