Conifer St. Elizabeth & St. Joseph - Standing Together

/
2020 0529 - Conifer .jpg

Members at St. Joseph met with Management this past week to continue making progress towards securing a fair contract. While some progress was made on language issues, the fight for fair wages is just starting! We have your backs at the bargaining table, now let us stand together and finish strong!

“Negotiations are moving too slowly. We feel disrespected that Conifer is not taking this process seriously. The managers at the table are mostly from out of state and are out of touch with the daily issues we face at work. We had to fight for bargaining dates in May and continue to fight for more dates in June. Let’s show them that we are serious and united!”

Terri Ross, Bargaining Team Member

We have a plan to win and we need you to help us execute it! Join us on Thursday, June 4 @ 5pm for our virtual CAT meeting using Zoom.

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed and texted out.

Next Bargaining Dates
St. Joseph: 6/18, 7/7-7/8
St. Elizabeth: 6/24-6/25

Conifer St. Elizabeth & St. Joseph - Action Planned

/
2020 0521 - Conifer St Elizabeth Update.jpg

The St. Elizabeth Bargaining Team met with Management to continue progress on securing a fair contract on May 19, and the St. Joseph Bargaining Team were at the table on May 20 and 21 for the first two bargaining sessions. We have made some progress but are still working to resolve the issues that matter most to us all. We will have a full report at the CAT meeting scheduled for May 26.

“We had a difficult day today, but we remained strong on the issues that mattered most to us, and we are committed to seeing this through. We have an action planned that will show Management we are united and ready to fight. Join us for the CAT meeting at 5PM on May 26 for more details.”

Colleen McKee, Bargaining Team Member

“I look forward to working alongside my fellow members to secure a contract that is fair and competitive with the market.”

Josie Talavera-Berg, Bargaining Team Member

Join our upcoming Zoom CAT meeting - MAY 26 • 5PM - 6PM

Have more questions about negotiations or the action planned? Come ask the Bargaining team!

RSVP here to receive the call-in details.

Upcoming bargaining dates for St. Joseph: 5/27 and 5/28

Harrison Service & Dietary - Fighting for a Fair Contract

/
2020 0522 - Harrison Service Dietary.jpg

We met with Management on May 19 and made progress on outstanding issues such as ensuring new hires receive adequate training, addressing harassment in the workplace, and reassurances that our contract will withstand any future mergers. 

We remain apart on wages and are still fighting for wage increases that will both retain workers and attract new hires by having increases in every year of our contract. We are committed to fighting for a fair contract that invests in our future and ensures that wages at Harrison Medical Center are competitive with other employers in the region, that we have reliable costs for our healthcare and are treated with dignity and respect at work. 

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

“We, the essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, deserve a fair contract with wage increases that invest in our future.”

Harrison Service & Dietary Bargaining Team

CHI Harrison - Bargaining Continues

/
2020 0515 - Harrison Updates.jpg

“Please join us for our first virtual Contract Action Team meeting next Tuesday May 19 @ 7:30pm!”

Harrison Medical Center Pro-Tech Bargaining Team


CHI Harrison Medical Center Service & Dietary + Pro-Tech Contract Action Team Meeting
Tuesday, May 19 - 7:30PM
RSVP to get call join info 

PRO-TECH UPDATE

Your Bargaining Team met with Management again on May 5, 12, and 14. We have come to agreements with the employer to improve language regarding schedule posting, promotions, new hire orientation, and safety.

However, we are still fighting the employer to protect our Union healthcare, maintain successorship language that has protected our contract through recent mergers, create a member driven emergency preparedness team, and fair wage increases that keep Harrison Medical Center market competitive. Our next bargaining dates are June 5, 12, and 14.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Aimee Oien @ 360-662-1981.

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

SERVICE & DIETARY UPDATE

Your Bargaining Team met with Management on May 8 and achieved improvements on schedule postings, new hire orientation, safety, and won a new short-term personal leave benefit.

However, we continue to fight Management to maintain successorship language that has protected our contract through recent mergers, ensure adequate training for new hires, job positing transparency, create a member driven emergency preparedness team, and fair wage increases that keep Harrison Medical Center market competitive. Our next bargaining date is May 19. 

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

BARGAINING TEAM: Bobby Harris, Susan Mayer

St. Joseph Tech - Contract Vote Scheduled

/

UPDATE 5/13/20

Saint Joseph’s Medical Center Technical Unit
Ratification Vote – By Mail
May 2020
Vote Document
BARGAINING TEAM IS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDING A YES VOTE!
This cycle the Union Negotiating Committee pushed to begin bargaining prior to expiration in order to come to a timely resolution.  After months of bargaining, the team received an offer they can recommend.
How to Cast Your Vote:

  1. Review the offer, then mark your ballot "Yes" to accept the proposal, or "No" to reject the proposal.

  2. Place your marked ballot in the Ballot Envelope. Do not put your name on the outside of the Ballot Envelope, or on the ballot itself. This ensures the secrecy of your ballot.

  3. Place the Ballot Envelope inside the Return Envelope.

  4. Sign the back of the Return Envelope, noting your name and work location. Your signature is how we verify each eligible voter can cast one and only one vote.

  5. Note: The Ballot Envelopes will be separated from the Return Envelopes before any Ballot Envelopes are opened, so the secrecy of your ballot is preserved.

  6. Ballots must be returned by Wednesday, May 27th in order to be counted.


HAVE BALLOT RETURNED TO:
UFCW Local 21 c/o David Barnes, Negotiator
5030 1st Ave South #200
Seattle, WA 98134

We will be holding 3 different drop-in online Vote meetings on Friday, May 15 to answer any question about the tentative agreement. Details for joining will be mailed out with the vote instructions.

We will send out information soon with more details of the changes in your new contract and how the voting process works. To review a copy of the full legal document with all changes to the contract please visit the link provided in the body of the text below.

View the Document

JOIN OUR ONLINE VOTE MEETINGS:

Drop in at any of these times via Zoom on Friday, May 15:

8:30AM – 10:30AM
12:00PM – 2:00PM
4:00PM – 6:00PM 

Details for joining will be mailed out with the vote instructions.

BARGAINING TEAM: Michelle Gilmore, Sissy Allison, Vanessa Giles, Monica DeWitt, Kat Wood

PCC - Bargaining Continues

/

The Bargaining Committee continues to have discussions with the Employer. We are committed to fighting for a contract that ensures:

  • COVID-19 pay for members who are exposed or diagnosed with COVID-19. 

  • Keeping our sick leave 

  • Keeping our parental leave

  • Maintaining our healthcare

  • Securing our pension


SIGN ON TO THE PETITION! 

Let’s tell PCC that workers deserve a safe work place! A safety petition was  launched and is circulating  to ensure PCC workers have the highest level of safety in their stores possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

St. Joseph Tech - Tentative Agreement Reached

/
unnamed.jpg

UPDATE 5/13/20

Saint Joseph’s Medical Center Technical Unit
Ratification Vote – By Mail
May 2020
Vote Document
BARGAINING TEAM IS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDING A YES VOTE!
This cycle the Union Negotiating Committee pushed to begin bargaining prior to expiration in order to come to a timely resolution.  After months of bargaining, the team received an offer they can recommend.
How to Cast Your Vote:

  1. Review the offer, then mark your ballot "Yes" to accept the proposal, or "No" to reject the proposal.

  2. Place your marked ballot in the Ballot Envelope. Do not put your name on the outside of the Ballot Envelope, or on the ballot itself. This ensures the secrecy of your ballot.

  3. Place the Ballot Envelope inside the Return Envelope.

  4. Sign the back of the Return Envelope, noting your name and work location. Your signature is how we verify each eligible voter can cast one and only one vote.

  5. Note: The Ballot Envelopes will be separated from the Return Envelopes before any Ballot Envelopes are opened, so the secrecy of your ballot is preserved.

  6. Ballots must be returned by Wednesday, May 27th in order to be counted.


HAVE BALLOT RETURNED TO:
UFCW Local 21 c/o David Barnes, Negotiator
5030 1st Ave South #200
Seattle, WA 98134

After several bargaining sessions, in person and via telecommunications, your Bargaining Team is pleased to announce a fully recommended tentative agreement that addresses the core issues brought forward by the membership around staffing and wages.

This agreement includes a commitment from Management to address staffing concerns from frontline workers, wage increases and no Management take-aways!

Voting will be by mail-in ballot! We will mail you the voting materials to the address we have on file. Ballots return deadline to be announced. In order to make sure your ballot makes it to the right place, please confirm your address in the body of the email below.

We will send out information soon with more details of the changes in your new contract and how the voting process works. A copy of the full legal document with all changes to the contract will be provided.

We will be holding drop-in online Vote Meetings to answer any question about the tentative agreement. Details for joining will be mailed out with the vote instructions.

BARGAINING TEAM: Michelle Gilmore, Sissy Allison, Vanessa Giles, Monica DeWitt, Kat Wood

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Representative @ 800-732-1188

Macy’s workers are facing COVID-19 store shutdowns with little information and support from our employer.

/

Macy’s workers are facing COVID-19 store shutdowns with little information and support from our employer. But this community has our back. We’ve given years of service to this store and our communities, and it’s time for Macy’s to acknowledge that their profits came from the work that we put in.

We’re calling on Macy’s to provide paid leave for those of us whose stores are temporarily closed, help to those of us who have to file for unemployment benefits, and fair severance in case of permanent store closure.

Check out this video from Macy’s workers and allies and customers in the community, and then sign our petition for fair treatment during this crisis!


Conifer St. Elizabeth - Standing Together

/
2020 0504 - Conifer St Elizabeth Update.jpg

After three days at the bargaining table we are happy to announce that many of our non-economic proposals have been resolved. Unfortunately, Management’s response to our economic proposal is severely lacking and we must continue to stand together to demand fair wages and a fair contract.

“We are holding fast and going strong. Management was reluctant to address our concerns, but we pushed back and overcame those challenges. We are on the last leg of this race.”

Margaret “Peggy” Laush, Bargaining Team Member

Join us at the online CAT meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 from 6:30PM - 7:30PM to hear from the St. Elizabeth bargaining team and make plans for St. Joe’s first day at the table!

RSVP at the link for the CAT meeting and we will follow-up with details on how to join.

Next Bargaining Dates
More dates to be announced

St. Elizabeth - 5/19
St. Joseph - 5/20, 5/21







Harrison Medical Center - Bargaining Continues

/
2020 0429 - Harrison Updates.jpg

PRO-TECH UPDATE

Your Bargaining Team met with Managament on April 23, 25, and 28. We are committed to fighting for a fair contract that maintains our Union healthcare and ensures our contract survives any future mergers or acquisitions.

We have also made proposals to address issues regarding scheduling time off, easier access to education and professional meetings, improved safety language, and market competitive wages that keep up with the rising cost of living. Our next bargaining date is May 5.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Aimee Oien @ 360-662-1981.

“Although we met virtually, we are standing together for a fair contract.”

Harrison Medical Center Pro-Tech Bargaining Team
Judy Shoesmith, Kain Mcleod, Connie Baker, Rob Shauger, Don Szabo, Ona Burkett, Sonja Hammes

SERVICE & DIETARY UPDATE

Your Bargaining Team met with Management on April 13, 20, and 27. We submitted our initial proposals that aim to strengthen language regarding scheduling, increased transparency of job postings, stronger safety committees, maintaining healthcare costs, and market competitive wages that keep up with the rising cost of living. Our next bargaining date is May 8.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

“Our first couple of bargaining dates were productive and we are looking forward to getting a contract that we can all be proud of!”

Harrison Medical Center Service & Dietary Bargaining Team
Bobby Harris, Susan Mayer, Bill A Lieseke

Conifer - Conifer St. Elizabeth and St. Joe’s Are United For a Fair Contract!

/
2020 0423 - Conifer Update.jpg

After months of pushing Conifer for bargaining dates for our St. Joseph members, we are happy to announce that dates have been secured! Your team at St. Elizabeth has been hard at work fighting for a fair contract that addresses our priorities and we are committed to joining together to support each other in this fight! 

Please join us on Monday April 27th from 5:30PM - 6:30PM to hear from your Bargaining Team about what is going on at the table and how we can work together to win on the issues that matter the most to us all! 

RSVP

Next Bargaining Dates:

St. Elizabeth- 4/29-5/1 & 5/19

St. Joseph- 5/20-5/21 & 5/27-5/29

Zenith - We’ve Waited Long Enough, #TheTimeIsNow

/
2020 0420 - Zenith Update.jpg

We have been pushing hard on Zenith to come back to the bargaining table since our last session in February. We were able to secure bargaining dates and we want to talk to you about how we can work together to ensure that Zenith meets our demands! 

We Demand:

  • Training – We demand in depth and adequate training to advance and maintain our skills so we can perform our jobs confidently!

  • Compensation – We demand fair, competitive compensation for the work that we do!

  • Respect and Dignity – We demand a work environment where all workers are treated fairly with respect and dignity!

SAVE THE DATE
Contract Action Team Meeting on 5/11 @ 5PM

Next Bargaining Dates:
4/23, 5/5-5/7, 5/11-5/14

Stay up to date with the most recent contract negotiations information. Update your contact info here.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep:
Ates Serifsoy @ (206) 436-6569

Conifer St. Elizabeth - United for a Fair Contract

/
2020 0403 - Conifer St Elizabeth Update.jpg

Conifer St. Elizabeth members met with Management on April 1 and April 2 to continue negotiations via Video Conference to resolve on-going issues and send out our economic proposals.

“We have made forward progress on some issues but we are still very far apart on the issues that matter most to us. We are committed to standing strong during this home stretch but we need you all to stand with us now more than ever and show Conifer St. Elizabeth that we are serious and united in this fight for a fair contract!”

Margaret “Peggy” Laush, Bargaining Team Member

St. Joseph Tech Update - Bargaining Continues

/
2020 0406 - St. Joseph Update.jpg

Our Bargaining Team has had several bargaining sessions with Management. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the most recent was held via telecommunications.

We are working on core issues around staffing and wages. We need the employer to come to the table with a fair offer that meets the needs of our membership.

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

PETITION ACTION

Check the UFCW21 website for future bargaining updates and please sign the petition demanding safe and fair working conditions!

Harrison Medical Protech - Bargaining Begins

/
2020 0331 - Harrison Medical Protech Update.jpg

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. 

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.

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.

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