St. Joseph Medical Center Tech Unit - Bargaining Update

August 27, 2026

We are fed up.

August 27 marked our ninth bargaining session with St. Joe’s management; however, calling it a “bargaining day” might be stretching that definition.

During our first meeting in the morning, the Employer returned two new tentative agreements from the package proposals our team gave them at our previous session: a rephrasing of the “Recognition for Past Experience” article, and another pertaining to the PTO request and approval process, which has been confusingly misapplied in just one department.

Outside of these sections, the Employer let us know that all other articles remained unchanged from their previous package proposal. Wages, premiums, takeaways to a few health insurance provisions, and language regarding travelers and agency staff—all held; and despite all evidence to the opposite, they followed this up by verbalizing that they were still open to working together on solutions to many of the other issues we’ve raised.

We told the Employer point-blank that while the sentiment is nice, they have not shown up as an equal partner in working collaboratively and creatively on resolving issues.

Our Bargaining Team cannot stress enough that nothing will change unless we all stand together and take action.

Sign the strike pledge card NOW, and join our next Contract Action Team meeting to discuss strategies with our Bargaining Team and Union Rep on how we can apply the necessary pressure to win a strong contract for SJMC Techs:

Sign the Strike Pledge

Workers throughout the hospital have already signed the strike pledge card. If you haven’t yet, you can by following the link below:

Sign the Strike Pledge >>

Contract Action Team Meeting

Thursday, September 3
5:30pm–6:30pm
Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting >>

Meeting ID: 814 5444 0042
Passcode: 761579

Bargaining Team: Michelle Gilmore, Respiratory Therapist; Monica Dewitt, Pharmacy Tech; Sissy Allison, Surgical Technologist; Chad Michels, Cardiovascular Technologist; Leslie Ball, Surgical Technologist; Vanessa Giles, Surgical Technologist.

Ferry County - Bargaining Begins: Making Progress at the Table

On August 21, our Bargaining Team met with the Employer to kick off our bargaining process. We are encouraged by the progress we made at the bargaining table and feel that the Employer is hearing and sharing our concerns.

We reached several tentative agreements and left the Employer with both our non-economic and economic proposals. We are hopeful that the Employer will provide a full response by our next bargaining session on September 2.

“Negotiations foster collaboration and cooperation between employers and workers, leading to a more harmonious and productive working environment.”

— Bargaining Team

Sticker Up Event - Tues, Sept 1

Please join our Bargaining Team for a Sticker Up event! Reach out to a Bargaining Team member to get your sticker or to assist with handing them out.

Next Bargaining Session - Wed, Sept 2

Our Bargaining Team will meet with the Employer for our next bargaining session. We will keep members informed as negotiations continue.

How You Can Help

Keep Your Information Up to Date: Update Your Information >>

Join Your Union: UFCW Join Application >>

Want to Become a Union Leader? Consider attending an upcoming online training:

• Sept 10 at 10am or 6pm: Intro Shop Steward Training >>

• Sept 17 at 10am or 6pm: Steward Training: How to Represent Co-Workers in Investigatory Meetings >>

Questions or Concerns?

If you have questions or concerns about the contract or bargaining process, please reach out to a member of the Bargaining Team or Becky Latzel, Union Rep, at (866) 210-3000.

Bargaining Team: Rebecca Thompson, UC and CNA; Michael Hughes, Cook; Chris Torres, Lab Tech Non-Certified.

St. Michael Medical Center Professional-Technical-Clinical Support - Long Day—Disappointing Ending

Tuesday, August 25

We came into bargaining on Tuesday, August 25, hopeful that we could make real progress toward a deal. The Employer had indicated that it was ready to get serious and work toward an agreement. Unfortunately, by the end of the day, we were disappointed by how little movement we saw on the issues that matter most to us.

Because we are currently in FMCS mediation, the discussions at the table are confidential since neither side passed a formal proposal. Instead, we exchanged “supposals”—nonbinding, hypothetical ideas used to test possible paths toward an agreement. Because of the confidentiality rules of mediation, we cannot share the specific details of those discussions.

What we can say is that the Employer’s wage position continues to fall short of what is needed. We did not see the movement we were hoping for on wages, premium pay, and important concerns around safety in the Family Birth Center. We entered the day expecting the Employer’s actions at the table to reflect its stated desire to reach a deal. Unfortunately, we ended the day still waiting to see that level of movement.

Our Bargaining Team continued working throughout the day, reviewing wage proposals classification by classification and reassessing our priorities to make sure we remain focused on the improvements that matter most to us.

We were also grateful to have one of our Union siblings from the St. Joseph Medical Center technical Bargaining Team join us at the table, share perspective from their own negotiations, and show management that we are united in our fight for a fair contract.

We started the day hopeful that we could make significant progress. We ended it disappointed, but still committed to doing everything we can to win the fair contract we deserve.

Sign the Strike Pledge Card Today! >>

We meet with management again next week on September 3, which we anticipate will be an important bargaining session as we work to determine whether the Employer is prepared to make the movement necessary to reach a fair agreement.

“Started with high hopes, ended totally disappointed.”

— Merry Brandt-MacFann, CT Technologist

Bargaining Team: Robel Haile, Clinical Pharmacist; Bryson Andrews, ED Tech; Olivia Almeida, Respiratory Therapist; Merry Brandt-MacFann, CT Technologist; Lara Williams-Graham, Certified Surgical Technologist; Angela Roberson, EP Technologist; Rob Shauger, CNA.

Confluence Professionals - Economics Incoming

Friday 14, we concluded our third bargaining session with management. Although we gave all our noneconomic proposals, management failed to give us a single reply at this session. Our focus in this session was largely on preparing our economic proposals.

Our goal is to ensure a benefits package that protects what everyone is already receiving while bridging the gap and inequities between different departments. Our team is working to ensure that we are building a contract that will improve the conditions of all departments! In order to achieve this, we need your input and your support.

Bargaining Team: Trevor Schultz, Trisha Self, Jessica Schell, Theresa Randolph and Clari Ramos.

Join Our First Contract Action Team Meeting!

Wednesday 26
6pm
330 S King St

This meeting is a great opportunity to get involved in your contract negotiations, where you can hear what is happening at the table and what you can do to help. A good contract isn’t won at the table—it is won in the field!

Covington Medical Center - Memorandum of Understanding Vote Scheduled

“40-Hour” Alternative Work Schedule

This has the potential to allow members to have the option of a flexible workweek schedule. Patient care will still need to be met, and the schedule is available only by mutual agreement.

This is an additional benefit that would be offered in all contracts at Covington Hospital. All changes to existing contracts must be voted on by the affected membership.

The full Memorandum of Understanding will be available at the vote.

Vote Scheduled

• August 21

• 11am - 1pm

• MOB Conference Room 3

You must be a member in good standing to vote.

Please reach out to your Union Rep, Charlie King, at 206-436-6518 with any questions or concerns.

MultiCare Allenmore - A Common Vision

We all want health care workers and patients to have the best possible support. Better recruitment and retention of quality staff, and improved experiences for caregivers and patients, are good for everyone. Allenmore members, joining with thousands of other UFCW 3000 members across MultiCare, can achieve this vision if we come together and stand united around what we agree is needed to improve our workplaces.

Two Steps Toward Progress

Two necessary steps for us to advance our contracts across the MultiCare system are growing our numbers and standing together. Even though bargaining does not begin at Allenmore until next year, the effort to move forward on these two paths is already underway.

Organizing More Workers Into Our Union

• Newly organized members at Capital Medical Center ratified a first contract, and their contract expiration date aligns with the Tech contract.

• Newly organized members at Women’s Clinic are accreting into the current Clinic Contract, and we are bargaining with MultiCare about how these workers will be placed on the wage scale.

• Newly organized workers at Mary Bridge Therapies will begin bargaining for a first contract soon.

If you know of workers at MultiCare who are not yet Union members but are interested in joining UFCW 3000, please contact a UFCW 3000 Union Organizer by calling or texting 206-414-9601.

Building Unity Across All Locations and Contracts

We are in the midst of conducting a MultiCare-wide pre-bargaining survey to identify members’ concerns and hopes for the next round of bargaining in 2027. If you have not yet filled out your survey, now is the time. Your opinions matter.

Complete the survey >>

Solidarity Sticker Up on Tuesday, August 18!

MultiCare is not treating all the members at Women’s Clinic with respect. Disrespecting one is disrespecting all—that is part of what being in a Union is all about. Women’s Clinic workers held a successful sticker action in early August and need broader support.

We are holding a Solidarity Sticker Up at Allenmore on Tuesday, August 18, to show our support for the Women’s Clinic members. Stickers will be distributed that day by workplace leaders and Union Rep Ondrea Shallbetter.

MultiCare Tacoma Women’s Clinic and Urogynecology - Bargaining Update—Taking Action Together to Reject Wage Cuts

Our sticker action was a huge success on August 5!

We will make sure everyone has stickers for the next round on August 19.

In bargaining, management continues to take an anti-union position by proposing to cut the wages of some workers who were hired above scale as we bargain to accrete workers into the MultiCare Clinic contract. Their proposal to place workers on the wage scale based on years of experience is generally good, but we have made it clear that this would result in cuts for some workers, and we are pushing back.

Next Contract Action Meeting

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

6pm

Join Zoom Meeting >>

If you have questions or would like to get more involved, please contact Union Rep Ondrea Shallbetter at (206) 436-6525.

“Equality opens the door, equity makes sure everyone can walk through it.”

— Timeka Gist

Bargaining Team: Violet Barkley, Kristina Matushevskaya, Timeka Gist.

The Doctors Clinic - The Contract Is Ratified!

On August 10, members of The Doctors Clinic came together to review and vote on our new contract. We are excited to share that the contract vote resulted in an overwhelming yes vote and that the contract is now ratified!

Now comes the important work of getting the contract reviewed and signed, as well as enforcing our new collective bargaining agreement. While the fight for a fair contract is over for this cycle, we must now pick up the work of building power in our worksites so that we can continue to improve what happens day to day. This means holding management accountable, training more Stewards, and always looking ahead to the issues we continue to face and how we can resolve them.

What’s Next?

• Wage increases and retro pay should be reflected in paychecks beginning with the first full pay period after ratification.

• We will finalize the contract and get it ready for print.

• We will schedule labor-management meetings with the Employer to make sure that issues are addressed as they come up.

If you are interested in getting involved, reach out to our Union Rep, Ryan DeGouveia, and let him know that you would like to learn how you can get more involved.

Optum Care, Inc. — Everett Oncology Clinic - Bargaining Update—Time for Collective Action!

Optum Care, Inc. — Everett Oncology Clinic
Bargaining Update—Time for Collective Action!

At our ninth day of negotiations on August 11, our Union Bargaining Team met with Optum after nearly two months since our last session. We spent the day exchanging a few non-economic articles back & forth; primarily speaking to parental leaves of absence & agency/traveler (non-bargaining-unit) employees, and on a positive note, we ended the day with two new tentative agreements, respectively.

However, based on the Employer’s provided timeline of “late July/August,” we started our day optimistic that more comprehensive economic counterproposals would be returned to us. Their initial offering on June 10 essentially said they would continue to pay us according to current practice, provide wage increases according to current practice, and hire new workers within their pay ranges according to current practice—all at their sole discretion. The same sentiment was reflected in their health care benefits proposal: They would simply continue doing what they are already doing, with little to no say from our newly formed Union.

But these reasons are exactly why we organized our Union in the first place! Joining together to bargain for our rights and benefits as dedicated oncology workers is not necessarily a testament to the invalidity of Optum’s practices. Instead, it is about securing a voice at the bargaining table and investing in our workplace to make the Everett Oncology Clinic the best version of itself.

All that said, the Employer let us know first thing in the morning that we would not be receiving any additional economic proposals that day, attributing the delay to new internal review and approval processes. While it is worth noting that, in just eight sessions before this one, we made exceptional progress on the noneconomic sections of our new Collective Bargaining Agreement, we all felt that if management had shown up prepared with reasonable wage and benefits proposals, we might even have been able to reach a final deal.

We took the opportunity during our first joint session on August 11 to express this frustration to management. Frankly, we have grown tired of waiting. We determined that, in order to win a strong contract, we would have to show our collective strength and solidarity to Optum. We decided to launch a strike pledge to show Optum that we are ready to take action, if necessary.

Add Your Name to the Strike Pledge >> 
(Your name will be kept anonymous)

Furthermore, to discuss the plan our team put together to continue building collective power, all Optum Oncology workers are strongly encouraged to attend our weekly Contract Action Team meetings through September 2. Details are below.

Weekly Contract Action Team Meetings

• August 20
  7pm–8pm
  Join Zoom Meeting >>
  Meeting ID: 881 0325 6615

• August 27
  7pm–8pm
  Join Zoom Meeting >>
  Meeting ID: 881 0325 6615

• September 2
  7pm–8pm
  Join Zoom Meeting >>
  Meeting ID: 881 0325 6615

Sticker Up and Union Swag Day - August 26

Our Bargaining Team has newly designed stickers that we plan to distribute throughout the clinic.

Wear your new sticker, Union merchandise, and UFCW 3000 colors—blue and gold—on August 26 to show management that we are all in this together!

“I’m unpleasantly not surprised—but we’re all in, and it’s time to get moving!”

— Molly Hugo, RN

Bargaining Team: Janis Laffin, RN; Molly Hugo, RN; Ashley Seidelman, Patient Care Coordinator.

2026 Labor Day Celebrations

Since 1882, when New York City unionists marched down Broadway to demand recognition, working people have set aside a day in early September to celebrate the labor movement's achievements. 

Through organizing, solidarity, and no small amount of good trouble, we've won the eight-hour workday, the weekend, Social Security and unemployment insurance, laws to keep us all safe on the job, and, of course, a real voice in our workplaces. 

At UFCW 3000, we know we have more history to write and more fights to win for the benefit of all working people. But it's hard to move forward without recognizing and learning from past struggles. 

To that end, here is where to celebrate Labor Day across Washington State this year. 

Angle Lake, SeaTac, WA
Monday, September 7, 2026 from 11am to 1pm
Angle Lake Park; 19408 International Blvd., SeaTac
MLK CLC

Burlington, WA
Monday, September 7, 2026 at 12:00pm
Maiben Park 1011 Greenleaf Ave, Burlington, WA
NW WA CLC 

Lakewood, WA
Monday, September 7, 2026 from11:30am to 3pm
Fort Steilacoom Park, 8717 87th Ave SW, Lakewood, WA 98498

Kennewick, WA
Monday, September 7, 2026 from 11:30am to 3pm
Columbia Park Main Stage5111 E Columbia Dr, Kennewick, WA 99336
South East LCL 

Chehalis, WA
Monday, September 7, 2026 from10am to 2pm
The VR Lee Building, 221 SW 13th St. Chehalis, WA 98532
Thurston Mason

Kalama,WA
Monday, September 7, 2026 from 10:30am to 3:30pm
Haydu Park; 253 Kalama River Rd, Kalama, WA 98625
Southwest WA

Kaiser Labor Job Positions are open - Apply now!

KAISER WORKERS, Come work with your Union: Kaiser Permanente Labor Positions NOW OPEN for January 2027!

UFCW3000 and the Alliance of Healthcare Unions, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, invite you to apply to one of two open positions:
Contract Specialist – one year term and Alliance Partnership Representative (APR) – three-year term.

Both positions offer great opportunity to learn new skills and spend time doing meaningful work that has a direct impact on Kaiser workplaces.

If selected, you will be released from your current role. In your new role, you will continue to receive the same pay, benefits and seniority accrual, returning to your position after your contractual term.

Applications due by September 15. Both positions start January 2027.

APR JOB DESCRIPTION: Download job description here >>
To Apply: please email resume with KPWA APR Position in the subject line to: cmacphail@ufcw3000.org, mhatton@ufcw3000.org, Julie.kwiek@ahcunions.org, becky.t.peterson@kp.org 

CONTRACT SPECIALIST JOB DESCIPTION: Download job description here >>
To apply: Please fill out CONTRACT SPECIALIST Application here >>

MultiCare Women's Clinic & Urogynecology - Stop the Union Busting—No Wage Cuts at MultiCare!

Management has proposed cutting the wages of some workers who were hired above scale when they are placed into our Union wage scale. While management has proposed placing all workers on the wage scale at a rate of pay that reflects their years of service—which is good—this proposal to cut the wages of some workers is not fair and comes across as Union busting.

We have been working hard to achieve wage placement that creates wage equity without wage cuts. Let’s stand united for wage placements that are fair to everyone.

We are also excited to announce that we are having a Union Visibility Day at MultiCare: August 5th, 2026

Our message is clear:

Stop Union Busting—No Wage Cuts at MultiCare!

For more information, talk to Bargaining Team Members or Union Organizer Ondrea Shallbetter at (360) 409-0337.

Bargaining Team: Kristina Matushevskaya, Timeka Gist, and Violet Barkley.

“No member left behind—because when one of us moves forward, we all move forward together.”

— Timeka Gist