Trios Health RNs Join Us! Bargaining Kick Off Meeting: Thursday, April 9
/Please join us, in-person or virtually, for the 2026 Union Bargaining Kick Off Meeting!
Read MoreOn August 13 we held our third bargaining session with management and were able to carry our forward momentum into our first tentative agreements!
Our OMC Service Bargaining Team came to the table on August 12 focused, prepared, and ready to push for meaningful change.
“They gave us next to nothing, so we are giving them nothing but pickets!” – Emily Hunter
Following the employer’s unacceptable conduct during our previous bargaining session, and the significant distance remaining between the parties, our Union Bargaining Team asked the employer if they would agree to request assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The employer agreed, and an FMCS mediator was available to join us beginning with this session.
The time has come to make your voices heard! We encourage all Radiant Care workers to attend our scheduled vote meeting to review the full details of our new tentative agreement, ask questions, and cast your ballot!
We still have not gotten wages back from management, though we did discuss a few of the economic sections of our contract: namely after receiving one of the aforementioned underwhelming counterproposals regarding a memorandum of understanding for RNs who perform SANE exams. Which the Employer returned the same iteration of the Memorandum of Understanding proposal they brought to us more than one year ago; which only speaks to the examination itself.
As wildfires rip through our region and smoke chokes the air, UFCW 3000 members, families, and communities face evacuations, and loss of homes and livelihoods.
Some workers could experience partial or total work closures creating difficult circumstances surrounding hours, pay, and life stability
As we navigate this emergency, please remember the union and community resources that can help. Also, please review important information below that can help keep you safe and enforce your rights at work.
We are scheduling a vote on whether to accept or reject an LOU (Letter of Understanding) that would change the language of Article 3.4 in our contract. This is regarding the pay rate for working on Saturday and Sunday.
We asked Management about their low wage proposals for 2027 and 2028. They responded that they weren’t focusing on cost-of-living increases and cited that people want to work at this destination employer because it has such a good culture. What do you think?
The rest of the day built off of that momentum and we were able to secure an agreement with the Employer that is fully recommended by our Union Bargaining Team! This offer includes a 10.5% wage increase over the life of the contract as well as increases and expansions to multiple premium pay options! We also were able to secure improvements to our scheduling language, retroactive pay, and compensation for those who are at the top of the scale.
“We had a productive bargaining meeting and reached several tentative agreements, which is an encouraging sign of the progress we’re making together. While we still have work to do on the non-economic items, the discussion remained constructive. We are hopeful that we will continue building on this momentum and make further progress at our next bargaining session.” – Clari Ramos, Nutrition Pharmacist
Yesterday we met with the Employer for the second time. It was their turn to get back to us on our proposals. After their presentation our team worked the rest of the afternoon to respond to their proposals. See the tentative agreements (TAs) we've reached so far (please keep in mind that nothing is final until all members vote and approved the Contract).
Our member-led Bargaining Team met with representatives from First and Goal on Wednesday, July 22, to continue negotiations for our first union contract.
We are set to meet the Employer again on August 6 and 27. You must become part of this process and ensure that your committee gets the strength and stamina to finish this contract negotiation with the best outcome possible regardless of the hurdles that they are facing at the table.
We believe outsourcing our union jobs to robots will erode our unity in the worksite, reduce available hours for those who need them to pay the rent, and threaten the stability of our benefits.
Please join us, in-person or virtually, for the 2026 Union Bargaining Kick Off Meeting!
Read MoreOn January 28, 2026 we became aware that Trios had incorrectly implemented the contractual salary schedule advancements that should have occurred the first full pay period following January 1, 2026.
Read MoreIn August of 2024 Trios RNs were notified by the Employer that there were errors in their PTO. We filed a grievance to ensure the errors were corrected and that no one’s PTO accruals were lost, or that RN’s PTO requests were denied.
Read More
In an attempt to address the immediate retention and recruitment issues at Trios Health the Bargaining Team and Administration met to discuss the possibility of extending the current contract with an increase to compensation and some other small changes. After two long days of conversations, we were able to reach a tentative agreement that will close the gap in compensation with our geographic competitor which we believe will help make our hospital the most desired place to work in the region.
Our Bargaining Team worked hard to make sure that everyone got substantial economic increases and that premium pays were also increased in many areas including Charge Nurse, On-Call, Night shift differential, Preceptor and PRN differential.
Monday, November 13
7am—11am
Care Center Conference room, 3rd Floor
A complete document of the contract and the new wage scale will be available at the vote with our Bargaining Team to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have. You must be a member in good standing to vote. For questions, please reach out to your Union Rep Juanita Quezada @ 509-340-7407.
Our Trios Health Bargaining Team (L—R): Union Rep Juanita Quezada; Holly Hurst, Med Surg RN; Jamie Bezotte, ER RN; Tamara Ottenbreit, Birthing Center RN; Keishi Nitta, ICU RN; Not pictured: Stephanie Weibe,OR RN
Trios Health contract conversations will be taking place on November 1, 2023, and November 2, 2023, to discuss expedited bargaining at Trios Health with the potential to receive increased wages and some other changes to the contract prior to the expiration on July 31, 2023.
Several of your coworkers will be at the table representing the RNs at Trios Health along with Management and LifePoint Representative.
We will be sending an update with more information after we meet with Management.
Please reach out to the Bargaining Team or your Union Representative, Juanita Quezada, with any questions or concerns at (509) 340-7407.
Our Bargaining Team: Tamera Ottenbreit, RN, OB; Casey Nitta, RN, ICU; Stephanie Weibel, RN, Surgical/ER; Holly Hurst, RN, Med. Surg; Jamie Bezotte RN, ER
After five months of bargaining and countless hours of hard work and dedication put in by your Bargaining Team, and although we were not able to secure everything that we wanted this time around, we were able to recommend and ratify our new contract with competitive wage increases and get back some of the things that we lost in our last contract.
We look forward to building strength and unity within our facility so that we can show LifePoint that we will not be divided in our fight for a fair contract in the next negotiation.
Please reach out to your Bargaining Team or your Union Representative Austen Louden at (509) 340-7372 with any questions or concerns
Bargaining Team: Tami Ottenbreit (FBC); Milari Olexa (Med/Surg); Casey Nitta (ICU); Carol Goplen (Surgical Svcs); Stephanie Weibel (ED)
After a marathon bargain session that went until 3:30 AM, we are pleased to announce that we have a fully recommended tentative agreement.
There will be no Informational Picket on November 18, 2021!
Although we did not get everything that we were asking for, we did make huge progress is gaining ground to become more competitive in wages within our region. We were also able to improve many other areas within our contract!
Please join us in voting “YES” on this new three-year agreement on December 6, 2021.
Vote Meetings
Monday , December 6
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Trios Conference RoomsA and A1
You must be present and a member in good standing to vote. A full version of the contract will be available at the vote for your viewing and your team will be present to answer any questions you may have on the proposal. UFCW 21 members are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract.
Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Austen Louden 509-340-7372 with any questions or concerns.
Our Trios Health Bargaining Team: Casey Nitta, Stephanie Weibel, Milari Olexa, Tami Ottenbreit, and Carol Goplen
We put our best foot forward at the beginning of the session last Friday in the hopes to gain momentum towards a deal. We are increasingly frustrated with the lack of transparency and movement from management. It has become apparent that we must show a UNIFIED FRONT. We need to more than ever prove to LifePoint that we are committed to our cause for better wages, retention, and recruitment. Be prepared for upcoming actions, and opportunities to get involved in the fight to win a fair contract.
Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Austen Louden 509-340-7372 with any questions or concerns.
“We are working really hard to secure a fair contract. Please be prepared to participate fully in our next action.”
—Stephanie Weibel
Our Trios Health Bargaining Team: Casey Nitta, Stephanie Weibel, Milari Olexa, Tami Ottenbreit, and Carol Goplen
On October 22, we had our first bargaining session with the Federal Mediator. We are encouraged by the presence of the Federal Mediator and knowledge of the process that she brings to the table. We are heavily dissatisfied with the employer’s lack of respect and professionalism that we witnessed today.
Our next bargaining session will be October 29.
“Be ready for upcoming actions that will be announced in the near future! We Must Be Heard.”
-Milari Olexa, RN, Bargaining Team Member
Please reach out to your bargaining team or your Union Representative Austen Louden at (509) 340-7372 with any questions or concerns
The Union continues to push for fair wages. We gave a counter compensation proposal to the employer and did not receive a favorable response.
“The Federal Mediator will be joining the bargaining table on October 22, 2021 and through the remainder of the bargaining process in hopes of bringing us closer to “Market Competitive Positions” within our community.”
- Casey Nitta, RN, Bargaining Team Member
UNITED WE WIN, DIVIDED WE BEG
Please contact your bargaining team or Union Rep Austen Louden @ 509-340-7372 with any questions or concerns.
Last week, our Bargaining Team presented all of our non-economic proposals. We are eager to begin Economic discussions next Wednesday, September 29 and Friday, October 1. The unity shown by wearing stickers sent a strong message to Trios Health that we are united for Staffing, Safety, Recruitment, and Retention. Please continue wearing them with pride all month—we are pushing not only for staffing improvements in our contract, but side by side with other healthcare unions statewide for Stronger Staffing Legislation in Olympia.
If you have questions, please reach out to your Union Representative Austen Louden, 509-340-7372.
“Keep your eye out for Union Car Signs to show your support for Trios Nurses and safe staffing. Our Bargaining Team and stewards will be distributing them this week. Share widely with family and friends!”
Our Trios Health Bargaining Team: Casey Nitta, Stephanie Weibel, Milari Olexa, Tami Ottenbreit, and Carol Goplen
Our Bargaining Team proposed a Comprehensive Covid Vaccine Agreement that includes payout of PTO for employees who do not receive an exemption or the vaccine series and protections for all nurses. Through conversations with the Employer—we are pushing them to maintain the October 18 deadline to submit exemptions and proof of starting the vaccine series. We believe we will reach agreement before our next bargaining session on September 22 and will send out a copy to all nurses.
Staffing, Safety, Recruitment, and Retention continue to be our leading issues—and all tied to the need for Trios to be market competitive with economics. We worked tirelessly to address issues with safety and floating and improve our current language and practices.
Our first action to show widespread unity is a Staffing Sticker Action on September 21 and 22—the bargaining team stewards will be distributing stickers to each unit. Please wear stickers with pride both days in support of our next bargaining session on the 22.
If you have questions about negotiations or vaccines, please reach out to your Union Representative Austen Louden, 509-340-7372.
“The time for UNITY and SOLIDARITY is now—we will be taking action throughout September and October to send a strong message that Trios Nurses stand together for our patients and community. Join us in stepping up and speaking out.”
Our Trios Health Bargaining Team: Casey Nitta, Stephanie Weibel, Milari Olexa, Tami Ottenbreit, and Carol Goplen
On July 16, 2021, the bargaining team met for the second session of negotiations with the employer.
“As negotiations move forward, we continue to address the concerns of our staff. We are optimistic that the next session will bring closure to some of those concerns, and we can press on”.
—Milari Olexa, BT Member
We have two more sessions scheduled for August 11 and 18, and we will continue to work with the employer through these issues that have been brought forward by the team and their coworkers.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your bargaining team, or your Union Representative, Austen Louden, at 509-340-7372.
Our Trios Health Bargaining Team: Left to Right; Tami Ottenbreit, Milari Olexa, Carol Goplen, Casey Nitta, Austen Louden Union Rep.
Not Pictured Stephanie Weibel
On July 6, 2021, your bargaining team met with the employer for the first time since opening the contract for negotiations.
“We are excited to be back at the bargaining table to represent the nurses of Trios Health. After day one we look forward to continued discussions with administration and will continue to address the issues brought forward by staff.”
—Tami Ottenbriet, BT Member
Our next session is scheduled for July 16, with more dates being offered in the interim.
Our Trios Health Bargaining Team: Tami Ottenbriet, RN Family Birthing Center; Carol Goplen, RN Surgical Services; Milari Olexa, RN Med Surg; Casey Nitta, RN ICU; Stephanie Weibel, RN ER
Please reach out to your Union Representative Austen Louden @ 509-340-7372 for any questions.
Stephanie Weibel has worked as an RN in the Emergency Room at Trios Health for 5 years. After attending a Trios bankruptcy meeting, she realized how important it was to be involved in anything that affects her workplace. Stephanie decided the best way to stay informed and make positive change in her workplace was to become a Steward.
Read MoreWe 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.
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