St. Joseph Hospital - Contract Ratified!

"We at St. Joseph Hospital ratified our contract unanimously. We are delighted with our new contract!"

— Maegan George, Bargaining Committee Member

Congratulations to Saint Joseph's RNs who ratified their new three-year contract. RNs at St. Joseph Hospital will see an 11.5% wage increase over the next three years, as well as increased premiums and other benefits. We worked hard with Management to improve many aspects of our working lives and feel that this contract is moving in the right direction. We deserve a contract that reflects the hard work we all do every day, and we can only do that by staying involved and informed.

St. Michael Medical Center RN - Focusing on Key Issues!

On Tuesday, July 16, your bargaining team met once again with the hospital for another joint negotiation session. As we move deeper into bargaining, we've begun identifying our top priorities—but we can't win the contract we deserve without nurses stepping up. We'll be discussing these priorities at our next Contract Action Team (CAT) meeting (date will be announced next week), and we need more nurses to get involved and show the hospital that we're united, organized, and ready to fight.

  • Incremental increases to charge/resource nurse premium pay over the life of the contract

  • New language confirming the intent that charge nurses should not carry patient loads—with a commitment from leadership to exhaust all other RN options first. This is a direct result of nurses demanding safe, manageable assignments.

  • Preserving our current PTO and EIB accrual rates—a win in the face of the hospital's push to move RNs onto a PTO/Sick bank with less accruals.

We also pushed the hospital hard on issues they continue to sidestep:

  • Establishing a break relief system that complies with the law and guarantees nurses real, uninterrupted breaks.

  • Basic safety measures to protect RNs on the job. Nurses deserve a workplace where their safety isn't up for debate.

  • Real incentives for mandatory call shifts that establish a more equitable system for call and incentives to cover vacant call shifts.

Our next bargaining session is Wednesday, July 24. Show your support by wearing your UFCW 3000 gear that day to send a clear message: nurses are united and demand a contract that reflects our value!

We're also preparing to launch a community action campaign—and we need your help spreading the word. Share our message with your friends, family, and neighbors. The more voices we have behind us, the louder we'll be.

Hospital Proposals UFCW 3000 Proposals
Wages: 5.25% two pay periods after ratification, 3.25% in 2025, 3.50% in 2026 Wages: 13.75% in 2025, 5% in 2026, 5% in 2027
Hospital Base rate: $44.45 (2025), $46.56 (2026), $47.84 (2027) $44.66 2025, $46.11 2026, $47.73 2027 St. Joe's Base Rate: $46.02 (2025), $47.86 (2026), $49.77 (2027)
Rejected longevity and retention bonuses Proposed longevity and retention bonuses
Rejected pension proposal and did not propose improvements to the 401k plan Proposed that RNs maintain current CHI's 401k plan and Employer make contributions to a variable annuity pension plan, like the one St. Joe's Pharmacy and Jefferson Healthcare RNs currently have
Rejected understaffing premium Proposed $5/hour understaffing premium
Rejected float premium for non-float pool nurses Proposed float premium for non-float nurses floating within the hospital
Rejected staffing ratios Proposed safe staffing ratios aligned with national nursing standards
Rejected incentive for picking up vacant shifts; offered 1.5x pay only for .9 FTEs+ picking up a shift on their day off Proposed incentive for all vacant shifts that fall below 80% of the staffing plan
Rejected premiums for covering surgical tech or CV tech roles; proposed only $1 certification pay for RCIS or RCES. NEW Will be paid the higher wage rate if performing work of a higher paid classification. Proposed $2–$5 premium for RNs covering surgical or CV tech shifts
Proposed security systems installed by May 2026 in new tower units Proposed security systems by December 2025, aligned with the tower's expected opening
Rejected weapon detection systems in the Emergency Department Proposed installing weapon detection in the Emergency Department
NEW Proposed mandatory navy blue scrubs $100 stipend Rejected mandatory navy blue scrubs
Proposed mandatory call shifts and a $15–$20/hour bonus only after the final schedule is posted Proposed $15/hour for picking up before the schedule posts, $20/hour after, and limits on mandatory call
Proposed 1.5x pay for .9 FTEs+ picking up shifts on days off Proposed incentive 1.5x or 2x for all vacant shifts that fall below 80% of the staffing plan
NEW Proposed a 1-year pilot break relief assignment (not a position) for inpatient units only, including OR and ED Proposed four dedicated break relief RN positions for all units within 21 days of ratification
Tentative Agreements:
  • Charge RN premium $3.50/hour, 2026 $3.75, 2027 $4.00
  • Standby pay $6/hour
  • Preceptor pay for anyone who is assigned preceptor duties
  • Weekend Premium $4/hour
  • Shift differential $3/hour evening and $5.50/hour night
  • Access to New hire orientation
  • Per diems can move into FTE positions after working 16 hours on average over three months
  • Equal Opportunity language that is inclusive
  • Payroll errors must be resolved in 45 days
  • Travel to mandatory classes will qualify for IRS mileage rate
  • Parking shall be free
  • Will not be subject to discipline if they need more than 8 minutes to don and doff
  • Other language clean-up

Mount Carmel RNs Contract Ratified!

"After a unanimous YES vote, your union team at Mount Carmel is happy to announce our contract for 2025-2028 is a go and will be ratified! It wasn't the easiest process, but as a group, we are happy with the outcome."

— Rebecca Landers, Bargaining Committee Member

Congratulations to Mt. Carmel RNs who ratified their new three-year contract. RNs at Mt. Carmel will see an 11.5% wage increase over the next three years, new recognition for being SANE trained, increased premiums, new sleep accommodations for staff who must stay on duty at the hospital, and more. We worked hard with management to improve many aspects of our working lives and feel that this contract is moving in the right direction. We deserve a contract that reflects the hard work we all do every day, and we can only do that by staying involved and informed.

PRMCE Professionals - CONTRACT RATIFIED!

On Tuesday, July 15, healthcare professional workers at PRMCE overwhelmingly ratified our 2025 union contract following a morning of highly attended vote meetings. Our bargaining team is proud of the work we accomplished at the table—and proud to share this win with all of our coworkers.

What's Next?

  • Finalizing the Contract: Our union and Providence will now work to finalize and sign the new agreement. Once completed, printed copies will be distributed throughout the medical center.

  • Access in the Meantime: Redlined versions of the fully ratified Agreement (including updated language articles and wage scales) will be uploaded to our union's website so we can review and enforce our new contract in the meantime.

  • Wage Increases: Our new wages will go into effect two full pay periods following ratification (July 15).

If you have any questions about our new union contract, please reach out to our Union Rep Bruce Le at (206) 436-6614, or contact a member of our bargaining team!

Bargaining Team: Taylor Widener, Sr. Dietician; Holly Gramse, Physical Therapist; Sara Dillon, Sr. Discharge Planner (Case Manager)

Organize, organize, organize: Know a worker who wants to join a union? Send them here.
 

Puget Sound Allied Grocery Stores: Camano Island Meat Contract Vote Scheduled!

Puget Sound Allied Grocery Stores: Camano Island Meat Contract Vote Scheduled!

After months of leafleting, info-picketing, petition-signing, and winning a 97% strike authorization vote, our bargaining team harnessed the power of thousands of grocery and meat workers to fight and win a fair contract. All that organizing helped win: 

Read More

Zenith Spokane - Bargaining Update: Our Unity is Working!

The company has changed their Last and Final offer that we voted down by 97%! Our bargaining team has reviewed the company's latest offer which has moved significantly toward our last proposal. We are close, but not close enough to fully recommend a contract for approval.

The company MUST understand we will not move backwards during the term of this contract. Please continue to support the union bargaining team, as we continue the fight!

Bargaining Team: Tiffanie Ibach, Jessica Flatt, Jeannie Payton

Providence St. Peter Hospital RN - Progress Made: A Successful Day of Bargaining!

Providence St. Peter Hospital RN
Progress Made: A Successful Day of Bargaining!

On Wednesday, July 9, our bargaining team, representing registered nurses at Providence St. Peter Hospital, met with management for the eighth bargaining session of this contract cycle.

After more than a month since our last session, our team came prepared and eager to make meaningful progress. At the start of the day, nearly all outstanding proposals were with the Employer. Over the course of two morning meetings, we received their responses and had productive exchanges.

By the end of the day, we had traded both economic and non-economic proposals and we're encouraged by the progress made. We reached mutually aligned language on several key non-economic issues, including:

  • Personnel File Protections: outlining a process for when verbal and written disciplines may be removed from an employee's file.

  • Equal Opportunity Language: Strengthened protections against discrimination and harassment, including a defined process for feedback and accountability when concerns are raised.

As of the end of the session, only a few important non-economic Articles remain unresolved:

  • Negotiations Release Time: A proposal to ensure that bargaining team members can be released to attend scheduled negotiations sessions; supporting full, effective representation at the table.

  • Free Parking Protections: Language to preserve free employee parking for nurses at PSPH—reflecting current practice and preventing future rollbacks.

  • Pre-Meeting Time for Committees: A proposal to allow 30 minutes of paid time for union members to meet prior to important worksite meetings, such as the Labor-Management and Hospital Staffing Committees.

  • Steward Pay Protections: Contract language to ensure union stewards remain on paid time while attending grievance meetings or representing coworkers.

  • Workplace Safety Measures: Proposals to enhance on-campus safety, including a weapon detection system at the Emergency Department entrance, and a particular focus on improvements to security in the hospital parking lot; which we feel are long overdue.

On the economic front, the Employer presented their second wage scale proposal, which included:

  • An increase to wage rates for nurses at Step 25 & above (reflecting around a 1.75% - 3.5% increase for these steps, compared to the Employer's initial proposal)

  • Removal of additional "ghost steps"—years where there is no wage increase, leaving only one remaining across their twenty-eight step proposal.

While we appreciate this movement, management's second proposal still brought no changes to any of the other components of our compensation; for example there are still no proposed increases to any of our workplace premiums or differentials.

Most concerning, however, was when we inquired about when we might expect a response to the safe staffing article our team presented back on April 29 (which included minimum nurse to patient ratios, the addition of break relief nurses, and an emergency department contingency staffing plan)—the Employer seemed to indicate that they'd forgotten about it entirely. Considering that this is a highly important issue for us and our coworkers—we're hopeful that bringing this article back to management's attention will result in meaningful responses.

We return to the bargaining table with management for back-to-back sessions on July 23 and 24. Despite some concerns about the Employer's responses, we feel that Wednesday's session was a productive step forward. We're proud of the progress made, and remain committed to pushing forward on issues like wages, workplace safety, and protections that honor and respect the work of all RNs at Providence St. Peter.

Tonight's Contract Action Team Meeting

Thursday, July 10
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
906 Columbia St SW
- Olympia 98501

Looking Ahead... Next Contract Action Team Meeting

ThursdayJuly 24
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
906 Columbia St SW
- Olympia 98501

"We made strong progress today! While there are still issues to work through, but it was great that we exchanged so many proposals and really landed on the same page as Providence on so many items... I'm excited about the direction we're heading and to keep this going at our next sessions!"

— Darlett Holm, RN

Your bargaining team: Mary Bloomberg, Surgical Acute RN; Jacob Kostecka, PACU RN; Darlett Holm, SADU West RN; Mike Staley, SADU RN; Ashley McBride, L&D RN; Julia Douglas, Sepsis RN; Grace Kraege, ED RN; Kelly Williams, Inpatient Psychiatry RN; Melanie Oakes, ED RN; Andy Dusablon, PACU RN; Haley Sweet, Neurology RN.

Sign the strike pledge card: We need to show Providence we're ready to do what it takes to get what we deserve. Sign the strike pledge card or ask a fellow member to sign it if they haven't already.

Step up! We need department leaders to keep members engaged in the fight. providence united — UFCW 3000

Organize, organize, organize: Know a worker who wants to join the union? Send them here.