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 MoreOur team will be returning to the bargaining table on Thursday, November 12, ready to reach a deal or give our notice to strike. For healthcare facilities, strike notices must be given to the hospital and the federal mediation service at least 10 days prior to the beginning of a strike. At our next session our Union President, Faye Guenther and Secretary Treasurer, Sean Embly will join to help support us as we continue to prepare for a ULP Strike. We are committed to our fight for a fair contract with no takeaways. A contract that reflects the hard work we do every day. And we are committed to standing up for our worker rights and against management that we believe is violating labor law by unlawfully questioning workers about if they are going to participate in a strike or other protected action
Our worker-led Bargaining Team is excited to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with Football NW on our first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and are recommending a YES vote.
In 2021, our union fought for two workers —Donna Rasmussen of PCC-View Ridge and Laurae McIntyre of PCC-Fremont—to win seats on the PCC Board of Trustees. These workers brought a unique perspective to the board, tapping their lived experiences with coworkers, customers, and the community to help steer the future of the co-op.
To maintain a strong worker voice on PCC’s Board, we need to act now.
Attention EvergreenHealth Kirkland Laboratory Technical Coordinator, Point of Care Specialist and Neurodiagnostic Technician and Technologist Members!
UFCW 3000 is announcing a accretion ratification vote for EvergreenHealth Kirkland Lab and EEG members.
When we made the Employer’s last proposal public, Labcorp’s supposal had not been given to the Union. We received it last Friday, and it was never formally presented at the bargaining table.
On Tuesday, October 27, our union Bargaining Team representing the newly-organized clinic workers in the MultiCare Mary Bridge Therapies group met with management for our first official session of negotiations towards our first union contract!
On Wednesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 22, our union Bargaining Team met with Management for our seventh and eighth contract negotiation sessions this cycle.
As with our back-to-back sessions in July and September, we left these two days disappointed by Management’s overall pace at the bargaining table;
With 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
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.
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.