Women's History Month Member Story: Tacoma General Lab Techs Organize to Be Heard

Women's History Month Member Story: Tacoma General Lab Techs Organize to Be Heard

Cheyenne Corneau had been working as a Medical Lab Technician for about a year in 2022 when her and her coworkers Colleen, and Marisa were talking about the need to get their coworkers involved in the union for better representation for lab techs at the next bargaining table.

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UPDATE: MultiCare’s Dirty Tactics Shut Down Community Caravan Supporting Its Workers, Community Vows to Return in Force!

Health care workers, faith leaders, labor unions, and community allies in Pierce County planned a car caravan around MultiCare-owned Tacoma General and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospitals today, in support of a fair contract for MultiCare’s essential workers. Workers who risked their lives to show up for patients during a yearlong global health crisis are now having to fight for pay that respects their work, for their own access to affordable health care, and for safe staffing in their hospitals and clinics. Workers have been bargaining since January with little movement from MultiCare in agreeing to fair wages and working conditions, and the Tacoma and Pierce County community is ready to step up and support their health care workers.

But before the caravan could begin, MultiCare sent a last-minute cease and desist letter to block it from taking place, saying they consider cars with signs to be unlawful picketing activity and threatening legal action if it continued.

This community will not be silenced. MultiCare workers will not be silenced. If MultiCare is so scared of our voices that they are already resorting to threats, we know that our solidarity and determination are working. The numerous community allies and workers who organized this public event are already spreading the word about MultiCare’s dirty tricks and planning our next action calling attention to this important fight.

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We thank the Tacoma NAACP, Tacoma DSA, Union of American Physicians and Dentists, Tacoma Ministerial Alliance, Political Destiny, Unite Here Local 8, and SEIU 1199NW for joining us today and for committing to this fight for health care workers’ rights and for safe, quality patient care in Tacoma and Pierce County. MultiCare workers have taken care of our community through a traumatic year, and it’s time for MultiCare to take care of its workers.

MultiCare members Informational Picket

Joined by community allies, UFCW 21 MultiCare members held an informational picket outside of Tacoma General Hospital to demand a fair contract.

Tacoma City Councilmember Anders Ibsen joins hardworking UFCW 21 MultiCare members in their informational picket outside of Tacoma General Hospital as they demand a fair contract on April 16, 2015.

MultiCare UFCW 21 health care members demand a fair contract as they walk the picket line at Tacoma General Hospital during their informational picket on April 16, 2015.

Community ally RJ Johnson of the Kent Black Action Comission joins UFCW 21 MultiCare Members during their April 16, 2015 informational picket.


MultiCare members take part in an informational picket outside of of tacoma general hospital on thursday april 16, 2015.

MultiCare Fair Process Video

Our ability to have a fair contract that protects us and our patients is connected to having a fair process to join and stay in our union. Hear from two MultiCare workers (Heidi from Allenmore and Fran from Gig Harbor) talk about what having a union would mean to them. There are also some great quotes from Pam Milan (Covington) and Jose Moreno (Allenmore) about why this is so important for current members. Check out the newly released YouTube video: