MultiCare Auburn Medical Center RNs - Case Manager Accretion - Tentative Agreement Reached! Contract Vote Scheduled

Following eleven bargaining dates over the course of nearly six months, our Case Manager RN bargaining team at Auburn Medical Center are overjoyed to announce that we have reached a fully recommended tentative agreement outlining our proposed entry into the RN union contract.

At our last scheduled session on January 22, we met MultiCare at the table, and proudly announced that we’d secured a supermajority of strike pledge card signatures in our unit. Pairing this with discussions around our continued priorities in these negotiations—MultiCare requested an emergency bargaining session on Monday, January 27 to get back to the table as soon as possible and continue working towards a deal.

Considering the many challenges we’ve faced throughout bargaining, our solidarity and resolve have led to what we strongly believe is a groundbreaking agreement for Case Manager RNs at Auburn Medical Center, including:

  • Experience credit towards placement on the RN wage scale

  • Access to premiums, differentials, daily overtime, and all of the union protections contained in the RN contract

  • Protections around Case Manager RNs floating into other clinical areas of the hospital

  • A specific wage differential for Senior Case Manager RNs

RATIFICATION BONUS!

To read the full agreement and cast your ballot, we encourage all newly-organized Case Manager RNs to drop-by our vote meetings!

Monday, February 10
MultiCare Auburn Medical Center
Cascade Training Room

  • 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

  • 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Your AMC Bargaining Team: Sarah Murry, RN; Amber Hamilton, Case Manager RN; Nicole Joseph, Case Manager RN; Cory Larsen, RN; Nick White, RN; Mary Lou Gustafson, RN.

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center RNs - Tentative Agreement Reached! Contract Vote Scheduled

Following our bargaining date on Wednesday, January 22, and our announcement to MultiCare that the RNs at Auburn Medical Center had reached a majority of Strike Pledge Card signatures in less than a week’s time—management requested that we meet again at the table as soon as possible to continue negotiations on our successor bargaining agreement.

Our team recognized that this was an extremely important moment in our ongoing fight for a strong contract—in the sense that nurses were standing up and ready to take action, and that we may finally have MultiCare’s full attention.

As a result of this momentum, our union bargaining team are proud to announce that we have secured a fully recommended tentative agreement on our new contract, which includes highlights such as:

  • An all-new wage scale that places AMC RNs pay above many of our top competitors at nearly all steps

  • Increased Continuing Education funds

  • Ratification bonus as well as bonuses for our coworkers at the top of the wage scale each year of the contract!

  • ALL NEW safe staffing language, including a premium for RNs who care for a higher number of patients than the state-submitted staffing plan outlines!

To read the full agreement and check-out all of the additional wins we secured, we encourage all AMC Nurses in good standing to drop-by our vote meetings and cast your ballot.

Tuesday, February 11
MultiCare Auburn Medical Center
MOB Classroom (1st Floor)

  • 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM

  • 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

  • 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

“These negotiations have been incredibly challenging- but our bargaining team heard you all, and continued to listen throughout this process. The power that we’ve built together resulted in a contract that we’re confident will really start to fix the many issues RNs at AMC have faced, and keep AMC safe for patients and for nurses.”
—Cory Larsen, RN @ AMC

Your AMC bargaining team (L-R): Sarah Murry, RN; Amber Hamilton, Case Manager RN; Nicole Joseph, Case Manager RN; Cory Larsen, RN; Nick White, RN; Mary Lou Gustafson, RN.  

MultiCare Auburn MC RN & Case Manager RN Accretion Bargaining Update—Sending A Message

On Wednesday, January 22, our Auburn Medical Center RN & Case Manager RN bargaining team met with MultiCare for our tenth bargaining session of this contract cycle.

During this session, we felt a significant shift in the balance of power. The energy and solidarity from our well-attended Informational Picket just days prior were still palpable. When we met with MultiCare in the afternoon to present our counter proposals- we also shared that in just six days' time more than 180 nurses had signed our strike pledge...

52%!

This turnout is nothing short of extraordinary, and even at the time this update is being written, that number continues to grow.

Sharing this with MultiCare sent a powerful message: Auburn Medical Center nurses are fed up, and ready to take action. For far too long, our concerns have been ignored, dismissed, or brushed aside- and paired with five months of rejected proposals aimed at addressing the severe staffing shortages and improving recruitment and retention- we are demanding the respect and attention we deserve.

In response to our renewed strength and resolve, management responded with urgency, and requested that we schedule additional bargaining sessions as soon as available. Our bargaining team agree that this next session will determine our path forward. We are hopeful that MultiCare show up ready to work, and ready to bargain in good faith to get RNs and RN Case Managers at AMC the fair contract we deserve.

STRIKE PLEDGE CARD
If you have not yet signed our strike pledge, please do so through here! >>

Update Your Information >>  

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center RN & RN Case Managers Bargaining Update - THINGS ARE HEATING UP!

Our bargaining team for Auburn Medical Center RNs and RN Case Managers met with MultiCare on Thursday, January 2, marking the eighth day of negotiations this cycle.

Following our previous session with management on December 11, and a highly attended Contract Action Team meeting on December 16, our team was empowered and eager to continue pushing for a strong contract that reflects the hard work and dedication of Auburn Medical Center nurses.

After much anticipation spent awaiting management’s responses, our team was presented with an economic offer from MultiCare that we feel continues to undervalue our nurses by raising their previous proposal by a mere half of one percent—bringing the new total to 7.50%.

Even more concerning, MultiCare’s proposals for across-the-board wage increases in Years 2 and 3 of our contract (3.00% and 2.75%, respectively) are not only well below current market standards but could further widen the gap between the wages of Auburn Medical Center nurses and those at competing King County hospitals.

Another major point of frustration is MultiCare’s continued rejection of our proposal for a Staffing Premium—contract language that mirrors agreements in place at two other MultiCare hospitals. Despite extensive discussion, MultiCare claims they are “unsure how to implement and track” the premium at Auburn Medical Center... puzzling, considering they have successfully implemented similar provisions at their other worksites.

Overall, we feel MultiCare is not acknowledging the realities of the nursing wage market in King County. As a result, we spent the rest of the day on January 2 planning the next steps to stand together and demand change, including holding an Informational Picket at the Medical Center.

If MultiCare doesn’t see our value, then we will make sure they see OUR SOLIDARITY!
 

INFORMATIONAL PICKET:

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center
Thursday, January 16, 2025
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

RSVP Here >>

& Join our Picket-Making-Party on January 13 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM:

UFCW 3000 Office
23040 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines, WA 98198
 

PRE-BARGAINING DROP IN MEETINGS:

Join us for a 30-minute drop-in meeting before each day of negotiations from 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM

Click Here to Join >>
 

NOT GETTING OUR EMAILS?

Update your contact information now to stay up to date!

Update Your Information >>
 
Your Bargaining Team:

  • Nick White, RN

  • Nicole Joseph, Case Manager RN

  • Sandy Hegg, Case Manager RN

  • Cory Larsen, RN

  • Sarah Murry, RN

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center RNs & Case Manager RNs - STAND BY FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION...

Our Auburn Medical Center Registered Nurses & Case Manager Registered Nurses bargaining team met with MultiCare on Wednesday the 11th for our seventh bargaining session this cycle- and after receiving management's responses in the morning, we knew we would likely have little to positively report about how bargaining is progressing...

With regard to the Case Managers entering the RN contract, management let us know that they would not have a response ready for us—despite having our most recent proposal in their court since November 21.

And in terms of the RN contract, MultiCare provided us with a wage proposal of 7.00% in the first year, which would result in our wages at AMC being equal to those at MultiCare Tacoma General and Good Samaritan in Pierce County... wages that these RNs negotiated around two years ago! Not to mention management further contextualized the proposal by stating that although they're not officially at their last and final wage offer- they are "getting close."

While our team hoped to be patient with MultiCare and lift AMC RN's wages to be competitive in the King County market—we're not sure we have the patience to wait for MultiCare's proposals to catch up to 2024.

"We need solidarity now, and in numbers..."

—Nick White, MedSurg ICU RN

Your Bargaining Team:
Nick White, RN; Sarah Murry, RN; Cory Larsen, RN
Amber Hamilton, Case Manager RN; Nicole Joseph, Case Manager RN

Join our CONTRACT ACTION TEAM Meeting on December 16 by RSVPing Here! >>  

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center RN & Case Manager RN Accretion - BARGAINING UPDATE - November 13, 2024

On Wednesday, November 13 our Auburn Medical Center RN and Case Manager RN bargaining team met with MultiCare to continue negotiations on our contracts at our fifth session with management.

After three sessions without a response to our initial proposal to welcome the Case Manager RNs into our union, we were excited to see that at our previous session management came prepared with a proposal on their placement on a wage scale & how years of nursing experience would factor into their union rates of pay.

However, management's proposal introduced some new challenges—for instance, the proposed Case Manager wage scales they presented differed from the wage scale in the main union contract; and although the wage scale for Case Managers appeared higher than that in the nursing contract, management later clarified that this is because Case Manager RN's years of clinical nursing experience are not counted one-for-one when figuring out where we would be placed on the wage scale. Additionally, MultiCare proposed a new set of premiums specific to Case Managers, such as shift differentials and a weekend premium, but at rates lower than those in the nursing contract. We ultimately felt that these differing wage rates, premiums, and experience calculations were designed to create a division between Case Managers and the rest of the RN unit. In response, we presented counterproposals in the afternoon that would align Case Manager compensation with the main nursing contract—ensuring that experience is recognized consistently, that wages are aligned more with the RN wage scale, and also rejected the proposed lower premium rates.

"Despite what we feel are efforts to divide us, we feel more united than ever before!"

—Nicole Geff; Case Manager RN

Meanwhile for the RN contract, we also began our morning reviewing the latest set of proposals from management at our previous session. We are glad that in some areas of the contract we are making progress on getting to a final agreement with the employer, however many our highest priorities remain on the bargaining table as open issues for continued negotiation:

SAFETY:

  • Maintaining free on-site parking, and working to secure language around transportation safety for nurses who have vehicles broken-into or damaged in the on-site garage.

STAFFING:

  • Updating our contract language to reflect the new hospital staffing law in Washington State, and pushing for additional compensation for nurses who care for additional patients above what the hospital staffing plan permits.

WAGES:

  • After receiving management's initial wage proposal at our last session—we were disappointed to see that their offer only provided a three percent (3%) increase in the first year of our 2024 contract—which doesn't even compete with the wages that nurses are earning in a number of Pierce County MultiCare hospitals.

We know that it would take more than twice that percentage—around 7.00%—to get us up to market with many other MultiCare nurses—so we hope management come to our next bargaining date on November 21 with a serious proposal that pays nurses at Auburn Medical Center for the lifesaving care we provide every day.

"Hopefully MultiCare find the rest of the budget for their next wage proposal!"

—Cory Larsen; RN

CONTRACT ACTION MEETING

To learn more about our ongoing negotiations, and to team up with our union siblings in the Service Unit with SEIU, join your bargaining team for a UNITY BREAK:

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Cafeteria
Wednesday, December 11
7:30AM – 8:30AM

 

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Professionals TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED!

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Professionals TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED!

The outcome of these negotiations is a historic first union contract that we believe sets a new standard for healthcare workers, and we feel that we have secured some of the strongest workplace protections, wages, and benefits we’ve ever seen in a new contract.

Read More

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center RNs & RN Case Managers HARD WORK PAYS OFF… NEXT TIME?

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center RNs & RN Case Managers HARD WORK PAYS OFF… NEXT TIME?

We had aimed to present our proposals up front hoping that it may inspire Management to do the same; the sooner we get to a final tentative agreement, the sooner we get the union protections, premiums, and wages we negotiate! Not to mention this expedites the Case Manager RNs transition from being non-union, to being official union members!

Read More

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Professionals READY TO RALLY!

“Disappointed, but not surprised- now it’s time to take collective action.” -Brent

After more than ten months of negotiations, the patience of our Bargaining Team with MultiCare is wearing thin. While we have come to negotiations ready to work hard and fight for a contract that supports all of us, it increasingly feels that the Employer may not be matching our commitment. August 21 marks the third consecutive session with Management where we have left feeling that despite our earnest efforts and the tough decisions we’ve faced, MultiCare has come unprepared to make tough decisions themselves.

We know that as dedicated hospital workers, our years of experience make us the most valuable asset that MultiCare has, and while we recognize that progress is being made on wages and credit for experience—numerous delays and proposed wage take-aways have us feeling like our work at the bargaining table is not enough to push our Employer to finalizing our first union contract.

We can no longer allow MultiCare’s delays to hold us back from getting the wages and union benefits we deserve. Now is the time to show-off our collective power and make MultiCare hear our voices!

RSVP to the informational picket September 12 from 4:00PM – 6:00PM

All Union Professionals need to stand together and fight for a strong first contract! Signing-up helps our Bargaining Team get updates and details out as early as possible. Talk to your coworkers! https://www.mobilize.us/ufcw3000/event/668217/

*If your collective bargaining agreements do not permit joining our informational picket while your contract is in effect, You can support our Professional co-workers by wearing union swag and showing solidarity in the workplace!

Picket-sign-making-party on September 4 from 5:00PM – 7:00PM

RSVP here to work together before our informational picket to build signs, build solidarity, and get ready to rally! https://www.mobilize.us/ufcw3000/event/674068/

Please reach out to your union representative Ian Jacobson with any questions at 206-436-6550

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center RNs & RN Case Managers BARGAINING BEGINS!

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center RNs & RN Case Managers BARGAINING BEGINS!

On Tuesday, July 30 MultiCare Auburn Medical Center registered nurses kicked-off union contract negotiations with MultiCare. We’re feeling energized and ready to keep the momentum going; recognizing wins achieved by our union siblings in other contract negotiations at MultiCare recently.

Read More

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Professionals - First Contract Update - June 26, 2024

THINGS ARE HEATING UP!

Our Union bargaining committee met with the Employer, albeit virtually, for our first round of negotiations since May 22. After our previous bargaining date scheduled for May 29 was canceled by the Employer—we were beginning to feel very frustrated that any momentum we’d built up toward achieving our first ever union contract was going to be weakened. However—we spent the downtime digging into our priorities on things like:
  • Safeguarding the protections afforded by union membership
  • Articles on Medical, Family, and Military Leaves of Absence
  • And most significantly, wages and health insurance benefits.
When we began our day at the bargaining table, we were curious what the exchange of proposals between parties would look like, especially because management has shown limited interest in many of our key priorities. Considering all of this, we left today’s bargaining session feeling cautiously optimistic that the momentum behind reaching an agreement with the Employer was better than ever! Management also clued us into their feelings about the highly attended informational picket your union held at Tacoma General Hospital, acknowledging its impact as loud and disruptive (just how we like it!). Ultimately, we’re glad to announce that we reached agreements with management on some long-outstanding contract articles and engaged in what we felt was productive dialogue about where the parties are at in this process.

With all of that said, we do want to make it clear that despite our agreements on various provisions of our contract with MultiCare, we are beginning to narrow down to our highest priorities, likely to be the most challenging part of our bargain so far…

For instance, our bargaining team was deeply concerned to hear MultiCare's proposal to introduce employees into our Union Wage Scale at a pay rate that closely mirrors their current one (with no pay decrease), rather than aligning compensation with our years of experience. Our experience as healthcare professionals not only defines our skill but also enables us to deliver the quality of care our patients deserve. Moreover, we strongly believe that this approach could adversely affect retention in our departments, especially when many other employers recognize and reward years of experience.

As we dig into health insurance benefits, wages, years of experience, and more; it is more important now than ever that we are showing our solidarity and strength TOGETHER to win a STRONG first union contract!

Join us at our next round of Contract Action meetings to learn how to stay involved and support your Union Bargaining Team!

July 10 (In-Person & via ZOOM)

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Auburn Medical Center – MOB Classroom

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Auburn Medical Center – Cascade Training Room

Multicare Auburn Medical Center (Professional) - Bargaining Continues

Our Union Bargaining Team (L-R): Marci Pindi. Social Worker; Ramona Strassburg,Mental Health Technician; (Not Pictured: Brent Kirshenbaum,Pharmacist)

“It was a nice change to be able to pass proposals back & forth today, it felt productive! However- I didn’t like hearing that they’re not planning to move much on their wage proposal…” —Marci Pindi, Social Worker, Bargaining Team member

Our Bargaining Team met with MultiCare Management on May 8, to continue negotiations on our first Union Contract.

Throughout this process, we have felt increasingly frustrated about Management’s approach to working towards a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with us; for the most part, rejecting our proposals time and time again, or holding their position with little to no change for weeks (or even months) at a time.

While we’re not sure we can confidently say that this pattern has changed entirely, we are feeling very positive about the work achieved at the bargaining table on May 8. We’ve come to agreements with Management on some issues like shift differentials (evening & nights), the minimum guaranteed hours we’re paid when we’re called into work (On-Call), and memorializing our participation in the MHS Gainsharing Plan.

This progress is encouraging, but we still have a fight ahead of us on some of our highest priorities, considering management confirmed that they have not increased their wage scale proposal at all.

Are MultiCare feeling the pressure? We think so! However, we need to stand together now more than ever to make sure management understand that our wages need to reflect the life-saving care we provide every day.

Join our next Contract Action Team meeting:
Thursday, May 16 @ 11:30am—12:30pm
MultiCare Auburn Medical Center, Cascade Training Room

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Professionals - Bargaining Update

On Wednesday, April 10, your bargaining team met with MultiCare to continue negotiations on our first union contract. After nine suspenseful weeks of awaiting management’s response to our wage proposal—we finally have it in hand!

However, the suspense isn’t over yet. We did extensive market research and proposed wages, premiums, and differentials that we believe match the rates of some of the highest paid union professionals in the region, because we know MultiCare has aspirations to be the premier healthcare provider in the region!

But these aspirations don't seem to extend to the compensation we earn for the care we provide.

Even after just a quick review of their proposal, we were frustrated to see that the wage rates offered at the top end of their proposal are what some of our current coworkers are already being paid!

Furthermore, our proposal contained language which would honor existing employees' years of experience in our positions and compensate us accordingly. This recognition was unfortunately nowhere to be found in MultiCare's counter.

"We waited nine weeks to receive a proposal on wages, only to be disappointed by MultiCare's counter, which appears to only offer small increases to many of us!"
—Brent Kirshenbaum, Pharmacist, Bargaining Team Member

Join our upcoming Contract Action Team meetings to get details about our ongoing bargain, the proposal we got from management, and some events for MultiCare workers to make this an action-packed spring!


CONTRACT ACTION TEAM MEETINGS:

Thursday, April 18
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Cascade Training Room

Thursday, May 16
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Cascade Training Room

Mark your calendar and join UFCW members from Auburn Medical Center, Tacoma General, Allenmore, and many more for a spring kick-off with Union Family Day for MultiCare Workers.

Saturday, May 4
11 AM - 2 PM
IBEW Local 76 Hall
3049 S 36th St
Tacoma, WA 98409

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Professionals - Show me the money!

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Professionals
Show me the money!

BARGAINING TEAM: Brent Kirshenbaum, Pharmacy; Ramona Strassburg, Psychiatry Adult; Marci Pindi, Social Work

Our Bargaining Team met with MultiCare on March 7 to continue negotiations on our first Union contract.

While we did get responses back from MultiCare on some outstanding articles regarding our working conditions - like scheduling and FTE concerns, required health exams, and where members of our union can address staffing concerns, we received a similar response to MultiCare on our insurance benefits to what appears to be MultiCare’s current approach to insurance benefits - in short - rejecting the proposal almost in its entirety.

Furthermore, we are still awaiting a formal response to many of our other economic proposals: i.e; our wages!

We’re eager to see what MultiCare comes to the table with at our next bargaining session, which is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20.

“So many of my coworkers came to me with frustrations on our benefits… and MultiCare came back and just dismissed all of them.” —Brent Kirshenbaum, Pharmacy, Bargaining Team member

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center - Next chapter of bargaining

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center
Next Chapter of Bargaining

Our Bargaining Team: Pharmacist Brent Kirshenbaum, Social Worker Marci Pindi (standing in), and Mental Health Technician Ramona Strassburg

"We are excited to enter the next chapter of bargaining, as we have proposed all contact articles to MultiCare Management.” —Brent Kirshenbaum, Pharmacy

Our Bargaining Team has proposed all articles of contract language to the Employer, with the most recent including:

  • Improved healthcare benefits

  • Maintaining salaried positions for Social Workers

We ended our last bargaining session in February early in the day, as we continue to wait for MultiCare’s response to our wage proposal.

Our Bargaining Team is working diligently on your behalf and will continue to focus on securing the best contact possible including economics. Other bargaining dates that have been confirmed include March 7, 20, April 4 and 20; we will be requesting additional future bargaining dates from the Employer if necessary.

Throughout this negotiation process, we are committed to keeping you informed and engaged. We will schedule regular bargaining update meetings.

Join our next meeting to fight for a strong contract!

Thursday, March 21 @ 11am—1pm
Cascade Training Room

Engagement and involvement in this process are vital. Stay informed and stand together as a union demonstrates our collective strength. Our unified efforts and voices have the power to shape the future of MultiCare Auburn Medical Center.

Questions? Contact Union Rep Ian Jacobson @ 360-409-0587.

MHS Auburn Medical Center Professional - Bargaining Continues!

MHS Auburn Medical Center Professional
BARGAINING CONTINUES!

BARGAINING TEAM: Pharmacist Brent Kirshenbaum, Social Worker Marci Pindi (standing in), and Mental Health Technician Ramona Strassburg

"While there's been some progress in negotiations, there's deep concern over Management's proposals to strip away existing benefits. Furthermore, it's troubling that Management is insisting bargaining committee members use their PTO for negotiations, a departure from the norm observed at other MultiCare bargaining tables." – Ramona Strassburg, Mental Health Technician.

Our Bargaining Team continues to negotiate with MultiCare Management and is pushing to hold on to existing benefits while securing union standards and improved working conditions. At this point:

  • MultiCare is holding on their proposal to take away of pay in lieu of benefits Employees who opt out of healthcare and PTO.

  • Management is not agreeable to our proposal to cover employment required vaccinations and testing for confirmed work exposures to TB and COVID - 19.

  • MultiCare is not agreeable to any proposal outlining a fair process for FTE reduction.

  • MultiCare Management has proposed to reduce PTO accrual rates for all salaried Employees.

  • MultiCare’s last proposal on February 7 included NO MOVEMENT on their prior proposal showing that they are not unwilling to compromise on many important issues.

Our Bargaining Team is working hard on behalf of coworkers and will continue to focus on the above issues as well as proposed economics. Other bargaining dates that have been confirmed include February 14; we will be requesting additional future bargaining dates from the Employer.

Being informed and standing together as a union demonstrates our collective strength. Our unified efforts and voices have the power to shape the future of MultiCare Auburn Medical Center.

Contract Action Team Meeting
Drop by, discuss negotiations further, and give your input!

Thursday, March 21 @ 11am—1pm
Cascade Training Room

Questions? Contact Union Rep Ian Jacobson at 360-409-0587.

MultiCare Health System Bargaining Dates Confirmed!

After over a month of pushing MultiCare for dates, our Union Negotiating Committee has confirmed this Thursday, February 8 as our first bargaining date with the employer. We have also confirmed the following dates for negotiations:

2/8 2/12 2/15 3/1 3/6 3/15 3/21 4/11

Due to the employer’s delay, we are unlikely to reach an agreement before our contract expires at the end of this month. However, we will work with MultiCare to sign a contract extension to ensure that all provisions of our contract remain in place after scheduled expiration.

UFCW 3000 members in the new Auburn Medical Center (AMC) Professional unit already started negotiations a few months ago for their very first contract. Their negotiations have foreshadowed what we can expect with MultiCare, with management telling the AMC Professional Negotiating Committee that they plan to propose similar takeaways when they get to the table with our committee.

Specifically, MultiCare has already signaled their intentions to propose the removal of pay in lieu of benefits, a reduction in Union Representatives’ access to our workplace, and the potential elimination of consecutive weekend pay.

Our Union Negotiating Committee is preparing for what could be a difficult fight with MultiCare, and the best way you can help is to join regular Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings. CAT meetings bring together workplace leaders for in-depth discussions about negotiations and strategic planning to secure a fair contract.

RSVP to the next Contract Action Team meeting on March 5! RSVP to a meeting here >>

MHS Auburn Medical Center (Professional) - Return to the Bargaining Table!

MHS Auburn Medical Center (Professional)
Return to the Bargaining Table!

BARGAINING TEAM: Pharmacist Brent Kirshenbaum, Social Worker Marci Pindi (standing in), and Mental Health Technician Ramona Strassburg

Our Bargaining Team has met with MultiCare Management since the new year started, and talks have mostly been productive.

  • MultiCare Management has been agreeable to copy much of the language from the Tacoma General’s Professional contract.

  • However, a fight is brewing on economics with the Employer already proposing to take away pay in lieu of benefits and consecutive weekend pay - both of which are guaranteed in other UFCW contracts.

  • MultiCare is also threatening to convert all Employees to hourly. While that works for some, it doesn’t for other positions, so our Bargaining Team is proposing to maintain a salary option in some classifications.

Our Bargaining Team is working hard and will continue to focus on the above issues. Other bargaining dates have been confirmed for January 31, February 7 and 14; we will be requesting additional future bargaining dates from the Employer. We are committed to keeping everyone informed and engaged and will schedule regular bargaining update meetings.

Join your coworkers for the next meeting!
Drop by, stay informed, and give your input.

Engagement and involvement in this process are vital. Staying informed and standing together as a union demonstrates our collective strength. It’s important to remember that our unified efforts and voices have the power to shape the future of MultiCare Auburn Medical Center.

Wednesday, March 21 @ 11am—1pm
Cascade Training Room

QUESTIONS? Contact Union Rep Ian Jacobson @ (360) 409-0587.