Harbor Regional Health Tentative Agreement Reached!
/Our Bargaining Team has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract and recommends a yes vote!
Read MoreWith ULPs on the horizon and a strike authorization in hand, we bargained late into the night two days this week. While some progress was made, the hospital is still short of meeting our priorities and continues to push their takeaways. We will not let that happen! Stay prepared and join us for all the upcoming Strike preparation meetings via ZOOM to learn more about the next steps in your fight for a best contract.
Our collective actions over the last two weeks have paid off in this bargaining session, and we are encouraged by the results! Management arrived prepared to engage and met with our team early in the day, replying to several outstanding proposals. Throughout the course of the day, we reached sixteen tentative agreements. One of these was a major breakthrough in our economic proposals – agreeing to the definitions of full time and part time employees. Thank you to our Contract Action Team members who pulled a lot of information to support the need for these definitions.
The union met with LabCorp on Wednesday, October 28, and once again received unacceptable, disrespectful proposals. LabCorp offers minimal, below-market wage increases, resists giving reasonable notice of outsourcing, and wants to strip away our rights and gain total power to change your health insurance whenever it chooses. The company blames upcoming Medicare reimbursement cuts for refusing to move closer to our proposals, but we are skeptical: LabCorp is thriving financially, its stock price is rising, and CEO Adam Schechter received $18,399,913 in compensation last year.
Grocery executives are working to grab every penny from their workers and members of our communities. Every contract negotiation is an opportunity to fight for what we deserve and work to steer the grocery industry back on track, to focus on what matters: delivering quality customer service and great products to feed our neighbors.
In our last contract negotiations, our union won the largest wage increases that we’ve seen, secured a transition to the stable our union health plan through the UFCW Spokane healthcare Trust, and ensured funding to keep our pension plan dependable for retirement. Our NE Oregon contracts recently expired, and our union is prioritizing a new contract that builds upon our previous wins.
After four long days of bargaining with the Employer and countless hours of preparation, our Bargaining Team reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) that we are excited to bring back to our members!
While our initial bargaining sessions were largely positive and relatively low stakes, we now have reached the meat and potato economic proposals that our unit cares about most. This is often the most challenging stage of bargaining – especially when bargaining a first contract. An example from today: in response to our extensively researched wage proposal, the company stated "we don't want to change how we do things" without further discussion.
As 2,500 UFCW 3000 members at MultiCare continue preparations for contract bargaining to begin early next year, there are several upcoming opportunities to gather, discuss and contribute. First off, a big thanks to all who completed the bargaining surveys during August and September. That information will be crucial in our assessing priorities before bargaining.
After holding nomination votes for the Labor Management Advisory Committee (LMAC) from September 21–25, 2026, and then holding nominee votes for Ballard, Central District, and Issaquah on October 21, 2026, we are happy to announce your committee members!
This agreement comes after more than six months of bargaining, an informational picket, federal mediation, a strike pledge campaign, and a strike authorization vote that showed CommonSpirit members were ready to fight for a better contract
After more than a month since our last session, our Union Bargaining Team; Alyssa and Oliver were able to reconvene with the employer on October 19 to receive their economic counter proposal.
Join us via Zoom on Tuesday, October 20, at 6:30 PM to learn more about the tentative agreement reached between our Union Bargaining Team and CommonSpirit.
“At a time when workers are struggling to keep up with sky-high prices for groceries, housing, health care, and other basic necessities, we cannot afford to give a tax cut to the wealthiest people in our state,” said Sam Dancy, UFCW 3000 Executive Board Vice President and Grocery Bargaining Team Member
Our member-led Bargaining Team met with representative from Puzzle Break to lay the foundation for the negotiations of our first union contract. We discussed guidelines around how proposals will be passed, Bargaining Team availability and our desire to have consistent and timely bargaining dates moving forward.
After months of difficult negotiations and a powerful show of solidarity, we have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract! Thanks to our collective strength, we secured significant improvements, including:
Please join us in person at the UFCW 3000 Des Moines office for Contract Action Team meetings on the following dates. We will be meeting in person at the union office, but for those who cannot join in person there will be an online option. During these meetings, will be sharing updates as well as creating picket signs for an upcoming info picket.
After months of difficult negotiations, a powerful informational picket, and an overwhelming strike authorization vote, our Union Bargaining Team fought late into the night on October 8 and reached a tentative agreement on a new contract!
The Nominations are in, now it’s time to vote for who will represent you and your coworkers from Ballard, Central District, and Issaquah PCCs on the newly formed PCC Labor Management Advisory Committee (LMAC). Secure online voting will take place Wednesday, October 21 from 8am to 8pm. Every PCC store elects one LMAC representative, you may only vote on a nominee from your own store.
Following a series of highly attended vote meetings on Monday, October 5, union technical workers at St. Joseph Medical Center voted nearly unanimously to:
Reject CommonSpirit’s subpar contract offer
Authorize a STRIKE
“We set the stage and gave our comprehensive proposal letting the employer know that our priorities are to win wages that we deserve, improve our transportation benefits, win immigration protection language as well as ensuring the safety of our co-workers. We are eager to see what BDA’s response is on the 21. ” -Kota Owens, Bargaining Team Member
Our Bargaining Team has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract and recommends a yes vote!
Read MoreWe have reached several tentative agreements with the hospital and have just a few open issues that we are trying to resolve.
Read More
We continue to make progress towards a new collective bargaining agreement. We have spent countless hours talking about what wages in other hospitals look like, and management has finally started coming into bargaining with some proposals worth thinking about. They have indicated that they have no interest in increasing PTO accruals or subsidizing the cost of health benefits more than they currently do, but instead want to invest in some significant wage increases for many jobs that have fallen below market. We disagree on their assessment of pay for some jobs and have shared a lot of data with them. We have also shared personal stories illustrating the ongoing challenges of working short.
Our next bargaining session is scheduled for August 27.
We are holding a Contract Action Meeting immediately following bargaining:
August 27
6:00 PM
Duffy's Meeting Room
1605 Simpson Avenue
Aberdeen WA 98520
For additional information, contact a bargaining team member or Union Representative Kimberly Starkweather (206) 436-6515.
Bargaining Team: Dan James, Eric Timmons, Janet Byrd, Ana Garcia, Debi Sturm, Bambi Shope
We focused on economics Friday as we bargained with management. Their initial wage proposal did not align with other local hospitals. Our response was a market-competitive proposal that takes into account the rising cost of living and the challenges of retaining and recruiting workers. We talked about differentials and premiums, along with the role of preceptor, student coordinator, and the importance of paying wages that recognize past experience.
Read MoreOur bargaining team has had multiple bargaining sessions with management but we haven’t received a response on any of our economic proposals. We have however received some proposals from management:
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From organizing a union to bargaining a contract to enforcing it as a shop steward, John Warring has done it all. Michaela sits down with this retired member and activist in her community to hear about the history of the local hospital in Grays Harbor, WA. Michaela and John get real about the value of being a union worker and the many different ways to be involved in your union. For John it went far beyond ensuring fair wages and enforcing job security, and included things like protecting departments from outsourcing and advocating for workers alongside fellow unions in a labor council. He also shares his experience and perspective on 40 years of UFCW 3000 history!
UFCW 3000 union shop steward Michaela is always ready to answer fellow members’ questions about their union. She’s also a devoted murder podcast listener. Put those interests together, and she decided to start a union podcast to get all her coworkers’ questions and her own questions answered, and to meet as many people as possible who could share what it means to be a part of UFCW 3000. (No murder on this podcast, only solidarity!)
*The information shared on this podcast is offered by rank and file union member leaders of UFCW 3000. There may be inaccuracies or misstatements shared, as members will be speaking from the lenses of their perspectives and life experiences. While members are doing their best to share good information, we can make no claims to 100% accuracy and this podcast should not be construed as legal advice.
Harbor Regional Health
Members of the local community came out along with many hospital workers to send a strong message to management: We need a contract NOW! At the end of the Informational Picket community members stepped up and spoke to HRH workers offering overwhelming support! It was a beautiful fall day, a perfect day to make some noise in front of Harbor Regional Health.
Buttons are showing up on so many workers at HRH! Keep wearing buttons!
On Thursday, August 11, union members joined forces to distribute buttons on both campuses. The buttons are being worn in solidarity with the HRH Bargaining Team demanding a fair contract. We will continue to wear the buttons.
Starting today—Monday, August 15—we will be distributing a Strike Pledge Card.
In solidarity with the Bargaining Team, the Strike Pledge Cards let management know that we are willing to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract!
If you have questions or concerns, contact Union Representative Brandan Zielinski at BZielinski@ufcw3000.org or call him at 206-436-6603.
Your Bargaining Team: Janet Byrd, Ricki Franklin, Dan James, Bambi Shope, Debbie Sturm.
Please remind your coworkers to update their information so that everyone can receive these updates!
Our union bargaining team has been hard at work creating a stronger and more efficient agreement between employees and management. We are proposing real wage increases because we have given up increases for the sake of the hospital. We are behind and need to catch up.
We are proposing wages:
That are competitive with other local hospitals
That meet the increasing cost of living
That recognize our value to the hospital and the community
We have worked through difficult times facing the ongoing staff shortages that require you to work twice as hard!
Thanks for the burger HRH but show us the money!
For additional information or to get involved contract your union representative Brandan Zielinski @ (206) 436-6603.
“I joined the bargaining team to put my passion for social justice into action to benefit my coworkers and family. I grew up in union households and want to honor all those who have sacrificed for worker’s protections”
— Ricki Franklin, Medical Social Worker and Bargaining Team Member
Your Bargaining Team: Janet Byrd, Ricki Franklin, Dan James, Bambi Shope, Debbie Sturm.
Please remind your coworkers to update their information so that everyone can receive these updates!
As the contract cycle comes to an end, our UFCW 3000 Bargaining Team met across the table from Management on April 8 and 13 with more sessions planned in the next month.
Day one and two, the Union Bargaining Team brought proposals to the table improving employee protections, while Management came empty handed.
Next session we will be discussing the Hospital’s below market wages and premiums.
Our Bargaining Team is committed to raising the overall economic package for UFCW workers at GHCH/HRH.
Please update your contact information to receive updates: ufcw21.org/update-your-information
Your Bargaining Team (L-R): Debra Sturm, Janet Byrd, Daniel James, Ricki Franklin, Bambi Shope
After lengthy negotiations with Management, we’ve reached a Tentative Agreement. Some of the highlights include:
Ratification Bonus
Wage Increases
Increases to annual maximums for Dental and Vision Insurance
Improvements to Paid Time Off
Improvements to Grievance Procedure
UFCW 21 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract. Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Representative for any questions.
“Our hospital continues to have poor revenue and we still made improvements to our contract. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Zoom meetings so we can explain the improvements of Tentative Agreement.”
— GRAYS HARBOR COMMMUNITY HOSPITAL BARGAINING TEAM: Janet Byrd, Medical Records; Daniel James, Surgery; John Warring, Lab; Michaela McDonald, Cardiopulmonary; Chris Neeley, Registration; Debra Sturm, Pharmacy; Bambi Shope, House Keeping
Join us for a Zoom Contract Overview Meeting and learn more about the Tentative Agreement.
November 19, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
December 3, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
Join Your Bargaining Team for a Zoom Meeting to discuss what we all can do to win a good contract with no takeaways.
“We need all members to show Management that taking away sick leave is wrong during this time of crisis”
Grays Harbor Hospital Bargaining Team
Tuesday, September 22
3:30PM – 4:30PM • 6:30PM –7:30PM
https://zoom.us/join
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
We continued to bargain with Management last week and were not able to reach a settlement. Management’s relentless pursuit to take away our sick leave hours during a pandemic is their short sighted plan to reduce costs off of our working backs. Our Bargaining Team remains adamant that taking away our sick leave is not the answer to the hospital’s financial problems. We encouraged Management to look at other cost saving ideas, i.e. better billing practices and streamlining paperwork.
“We understand Shared Sacrifice and we want the hospital to succeed but having Management balance the budget off our backs is not acceptable. Join us at our Zoom Contract Action Team meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss our next steps in getting a fair contract.”
Grays Harbor Hospital Bargaining Team
Tuesday, July 21
6:00 PM - 7:30PM
https://zoom.us/join
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
UFCW 21 President Faye Guenther & Secretary-Treasurer Joe Mizrahi interviews retiring Grays Harbor Hospital member leader John Warring and former UFCW 21 Secretary-Treasurer Diane Zahn about their memories in the labor movement and how to strengthen our union in the future.
Read More
In the midst of a global healthcare crisis, Management is still proposing to take up to 40 hours from our sick leave. Our plan is to eliminate some of that loss by adding additional time off that could be used not only as sick leave but as vacation.
“As we continue to work short and make sacrifices to help with the financial woes of the hospital, we call on Management to meet us with a solution that mitigates some of the losses that they have proposed and provides us with an economic acknowledgment of the time we’ve spent bargaining this contract.”
Grays Harbor Hospital Bargaining Team
We are the Union. The members of UFCW 3000 are over 50,000 members working in grocery, retail, health care, meat packing, cannabis, & other industries across Washington state, north-east Oregon, and northern Idaho. UFCW 3000 is a chartered member of UFCW International with over 1.4 million workers in North America.
To build a powerful Union that fights for economic, political and social justice in our workplaces and in our communities.
Correcting the Record: Decades after Organizing Her Own Unit, Leslie Ball Is Still Fighting for Her Coworkers
Leslie Ball, a certified surgical technologist at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma and a longtime UFCW 3000 Union Steward, has spent decades standing up for herself and her coworkers.
Her fight for better working conditions began in the late 1990s, when she received a 30-cent wage increase, which ended up only being a five-cent raise after her employer reduced her shift differential by a quarter. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the value surgical techs bring to the table, she knew a nickel wasn’t going to cut it. So she and a coworker, Gail Miller, started organizing their colleagues at St. Joe's despite warnings that previous organizing efforts had failed.
Within a year, they helped Radiology, Respiratory Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and other departments form the hospital’s first Technical Unit, which ratified its first contract in 1999.
Jenny C., a transporter at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, knows what it looks like when management hopes a problem will just go away.
Jenny has watched the facility's transport elevators malfunction for more than a year, filing report after report after each incident she witnessed. Supervisors did not appear to take these complaints seriously.