PRMCE RN - Staffing is a Major Concern!
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On October 21, the RN bargaining team met with Providence for the second time this bargaining cycle. We discussed several articles like union membership, nurse staffing committee, seniority, union access, and staffing. The Hospital rejected most of our proposals and wishes to keep current contract language.
We mentioned to Providence that staffing is a huge concern for the RN unit. In the past few weeks, we have received and forwarded several CSIs (staffing complaint forms) to Providence. Providence is currently refusing to recognize the Union’s staffing complaint form, which was created in coalition with other healthcare unions (WSNA and SEIU 1199NW). Although this is their position, the State recognizes our form and we can file complaints with the State, so we encourage you to continue submitting the CSI forms on ufcw21.org/csi.
We will continue to discuss staffing issues and fight for appropriate staffing for the safety of the RN unit and the patients.
In addition, we will have a car sign action in solidarity with Providence Centralia and St. Peter’s. If you want to distribute signs to your co-workers/community please contact your Union Rep, Anthony Cantu 206-436-6566.
Our next bargaining session will be on October 28 and November 13 and 17. We will be holding a contract action team meeting on November 10 @ 8 PM via Zoom.
OUR RN BARGAINING TEAM: Juan Stout, ER; Kimball Conlon, ER; Betsy Bourg, Glasgow; Cindi Dyson, Float Pool; Bill Hisaw, OR; Jenney Gannon, L&D; Madison Hamilton
Join our online CAT meeting!
Tuesday, November 10
8:00 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
Dynacare Labcorp - LabCorp: Protect Your Frontline, Not Your Bottom line!
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We met with Management to continue negotiations this week. We had another in depth conversation about the staffing crises and Pandemic safety protocols. We hope to see some counter proposals from Management on these issues at our next bargaining date.
“Staffing is short and so is our patience! Management came to the table woefully unprepared, once again. We spent 3.5 hours discussing staffing, scheduling, and COVID PPE. We even had to explain to them the difference between medical grade vs non-medical grade face masks. That is unacceptable!”
— Sam (Sherry) McVay
This week, members are taking action by stickering up to show support for the bargaining process. Get your sticker from a bargaining team member to show you stand with us for a FAIR contract.
OUR BARGAINING TEAM: Shelby Tyner, Eli Lanzcos, Fredel Albritton, Steph Royce, Sherry (Sam) McVay, Tambra Graham, Nancy Pyanowski
We need to continue to stand strong and escalate our actions to show Management we are serious. Join us at one of our drop-in CAT meetings on Wednesday, October 28 with NEW extended and additional times!
Wednesday, October 28
12 PM - 1:30 PM
6:30 PM - 8 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
November Bargaining Dates: 11/10, 11/16 & 11/23
Capital Medical Center RN - RN Bargaining Team Resumes Bargaining with CMC
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The RN bargaining team has been in contract negotiations since November 2019. Historically the Capital Medical Center (CMC) RNs have received the same or similar agreement as the Providence St. Peter’s RNs, who are also part of UFCW 21. This past year CMC proposed to retire the EIB program, but withdrew that proposal after seeing that the Providence RNs authorized a strike. Management wanted to avoid a strike authorization from occurring at CMC.
In 2020, we continued bargaining and focused on wages. A lot of progress was made at the bargaining table, until March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic started. UFCW 21 and CMC held off on bargaining during this time in order to figure out how to bargain virtually and there was uncertainty of how the pandemic would affect CMC. Since then UFCW 21 has bargained virtually and demanded that CMC meet with us virtually. Due to CMCs delays and unresponsiveness, we were not able to meet until October 19.
On October 19, we resumed bargaining via Zoom and made a lot of progress. We currently have five articles we are discussing: union membership, wages, nurse staffing committee, continuing education funds, and duration of the agreement. Our next session will be on November 5 and we hope to obtain a good contract.
In addition, we have informed the community/elected officials about CMC’s delays during bargaining. They have signed onto a letter, supporting the RN unit.
We will be holding a meeting via Zoom on Thursday, October 22, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM to discuss bargaining and short staffing at CMC. Please contact your union rep, Nicholas Hefling if you have any questions or concerns: nhefling@ufcw21.org, Cell @ 360-951-5801, or Office line @ 206-436-6564.
“We made great strides and are getting close to an agreement.”
— Bonnie Verellen, RN
“We have stood firm on our priorities regarding wages, retro pay, and EIB. But in order to settle we have moved away from less important issues, which we will fight for in our next bargaining cycle.”
— Carol Cairone, RN
“We want to maintain competitive wages without takeaways from the contract.”
— Dennis Verellen, RN
Join our Meeting!
Thursday, October 22
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
Payless Foods - Payless Bargaining Committee Lays Out Initial Proposals
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Wages are Key
One of the top goals for this bargain is to make progress on wages.
“We proposed wages that recognize Payless has been behind other grocery employers, and the higher cost of living on South Whidbey Island. That is important as prices keep rising.”
—Diane LaFond, Bargaining Team Member
The Union also proposed increasing Sunday and holiday premiums and adding work on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve after 6 PM as premium pay shifts.
Other Improvements
Making work on Christmas Eve voluntary (if there aren’t enough volunteers then the shifts would be assigned the least senior workers).
Not requiring funeral attendance to receive paid bereavement leave; for those whose families are too far away or are not having a formal funeral.
Better scheduling practices.
Making it easier for disabled workers, who work a limited schedule, to get vacation time and the life insurance benefit through our Healthcare Trust.
BUTTON UP!
Show your support for the committee and our proposals by wearing a “We are the Union” button. Unions are workers standing together for a better way life and a better life on the job. When we show that, we win!
Mason General (RN) - We Need Your Input
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We need your input!
There are some big decisions to make about what’s still on the table for bargaining. What is clear is that we need to take action.
Some of the sticking points:
Management is trying to eliminate cash out of PTO
Management wants to Low Census nurses in overtime first – even if it’s your regular shift
Management doesn’t want to pay premiums with OT
Join us at a Contract Action Meeting to develop our plan of attack!
Thursday, 10/22 @ 5 PM
Tuesday, 10/27 @ 5 PM
RSVP HERE for zoom link/call in information
Make sure you’re getting important union updates: Update your address, email, or phone number
If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep @ 800-732-1188
Conifer St. Elizabeth - ULP STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE ANNOUNCEMENT!
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We believe that Conifer St. Elizabeth has engaged in Unfair Labor Practices. We have filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board and we will declare this strike an Unfair Labor Practice Strike. Conifer has terminated one of our fellow union members and leaders—for what we believe was discrimination for union activity—and Management continued to intimidate members during recent concerted activity in support of the member that was terminated and our negotiations.
Vote Details
Friday, October 30, 2020
Time and Location: TBA
ST. ELIZABETH BARGAINING TEAM: Peggy Laush
Providence St. Peter Hospital - We Are Moving Onto Economic Issues!
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On October 12 the Bargaining Team and Providence met and bargained. We were able to reach agreements on just cause, Management’s rights, grievance procedure, no strike/no lockout, successorship, and safety language. These are core articles in all union contracts and now we will be moving onto leaves of absence and economic articles like the definition of a full-time and part-time worker, EIB/PTO, and premium pay.
We anticipate Providence will push back on our economic proposals, so we must organize! We will have a car sign action on October 28 to show Providence we are united and ready to fight to keep EIB and obtain competitive wage increases. Providence Everett and Centralia and community groups will take part in our car sign action. If you are interested in distributing car signs, please contact your Union Rep—Erin McCoy @ (206)436-6598—or reach out to the Bargaining Team.
We will be having a Contract Action Team meeting on Monday, October 19 at 6:30 PM via Zoom, please join us to learn more about your union rights and contract bargaining.
“Since the PTO/EIB hours has become a threatened benefit, it has been made clear that WE needed to unionize and fight together for solidarity for one another within this tech group.”
— Rae Lynn Korpi, Bargaining Team member
OUR TECH BARGAINING TEAM:
Josh Wood (CT), Shapel Morgan (X-ray), Colleen Castenada (Cath Lab), Rae Lynn Korpi (RT)
Join our Contract Action Team Meeting!
Monday, October 19
6:30 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
Northwest Administrators - Management Proposes Lowball Offer; Bargaining Team Shocked by Management’s Proposal
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NWA stands for No Wage Adjustment for two years, proposed by Management on October 13, 2020.
During a pandemic, we all continue to work as hard on the front line as we do from our homes.
Our work and our voice is valuable and essential to administer many vital benefits to our clients.
We recognize these truths to be self-evident and we await Management’s counter proposal.
The Bargaining Team will continue to fight for Union increases to wages/pension, COVID-19/Pandemic LOU protections , and proposing stronger contract language regarding protections for layoff, seniority rights and more. We are in this together, and together we can negotiate a better contract. We need your help so get involved! We are Calling All Troops to be a part of our Contract Action Team (CAT team).
Please reach out to one of our Bargaining Team members or Adrian Noel, Union Representative on how to become more involved.
Next Bargaining Date: Oct 27
Dynacare Labcorp - Management is Not Hearing Us!
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A few agreements were reached today but more work needs to be done. Today we had a long, focused discussion with Management about the on-going concerns we have heard from you all around staffing problems and schedule changes. We have also extended the contract through January 15, 2021.
“Management is not convinced that staffing is a major problem at LabCorp. We spent a lot of time giving them examples of how widespread and systemic staffing and scheduling issues are through-out several departments, and they are not just isolated instances.”
Fredel Albritton, Bargaining Team Member
Come hear from the bargaining team about next steps!
Wednesday, October 14 7PM - 8PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
Summit Pacific Medical Center - Majority COVID Petition Delivered!
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Today in bargaining we delivered our COVID petition for stronger safety precautions and hazard pay. A solid majority of our bargaining unit signed!
We also were able to reach agreements on some important contract provisions including:
Union recognition
Union access – our rep’s ability to visit to address worksite issues
Rules and rights for disciplinary & investigatory meetings
Duration of contract – 3 years
PRMCE - RNs Begin Bargaining with Providence Everett
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Back in August 2020, the RN unit overwhelmingly voted to reject the Hospital’s offer to: 1) extend the contract through 2021, 2) 4% across the board wage increase, 3) require nurses to pay for parking starting 2021.
On October 6, the RN bargaining committee and the Hospital began contract negotiations. The RN contract expires on October 31, 2020 and currently we do not have a contract extension, meaning we can take workplace actions like picketing.
On our first session, we made a proposal around union membership, union representative workplace access, and successorship language. The RN bargaining team put together a contract proposal which reflects the unit’s bargaining survey feedback and workplace concerns. Our goal this bargaining cycle is to hold Management accountable and obtain a contract with competitive wage increases, EIB, closed shop union membership, and better staffing language.
We are joining our fellow workers at Providence St Peter’s (Techs) and Providence Centralia (Tech and Support Services) at the bargaining table. These units are bargaining their first Union contract. We will be fighting together for good contracts and a fight with one unit is a fight with all!
Our next bargaining dates are October 21, October 28, November 13, and 17. We will be holding a car sign action at the end of October. Please contact your bargaining team or Anthony Cantu, Union Rep, to get your car sign.
If you want to be involved in the bargaining process or want more bargaining details, please join our Contract Action Team meeting on October 20 @ 8PM via Zoom.
Join our online CAT meeting!
Tuesday, October 20
8:00 PM
https://zoom.us/join
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
Lourdes Counseling Center - Safe Working Conditions and Fair Wages are Top Priorities
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After bargaining for months, Management commits to engage in making a safe work environment but has no plan. We continue to bargain for safe working conditions and fair wages as top priorities.
Our Bargaining Team proposed significant wage increases to account for missed cost of living and longevity increases that have happened throughout the years, but Management came back with an insulting counter. Please continue to show unity by wearing your stickers on October 15 and 16!
Please join the Lourdes Counseling Center facebook page to keep informed on the ongoing negotiation and attend the Contract Action Team meeting on October 19 via ZOOM; contact your Bargaining Team for information!
Our Bargaining Team: Jordan Cox, Pam Garland, Paul Knighten, Tim Orr
OUR NEXT BARGAINING DATE IS ON OCTOBER 16!
Save the Date - Contract Action Meetings Scheduled!
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At our first round of Contract Action Team (CAT) Meetings, we discussed the member survey results and our expected timeline for bargaining. Now it’s time for the action to start heating up! In order to successfully run a worker candidate for the PCC Board of Trustees, we need to put a detailed plan in place to gather co-op member signatures.
JOIN US AT OUR NEXT CAT MEETING TO HELP DEVELOP THE PLAN!
Our next CAT meetings will be on 10/19 & 10/21 at 9AM & 7PM. RSVP and Zoom info to follow.
Northwest Administrators - Waiting on Management’s Economic Counter Proposal
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We met with Management on September 29 and we were able to reach tentative agreements on telecommuting and adding an electronic copy of our Contract to NWA’s intranet once new software can be installed. We still are waiting on Management’s counter economic offer and response to COVID-19/Pandemic LOU.
Our Bargaining Team continues to discuss our key issues of strengthening the layoff language and creating a process with the emphasis on seniority to maintain positions during a staff reduction.
Our next bargaining session is October 13, 2020. Please reach out to one of your Bargaining Team members or Adrian Noel, UFCW Local 21 Representative on how you can become more involved to ensure the best outcome to our contract.
Next Bargaining Date: Oct 13
St. Anne Hospital Pro-Tech - Getting Closer to a Deal
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“We were surprised by the remarkable progress made today.”
OUR BARGAINING TEAM: Michelle Grennan, Kimberly Matson, and Miroslava Dashkel.
We would like to thank everyone who attended last week’s Contract Action Team (CAT) meeting! At this meeting we discussed how negotiations have progressed slower than expected because of how unprepared the Employer has been and their unwillingness to move on most issues. As a group we worked on an action plan to pressure Management to take contract negotiations seriously and work with us towards a fair agreement.
Then your Bargaining Team returned to negotiations the next day and were shocked by a sudden change in Management’s attitude. The Employer seemed to have come to the table looking to come to a deal soon, which was a drastic change from what we’ve experienced throughout this bargain.
In fact, we made remarkable progress at this session as we moved much closer, and even won some tentative agreements, on outstanding issues including wage increases and premium pay. We are significantly closer to a deal!
Your Bargaining Team will meet again with the Employer on September 30. We are cautiously optimistic about our next meeting and are prepared to follow through with the action plan discussed at last weeks CAT meeting if Management returns to their old pattern of delay.
Aramark - Contract was Approved! / ¡Se aprobó el contrato!
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On September 21, all three plants voted to approve the collective bargaining agreement between UFCW 21 and Aramark Uniform Services! All employees who have been working since September 2019 shall receive a retroactive pay bonus and will receive a pay increase of $.80 on October 1, 2020. Also all leads will receive a $.75 increase on top of their base rate on September 26, 2020.
If you have any questions, please contact your union rep, Monica Smith (Kent and Tacoma) or Kristina Storm (Everett).
En el 21 de septiembre las tres plantas aprobaron el contrato entre UFCW 21 y Aramark Uniform Services. Todos los empleados que han trabajado desde septiembre del 2019 recibirán un bono y un aumento de $.80 el 1ro de octubre del 2020. Además todo los “leads” recibirán un aumento de $.75 a su salario empezando el 26 de septiembre del 2020.
Si tiene preguntas por favor de contactar Monica Smith 206-436-6542 (Kent y Tacoma) o Kristina Storm 360-419-4667 (Everett).
Summit Pacific Medical Center - Bargaining Continues
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ALL PROPOSALS ARE ON THE TABLE! This is a milestone in our negotiations and brings us much closer to a final agreement!
THE UNION PROPOSES HUGE WAGE INCREASES to account for the missed cost of living and longevity increases that happened this summer. Now the ball is in Management’s court.
Our Bargaining Team: Angi Swinhart—RN, Clinic; Kristen Frazer—Registration Specialist; Barbara Ford—ED HUC; Jeff Redmond—ED Tech; Alicia Wood—RN, ED
OUR NEXT BARGAINING DATE IS ON OCT 9!
Olympic Medical Center - OMC Support Services and Pro-Tech Unit will be receiving retroactive pay!
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Due to COVID-19, we were not able to hold an in-person contract ratification vote for the Pro-Tech and Support Services units. UFCW 21 has been conducting all contract ratification votes via mail-in ballots.
But due to the staffing shortages and reduction in machines within the United States Postal Service, ballots and returned ballots were extremely delayed. We have been in talks with OMC to implement the new contract wage increases before the dates the two contracts were ratified and OMC has agreed!
Retroactive bonus pay shall be dispersed on the October 9 paycheck. OMC sent out an email last week listing how the retroactive pay would be calculated.
If you have any questions about your retroactive pay or believe it is incorrect, please contact your Union Rep Aimee Oien (360) 662-1981.
Providence St. Peter - Making Progress on Core Articles!
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It is clear that our workplace actions are working and Management is interested in a deal. But we must prepare to fight for our EIB and wage increases. Because of this impending fight, we sent out a letter to several community groups informing them about our contract negotiations and asking for their support! We will be having meetings with them to discuss how they can help us obtain a good first contract and keep our EIB!
On September 23 and 24, we met with Hospital Management and worked on five articles which cover Management’s right to change working conditions, disciplinary standard of “just cause,” grievance timelines, health and safety language, no striking during the life of the contract, and notification to the Union in case of a change in ownership.
These are core articles in all Union contracts. It is important that we have an agreement on these articles before we move onto economics, like wages, premium pay, health insurance, etc.
We will be holding a Zoom contract action team meeting/townhall to discuss bargaining in greater detail. In addition, please share the community letter which is posted on our PSPH Tech Facebook group.
In the spirit of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
OUR BARGAINING TEAM:
Josh (CT), Shapel (X-ray), Colleen (Cath Lab), Rae Lynn (RT)
Join our online townhall meeting!
Tuesday, September 29
6:30 PM
https://zoom.us/join
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.
