Skagit Regional Health - Bargaining Update: Fighting for Stability, Fair Wages, and Respect
/On Friday, January 23, before we met with the Employer, Bargaining Committee members attended the Board of Commissioners meeting and delivered a list of bargaining demands, to the Board of Commissioners. We then reviewed all proposals to ensure nothing was missed. With 60+ items still pending, we’re holding strong for a better contract.
In economics, the Employer has only moved 1.5% over the life of the contract. Some market adjustments were improved, but there is still a significant gap between their proposal and ours. We meet again on February 4, and we remain committed to making substantial progress while holding strong to our main bargaining goals we shared with the Board of Commissioners. They are:
Reduce the number of variables—Hospital asks for flexibility; workers need stability. The growing number of workers with variable status is alarming and concerning. Workers would rather leave SRH and seek opportunities that will provide that stability.
Competitive salaries and benefits—Fair wages to retain current workers and recruit new ones, and we want to be people's destination, not just their stepping stones. We deserve more than 2% wage increase!
Union access—We want the same access as other Unions.
Floating/mileage—Our workers deserve proper compensation every time they have to travel to other clinics/hospitals or serve facilities that are part of the joint ventures contracts.
Cease and desist—Managers/supervisors shall not call spouses or significant others to get workers who are not on call.
Fair opportunities for per diems—They deserve the chance to review their outside experience and be compensated accordingly. They are not seat-fillers; they are an essential part of the services we provide.
One company/one pay scale—We all work for the same company; do the same work, we shall earn equally.
Stay involved: wear the stickers, and ask everyone you know to sign the petition. Next Bargaining Dates: February 4, 12 and 26.
"No one should need food banks while working full-time. Fair wages are a must. Struggling to pay basic bills? That's why we're fighting for better wages. Hard work shouldn't mean hardship. We're demanding fair pay for all!"
— Ashley Price
Bargaining Team: Cindy Tjaden; Isabel Contreras; Kalisa Dolph; Britney Myers-Fuller; Ashley Price; Briana Hovsepian; Graydon Hingey; Michael Koenig; Annalise Pasillas; Elizabeth Major; Alina Delano; Micheal Schwartz; Daniel Booker, Hospice of the Northwest; Marilyn Faber, Union Rep; Celia Ponce-Sanchez, Union Rep; Kristina Storm, Union Director, Cesar R Quiles-Borrero, Negotiator
If you have questions or would like to get more involved in organizing a fair contract, please reach out to your Union Rep, Celia Ponce-Sanchez, at 1-866-210-3000, EXT. 4678.



