PRMCE RN - Strike Authorization Vote Notice

On May 24, we met with the Hospital for our seventh mediation session. In our last session on May 10, we presented to Providence a 7% across-the-board wage increase each year of the contract plus increases to our premiums and improvements to contract language, including staffing language. Providence responded with minimal movement on wage increases. While our wage increases would apply to all nurses for every year of the contract, Providence’s wage proposal is about 5.25% less than our proposal the first year, about 5% less than our proposal the second year, and part of their third-year proposal would only apply to nurses between base step to step 20 and a bonus for step 30 to step 35. Providence may say that their overall wage proposal is 17%, but that is incorrect. 

Fun fact: Under our current pay scale, we have 2% step increments in between each step. This means that every year we receive an across-the-board wage increase plus our anniversary step increase of 2%. Providence is including the 2% wage increment in their overall calculation which is deceptive. Their overall wage proposal is less than 6% for three years. 

Additionally, Providence continues to propose eliminating EIB, reducing PTO, and mandatory paid parking for all bargaining units including OPEIU, Pros, and Techs. 

While we have been at the bargaining table, Providence has been offering bonuses and incentives to RNs for flipping shifts, sign-on bonuses, and extra shift incentives. Some of these bonuses are as high as 20 thousand dollars. The Hospital has not negotiated with us over most of these bonuses. This is money that could have been reallocated to current nurses for retention bonuses or increases to our base rates! The Hospital is also interfering with your right to act together to report unsafe staffing events.

Given Providence’s disrespectful proposal and unfair labor practices regarding the bonuses, we are calling for a strike vote on June 2. We believe our strike will be a ULP strike based on the Hospital’s conduct described above. For us to go on strike, we must approve it! We will be voting online via an email from SimplyVote from 12am to 9pm. All members in good standing are eligible to vote. If you were unable to vote during our last electronic vote, please update your information online @ ufcw21.org/update-your-information. 

We will be holding strike education vote meetings on May 25 at 8pm, June 1 at 8am and 8pm via Zoom where nurses can ask questions. Our next mediation sessions will be on June 17 and 25. 

In solidarity, Your RN Bargaining Team: Juan Stout, ER; Kimball Conlon, ER; Betsy Bourg, Glasgow; Cindi Dyson, Float Pool; Jenney Gannon, L&D; Madison Hamilton

Upcoming Strike Education Vote Meetings 

June 1 • 8am

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

May 25 and June 1 • 8pm

Register for this meeting for call-in details.

Cascade Specialty Pharmacy Modification Vote

Cascade Specialty Pharmacy Modification Vote Notice

Members at Cascade Specialty Pharmacy voted to ratify their new 3-year contract on March 31, 2021. However, some members expressed a desire to revert the paid time off (PTO) language for part-time employees back to the way it was before ratification.

Specifically, we have been asked to remove the new benefit that part-time employees are now eligible for PTO. The Union and the Employer are agreeable to this change; however, the changes must be approved by a full membership vote before they can go into effect. Note that everything else in our new contract (wages, retirement, etc) have already been approved and will not be affected by this vote.

Cascade Rx Vote Meeting:

Monday, June 7

@ 6:00PM via Zoom

Voting will take place via secure email on June 10, 2021 between 9AM and 9PM. To vote we MUST have a Valid personal email address for you on file, please make sure your contact information is up to date so that you can receive your secure online vote ballot with your unique log-in information and cast your vote online! If you do not receive an email from UFCW 21 via “Simply Voting” by June 9 call your Union Rep Aimee Oien at (360) 662-1981

North Valley Hospital Workers and RN Contract Vote Scheduled

North Valley Hospital Tentative Agreement reached!

Bargaining Team Recommends a Yes Vote

Our Bargaining Team: Amy Radcliff, Jason Daniels, Megan Vickers, Michelle Beattie

We recently reached a tentative agreement with management that includes some of the following highlights:

• Wage Increases each year of the contract

• Retroactive Pay back to September 1, 2020

• Improvements with Grievance Language

We look forward to explaining the improvements we have bargained into our Contract! Please join us at one of the online vote meetings.

Ashley House Contract Vote Scheduled!

Ashley House Vote Announcement May 21, 2021

Bargaining Team fully recommends a YES Vote!

Swain’s General Store - Tentative Agreement Reached; Vote Scheduled

We are excited to announce that, after months of delays, your Bargaining Team has finally reached a tentative agreement with management for a full three-year contract! Details about the tentative agreement, which includes a $2,500 signing bonus, historic wage increases, and increased holiday pay will be available at the vote.

Last year we conducted a mail-in vote due to COVID-19, but due to easing government restrictions and the widespread distribution of vaccines we will be holding an in-person vote this time! However, in order maintain social distancing during the vote, we will be conducting the vote in a large conference room at the Red Lion Hotel instead of the Swain’s breakroom.

Your Bargaining Team: Leanne Price, Michael Nichols, Pamela Anuspach, Becky Peterson-Matthes, Richard Drake, Shawn Price

Vaccine or not, masks and social distancing are required and will be strictly enforced. Masks will be available at the vote if you forgot to bring one.

If you have any questions, please reach out to a Bargaining Team member or call Union Representative Ryan DeGouveia at (360) 662-1989.

CONTRACT VOTE SCHEDULED!

Friday, May 21

• 8AM – 10AM

• 12PM – 2PM

• 4PM – 6PM

Red Lion Hotel @
Port Angeles Harbor

221 N Lincoln St, Port Angeles, WA 98362

Juan De Fuca Room

Lourdes Counseling Center- Important Vote Scheduled

After a year of negotiations, the employer continues to neglect the needs of its employees. The Employer has continued to refuse to fairly compensate employees, recognize Charge RNs desires to be part of the Bargaining Unit, and pay employees overtime for work performed beyond their daily shifts as it does for other represented employees at the hospital. We continue to fight for just compensation including a fair placement on the new wage scale for existing employees that recognizes their experience with Lourdes.

Our last bargaining date was April 30, and due to the lack of movement from the Employer, it was determined by our committee that it is time for a STRIKE AUTHORIZATION vote. Therefore, at the date, times, and location set forth, we will be holding a contract ratification and strike authorization vote.

Our Bargaining Team is recommending:
NO Vote on the Employer’s latest Contract Proposal
YES Vote for a Strike Authorization

Now is the time to make your voices heard. Come to a vote meeting to review the full details of the employers proposed contract, get questions answered, and vote.

Join the Contract Ratification and Strike Authorization Vote Meeting
Thursday, May 13
8 am - 10:30 am
2 pm - 5 pm

Courtyard by Marriott Richland Columbia Point
Fairway Boardroom
480 Columbia Point Drive
Richland, WA 99352

These votes are open to all Represented workers at Lourdes Counseling Center. Employees must be present at whichever time is most convenient in order to cast your vote.

If you have any questions, please contact our Bargaining Team members or your Union Rep Austen Louden at 509-340-7372.

Harbors Home Health and Hospice tentative agreement reached

Harbors Home Health and Hospice

Tentative Agreement Reached

Bargaining Team Recommends a YES Vote

Our bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with management that includes some of these highlights:

• Wage Increases Each Year

• Increases to Wage Premiums

• Ratification Bonus

• Retirement Improvements

Please join us on Zoom May 6 from 6:00pm-7:30pm to learn more about the exciting changes to our contract.

Harbors Home Health and Hospice Vote Meeting

May 6, 2021 at 6:00PM Pacific Time

“We hope everyone will be able to attend and look forward to talking about the important wins we achieved during these negotiations.” - Harbors Home Health and Hospice Bargaining Team: Sarah Schimelpfenig, RN; Megan Rolfing, RN; Stacy Mathis, Medical Records

Vote Online on May 7th from 9:00am – 9:00pm

Lourdes Counseling Center Contract Vote

LOURDES COUNSELING CENTER CONTRACT VOTE SCHEDULED OUR BARGAINING TEAM IS RECOMMENDING A NO VOTE 

After a year of negotiations, the employer continues to neglect the needs of their employees. The employer has continued to refuse to recognize Charge RNs as part of the Bargaining Unit. We continue to fight for Compensation including a fair placement on the new wage scale for existing employees that recognizes their experience with Lourdes as well as Daily Overtime which is a staple in most Union Contracts.

Our next bargaining date is April 30, 2021 and will determine if there is a need for an additional vote.

Now is the time to make your voices heard. Come to a vote meeting to review the full details of the employers proposed contract, get questions answered, and vote.

CONTRACT VOTE SCHEDULED
Wednesday, May 5, 2021

» 8:00 am – 10:00 am
» 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Hampton Inn Richland
486 Bradley Boulevard
Richland WA 99352

These votes are open to all Represented workers at Lourdes Counseling Center. Employees must be present at whichever time is most convenient in order to cast your vote. If you have any questions, please contact your Union Representative Austen Louden at 509-340-7372.

Hood Famous Bakeshop - Contract Vote Scheduled

Contract Vote Scheduled
OUR BARGAINING TEAM IS RECOMMENDING A YES VOTE

As mentioned a few weeks ago, our Bargaining Team reached a tentative agreement with Chera & Geo on the first Hood Famous Bakeshop contract. Now the only thing left to do is to hold a contract ratification vote.

We have been working on the vote details and are finally ready to announce that a contract vote has been scheduled for Friday, April 30. This vote will be held in-person at our Seattle Office with strict COVID-19 precautions in place.

Hood Famous Contract Vote
Friday, April 30
8 AM - 10 AM
4 PM - 6 PM
5030 1st Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134

When at the vote meeting, you shall be given a full copy of the proposed contract with Union staff available to answer any of your questions. You will be given as much time as necessary to review the documents so long as you arrive by the designated polling times. Anyone who arrives outside of the designated polling times shall not be permitted to enter the vote meeting.

The face mask requirement, capacity limits, and social distancing will be strictly enforced, including those who have been vaccinated.

Cascade Specialty Pharmacy vote deadline extended

Due to the current health crisis, we decided to host a mail-in vote to ensure that members can safety vote on their proposed contract. We mailed out ballots on March 4, unfortunately, it has come to our attention that the postal service is experiencing delays and ballots are not arriving as quickly as anticipated. As a result, we are extending the deadline to return your ballots by one week to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to have their voice heard.

NEW VOTE DEADLINE:
WEDNESDAY MARCH 31, 2021 @12PM

NOTE: Ballots must be received, not postmarked, by the deadline.

Please reach out to Union Representative Aimee Oien at (360) 662-1981 with any questions.

Providence Sacred Heart Tech - Contract Vote Scheduled!

We held three contract Q&A meetings via Zoom on March 8, 2021 to answer any questions or address any concerns about the proposed contract prior to voting.

We will be voting online via “Simply Vote” on Monday, March 15, 2021 from 12AM to 11:59PM. You will be receiving an email from “Simply Vote” with your unique login information. If you do not receive an email from UFCW 21 or “Simply Vote,” by March 12, please update your information (via ufcw21.org/update-your-information) or contact your union representative Maureen Hatton at mhatton@ufcw21.org or 509-340-7370

Your Bargaining Team is recommending a “YES” vote!

OUR BARGAINING TEAM: Lisa Aker, Surgical Tech; Angela Holmes, Surgical Tech; Teresa Bowden, Respiratory Therapist; Laurie Trudeau, Respiratory Therapist; Sam Zabala, Respiratory Therapist; Miriam Critelli, Pharmacy Tech; Kevin Lange, Mental Health Counselor; Shane Sullivan, Peds Sonagrapher; Aaron Bryant, IR Tech; Derek Roybal, CV Tech; Jason Van Curler, EP Tech

Providence St. Peter Hospital - Bargaining Committee Recommends a “No” Vote on March 12!

Since the beginning of bargaining in June 2020, Providence has made it clear that they are not willing to give the technical unit the same benefits or contract language that the RNs have in their contract. Currently we have several tentative agreements around non-economic contract language, but are still far apart on economic topics.

In one of our last sessions, Providence proposed no longevity wage increases and no guaranteed annual wage increases. All UFCW 21 contracts with Providence have longevity wage increases and annual across-the-board increases. We believe that we deserve the same!

It is now time to tell Providence that we are not interested in their wage scale proposal or subpar contract language! We deserve a fair contract which will help retain our current workforce and help us recruit skilled technical workers.

The committee is recommending a “NO” vote on Providence’s latest proposal!

We will be voting online via “Simply Vote” on Friday, March 12 from 12 AM to 11:59 PM.

You will be receiving an email from “Simply Vote” with your unique login information. If you do not receive an email from UFCW 21 or “Simply Vote,” by March 11, please update your information online.

In solidarity, Your RN Bargaining Team: Josh Wood (CT), Shapel Morgan (X-ray), Rae Lynn Korpi (RT), Colleen Castaneda (Cath Lab)

We will have vote meetings on March 10 @ 7:30PM and March 11 @ 7:30 AM via Zoom to go over Providence’s last proposal.

Puget Sound Labor Agency - Contract Vote Notice

Puget Sound Labor Agency
Contract Vote Notice

We have reached a fully recommended tentative agreement with Puget Sound Labor Agency on a new contract.

Come attend your contract vote on Friday, March 5 at 1 PM to 2 PM.

Vote Information:
Friday, March 5
1 PM- 2 PM

2800 1st Ave
#126
Seattle, WA 98121

UFCW 21 members in good standing are encouraged to attend the meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract. Contact your Union Representative for any questions @ 800-732-1188

Mason General RNs Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract!

Mason General RNs
Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract!

After sending a clear message to Management, we were able to come back to the table and reach a fully recommended agreement that includes respectful wage increases that are in line with area facilities, including a retention bonus. We were also able to secure improvements to our bereavement leave, jury duty pay and Earned Time request procedures.

The agreement was ratified on February 17, 2021

OUR BARGAINING TEAM: Megan Corbin, Tori Willis, Traci Bishop, Nancy Ownby

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

Mason General RN - Fully Recommended Tentative Agreement Reached!

After sending a clear message to Management, we were able to come back to the table and reach a fully recommended agreement that includes respectful wage increases that are in line with area facilities, including a retention bonus. We were also able to secure improvements to our bereavement leave, jury duty pay and Earned Time request procedures.

We will be voting this recommended agreement by mail. UFCW 21 members in good standing are able to vote on these proposals. Please make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. You will receive the vote document with the full proposals in the mail along with your ballot and voting materials. 

We will be having vote meetings via Zoom to answer questions about the agreement. These are rolling meetings, members can join the meeting at any time. 

OUR BARGAINING TEAM: Megan Corbin, Tori Willis, Traci Bishop, Nancy Ownby

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ONLINE VOTE MEETINGS!
RSVP TO JOIN

Thursday, January 28
5:30-7:00 pm

Tuesday, February 2
5:30-7:00pm

Willapa Harbor - Bargaining Team Unanimously Recommends a “Yes” Vote!

We were able to win respectful wage increases that keep us on par with area hospitals. We were also able to win a new bilingual premium and improvements to vacation scheduling language and retirement contributions while maintaining our benefits.

We will be voting on this recommended agreement by mail! Members in good standing are able to vote on these proposals. Please make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. You will receive the vote document with the full proposals in the mail along with your ballot and voting materials. 

We will be having vote meetings via Zoom to answer questions about the proposals. These are rolling meetings, members can join the meeting at any time.

Mason General RN Contract Vote

Grays Harbor - Tentative Agreement Reached

After lengthy negotiations with Management, we’ve reached a Tentative Agreement. Some of the highlights include:

• Ratification Bonus

• Wage Increases

• Increases to annual maximums for Dental and Vision Insurance

• Improvements to Paid Time Off

• Improvements to Grievance Procedure

UFCW 21 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract. Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Representative for any questions.

“Our hospital continues to have poor revenue and we still made improvements to our contract.  We look forward to seeing everyone at the Zoom meetings so we can explain the improvements of Tentative Agreement.”

— GRAYS HARBOR COMMMUNITY HOSPITAL BARGAINING TEAM: Janet Byrd, Medical Records; Daniel James, Surgery; John Warring, Lab; Michaela McDonald, Cardiopulmonary; Chris Neeley, Registration; Debra Sturm, Pharmacy; Bambi Shope, House Keeping

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If you have changed your address in the last 12 months please update your contact information!

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Join us for a Zoom Contract Overview Meeting and learn more about the Tentative Agreement.

November 19, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

December 3, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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

Capital Medical Center RN - We Have Reached a Deal!

On November 5, the RN Bargaining Team met with the Hospital. After almost a year of bargaining, we were able to obtain a contract settlement! At the start of bargaining, we believed our biggest fight was going to be over maintaining EIB, like it was down the road at Providence St. Peter’s. The Hospital indicated that they would be following Providence St. Peter’s settlement, so we made the strategic decision to slowdown bargaining until the St. Peter’s RNs settled on EIB. That decision paid off when Providence St. Peter’s announced they would be maintaining the EIB program in January.

At that point, we continued bargaining and were focused on wages, increasing education reimbursement money, and improving contract language like floating and call-back pay. We were making some progress when the COVID-19 pandemic started. At that time, we could no longer bargain in-person and had to evaluate how to move forward. At all other tables, the employers agreed to bargain virtually via Zoom, but Capital Medical Center refused to bargain virtually for months.

Finally, in October we were able to resume bargaining and made a lot of progress. We moved away from some contract language proposals and focused on wages and retroactive pay. We insisted on retroactive pay, but the Hospital told us they would rather do higher increases than retroactive pay. When looking at the percentage increases, we determined that higher pay increases would result in more compensation than retroactive pay. In addition, the pay increases we won are higher than Providence St. Peter’s increases.

Our next step is to walk through the tentative agreement with the unit on Thursday, November 12 at 5:30 PM via Zoom. Due to COVID-19, we will be voting via mail. Ballots and vote documents will be sent out via standard mail and the documents will be posted on ufcw21.org. If you or your coworkers, do not received mail from UFCW 21 please contact your Union Rep, Nicholas Hefling nhefling@ufcw21.org so we can update your address and ensure you receive a ballot.

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“Our hard work paid off and we received raises that are unheard of during these times.” 

— Bonnie Verellen, RN Women Services

“We deserve higher pay and we were able to win higher pay because we kept fighting.” 

— Sara McFarland, RN Ambulatory 

“We have never gotten 10% wage increases before on any contract.” 

— Scott Merrell, RN Emergency Department

Conifer St. Elizabeth - TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED!

Since July 2019, we have been fighting for a first contract at Conifer and we had many challenges and hurdles along the way. Today, we reached a deal, and we are happy to RECOMMEND a YES VOTE! 

We have secured a contract that includes:

• Guaranteed wage increases

• Job protection from unjust terminations

• A formal process to address workplace issues

• Double time for work on a Holiday

• And So Much More!

Vote Details

Thursday, October 29, 2020
GuestHouse Inn Enumclaw
1000 Griffin Ave. 
Enumclaw WA, 98022
2 PM - 4 PM  & 6 PM - 7:30 PM

ST. ELIZABETH BARGAINING TEAM: Peggy Laush