LabCorp - Contract Ratified!

Our Union Bargaining Team is excited to share that with more than 60% turnout, our members overwhelmingly voted YES to ratify our new contract yesterday!

This contract includes higher wages for every position, the elimination of ghost steps, 401k improvements, and expanded benefits plans starting in 2025. We’re proud that our unit came together to help raise the bar for laboratory professionals.

The $750 ratification bonus and new wage rates take effect on the second full pay period after ratification (early August). More information about the changes and how to make the most out of the new benefits plan to follow. The new wage scale, benefits plan summary, and the full redline agreement will continue to be available for members to access on our website.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Christie Harris at (360) 409-0620.

“We know that the fight doesn’t end here. Let’s use our momentum to continue to learn about our rights, enforce our contract, and build our union power!”

—Debby Gibby, Bargaining Team member & Senior Lab Assistant

Still fired up? Sign up for Steward or Leaders in Action trainings!

Be sure to check out our website for upcoming community events, member meetings, training opportunities, and union benefits programs.

LabCorp Tentative Agreement Reached! Contract Vote Reminder

Our LabCorp Union Bargaining Team is excited to announce that we have finally reached a tentative agreement with the company. While this was not a quick or easy process, we’re proud of the hard work our members put in to pushing LabCorp towards a fair contract. We saw more members than ever before engaging their coworkers, demanding better, and taking action together, and it shows in our agreement.

Our Bargaining Team fully recommends a YES vote!

This tentative agreement has some big wins and big changes, including:

• Wage increases for all classifications (averaging 11% in the first year and 15% over the life of the contract, with a guarantee that no one will receive less than 5% upon ratification)

• Elimination of ghost steps (no more skipped anniversary raises)

• Shortened the total number of years it takes to reach the top of the scale

• Increased 2nd and 3rd shift differentials

• $750.00 ratification bonus

• Healthcare & Benefits expansion beginning January 1, 2025

  • Eliminated eligibility waiting period for new hires

  • More plan options and more medical carrier options

  • HRA, HSA, and FSA options

  • Telehealth (MDLIVE) coverage

  • Premium reductions via Annual Wellness Screenings

  • New voluntary benefits and support services, incl. wellness programs, accident & critical illness insurance, adoption assistance, recovery support, fitness reimbursement, reproductive health and parenting services, and more

  • Employee stock purchase plan

  • 401k improvements, incl. 5% company matching, all contributions 100% vested, and immediate eligibility

  • Tuition reimbursement

  • No takeaways to union PTO, sick leave, or bereavement

  • No additional costs for benefits until the end of 2024

• Monthly allowance for members who work from home

• Parking for couriers at James Tower

• Improved language for company communications regarding errors on paychecks, applying for short-term disability, medical premium repayment options, and changes in work schedules

• Improved language regarding union membership, new hire orientation, and union stewards

“It was a tough fight, but we won some of the highest wage increases in LabCorp union history. Our Bargaining Team members recommend voting YES!” —Kyle Chrisman, PST Specialist

Online CONTRACT VOTE: Tuesday, June 25 @ 5:00am — Wednesday June 26 @ 5:00pm

Members will need to have their personal email address on file with the union in order to receive the online vote email with their unique log-in information to vote on the agreement. Please update your contact information ASAP at ufcw3000.org/update-your-information >>

If you have questions or don’t receive the online vote email, you can contact your union Rep. Christie Harris at 360-409-0620.

Vote documents (including the Highlights summary, benefits plan summary, and full redline changes) will be available for you to review online and at the drop-in contract Q&A meetings prior to the vote.

DROP-IN CONTRACT Q&A MEETINGS: Saturday, June 22

ONLINE only: 9:00am—10:00am & IN-PERSON+ONLINE 1:00pm—3:00pm @ 23040 Pacific Hwy S, Des Moines. Zoom Meeting ID: 712 328 6135. Reach out to your Union Rep or a member of your Bargaining Team if you have questions about the agreement and can’t make it on Saturday.

Labcorp - We’ve Been Patient Long Enough

Last Friday, our bargaining team met with LabCorp for the first time after our informational picket at Swedish First Hill to continue negotiations. Meditation helped us make movement on many of the final outstanding language pieces, and LabCorp promised us a comprehensive non-economic counter at our next session on Monday May 13. At the end of the day, LabCorp gave us their latest economic counter, which is summed up below.

Union Proposals	LabCorp Counterproposals
11% - 14% increases to base wages (over what members are currently making)	1% - 6.29% increases to base wages (over the wage rates listed in the 2021 contract)
5% COLA increases for 2024 and 2025	2% COLA increase for 2024 and 2025
Eliminating Ghost Steps & getting members to the top of the scale faster	✅
Lower monthly healthcare premium costs	Higher monthly premiums, higher out-of-pocket maximums, and higher co-pays
Expansion of covered benefits to match non-union plans (e.g. HRA, optional insurance, LifeWorks, adoption assistance, 401k improvements)	❌
Tuition reimbursement coverage for union employees	❌
Telehealth coverage for union employees	✅
Reduced wait for new employee healthcare coverage	✅
Market increases to premiums and differentials	Extra 0.25¢ for third shift differential only
Lead pay included in PTO accrual	❌
Market increases for per-diem pay in lieu of benefits	❌

LabCorp’s new wage scale proposal only increases each step by 0.75% - 1.5% over their last proposal from March (which moved up by less than 1% from their December proposal!). We are almost a year into negotiations. Members have waited too long for the raises they’re due for management to be passing back and forth incremental pieces of paper. We’re here to bargain in good faith and work together to find creative solutions to serious workplace issues. LabCorp knows they must make meaningful improvements to their wages, premiums, and benefits if they want to be competitive in the Western Washington market. We’ve already been patient enough for the fair contract and fully staffed labs we deserve! LabCorp needs to step up and come prepared to reach an agreement.

If you feel like we do, and believe that we’ve been patient long enough, sign the strike pledge card, come to a union meeting, raise your voice, and talk to your coworkers about taking action to win a fair contract.

DROP-IN CONTRACT ACTION TEAM MEETINGS

• Wednesday May 15 from 7:30am-9:00am @ Swedish First Hill

• Wednesday May 15 from 5:30pm-7:00pm @ Swedish First Hill

Details for virtual meetings and in-person strike information sessions to come soon!

OREGON LABCORP UNION ELECTION VICTORIES!

More than 400 lab professionals at LabCorp across seven Legacy Health facilities in Oregon voted YES to unionize last Friday! Despite facing a tough (and expensive!) anti-union campaign, these workers won their union elections with the Oregon Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals – AFT Local 5017 (OFNHP) by an overwhelming 86% majority. We’re excited to support each other and coordinate our fights for a better future for LabCorp workers, and to work together to grow our LabCorp union power.

WORKDAY TIMEKEEPING ISSUES

Issues with Workday were brought to our attention, and we asked LabCorp while we were at the table to address it. Management said they advised supervisors to be careful and to review Workday submissions diligently while they try to resolve the problem. Please continue to check your paystubs thoroughly and reach out to a member of our bargaining team or our Union Rep if you need help ensuring your pay is correct.

Union Rep Christie Harris @ (206) 436-6606 (landline)

LabCorp - Join our info picket!

LabCorp Update
Join our info picket!

LabCorp Bargaining Team: Shelby Tyner, Nancy Pyanowski, Kyle Chrisman, Matt Noll, Deborah Gibby, Sam McVay, Lisa Magee

“Mediation feels like its working, and we’re making good progress on closing our open language proposals. But we know what we’re doing is clearing the way for our real battle: wages and benefits. We know that we must fight to win a fair contract, and we’re ready to. It’s time to act.” – Kyle Chrisman, Patient Service Techician

Last week, we met with LabCorp to continue negotiating our union contract. This was our second session with a federal mediator from FMCS, and it was as productive as the first. However, LabCorp’s economic proposal is still a far cry from solving our short staffing crisis. LabCorp has made it clear that they want to pay the bare minimum for labor while patient samples continue to be shipped out, draw sites are closed daily, and crucial positions remain unfilled. So join us on the picket line next Friday and tell LabCorp we demand better!

Informational Picket

Friday, April 12 @ 12pm—2pm
Swedish First Hill (at the park on Broadway and Marion)
Scan to RSVP or go to: mobilize.us/ufcw3000/event/613424/

We need you there! We’ll be providing shuttles from James Tower to the picket line on First Hill and back, so please join us when you’re on your break, off-the-clock.

What’s an informational picket? Workers walk, carry picket signs, chant, and share leaflets to let our community, patients, and providers know what we’re fighting for and how they can help support us.

Is it similar to a strike? No. Staff scheduled to work should go to work. Patients scheduled for care should go and get their care. The specific purpose of the action is to communicate the issues we have at the table with the public.

Is it legal? Yes. It’s not just legal, it’s our right as union members!

Who can picket? Everyone. By everyone, we mean EVERYONE: you (all off-the-clock LabCorp members), your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, patients, allies, and pets!

Can I get in trouble if my manager doesn’t like it? No. It is illegal for supervisors to question or discipline any staff for talking about or participating in an info picket. The National Labor Relations Act protects your participation in this type of union activity – even if you’re on probation!

What if I can’t make it? Get a friend, neighbor, or coworker to stand in your place. Every single person makes a difference!

Upcoming Drop-in CAT Meetings:

Wednesday April 3
8:30am—10:30am @ Swedish First Hill, basement lab

Thursday April 4
8:30am—10:30am @ Swedish Cherry Hill, cafeteria
5:30pm—7:30pm @ Swedish First Hill, basement lab

Saturday Morning April 6
2am—4am @ Swedish Cherry Hill, cafeteria

Looking for a virtual meeting? Please reach out to Union Rep Christie Harris @ 206-436-6606 with your preferred days and times and we’ll work on setting one up.

For our member meeting calendar, a copy of your contract, updates, and more, visit our Member Info Hub: linktr.ee/LabForce3000/

LabCorp - Federal Mediation Begins

Last week, our union Bargaining Team met with LabCorp management and for the first time this contract cycle, a Mediator from the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Services (FMCS) joined us to help facilitate negotiations.

First, the good: We’re making movement on most of the outstanding non-economic proposals, which means we’re locking down needed changes and narrowing the scope of our negotiations to crucial wage and benefits improvements. We’re securing parking for Seattle Couriers, a stipend for members who work from home, and stronger Union Stewards and Membership language.

We also received LabCorp’s economic and benefits counter. We’re excited to announce that LabCorp has agreed to new employees being eligible for health insurance at the beginning of the next month following their hire date (instead of needing to wait 60 days) and to extending coverage on our Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for MDLive (Telehealth). We’re also excited to share that LabCorp is working with the restructured wage scale that we carefully crafted in February, which eliminates all ghost steps, has the same number of maximum steps for all positions, and gets everyone to the top of the scale faster.

Now, the bad: LabCorp still isn’t offering fair or competitive compensation. Their new proposal maintains:

• 0% - 5% wage increases over the rates members are making right now
• only a 2% annual COLA increase for Year 2 and Year 3
• no consistent percentage increases between steps
• no increases to differentials, premium rates, or holidays
• higher employee monthly healthcare premiums ($198.98 for employee-only plans)
• increased out of pocket maximums ($6,000/$12,000)
• higher copays ($30 primary care, $70 specialist, $200 emergency room, $10/$20 RX)
• no tuition reimbursement, 401k improvements, or other optional benefits coverage

LabCorp cannot solve their recruitment and retention issues with this proposal. We want to be fully staffed so that we can provide the quality service that our community deserves, and we’re willing to fight for it.

“If you’re really serious about winning better wages and healthcare, the time to show up is now. It’s not enough to talk. You need to walk the walk with us.”

Deborah Gibby, Senior Lab Assistant

UPCOMING ACTION: INFORMATIONAL PICKET!

Friday, April 12 12pm – 2pm

@ Swedish Hospital – First Hill Campus

We’ll be holding an informational picket and community rally with our patients, providers, union partners, family, and friends to show LabCorp we stand together for a fair contract. We need everyone! Find more information & RSVP at: >> RSVP HERE

UPCOMING: DROP-IN CONTRACT ACTION MEETINGS

Tuesday, March 19 7:30am – 9:30am

Wednesday, March 20 & Thursday, March 21 9:00am – 9:30am

@ James Tower Cafeteria, Swedish Cherry Hill

Come down and talk with your bargaining team about negotiations updates and upcoming actions!

Bargaining Team: Kyle Chrisman, Deborah Gibby, Lisa Magee, Sam McVay, Matt Noll, Nancy Pyanowski, Shelby Tyner

Please reach out to a member of your bargaining team, or to your Union Reps Christie Harris at 206-436-6606 and Charlie King at 206-436-6518 if you have questions or want to get more involved.

Labcorp - Management’s Proposal Results in Pay Cuts

Our LabCorp negotiating team met with management on January 12 and 22. We were able to come to a tentative agreement on some of our non-economic contract improvements, but we continue to oppose LabCorp’s economic proposals. The latest session confirmed that their current wage and health insurance proposals would result in pay cuts for many members. This is unacceptable.

For context, we want to share some thoughts about the email update that LabCorp regional management sent to us in December.

• $19.97 is the new 2024 Seattle minimum wage, so LabCorp is proposing a 0% base rate increase for Lab Assistants (and Mail Clerks, Material Handlers, Patient Intake Reps, and Service Reps).

• This table tells us LabCorp believes 0.05¢ above minimum wage is a competitive rate for Patient Service Techs and PST Specialists.

• “Ghost Steps” are highlighted but not explained; Med Techs would receive the rate increase after Step 21 only once and stay at that rate until they reached Step 25.

• LabCorp chose not to include that they are only offering a 2% yearly COLA increase and that they have rejected market increases to differentials and premiums.

• The update does not account for LabCorp’s health insurance proposal, which would increase monthly costs and raise the annual out of pocket maximum, resulting in pay cuts for most employees who hit that maximum.

In the last three years, the cost of living in Seattle has increased by 21%. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, it took nine years for costs to grow that much. While LabCorp insists that it’s not the employer’s responsibility to offset unprecedented inflation and cost of living increases, our members and our patients shoulder the consequences of crucial lab positions remaining unfilled and draw sites being closed daily.

To remain competitive, LabCorp must raise wages. This isn’t just about fair pay—it’s about solving our staffing shortages and ensuring we can deliver the service our community deserves.

We’re not backing down. Join our Union Rep and Bargaining Team at our upcoming drop-in CAT meetings to discuss negotiations, future actions, and how to win the contract we deserve. Issaquah meeting dates to come in the following weeks.

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Drop-in Contract Action Team Meetings

James Tower @ the cafeteria

• 6:30am - 10:00am on Wednesday, February 7

• 5:00pm - 7:30pm on Thursday, February 8

First Hill @ the cafeteria

• 6:00am – 9:00am on Wednesday, February 14

• 5:00pm - 7:30pm on Thursday, February 15

Virtual

• 6:30pm - 7:30pm on Sunday, February 11

• Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

New Member Orientation

Are you a new employee? Join us online to meet your Union Representative, fill out your membership application, and learn about your contract and your rights at work. If you are still within your 6-month probationary period, you can receive a $50 credit towards your initiation fees. If you’re unsure about your membership status, please contact Christie Harris at (206) 436-6606.

• 7:00am – 8:00am via Zoom on the first Tuesday of every month: Feb 6, Mar 5

• Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

LabCorp - Ho! Ho! Ho! LabCorp is Still On The Naughty List!

Our Bargaining Team: Nancy Pyanowski, Kyle Chrisman, Sam McVay, Lisa Magee, Matt Noll, Shelby Tyner, Deborah Gibby  

“We’re finding common ground on non-economic proposals, but LabCorp continues to offer wages and benefits that just aren’t competitive. We all need to get ready to take action and fight for the contract we deserve in the new year.” 
— Lisa Magee, Hematology

On Monday, we met with LabCorp to negotiate our union contract. We’re making progress on some of our non-economic proposals, including improvements to our union stewards and new hire orientation language. Management responded to our economic proposal (updated for the Seattle 2024 minimum wage) from last session. They walked back their proposed decreases to the percentages between steps and increased their base pay offer for some positions by 5¢ to 25¢. We’re frustrated by this small, slow movement, but we took an opportunity to try to come closer to agreement by sharing and compiling our market research. 

It’s no secret that LabCorp is struggling to hire and keep talented lab workers. We’re understaffed, overworked, and undervalued. Management acknowledges these issues, but we’re half a year into negotiations and they’re still not offering real solutions. We need LabCorp to put its money where its mouth is and come to the table with fair and competitive wages and benefits at our next session on Dec 18.

WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN

We’re going to give LabCorp the holiday present it deserves – our petition demanding fair pay! Hundreds of our union members have already signed their names but we need your help to get to 75% by next Monday, December 18. 

>> Sign the Petition!

Already Signed?
Find a coworker who hasn’t yet and talk to them about how important it is to stand together! Every single person makes a difference.

CAT MEETING – UPDATES & PLANNING JANUARY ACTIONS

Please join us this Sunday at 6:30 PM for a virtual meeting to learn more about what’s happening at the bargaining table. We’ll review the employer’s latest offer then discuss how we will engage our communities and coworkers to win a strong contract. All questions are welcomed and encouraged!

Sunday, December 17, 2023 
6:30 PM – 7:30PM

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

Your voices are wanted! 

Call Christie at (206) 436-6606 (landline) to discuss the different ways you can share your story. Use your strength to inspire and empower your coworkers!

>> For the latest bargaining updates, a copy of your contract, our Facebook and Slack, and more.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Kyle Chrisman

Kyle Chrisman

Kyle Chrisman has been working at LabCorp for almost 18 years on Capitol Hill as a phlebotomist. Kyle is dedicated to his patients and coworkers, which is why he fights so hard to build collective power on the job. Kyle is currently serving on the LabCorp union bargaining committee. Phlebotomist union members at LabCorp have often had their concerns ignored by their employer and Kyle is ensuring that LabCorp hears them loud and clear during negotiations.

LabCorp is having trouble staffing and retaining workers and union members know why, LabCorp needs to provide competitive wages and benefits. The City of Seattle recently announced that the minimum wage within city limits would be going up 6.85%, which helps workers keep pace with the increased costs of living and working in the city. Instead of proposing a wage scale based on the percentage, LabCorp simply bumped all positions that were under the new minimum wage rate of $19.97. This compresses the scale so that several of the steps are at the same rate. LabCorp then maintained their offer of below-market raises, decreased percentages between steps above minimum wage, and higher health care costs.

Kyle and his fellow bargaining committee members know that is simply not realistic when it comes to making ends meet and safely caring for patients. That is why the bargaining committee updated their proposal to reflect the effects of the new minimum wage throughout their wage instead of just meeting it like LabCorp.

Stay tuned as Kyle and his fellow union members fight for a better contract and better patient care, they have already held one info picket are prepared to take further action to ensure a fair contract!

LabCorp - 2024 Seattle Minimum Wage

LabCorp
2024 Seattle Minimum Wage

“We dug into the pay scale and worked hard to make sure our proposals were equitable, competitive, and reflect the value of our work. We feel like we came up with a fair offer and now we’re looking ahead towards the actions we need to take to win.” —Shelby Tyner, Med Tech and Bargaining Team member

In September, LabCorp gave us their insulting opening economic proposal. In October, we stood together to demand better. We held our powerful first informational picket of the year outside Swedish Cherry Hill to start bringing our patients, providers, and community into our fight for fair and competitive wages.

At the end of October, Seattle announced its 2024 minimum wage rate: $19.97, up from $18.69. The 6.85% increase is a win for all of us working in the city and struggling to keep up with the rising costs of living and commuting. This increase meant LabCorp needed to give us a new economic proposal, as their offer would have put many positions below the 2024 minimum. It confirmed what we had already been telling them at the table: the wages they’re offering don’t meet our needs and LabCorp must do better if they want to recruit and retain great Lab workers.

In November, our economic negotiations were essentially reset. But despite an opportunity to come with a stronger offer, LabCorp simply bumped all positions that were under the new minimum rate to $19.97, compressing the scale. They maintained their offer of below-market raises, decreased percentages between steps, and higher health care costs.

While our wage proposal was already higher than the 2024 minimum, we made adjustments to reflect the new rate and gave it to LabCorp at our session on November 29.

LabCorp has told us to expect a full counter proposal to everything that is on the table at our next session on December 11. Join our next virtual Contract Action Team (CAT) meeting to discuss their counter and plan our next steps to win a fair contract!

Your VOICE matters!

It’s time for us to show LabCorp that we are brave, united, and will not be undervalued. We all deserve better so we are all signing our names to demand fair and competitive pay.

Join our CAT meeting Via Zoom

Sunday, December 17 @ 6:30 - 7:30pm
Contact a Bargaining Team member or Union Rep for meeting details. Details will also be sent your email.

Sign our petition now!form.jotform.com/232136709410348

ALREADY SIGNED? Talk to your coworkers, spread the word, and help us reach our goal of 75% union members standing together!

Find our union contract, membership application, Facebook, Slack, and more at: linktr.ee/labforce3000

Our LabCorp Bargaining Team: Lisa Magee, MLT; Deborah Gibby, Lab Assistant; Sam McVay, Client Services Rep; Shelby Tyner, Med Tech; Nancy Pyanowski, Dispatcher; Kyle Chrisman, Patient Services Tech; Matt Noll, Cytogenetics Tech; Union Rep Christie Harris

LabCorp After LabCorp's unacceptable wage proposal - we're taking action!

Last week, we received LabCorp Management’s first economic counterproposal. We had proposed substantial cost of living adjustments and base wage increases for all positions that would put us on par with the University of Washington, LabCorp’s biggest competitor in our area. LabCorp offered base wage increases between 1% and 5%, proposed changing (and for most positions, reducing) percentages between Steps, rejected market adjustments to premiums and differentials, and proposed increasing healthcare costs for every plan option.

When we asked if they seriously thought this economic proposal would fix their staffing problems, they emphasized that this was only their opening offer. We found this insulting and disappointing after months of discussion about the financial struggles we’re all facing and the difficulty LabCorp continues to have recruiting and retaining skilled, dedicated workers.

Because of the hard work of us and our coworkers around the country, LabCorp made record profits during the Covid-19 pandemic. We don’t expect LabCorp to singlehandedly fix the rising costs of housing, childcare, gas, or groceries—but we do expect our employer to pay us fair and competitive wages, provide accessible and affordable healthcare, and proactively support our continuing education. It’s good business sense. It’s best for our patients. It’s the right thing to do.

We deserve better, and we’re going to fight for it!

*UFCW 3000 LabCorp Workers’ Informational Picket has been rescheduled for October 19 from the previous date of October 12!

UFCW 3000 LabCorp members will be outside of James Tower at Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill Campus on October 5 and October 19* to educate our communities, providers, and patients about our fight. All of us need to show up and stand united to win the contract we deserve. We return to the bargaining table in mid-October. Let’s show LabCorp that together, we’re an unstoppable force for change!

LEAFLETING & SIGN-MAKING @ JAMES TOWER: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 - 6:30AM-8:30AM / 11AM-1PM / 3PM-5PM

Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill Campus: 550 17th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

On our day off or on our breaks, we’ll be outside James Tower to share our stories with the community, make picket signs, and get excited about the next actions. Can’t make it? Share your picket sign message or LabCorp-themed chant with us on Slack, Facebook, at work, or with our Union Rep.

INFORMATIONAL PICKET @ JAMES TOWER: OCTOBER 19* from 11AM-1PM

Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill Campus: 550 17th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

We’re taking action and holding our first informational picket of the year to show LabCorp that workers and the community stand united. Let’s send LabCorp a powerful message about our determination to win a fair contract.

Sign the petition for fair wages —and ask your co-workers to sign!

Event-leafleting calendar and community postcards coming soon!

Interested in sharing your story (or your department’s story) on our labor podcast, on our social media, or in an op-ed? Reach out to our Union Rep, Christie Harris.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Debby Gibby

Debby Gibby

Debby Gibby is a senior Lab Assistant, steward, and bargaining team member at LabCorp. Debby knows union member voices are crucial to creating better workplaces and better lives and she isn't afraid to use hers to make it happen!  Debby has lots of creative ideas that she shares with her coworkers and her union representatives, and is using these ideas as a member of her bargaining team to win substantial wage increases to recruit and retain staff.  When she's not fighting to improve the lives of workers, she spends her time fighting for affordable housing.

Debby’s been a a strong advocate on affordable housing committees, especially in her First Hill neighborhood, as well as chairing a committee that stopped the removal of over 500 housing units from the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Seattle. Her archival research was rewarded with her work being on the cover of the First Hill's historical society's book.  Debby loves living in one of the oldest buildings on First Hill and works hard to keep her neighbors and her community safe and thriving.

Debby knows that the only solution to organized greed is organized people, on the job and off!

Labcorp - Ready & Left Waiting—Again

Our Bargaining Team: Nancy Pyanowski, Kyle Chrisman, Sam McVay, Lisa Magee, Matt Noll, Shelby Tyner, Deborah Gibby

Once again, our LabCorp Bargaining Team came to the table prepared and ready to negotiate. Once again, Management let us down.

Despite receiving our economic proposals two sessions ago, LabCorp failed to live up to their promise of having counters for us. Instead, we traded non-economic proposals and counters, and continued our ongoing discussions of how to address understaffing and work shipping out, expanding training opportunities, and increasing recruitment and retention.

We urge Management to respond to our wage, benefits, and other economic proposals so that we can move forward and negotiate over all of our priorities at the next session on September 6.

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SPEAK UP, STAND TOGETHER—WE NEED YOU TO SIGN OUR WAGE PETITION

The time is now! To win the wage increases and benefits we deserve, we must show Management that we are united and ready to fight together. This starts with each of us signing the wage petition and coming to the CAT meetings to strategize our plan to win. We will be planning upcoming actions and sharing our economic proposals at our CAT meetings. All Union members are welcome to attend!

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Online Contract Action Team Meeting!

Sunday, August 20

• 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Monday, August 21,

• 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Sign up here get Zoom invitation details here, or find the link here!

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Look for text message updates from our Bargaining Team to take action!

Not getting text messages from us? Update your information now!

Labcorp - Economics are on the table!

Our Bargaining Team: Nancy Pyanowski, Kyle Chrisman, Sam McVay, Lisa Magee, Matt Noll, Shelby Tyner, Deborah Gibby

Last week, our LabCorp Union Bargaining Team gave wages, healthcare, and benefits proposals to management. We continued our deep discussion on staffing levels, recruitment and retention, and work volume, and pushed for collaborative strategies and solutions to these issues.  

The ball is in their court! We look forward to management’s comprehensive response and counterproposals at our next negotiation sessions on August 14.

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Our fight isn’t just at the table. We know inflation and rising living costs are leaving LabCorp wages behind. To hire skilled and committed staff, and to retain our invaluable coworkers, LabCorp must invest in its workforce.

We’re standing together to say—the time for fair and competitive wages is NOW!

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Join us for our upcoming virtual Contract Action Team meetings to discuss what’s going on at the table and what we can do to support our Bargaining Team in winning a strong contract!

Sunday, August 20 • 6:00PM - 7:00PM
Monday, August 21 • 11:30AM - 12:30PM

Find the Zoom meeting link to upcoming CAT meetings here! Also join us on Slack and Facebook!

Not getting updates? Update your contact info!

New member? Fill out your membership application!

If you have any questions, contact your Union Representative Christie Harris at (206) 436-6606.

LabCorp Pushing Forward!

LabCorp
PUSHING FORWARD!

Our Union Bargaining Team: Nancy Pyanowski, Kyle Chrisman, Sam McVay, Lisa Magee, Matt Noll, Shelby Tyner, Deborah Gibby

Our LabCorp Union Bargaining Team met with Management on July 19 to continue negotiations. We were presented with their 2023 Healthcare, Vision and Dental insurance plans and dove deep into plan changes, benefit expansions, and cost projections. We presented new proposals on work-from-home stipends, automatic enrollment for Free Lab Testing, vehicle take home options for Service Reps, and limiting premium repayments after returning from leave.

Management did not come with counterproposals or answers to our questions from last session. Despite this, we pushed forward with our discussions on staffing metrics and hiring plans for departments like Accessioning and Cytogenetics that have been understaffed and overworked for more than a year, despite our co-workers urging Management to take action.

“We had a long and unproductive day in negotiations. Management is still delaying and failing to respond to any of our proposals or questions. Nevertheless, we continue to come to each session prepared, fired up, and ready to negotiate a fair contract. We insist Management do the same on August 1.” – Sam McVay, Customer Service

Calling all 3rd shift members at James Tower! Come get FREE coffee, doughnuts, and snacks outside of the James tower, and talk to our Bargaining Team about what you want to win in your contract.

Friday, July 21 @ 9PM-11PM
Saturday, July 22 @ 3:30AM-7AM

Go to linktr.ee/LabForce3000 for updates, links to our Slack and Facebook, and more.

Have questions? Want to get involved? Contact your Union Representative Christie Harris (206) 436-6606

LabCorp - Negotiations Continue

LabCorp
Negotiations Continue

Our LabCorp Bargaining Team met with Management on June 29 to continue negotiations. We proposed additional holidays (MLK day, Juneteenth and Veterans Day) to recognize Union members of color and former service members. We made proposals to address issues with excessive overtime, understaffing, and mandatory schedule changes. We also proposed additional bereavement and union leave, penalties for untimely resolution of paycheck errors, more training for management on medical leave processes, and better access to HR.

NEXT CAT MEETINGS:
Thursday, July 13 on Zoom
9am—10am and 6:30pm—7:30pm
Find the link at: linktr.ee/LabForce3000

NEXT BARGAINING DATES:
July 19 and August 1

“We shared your stories about overtime and staffing problems. Unfortunately, although we come prepared every session with full proposals and explanations for them, management has chosen not to respond to our contract language proposals and deferred addressing previous issues until they receive all our economic proposals as well. This delay tactic is unacceptable! Despite this, we remain prepared and ready for action as we head into our next two negotiations sessions.” —Matt Noll, Cytogenetic Technologist

STAY IN THE LOOP!
Please make sure to join and follow our Slack or Facebook group for important updates regarding Contract Action Team meetings and negotiations.

Questions or concerns? Reach out to our Bargaining Team or Union Rep, Christie Harris at 206-436-6606.

LabCorp Negotiations Begin!

On Friday, June 16 our Union Bargaining Team met with Management to begin contract negotiations. We shared some our non-economic proposals addressing concerns about Safety, the Grievance Process, and Union access and orientation.

We also raised our collective concerns about Staffing, Wages, Sick Leave, and FMLA. We asked Management how they plan to address ongoing problems with underpaying and understaffing our worksites, and to take a proactive and collaborative approach to staff recruitment and retention. We shared our powerful stories to drive home how these serious and widespread issues are affecting us at work and at home. We look forward to hearing their responses and diving deeper into these issues and economics when we meet next. We’ll stand firm in our belief that UFCW LabCorp workers and patients deserve better, and together, we’ll fight to win a fair contract!

GET INVOLVED!

June 27 at 6:30PM - 7:30PM on Zoom!

“Join us next Tuesday for our Contract Action Team Meeting to discuss specifics about the challenges we’re facing at the table and how we can stand together to win the best contract possible. We will also be sharing info on how to apply for short-term disability and FMLA!” —Nancy Pyanowski, Dispatch

GOT BUTTONS? Show THEM!

Share a pic of you or your coworkers wearing UFCW 3000 lanyards and buttons on SLACK or Facebook.

Questions or concerns? Reach out to our Bargaining Team or Union Rep, Christie Harris at 206-436-6606.