VFHM St. Joseph Medical Center Pharmacy - Bargaining Begins

Our Bargaining Team, Left to Right Top to Bottom:

Amanda Carter, Becky Christensen, Beau Chiba, Aimee Cooke

On August 11, your Pharmacy Bargaining Team met with management to begin our contract negotiations. While wages will come at a later bargaining date, we had a productive first day. The team was able to discuss PTO concerns, some economic items, and many of the concerns identified thru your surveys and feedback.

Future bargaining dates include August 24, August 31, September 12, and September 28. There’s still room for new Contract Action Team members. If interested, reach any of the bargaining team members below for more information.

“Good conversations were had today at the table. We presented some of our priorities and I look forward to managements response at our next negotiations.”

— Aimee Cooke

Confluence Health - Job Classification Addition Pharmacy Tech

Confluence has proposed an increase to the current wage scale for all Pharmacy Tech, Pharmacy Tech I and Pharmacy Tech II mid contract.

Because it is a change to our contract, we will need to have the affected members vote on the change. 

All affected UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to vote “YES” on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 from 12:00pm – 2:00pm in Conference Room E. You must be in good standing and present to vote. 

You will be provided with the proposal at the vote meeting. 

Richland Fred Meyer - This community has our back - give us a fair contract!

Richland Fred Meyer

This Community Has Our Back, Give us a Fair First Contract!

Our Richland Bargaining Team met on August 16 and 17 and exchanged many proposals with the company including; arbitration procedures and grievance processes, workplace safety language, union security guarantees, just cause protections, paid holidays, sick leave and other important issues. We are very close to an agreement on many of these critical matters. We have dates set in September to continue negotiations with the employer over these critical issues.

Our team continues to fight for:

  • Fair wages with an enforceable wage scale and increases.

  • Affordable and quality health care that cannot be changed without the agreement of our union team.

It’s time to show Fred Meyer that this community is clearly on our side and demands that we get the fair first contract that includes fair wages, good health care, secure retirement, and a voice on the job that we deserve!

Save the date:

‘This Community Has Our Back, Give us a Fair First Contract’

Richland Community Rally, October 7 from 1:00-3:00PM

Fresenius Renal Care - Bargaining Update

We have been working hard during contract negotiations August 15 and are scheduled to meet again August 22.

Our bargaining sessions now include a representative from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to help both sides come to an agreement. Management is saying they appreciate us, but the cost of living keeps going up and management is not offering wages to meet the increased costs we are facing every day. All this while we continue to be understaffed and are covering extra shifts.

Workers at Fresenius are standing up against low wages!

Many Fresenius workers have signed the petition asking management for fair wages and to respect the work we do!

Let management know that we need to be treated with respect!

If you have not signed the petition, here is the link:

For additional information contact Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

In solidarity, representatives from both UFCW and WSNA will be distributing buttons, which we are asking workers to wear. If you have not received a button, reach out to Union Representative Ryan Degouveia 360-662-1989 or rdegouveia@ufcw3000.org

If you or a coworker are not getting emails from us, use this link to update your contact information.


GHCH/HRH Workers Unite!

Buttons are showing up on so many workers at HRH! Keep wearing buttons!

On Thursday, August 11, union members joined forces to distribute buttons on both campuses. The buttons are being worn in solidarity with the HRH Bargaining Team demanding a fair contract. We will continue to wear the buttons. 

Starting today—Monday, August 15—we will be distributing a Strike Pledge Card.

In solidarity with the Bargaining Team, the Strike Pledge Cards let management know that we are willing to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract! 

If you have questions or concerns, contact Union Representative Brandan Zielinski at BZielinski@ufcw3000.org or call him at 206-436-6603.

Your Bargaining Team: Janet Byrd, Ricki Franklin, Dan James, Bambi Shope, Debbie Sturm.

Please remind your coworkers to update their information so that everyone can receive these updates!

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center - New three-year contract Ratified by SUPER MAJORITY VOTE

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

New three-year contract Ratified by SUPER MAJORITY VOTE in RECORD time and far before expiration

Our Bargaining Team met with the Employer for expedited bargaining sessions where we focused on wages. Through this new process we were able to secure wage increases 5 months earlier than the contract expiration for all Service and Maintenance employees represented by UFCW 3000 and compensate them fairly for the work they do. The wage increases are the largest collectively that we have seen at Providence Sacred Heart and will make us market competitive within our Region.

Thank you to all members who joined one of our vote meetings and participated in this process.

Contact a bargaining team member or your Union Representative for any questions or concerns as they were the ones participating in the process at the bargaining table.

“Every negotiation I learn something new. This years expedited bargaining was certainly a plus! It seemed a smoother process.” – Kaye Balk, Registrar

“This was my first negotiation. I am loving feeling heard. I also feel a part of a team that spoke and worked for over 1100 of my co-workers/caregivers.” – Margaret Lauricella, Monitor Tech

“it’s nice to see the excitement and all the voices come together to make the changes they deserve.”– Aaron Leigh Food Service,

“The Union Members’ voting have been extremely positive! Good news for everyone today.” – Patty Martin, Financial Counselor

“I am so Proud of the members who came together and made this contract happen. YOU Earned This.” – Michael McDonald ER Tech

“Felt Great to help be part of the process of getting people the pay raises they deserve.” – Brad Starkey, Environmental Services

“It was great to come up with an agreement that’s good for All of our members.” – Nicole Taylor, ER Tech

“This experience was incredibly interesting and an eye opener” – William Volpone, Lab Assistant

“Seeing my coworkers throughout the hospital of all ages and backgrounds have their voice heard makes me proud to be a UNION MEMBER.” – Ryan Walton, Sterile Supply Tech

Capital Medical Center RN - Bargaining Goes Virtual

Photo Left to Right:

Dennis & Bonnie Verellen, Brandan Zielinski, Elisabeth Hildebrand, Steven Toff, Malando Redeemer, Carol Cairone

During our first virtual bargaining session with Capital Medical Center, we received management’s response to our initial proposals, and used the remaining time to dig deeper into the issues facing RNs at Capital Medical Center!

“We’re working hard to identify a better process for all of us to recognize issues with payroll and quickly fix them. Our payroll systems are just too difficult to read!”

— Bonnie Verellen

“It’s time to rectify the differences between Capital Medical Centers healthcare with the rest of MultiCare at large!”

— Elisabeth Hildebrand

As we continue our hybrid model of bargaining, we also want to continue to stress the importance of hearing your voices throughout this contract negotiation. Reach out to anyone of us on the bargaining team, or our union rep Brandan Zielinski at (206) 436-6603 or via email BZielinski@ufcw3000.org

Capital Medical Center RN - We Are United for a Strong Contract

Our Bargaining Team (Left to Right):

Dennis Verellen (ICU/PCU)

Elisabeth Hildebrand (Cath Lab)

Bonnie Verellen (Labor & Delivery)

Carol Cairone (OR)

Cindy Dixon (PACU)

We had our first bargaining session and led on our vision of what a great Capital Medical Center looks like. With your input we presented our priorities to MultiCare management and told them that our team is united for:

  • Competitive Wages that recruit and retain workers

  • Safe Staffing for us and our patients

  • Safe working conditions for all our coworkers

  • Raising standards to meet other MultiCare Units.

“As we began bargaining, we shared with management the important of raising us to the standards of other MultiCare units up north. Just because we are in Olympia doesn’t mean we deserve less than others. We deserve the same services, benefits and resources as others.”

— Dennis Verellen

“We had a successful start to our bargaining coming to some agreements right out the gate. With your support and involvement I believe we will have a successful bargain and win a strong contract.”

— Carol Cairone

Together we can win!

Many hands make light work! If you are interested in being involved and staying up-to-date please join the Contract Action Team (CAT). Reach out to anyone of us on the bargaining team or our union rep Brandan Zielinski at (206) 436-6603 or via email BZielinski@ufcw3000.org.

Fresenius Renal Care - Bargaining Continues

This week we met with management and a federal mediator to let them know the wages they are offering are not enough! We need to pay our bills, feed our kids, put gas in our cars to get to work. We also need recognition for our long work hours and experience!

We have additional bargaining sessions set up for:

August 15 • August 22

Tell management they need to listen to workers and show some respect. Sign the petition:

https://bit.ly/Fresenius22

Join the Contract Action Team Meeting!

Thursday, August 11

10:00 AM • 6:00 PM

https://zoom.us/join

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

If your coworkers are not receiving this update, they can go to: 

www.ufcw21.org/update-your-information

“We’re continuing to fight for higher pay. We hope to win this war on wages!”

— Tiffani Davis, Bargaining Team

“Management said they appreciate our work but are not showing that in the wages they are offering. We need to stand together to get management to see we are united.”

— Michele Hardy, Bargaining Team

For additional information contact Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

Capital Medical Center RN - Bargaining Begins

We’ve received your bargaining surveys, reviewed your priorities, and now we’re preparing to meet management at the table. 

UFCW and Capital Medical Center are scheduled for Thursday, August 4 to begin negotiations around the RN Contract & your suggested improvements. 

GET INVOLVED!

Please contact your rep Brandan Zielinski at (206) 436-6603 or via email at BZielinski@ufcw3000.org if you’d like to be on our Contract Action Team! 

Please update your contact information to make sure you receive any future updates: 

WhidbeyHealth - WhidbeyHealth Responds to Our Proposal!

Prior to June, we requested bargaining dates from Management to start wage reopener negotiations. Finally in July, Management provided us with a bargaining date and a wage proposal which Management sent to all employees. The wage scale that Management released was a proposal and needs to be approved and voted on by YOU, UFCW 3000 members! Management has said this proposal is a “done deal,” but that is NOT THE CASE!

Management has the right under the contract (Article 18) to give everyone a wage increase, but they cannot implement a new wage scale. For example, they can implement a percentage wage increase for all current employees in all classifications while we are in negotiations and keep the wage scale as is.

On July 28 the Pro/Tech/LPN and Support Services bargaining team met with the WhidbeyHealth management bargaining team. We reviewed Management’s wage proposal and there are several classifications whose pay rates are below area hospitals. Management proposed higher wage increases for some classifications anything between .5% to 2.5% for other classifications. Given this, we proposed a 25% wage scale increase for both Pro/Tech/LPN and Support Services, along with the removal of all ghost/zero steps and replacing those steps with a 2.5% step increment. Management did not meaningfully respond to our proposal and gave us a second bargaining date for late August.

We are disappointed with Management’s lack of response and delay to the bargaining process! We have request sooner bargaining dates. It is important that we show Management that we need higher pay and they should not delay implementing wage increases!

We will be holding a contract action team meeting on Thursday, August 4, 1:00pm and 6:00pm over Zoom and Tuesday, August 9 at 6:00pm (tentatively in the Education conference room at WhidbeyHealth) where we will be talking about actions and discussing bargaining.

If you have questions, please contact your union representative Celia Ponce-Sanchez cponcesanchez@ufcw3000.org 360-419-4678 or your bargaining committee.

Your bargaining committee,

Jennifer MacNeill, Rosalie Nguyen, Qiana Johnson, Marty Riley, Gwendolyn Cole, Lisa Olds, Marilyn Faber, Elke Rogers

Join the Contract Action Team Meeting!

Thursday, August 4

1:00 PM6:00 PM

Hudson Dufry Group - Tentative Agreement Reached

Hudson Dufry Group - Tentative Agreement Reached
Our Bargaining Team Recommends a YES vote

On Friday, July 22, the Union and Hudson/Dufry reached a tentative agreement on the new contract. Your Union bargaining committee is unanimously recommending this contract offer.

In the days ahead we will be announcing the time and place for the vote. The full offer will be available at the vote meeting.

Skagit Regional Health - Union Contract Bargaining Update

On July 20, our Bargaining Team met with Management for our eleventh negotiation session. We presented and completed the last of our economic proposal and are feeling optimistic for future bargaining dates.

Management is reviewing our proposals on economics, and we expect to hear back on these reviews by our next meeting.

Our next bargaining session will be Wednesday, August 17.

The best way to show your solidarity is by acting and showing that we are powerful as a unit that is UNITED.

If you have any questions about the bargaining process, please contact our Union Rep Celia at (360) 419-4678 or cponcesanchez@ufcw3000.org.

Bargaining Team: Aaron St. John - CS Tech; Alina Delano, Ultrasound Tech; Ashley Price - Medical Assistant-Certified; Jill Douglass - Data Entry Clerk; Maria Muñoz - Environmental Svcs; Megan Osborn - Med Tech; Mike Koenig - Engineer; Rindi Atkins - Radiology Tech; Thomas Kean - Exercise Physiologist; Katie Davis - Social Worker; Cindy Tjaden - Surg Tech

C.C. Filson - Historic Pay Increases on the Table

Our Bargaining Committee met with Management and made our economic proposals. Since the beginning of bargaining, Union members have made clear that we need substantial wage increases to just make ends meet. So we proposed:

  • Big increases to the minimum pay rates for productivity-based workers. We also questioned Management about why they were paying less than the Minimum Base Rate to production workers, based on their answers the Union will be filing a grievance.

  • Historic wage increases and a pay scale for hourly workers that gives recognition for job duties and years of loyal service.

  • No changes to the health care cost sharing.

  • An employer funded 401(k) retirement program with guaranteed contributions for every hour we work.

We tentatively agreed with Management to put the night work premium in the contract and to increase it to $.50/hr. Filson also had previously proposed a bonus program based on yearly company performance; we told them we could agree to it, but it could not replace wage increases that we need to live.

The Employer said our proposal required serious consideration and number crunching, so they were unable to respond to our proposal immediately and ended bargaining for the day. But we kept on working and drafted Safety and Pandemic contract language that will be ready to present to them at the next bargaining session on August 4.

TIME TO TAKE ACTION

Management may need time to consider our proposals, but we are not going to just sit around and wait. So far we have taken action by buttoning-up, getting trained on spotting Unfair Labor Practices at work, and having a great Unity Day action at work where our community allies turned out to show their support for Filson workers. We aren’t stopping there and won’t until Union members have a fair contract offer to vote on.

Filson needs to see that you are serious about the proposals the Union has on the table. Make sure you are:

  • Wearing your Union button everyday

  • Participating in Solidarity Wednesdays by wearing a gold Union t-shirt

  • Attending the Contract Action Team meeting Friday, July 29 @ 4-6pm, Kent Commons - Olympic Room, 525 4th Ave N Kent, WA 98030. Join us for a more in-depth update on negotiations, planning for further actions, and discussing how we run an effective picket line.

Skagit Regional Health - Bargaining Continues

Your Bargaining Team: 

  • Aaron St. John – Central Supply Tech

  • Alina Delano – Ultrasound Tech

  • Ashley Price – Medical Assistant

  • Jill Douglass – Data Entry Clerk 

  • Maria Muñoz – Environmental Aid

  • Megan Osborn – Med Tech

  • Mike Koenig – Engineer

  • Rindi Atkins – Radiology Tech 

  • Thomas Kean – Exercise Physiologist

  • Katie Davis – Social Worker 

  • Cindy Tjaded – Surgical Tech

On July 13, our bargaining team met with management for our tenth negotiation session. Our bargaining team presented economics! Additionally, we proposed additional holiday and premiums to best align with the increase in economics.

Management was pleased to have gotten our proposals on economics and will address response in our next bargaining session.

Our next bargaining session will be Wednesday July 20.

The best way to show your solidarity is by acting and show we are powerful as a unit that is united.

Please join us at the upcoming Contract Action Team (CAT) meeting in person on Thursday, July 21 at 6PM at the Union Office, 1510 N 18th street, Mt. Vernon.

Alternatively, join us via Zoom.

Please take a few moments to register for the meeting at this link. Once you’re registered, check your email for the zoom information.


To RSVP or if you have any questions about the bargaining process, please contact our Union Rep Celia at (360) 419-4678 or cponcesanchez@ufcw3000.org.

Grays Harbor Harbor Regional Health - RECRUITMENT • RETENTION • RESPONSIBILITY

Your Bargaining Team: Daniel James, Debbie Sturm, Janet Byrd, Bambi Shope, Ricki Franklin (not pictured)

The UFCW Bargaining Committee has been negotiating for nearly three months and has challenged management by proposing aggressive wage increases. Management’s initial wage proposal acknowledged some wages are below the market but did not recognize many other underpaid jobs.

In response we have been hard at work, carefully reviewing current market wages in all local hospitals.

The hospital isn’t making the connection between wages and why people are leaving. They say that wages are only part of the problem. Management seems very interested in recruitment but not retention. There is little acknowledgement of the short staffing that has resulted in extra work for everyone.

The hospital has a responsibility to employees but also the community. Understaffed for a very long time, Harbor Regional Health offers services not available in other area hospitals, but community members are often making the drive to Olympia for their care.

We are scheduled to meet with management every week in July, but need you to add your voice to the bargaining table.

Talk to your coworkers and let them know what’s going on and stayed tuned for more information! For more information, talk to the Bargaining Committee or Union Representative Brandan Zielinski bzielinski@ufcw3000.org

Update Your Contact Info!

WhidbeyHealth - Management Proposes Wage Increases

On Friday, July 1, WhidbeyHealth Management made a wage proposal via email. The proposal includes a .05% wage increase for all Pro-Tech-LPN members, some market adjustments, a 2.5% step increment between Base to Step 10, adding three steps to the wage scale (new final step will be Step 28), and a 5% step increment between Step 10 and Step 28. 

As for Support Services members, Management is proposing market adjustments on some classifications, a 2.5% step increment between Base to Step 10, and a 5% step increment between Step 10 and Step 28. While some of the new pay rates bring classifications close to market standards, other classifications are still below area hospitals, like Skagit Regional Health. 

Additionally Management has told us that since they are proposing a “sizable” wage proposal, they are holding to their position to no longer cover the Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave premium, which is .06% of your gross wages per year. 

We need members’ input prior to making a counter proposal, so we have asked Management to bargain with us prior to July 31. Please join us on July 12 to further discuss Management’s proposal. If you have questions please contact your union representative, Celia Ponce-Sanchez. 

Join Us to Discuss the Proposal via Zoom!

Tuesday, July 12

RSVP 11:00 AM

RSVP 5:00 PM

Richland Fred Meyer Bargaining Update

Our Richland Bargaining Team met with Fred Meyer on June 29 and 30 where we received the first contract proposal response from the Employer. Our team was able to return a full response to their proposals that includes: A fair wage packages, Quality and affordable Healthcare, and the Maintenance of retirement. 

Our team is continuing to fight for: 

  • A fair grievance process that gives workers the ability to enforce the terms of our union contract.

  • Workplace safety.

  • Just Cause standards to protect for unfair discipline and discharge.

In addition to two productive days of negotiations our Union Bargaining Committee was able to raise concerns with the Employer around recent unfair discipline and discharge of employees, especially on issues dealing with safety. With a union contract in place, we will be able to directly address these issues and more with the company.   

The Employer is now considering our Union Bargaining Committees’ most recent full proposal and working on a response. Once all parties agree to the proposals and workers have had a chance to vote to ratify the agreement we will have a legally binding contract that will hold the Employer to their commitments and give power and protection to the workers at Richland Fred Meyer.  

Our next bargaining date is July 27. We need to continue to show Fred Meyer that we demand our first contract now. 
Take action by wearing your union button! 

Contract Action Team 
July 13 @ 10AM & 6PM 
at 2505 Duportail St, Richland WA 99352