Harrison Medical Protech - Bargaining Begins

Our Bargaining Team met with Management on March 26. We gave our first proposal, which includes stronger safety committee, promotion and new employee orientation language. Our next bargaining date is April 15. 

“Even though we met apart, we came together for a productive first day of bargaining!” 

- Harrison Protech Bargaining Team

BARGAINING TEAM: Judi Shoesmith; Kain Mcleod; Connie Baker; Rob Shauger; Don Szabo; Ona Burkett; Sonja Hammes

COVID-19 INFORMATION
Keep your family, workplace, and community safe. Find coronavirus updates and resources on our website.

UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION
Members of UFCW 21 can have their bargaining updates and other helpful information emailed to them. Help save paper and postage by keeping your address, personal phone, and email current!

KAISER UPDATE - April 3, 2020

Retro and Retiree Medical:

Newly voted wage increases for Pro-Tech and Optical units went into effect on 3/29/20 and will be on your 4/17/20 paycheck. Retro payment back to the first pay period following October 1, 2019, will be on your 6/26/20 paycheck. New Improvements to Retiree Medical are now in effect for any members who plan on retiring this year. 

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National Agreement:

The National Agreement for the Alliance of Health Care Unions is now accessible as a PDF on our website. It’s easy to access on computer or your phone! The National Agreement covers the Labor Management partnership, education benefits, retiree medical, and more. We will be receiving physical copies over the next few weeks and will work with workplace leaders to determine the best way to distribute them across worksites.

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COVID-19:

We are working with the local unions to improve PPE usage and remote work opportunities for union members at KP WA. The CDC provides recommendations for appropriate PPE and employers have the responsibility to source and stock personal protective equipment.

On March 20, 2020, KP sent out PPE/Mask Guidelines to all KP staff Make sure you are familiar with the guidelines. As more is learned about COVID-19 these guidelines may change.

In the past few weeks KP WA has created work at home options for high risk employees and now for other workers who have jobs conducive to remote work. Challenges to do with bandwidth and equipment have been addressed, which has made these opportunities available for many of our members.

Based on your concerns, temperature checks are being implemented at all worksites to screen for possible COVID-19. More information coming your way soon.

There are many COVID related safety challenges every day in every workplace. Although these are frustrating, we can work to resolve them. If there is a safety concern in your department or clinic, talk to your supervisor. If it is not resolved, contact your union steward or rep.

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Bargaining and Strong Voice at the National Level:

The Alliance of Health Care Unions is leading conversations nationally and we are engaging with local KP Washington Leadership on securing agreements regarding working in the new environment of Covid-19. We are standing together with union members across the country and pushing for standards including: 

• No layoffs, no cancellations

• Paid admin leave for employees quarantined

• Paid admin leave for employees sent home as a result of temperature checks/screenings, or grant employees additional special sick days

• Workers comp for employees’ sick with COVID, or grant employees additional special sick days 

• Hazard pay for all job classifications

• Flexibility with Attendance

• Accommodations for employees at higher risk

• Social distancing, proper PPE, and making sure workers voices are heard in safety decisions 

Management has proposed a short-term childcare grant of $250 per week for critical employees who are required to work at a KP facility. The program expires May 31, 2020. 

We will continue to keep you updated as agreements are reached for our region. You can stay up to date on UFCW 21 safety and Coronavirus updates.

Questions or to find out how you can become more involved as a workplace leader, please contact Union Representative Cathy MacPhail, 206-436-6584.
Spokane Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs, please contact Union Representative Maureen Hatton, 509-340-7370.

Macy’s COVID-19 UPDATE

Before Macy’s announced the temporary closure of the stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UFCW 21 was bargaining with them over safety, extended paid leave for workers affected by the outbreak, help with scheduling and childcare due to school closures, and an on-line hiring hall for temporary work if hours were reduced or stores were closed.  In the middle of those talks Macy’s did close the stores until April 1st (which is now undoubtedly going to be for longer).  We immediately engaged Macy’s to bargain over this and to get the best deal possible for union workers.

Last Friday, March 20th, 2020 we believed we had a tentative agreement that had secured on-going partial replacement pay for full-time and part-time workers during the store closures and delivered extended paid leave to those required to self-quarantine by a doctor. 
 
Then Macy’s contacted the Union to do what they said was clarifying the agreement, but what we view as altering the agreement itself.  Mainly they said that the replacement pay would only cover two weeks and would not continue if the stores remained closed.  They also told us that if we didn’t agree to what we view as new and regressive terms, they would not even pay the 2 weeks’ partial replacement pay that they had already promised all Macy’s workers.  We believe that what they did violates the law that governs workers and unions, and that we could have chosen to take immediate legal action to enforce what we had bargained; but that fight could have taken a very long time.  Workers not getting any compensation while the stores were closed was an unacceptable burden for union members to bear, so we grudgingly agreed to their terms.
 
But this pandemic and its accompanying economic crisis isn’t over, and it is clear that we need to show Macy’s that their actions are unacceptable.  We are taking action together (as we all stay home separately) to fight the spread of the Coronavirus by signing and sharing the online petition demanding that Macy’s does the right thing and not abandon its workers during this global crisis.  Macy’s must do better, and they must bargain openly and honestly.

Please click on or copy and paste this link: http://chng.it/nHB2TkGX, into your web browser, sign the petition, and share it on your social media and with your friends and family.  It is time that we hold Macy’s accountable, and demand that they do their part to defeat COVID-19 by supporting their workers.  We will update you as soon as possible.
 
Resources and information for workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic can be found at https://www.ufcw21.org/safety-at-work.  If you have any questions or concerns that can’t be answered there, please contact your rep or call the Rep of the Day at 206-436-6578. 

Grays Harbor Hospital - Management Still Trying to Balance Their Budget on Our Backs

In the midst of a global healthcare crisis, Management is still proposing to take up to 40 hours from our sick leave. Our plan is to eliminate some of that loss by adding additional time off that could be used not only as sick leave but as vacation. 

“As we continue to work short and make sacrifices to help with the financial woes of the hospital, we call on Management to meet us with a solution that mitigates some of the losses that they have proposed and provides us with an economic acknowledgment of the time we’ve spent bargaining this contract.”

Grays Harbor Hospital Bargaining Team

Mid Valley Hospital: Our Collective Action Moves Management

PAR I and II’s Receive Retroactive Pay

After management refused to fix an equitable pay issue with PAR’s after ratification our Union Members showed Solidarity and signed a Petition demanding the Administration fix the issue.  Thanks to our Collective Action we moved management to do the right thing.  The effected PAR’s will receive a retro check the next pay period.   

“We showed management that we are a strong Union and I am proud of all us coming together to fix an important issue for our co-workers.” -Patty Spade, PAR II, Mid Valley Clinic

Swains General Store Bargaining Update

As you may have heard, our member bargaining team held its first negotiation session with the employer on March 9, 2020. The team presented management with our proposed changes to the Swain’s contract, which included an aggressive wage proposal and fixes to issues such as holiday pay and retirement. To justify the need for significant wage increases the bargaining team shared their personal stories to management. We shared stories about unaffordable housing, skyrocketing property taxes, and longtime employees being paid close to minimum wage. We all know that the employees at Swain’s General Store are the reason the company has gained the community’s respect and remained profitable against competition such as Walmart. Your bargaining team will return to the table soon and hope management listened and will respond with a counter proposal that respects the hard work and dedication of their employees.

Macy’s Downtown Closure Severance update

On February 20, we signed an agreement with Macy’s over severance for workers laid-off from the Downtown Seattle location. The agreement includes one week of pay for every full year of service with a cap at 26 weeks. Macy’s has begun sending severance paperwork to associates via mail and email that includes the full language of the agreement as well as general release language. In order to receive your severance check, you will need to sign and return this paperwork within 45 days of receiving it. We retain the ability through our union to challenge any miscalculations or issues with payment of severance.

We are also aware that there were schedule changes during the final weeks of February that resulted in a loss of hours for multiple associates. We have an active grievance to remedy the issue.

If you have any questions about the calculation or payment of your severance or vacation cash out, please contact your union representative, Regan McBride at 206-436-6579

Providence St. Joseph and Mt. Carmel Contract Vote

Tentative Agreement Reached Bargaining Team Unanimously Recommends a YES Vote

Mt. Carmel Bargaining Team: Lynette Bell, ER; Rebecca Landers, OB; Kathie Richart, CCU; Lane Thayer, CCU; Lynn Wathne, Surgical Services St. Joseph Bargaining Team: Linda Kline, RN; Maegan George, RN; Tamara Brown, RN

After many months of bargaining we have reached a tentative agreement that includes the following highlights: Wage Increases Each Year Shift Differential Improvements Improvement to Grievance Language Additional Time Off “We look forward to showing everyone the improvement we won in our contract. See you at the Vote meetings” Members in good standing are encouraged to vote.

Ratification Vote

Mt. Carmel Hospital
March 11, 2020 4pm – 8:30pm / St. Catherine Hall
March 12, 2020 10am-2pm / St. Catherine Hall

Providence St. Joseph
March 12, 2020 4:30pm-8:30pm / DEC D across the street from Hospital

Cascade Valley Hospital - Proposal Vote Scheduled

We will be going back to the bargaining table in early March! All members are encouraged to come and have your voice heard on your top priorities at the bargaining table.

Vote Times
Cascade Valley Hospital
330 S Stillaguamish Ave, Arlington, WA 98223

2/25
3pm to 8pm
Baker Room

2/26
6am to 11am
Whitehorse Training Room

Macy’s - Downtown Closure Bargaining Update 2/14/20

Today we met with the employer with our bargaining director in attendance. Macy’s has not moved from their original proposal and has given us their last, best, and final proposal that is less than the Northgate and Everett agreements:

• Cap on severance at 26 weeks—Northgate/Everett severance was capped at 52 weeks

• Macy’s is only willing to cover the employer portion of COBRA for 3 months—Macy’s paid 100% of COBRA for 3 months at Northgate/Everett

We’re meeting with our legal team to explore all options to secure a fair severance for the Downtown Macy’s workers.

If you have questions, please contact your union representative, Regan McBride, at 206-436-6579

In Solidarity, your Member Bargaining Team, Susan Hedman, Patrick Keating

PCC Bargaining Update: Meet our Bargaining Team

On Monday, February 3 our PCC Bargaining Team met together for the first time. From the hundreds of bargaining surveys we received from members to set our bargaining priorities, by a wide margin, members are most concerned with better wages, secure retirement, dependable health care, increasing safety and training in our stores, and raising transparency and worker voices in the governance of PCC as a co-op. As a team we are committed to negotiating a contract we all can be proud of. Our next negotiation sessions will take place in early March. Stay involved, be sure we have your most updated information to stay connected and informed throughout the bargaining process.

Capital Medical Center RN - Bargaining Continues

Our UFCW 21 RN Bargaining Team met with Management in December 2019 and declined management’s one year offer of a 1.25% wage increase. Management was buying time until Providence hospitals settled their contract; historically Management has accepted an agreement like Providence hospitals’ contract. Since then, Providence hospitals have come to an agreement and have kept their EIB program and received 3% across-the-board wage increases for each year of the contract.

We resumed bargaining on January 28 and 29. Management proposed decreasing the EIB benefit and offered 1.75% wage increase for the first year; with the remaining two years of the contract not going above 2.25%. We are continuing to fight to maintain our EIB and higher wages, shift differential pay, floating pay, paid education days, and a higher rate of “continuing education” reimbursement.

“Management’s proposal of 1.75% increase for the first year is not sufficient. We know that non represented employees recently received a 3% wage increase.”
Carol Cairone, RN

“We are fighting to obtain competitive market wages in order to hire and retain quality nurses, which will allow us to have safe staffing levels and provide quality care to our community. This is our highest priority! Our patients come first.”
Bernie Ammons, RN

“We have reached agreement on some contractual provisions and continue to fight to retain our hard-earned benefits.”
Bonnie Verellen, RN

“We work hard for Capital Medical Center and our community. We will continue to hold the line at the table and negotiate for a fair and equitable contract.”
Sara McFarland, RN

Working on Wage Increases: Contract Proposal Meeting Scheduled

tentative agreement reached with the Sequim school district: Contract Vote Scheduled

The bargaining committee is fully recommending this tentative agreement, which includes improvements to the contract and no take-aways! Thursday, January 30 2pm to 4pm Sequim School District Office in the Board Room 503 N Sequim Ave, Sequim, WA 98382

UFCW 21 Providence Workers’ Votes Announced

For Immediate Release:
January 15, 2020
Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421 

UFCW 21 Providence Workers’ Votes Announced

 “We showed that through unity, and a commitment to our patients and each other that we could win a fair contract that is better for patient care and safety, better for staffing and better for the future of our hospitals.”

*The changes are reflective of wins across our union’s Providence bargaining units. Specifics may vary by location.                                                                      

The Tentative Agreement reached held the line on every one of the employer’s takeaways including: 

• NO cuts to our paid time off/sick leave that would have taken millions of dollars from years of our earned benefits

• ONLY accepting the new leave system after significant improvements and where it benefits us—at Holy Family and St. Mary’s

• NO changes to our health care

We fought for and won: 

• Improved safety standards for workers so we can be safe at work

• Improved staffing levels so we can take care of our patients with enough co-workers on shift

• Significant wage increases for every scale so we can better recruit and retain high quality staff at all our hospitals 

• Ratification bonus payments  

• Many market adjustments and increases to premiums to make sure we are fairly compensated and our workplaces remain competitive

• Better language in our contract to increase our power as unionized workers so we can stand up to Providence in the future and push back against their attempts to intimidate

• Lines up contract expirations in a way that will allow us to take action together in greater numbers in the next round of negotiations

Now the time has come for members at each location to vote. At their vote meeting, members will review the full details of the proposed new contract, get questions answered and vote.

Pro-Tech in Everett

DATE: 01/21/20

TIMES: 6:00am – 9:00am, 11:00am – 2:00pm, 5:00pm – 9:00pm

LOCATION: Colby Campus  Olympic, Conference Room, 1700 13th St, Everett, WA 98201

DATE: 01/21/20

TIMES: 6:00am – 9:00am, 11:00am – 2:00pm

LOCATION: Everett Labor Temple Room 106, 2810 Lombard Ave Everett, WA 98201

Centralia RN

DATE: 01/22/20

TIMES: 6:00am – 9:00am, 11:00am – 2:00pm, 5:00pm – 9:00pm

LOCATION: Koreski Conference Room 914, S Scheuber Rd, Centralia, WA 98531

St. Peter’s RN

DATE: 01/23/20

TIMES: 6:00am – 9:00am, 11:00am – 2:00pm, 5:00pm – 9:00pm

LOCATION: Nisqually Conference Room, 413 Lilly Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98506

St. Mary’s RN

DATE: 01/23/20

TIME: 5:30pm – 8:30pm

LOCATION: Mother Joseph Room A & B, 401 W Poplar St, Walla Walla, WA 99362

DATE: 01/24/20

TIME: 11:00am – 2:00pm, 4:00pm-6:00pm

LOCATION: Mother Joseph Room A & B, 401 W Poplar St, Walla Walla, WA 99362

BACKGROUND:

We started out as nine different negotiations across our one union. For months we got essentially nowhere and we were suffering from an increasing number of Unfair Labor Practices. Then we started to turn that around. We coordinated actions across our union, took strike authorization votes and developed a Unity commitment with SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW and WSNA. We worked together and ramped up the pressure on Providence to change. They still didn’t move. And then just hours before we collectively would have issued our 10-day notices to strike, we had a breakthrough. Together. This was followed by around the clock negotiations and ongoing unity that resulted in historic Tentative Agreements being reached across all of our bargaining units. We did it together. We remain committed to supporting SEIU healthcare 1199 NW until they reach a Tentative Agreement. And we are committed to keeping up with this collective spirit to enforce our contracts and negotiate together again in years ahead.

Tentative Agreement Reached contract votes scheduled: Providence PRMCE • Centralia • St. Peter • St. Mary

Providence PRMCE • Centralia • St. Peter • St. Mary

Tentative Agreement Reached

contract votes scheduled

After months of negotiations working in coalition with UFCW 21, SEIU 1199NW and WSNA, dozens of actions across the state and connecting with our communities about our issues, our Bargaining Team has reached a tentative agreement and recommends a YES VOTE! Now the time has come to make your voices heard again. Come to a vote meeting to review the full details of your proposed new contract, get questions answered, and vote.

PRMCE Pro-Tech
01/21/20
6:00am – 9:00am 11:00am – 2:00pm 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Colby Campus Olympic Conference Room
1700 13th St, Everett, WA 98201

01/21/20
6:00am – 9:00am 11:00am – 2:00pm
Everett Labor Temple Room 106
2810 Lombard Ave Everett, WA 98201

St. Peter’s RN
01/23/20
6:00a – 9:00a 11:00a – 2:00p 5:00p – 9:00p
Nisqually Conference Room 413
Lilly Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98506

Centralia RN
01/22/20
6:00a – 9:00a 11:00a – 2:00p 5:00p – 9:00p
Koreski Conference Room
914 S Scheuber Rd, Centralia, WA 98531

St. Mary’s RN
01/23/20
5:30pm – 8:30pm

01/24/20
11:00am – 2:00pm 4:00pm-6:00pm
Mother Joseph Room A & B
401 W Poplar St, Walla Walla, WA 99362

*These votes are open to all active-member UFCW 21 Providence Workers. Active members are eligible to vote at whatever time is most convenient.

Providence Sacred Heart & Holy Family - Contract Vote Scheduled

UFCW 21 RNs at St Mary’s, St Peters and Centralia Reach Tentative Agreements early this morning

News Update: January 10, 2020 – 8:00 AM
Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 21: 206-604-3421

UFCW 21 RNs at St Mary’s, St Peters and Centralia Reach Tentative Agreements Early This Morning

This morning we are announcing that over the night, UFCW 21 RNs from St Mary’s in Walla Walla and then our RNs at St Peters from Olympia and Centralia all reached Tentative Agreements.

Just over one week ago 13,000 nurses and health care workers at UFCW 21, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW and WSNA were all prepared to begin the final 10-day countdown for a large-scale strike at Providence for patient care and safety. A January 2nd joint bargaining session with all three unions and the employer resulted in the first significant progress in months and that breakthrough led to the postponing of the strike notice. This week started with a Tentative Agreement (TA) being reached by RNs from WSNA at Sacred Heart. Within 24 hours UFCW 21 service and maintenance workers at Sacred Heart also reached a TA, followed another 24 hours later by TAs with service and maintenance workers at Holy Family and two more bargaining units (Professional and Technical workers) at Providence Medical Center in Everett.

These TAs represent advances for patient care and safety and improvement of workplace conditions and they have been made possible by the unity of SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, WSNA and UFCW 21. These three unions represent over 13,000 health care workers and nurses at 13 facilities across the state in this current round of negotiations with Providence.

At the timing of this release, ongoing intensive negotiations are taking place today with SEIU healthcare 1199 NW and Providence and it is hoped that a tentative agreement will be reached there soon.

Holy Family Tentative Agreement Reached

News Update: January 9, 2020 – early AM
Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 21: 206-604-3421

Holy Family Tentative Agreement Reached

In a continuation of Tentative Agreements reached in the last 72 hours at Providence Hospitals, the UFCW 21 Service and Maintenance members at Holy Family reached a Tentative Agreement last night. Also yesterday, Tentative Agreements were reached at UFCW 21’s Sacred Heart Service and Maintenance unit, as well as two bargaining units (Professional and Technical) at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. These advances for patient care and safety and improvement of workplace conditions achieved so far have been the result of the unity of SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, WSNA and UFCW 21. These three unions represent over 13,000 health care workers and nurses at 13 facilities across the state in this current round of negotiations.

Ongoing negotiations are taking place today with UFCW 21 RNs at Providence Hospitals of St Peters, Centralia and St Mary’s.

UPDATE – 2nd and 3rd Tentative Agreements of the Day Reached with UFCW 21 at Providence Everett Medical Center, other Tables Continue Talks

For Immediate Release: January 8, 2020 - 1:00 PM
Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 21 Cell: 206-604-3421

UPDATE – 2nd and 3rd Tentative Agreements of the Day Reached with UFCW 21 at Providence Everett Medical Center, other Tables Continue Talks

After months of contract negotiations, the UFCW 21 Professional and the Technical units at Providence Everett have both reached a fully recommended Tentative Agreement for new contracts. This resolution came within hours of the Tentative Agreement reached with UFCW 21’s Service and Maintenance workers at Sacred Heart in Spokane. These wins are a result of the strong unity between UFCW 21, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW and WSNA.

Negotiations with UFCW 21 service and maintenance workers at Holy Family have resumed today, and our RNs from Centralia and St Peter Hospitals are gathering to return to negotiations later today as well. Our RNs at St Mary’s in Walla Walla are planned to be in negotiations tomorrow.