Skagit Regional Health - Bargaining Update: Fighting for Stability, Fair Wages, and Respect

On Friday, January 23, before we met with the Employer, Bargaining Committee members attended the Board of Commissioners meeting and delivered a list of bargaining demands, to the Board of Commissioners. We then reviewed all proposals to ensure nothing was missed. With 60+ items still pending, we’re holding strong for a better contract.

In economics, the Employer has only moved 1.5% over the life of the contract. Some market adjustments were improved, but there is still a significant gap between their proposal and ours. We meet again on February 4, and we remain committed to making substantial progress while holding strong to our main bargaining goals we shared with the Board of Commissioners. They are:

• Reduce the number of variables—Hospital asks for flexibility; workers need stability. The growing number of workers with variable status is alarming and concerning. Workers would rather leave SRH and seek opportunities that will provide that stability.

• Competitive salaries and benefits—Fair wages to retain current workers and recruit new ones, and we want to be people's destination, not just their stepping stones. We deserve more than 2% wage increase!

• Union access—We want the same access as other Unions.

• Floating/mileage—Our workers deserve proper compensation every time they have to travel to other clinics/hospitals or serve facilities that are part of the joint ventures contracts.

• Cease and desist—Managers/supervisors shall not call spouses or significant others to get workers who are not on call.

• Fair opportunities for per diems—They deserve the chance to review their outside experience and be compensated accordingly. They are not seat-fillers; they are an essential part of the services we provide.

• One company/one pay scale—We all work for the same company; do the same work, we shall earn equally.

Stay involved: wear the stickers, and ask everyone you know to sign the petition. Next Bargaining Dates: February 4, 12 and 26.
 

"No one should need food banks while working full-time. Fair wages are a must. Struggling to pay basic bills? That's why we're fighting for better wages. Hard work shouldn't mean hardship. We're demanding fair pay for all!"

— Ashley Price

Bargaining Team: Cindy Tjaden; Isabel Contreras; Kalisa Dolph; Britney Myers-Fuller; Ashley Price; Briana Hovsepian; Graydon Hingey; Michael Koenig; Annalise Pasillas; Elizabeth Major; Alina Delano; Micheal Schwartz; Daniel Booker, Hospice of the Northwest; Marilyn Faber, Union Rep; Celia Ponce-Sanchez, Union Rep; Kristina Storm, Union Director, Cesar R Quiles-Borrero, Negotiator

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

Covington Medical Center - Bargaining Update: January 29

We presented a comprehensive response to the Employer's proposal and had limited discussions in the morning. When the Employer returned late in the afternoon to provide a response, we were able to reach several tentative agreements (TAs), including agreements on some shift differentials, PTO cash out, and other strong contract language. We are expecting a comprehensive reply to all of our proposals from the Employer on our next bargaining date.

Curious about what is happening during bargaining and want to get involved? We are having two Contract Action Team meetings on February 4 at either 7am or 7pm to discuss how bargaining is going and how we should move forward. It will be hosted by the new Union Rep, Penny Cramer. Our Bargaining Team will go over how bargaining has gone up until now and have conversation on how we can work together to get the best contracts possible for all of us. In the future we will work to have a regular cadence of these meetings to make sure people are well informed about future actions.

Next bargaining dates: Feb 6, 9, 13, 20, 26

What's Next?

Union Rep Penny Cramer will be visiting hospital floors on Tuesday, February 2, from 9:30am until 5:30pm and is available for discussions about bargaining and any contract issues.

In a strong Union, there's you and I. TOGETHER we can do so much. Together WE can win a strong contract with better wages, competitive benefits, and safe working conditions. In solidarity."

— Faith Soriano

Kaiser Pharmacy and Pro Tech - We Need to Turn Up the Pressure on Kaiser

Our Bargaining Teams are working with Kaiser management to finish local bargaining for both Pharmacy and Pro Tech Optical contracts.

National bargaining unresolved issues include:

• Wages and retro pay: Currently, Kaiser has not agreed to retroactive pay.

• Contract alignment: All contracts should expire on the same date.

• Staffing: Landing on staffing language to make sure we deliver the level of care our patients deserve continues to be a challenge.

We need to send a strong message to management to return to the national bargaining table.

Sign the Petition

Last Chance! Sign the Petition >>

For additional information, contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Rep.

Aisha Womack, Union Rep: 206-436-6584
JJ Benson, Contract Specialist: 425-306-1357

Pharmacy Bargaining Team: Cesar Galloso, Jason Lindquist, Kay Halverson, JJ Benson, Krystal Krotzer, Mark Stewart

Pro Tech Optical Bargaining Team: Nicole Merriam, Sarah Lau, Ashleigh Aufort, Chandra Allen, Vicki Kobeski, Juli Bell, Bryana Kolppa

Optum Care, Inc. (The Everett Clinic) - Bargaining Update #2

On Wednesday, January 21, our Bargaining Team representing the newly unionized workers at Optum Care, Inc met with management for our second session of contract negotiations.

Similar to our initial bargaining day on December 15, Wednesday's session was held virtually with the Employer (our team met together in-person), and was also similar in the number of joint-session meetings and number of proposals exchanged throughout the day. Overall, this resulted in tentative agreements* on nearly 15 individual sections of our Contract! (*A tentative agreement represents mutually aligned language between management and your Union's Bargaining Team—which will be the version of the contract article you will later vote on!)

Tentative Agreements So Far Include:

• Your rights to Union seniority, which factors into internal promotions, scheduling of time-off, and your rights in a workforce reduction or layoff.

• A structured Labor-Management Committee, a regularly occurring meeting between management and representatives from the Union which aims to foster improved communication during the term of our contract, and assist in resolving workplace issues that come up while the CBA is in effect.

• A provision which helps future-proof the contract when, in the circumstance that a change in state or federal law conflicts with any particular article(s)—unaffected sections remain unchanged and in full force and effect, and the parties then re-enter limited negotiations to secure a replacement for the affected section.

While we did not reach tentative agreements just yet on a few of the other articles we exchanged back and forth on the 21st, we again found ourselves positively surprised at the thorough questions and engagement in our proposals we saw from management, and we are nearly at agreement on the equal opportunity language we've proposed, outlining an inclusive workplace culture and related worker protections.

We are looking forward to continuing these discussions and more at our next scheduled bargaining dates—which are in-person and back-to-back on February 10 and 11.

"Considering what we've been able to get done on Zoom—we're looking forward to getting a lot done in-person next time!"

— Elizabeth Reece, CNA

Bargaining Team: Janis Laffin, RN; Molly Hugo, RN; Ashley Seidelman, Patient Care Coordinator; Elizabeth Reece, Certified Medical Assistant

MultiCare Capital Medical Center Professionals - First Contract Bargaining Update

MultiCare Capital Medical Center Professionals
First Contract Bargaining Update

January 22, 2026

On Thursday, January 22, we met for the fifth time with the Employer and presented our entire proposal back to them. Across our most recent series of proposals, we have taken management's feedback into consideration and amended a number of our proposals to align closer to the existing contract language within the RN and Service/Office/Technical CBAs at Capital Medical Center—as opposed to language more closely aligned with the remainder of the MultiCare System, like Auburn Medical Center or Tacoma General. Considering many of these contracts are aligned with intent, we did question management as to why their proposals offer less beneficial versions of the Capital Medical Center contract's language. Their response was that we have not had the history of bargaining that the other units do. However, we disagree with their position and do not feel that fewer bargaining cycles should translate to a less desirable contract! This includes their reluctance to include a wage scale in their proposal but rather rely on their analysis for our wages and any future raises.

Prior to the end of the day, we were able to come to an agreement on Discipline and Discharge and Personnel File language that allowed for documented corrective actions to not be considered for future discipline if no similar occurrences have occurred within one year after the write up was issued.

We are planning a Contract Action Team meeting on February 4 at 6pm to discuss how our negotiations are going and our plans moving forward.

Please reach out to your Bargaining Team members or Penny Cramer (your Union Rep) if you would like Union swag and/or have any questions.

Rosauers Moscow Grocery and Meat - Contract Vote Set!

This Tentative Agreement is fully recommended by the Grocery Store Bargaining Committee!

After months of bargaining with Rosauers for a new contract that respects our work, increases our wages, and improves our sick leave, bereavement leave, and vacation, we are holding a contract vote! This notice serves to inform all members that a contract vote meeting will be held on January 26 for members covered by the Rosauers Moscow Grocery and Moscow Meat contracts.

The team will present the tentative agreement received from the Employer. Members will have the opportunity to discuss the terms and implications of the offer before voting on the fully recommended settlement.

Any member covered by the Rosauers Moscow Grocery and Moscow Meat contracts who is in good standing is encouraged to attend this vote meeting. Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Rep for any questions!

Contract Vote Meeting

January 26
8am - 12pm
2pm - 6pm
Rosauers Moscow Break Room
411 N Main St, Moscow, ID 83843