Skagit Regional Health Bargaining Update

Our Union Bargaining Team: Marilyn Faber, Union Rep; Cindy Tjaden; Isabel Contreras; Kalisa Dolph; Britney Myers-Fuller; Ashley Price; Briana Hovsepian; Graydon Hingey; Michael Koenig; Annalise Pasillas; Elizabeth Mayor; Alina Delano; Micheal Schwartz, Daniel Booker (Hospice of the Northwest)

We want to be sure that everyone is doing well and staying safe during the catastrophic events that are affecting the Skagit geographic area. For more information and resources, please see the following post Resources for Members During Flooding and Extreme Weather Events — UFCW 3000 

Your bargaining committee wishes you a peaceful and blessed holiday! Stay tuned for more information. 2026 is our year, and we will succeed with the new contract.

“Today, we presented all our new proposals, after waiting all morning for the employer to present their response to our ‘very aggressive’ economic proposal 11/6/2025. The employer started the morning asking for more time. First they promised to discuss it by 11am, then asked us to check back by 1pm, by this time they promised to meet by 2pm it was too late for us.” -Michael Kenig

“Today we waited all day, only to learn the employer wasn’t prepared to respond to our aggressive economic proposals. We presented our final proposals and expected a full response at our next bargaining session on December 29. We remain committed to securing a fair contract for all our members” – Briana Hovsepian

We bargained today as the Skagit River rose to unprecedented levels, prompting a state of emergency declaration. As the bargaining team members sat on the edge of their seats, waiting for updates on the friends, families, and homes, ready to evacuate, the employer took their time. They have had our economic proposal for over a month, yet we are still waiting for their response. In addition, we have reached out to Skagit management to discuss how to respond to the current challenges posed by the state of emergency. They made it clear that it is not one of their priorities right now, and later, they are not seeking to give employees a ‘free day.’ This is another reason why we have been highly active at the bargaining table. SRH is an insensitive and thoughtless employer. The committee feels they must be extremely comprehensive in their proposals to limit room for interpretation.

At one point, an SRH executive rushed past a bargaining team member, proclaiming that they had to rush home because their street was flooding. The bargaining team member asked, “Will our members be exempt from an occurrence/discipline if they, too, have to rush home?” The response, “they should consult with their leadership.” 

Our members are eager to hear about their long-awaited, well overdue pay raises. We have done the work, yet the message we are left with is sit and wait, even if that means from your rooftop.

NEXT CONTRACT ACTION TEAM MEETINGS: 
December 22 from 6pm—7pm 
at the UFCW 3000 Mount Vernon office, 1510 N 18th St Mt. Vernon, WA 98273

Don’t forget: CAT meetings (union hall meetings) will be every other Monday until the contract is ratified, at the same time, at the same location unless otherwise noted.

We encourage all members to stay informed, attend CAT meetings, and keep showing your unity in the workplace!

If you have questions or would like to get more involved in organizing a fair contract, please reach out to your Union Rep, Marilyn Faber, at 1-866-210-3000, EXT. 4678.