Summit Pacific Medical Center - Bargaining Update

Our bargaining Team met with SPMC management Friday and received their initial economic proposal. The proposal included increases to wages, premiums and differentials.

Management provided lists of the wages paid at neighboring hospitals and clinics and made a proposal to try to bring us closer to those facilities. The data they provided did not include wages from contracts that have been recently ratified.

We are reviewing the accuracy and effective dates of the wage scales that SPMC used for their comparisons, to figure out how they determined the proposed increases. Our bargaining team questioned management about the accuracy of their information and management seemed interested in making sure the data they are using is up-to-date.

We are working on a counter proposal and will present our data on wages and other compensation.

It is important that SPMC fully understands our goals for this contract. We need to be competitive to retain current employees and recruit new ones.

Next bargaining dates: August 12 and 19.

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For more information contact a member of our Bargaining Team: Kim Starkweather Patient Coordinator, Allison Felder RN ED, Monica Ortiz RN ACU, Barb Ford ED Tech, Judea Prouty Medical Assistant, McCleary Clinic, Kurt E Phillips Lead Building Engineer.

Union Representatives:
Kiambo White (206) 436-6515
Madison Derksema (206) 436-6603

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"Management is being very receptive and open to feedback."

— Judea Prouty, MA, McCleary Clinic

"They're willing to meet us and are looking at data that shows them where we need to be."

— Monica Ortiz, RN

WhidbeyHealth Service & Support - Ratification Vote Notice

After our last negotiation session with WhidbeyHealth, the Employer presented us with a Last, Best, and Final offer via email in response to our last counter-proposal on all outstanding issues. This means that a vote on what that offer is will be forthcoming on Thursday, August 1. Upon review of the proposal we are recommending a "Yes" vote to ratify the offer.

Some of the highlights include:

Wage parity: We secured agreement that WhidbeyHealth would recognize past experience for represented workers at 100%. After discussion over many sessions, the Employer recognized that we need our most senior workers moved up on the scales the soonest. Their proposal partially reflects this, but also phases in less senior folks sooner whose resulting wage step increase would be less of a financial impact to the Employer in the immediate future.

Market adjustments of wage scales: When the mid-cycle wage bargain happened in 2022 the result (as with the Professional and Technical contract) was that many people further up the scale received increases that put them ahead of what workers earn at competing hospitals. This also resulted in workers on the earlier steps of the wage scale earning less than what workers earn at competing hospitals. Thus, management concentrated on increases at the lower steps in this bargaining cycle.

Ratification bonuses: If we ratify the contract with a "Yes" vote by Thursday, August 1, we will receive ratification bonuses. These bonuses will be pro-rated by FTE; folks with the most years at WhidbeyHealth will receive the largest bonuses.

More: Improvements to the weekend premium, shift differentials, standby pay, certification pay, and lead pay.

We look forward to seeing you at the following times on Thursday, August 1, to discuss the offer and vote on it:

Main Hospital Coupeville HEC Room C
6:00 AM - 9:00 AM
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Clinic #1 - Oak Harbor - Cabot Break Room
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Clinic #2 - Oak Harbor - Goldie Conference Room
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Clinic - Freeland Break Room
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Clinic - Clinton Break Room
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Bargaining Team: Marilyn Faber, Patient Financial Service; Liz Latiff, Health Unit Coordinator

Seattle Children's Urgent Care MAs - Continued Movement by Management

We bargained again on Tuesday, July 16 and continued to make progress towards a final agreement. With most issues resolved, we primarily discussed wages, and continued to push for additional increases to ensure our wages remain competitive for the life of our new contract.

Our next bargaining session is scheduled for July 30.

"We are getting close to an agreement, but management still needs to close the gap on wages" — Joelyn Martin

Our Bargaining Team: Joelyn Martin, Angelica Acevedo Arreola, Wendy Rivas

Central Washington Hospital Fully Recommended Tentative Agreement Reached

Our Bargaining Team is excited to announce we have reached a tentative agreement with Central Washington Hospital for the strongest contract we’ve ever had. The Employer heard our team’s requests regarding wages and staffing and made significant changes that we believe will improve retention and recruitment while boosting staff morale. We still have work to do and will continue the work through the next three years so that we can build on what we have worked so hard for.

In-Person Contract Vote Scheduled: Tuesday July 23, 2024 from 8am—2pm & 4pm—7:30pm in Room J

We look forward to sharing all the details at our vote, complete documents will be available for review. Please join the Bargaining Team in voting YES.

You must be a member in good standing to vote. Please reach out to your Union representative Amy Radcliff at 509-340-7370 or any member of the Bargaining Team with questions.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” —Socrates

“This was best negotiations we’ve ever had!” —Monica Meloy, Perinatal Tech

“The worker’s passion moved this negotiation!” —Wendie Dyal, MLT

Seattle Children's Urgent Care MAs - Incremental Progress

We bargained again on Tuesday and were able to pass multiple proposals to management on issues including wages, certification pay, continuing education, and holiday scheduling rules.

While we were somewhat disheartened that management's proposals showed only incremental improvements on wages, we were able to make further progress in other areas.

We will meet again on the 16th and expect management to provide us with a new economic proposal.

"Today was productive, and we look forward to focusing in on our top economic issues"

— Wendy Rivas

Our Bargaining Team: Joelyn Martin, Angelica Acevedo Arreola, Wendy Rivas

Summit Pacific Medical Center - Bargaining Update

Our Union Bargaining team met with management and gave them a powerful message that we all need to feel valued at work. Strong equity language has been proposed for the contract. Management needs to understand that we are important to the success of the organization. Everyone needs to feel physically and emotionally safe at work. We made proposals that allow workers to bring concerns to management without fear of retaliation. We have heard that often one-on-one meetings with management feel unfair, so we are making proposals towards a more collaborative process.

The cost of living has gone up significantly, and Summit needs to keep up with other local hospitals. We have assessed the competition and are getting ready to give economic proposals to management during upcoming bargaining sessions.

Our next bargaining session is Friday, July 12.

For more information, contact a member of our Bargaining Team:

Monica Ortiz, RN ACU

Allison Felder, RN ED

Kim Starkweather, Patient Coordinator

Barb Ford, ED Tech

Judea Prouty, Medical Assistant, McCleary Clinic

Kurt E. Phillips, Lead Building Engineer

Ferry County Memorial Hospital - Contract Vote Scheduled! 100% "YES" Recommendation!

After two full days of bargaining, we have worked through several issues and had robust conversations around wages, recruitment, and the retention of nurses. The employer heard the requests regarding staffing issues and made significant changes that we look forward to sharing with you all!

Vote will be on July 12 at 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM in the HUB

• Meaningful wage increases
• Removed cap on PRN hours' ability to work
• Added two steps to the top of the scale
• Maintained Daily Overtime
• Maintained 15-minute breaks
• Extensions on Grievance timeline

“Two days of vigorous collaboration with the employer has led us to a contract that we can be proud of. We look forward to continued teamwork with UFCW 3000 and Ferry Co Health!”

—Jamie Marin and Beverly Morris

If you have any question reach out to your bargaining team or Amy Radcliff Union Representative 360-954-8840

Seattle Children's Urgent Care MA - Management Gives Wage Response

We met with Seattle Children’s management again on Tuesday and received management's response to our initial wage proposals. Management’s proposal would not adequately address the disparity between our wages and those of ambulatory MAs at Children’s or other comparable facilities, so we responded with a counterproposal which we anticipate will result in further positive movement by management at our next session on July 9.

While there is much work remaining to ensure we win competitive wages in our next contract, management continued to display a willingness to engage with us on the issues that are important to us, and we made significant progress in other areas, such as:

• New hire orientations
• Clinic reassignment
• Wage scales and step advancement
• Bereavement
• Continuing Education

For more information on what we expect going forward and to ask questions, join us for an informational meeting via Zoom next Monday, July 8 at 10:00 AM.

Bargaining Team: Joelyn Martin, Angelica Acevedo Arreola, Wendy Rivas

Progress has been slow, but management is beginning to understand our concerns and we believe that progress will continue to be made at upcoming sessions.

Bargaining Team

Multicare Health System - ULP Strike Authorization Vote Scheduled!

After months of negotiations, and in the face of unfair labor practices (ULP) committed by MultiCare, the time has come to either secure a fair contract or take more decisive action.

To that end, our Bargaining Team has scheduled a vote after our July 12 bargaining date on whether to ratify or reject the proposed contract and authorize a ULP Strike. The bargaining team hopes MultiCare will cease its unfair labor practices and make an offer the committee can recommend be ratified. If not, then our Bargaining Team will recommend that workers vote to authorize a ULP strike.

Our Union Bargaining Team does not take the decision to call for a ULP Strike authorization vote lightly, but we cannot continue bargaining indefinitely while the employer engages in unfair labor practices. We hope that MultiCare will come to the bargaining table prepared to negotiate in good faith when we meet next.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

• KING COUNTY
  • 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Best Western Plus Mountain View Auburn Inn
  ​401 8th St SW, Auburn, WA 98001

Thursday, July 18, 2024

• PIERCE COUNTY
  • 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Marriott Tacoma Downtown, 3rd Floor Pt. Defiance Room
  1538 Commerce St, Tacoma, WA 98402

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What is an Unfair Labor Practice Strike?

An Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike is called in response to MultiCare’s unfair labor practices, which are illegal actions that undermine the bargaining process. This type of strike aims to compel the employer to cease unlawful activities and engage in fair negotiations.

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Professionals - First Contract Update - June 26, 2024

THINGS ARE HEATING UP!

Our Union bargaining committee met with the Employer, albeit virtually, for our first round of negotiations since May 22. After our previous bargaining date scheduled for May 29 was canceled by the Employer—we were beginning to feel very frustrated that any momentum we’d built up toward achieving our first ever union contract was going to be weakened. However—we spent the downtime digging into our priorities on things like:

• Safeguarding the protections afforded by union membership
• Articles on Medical, Family, and Military Leaves of Absence
• And most significantly, wages and health insurance benefits.

When we began our day at the bargaining table, we were curious what the exchange of proposals between parties would look like, especially because management has shown limited interest in many of our key priorities. Considering all of this, we left today’s bargaining session feeling cautiously optimistic that the momentum behind reaching an agreement with the Employer was better than ever! Management also clued us into their feelings about the highly attended informational picket your union held at Tacoma General Hospital, acknowledging its impact as loud and disruptive (just how we like it!). Ultimately, we’re glad to announce that we reached agreements with management on some long-outstanding contract articles and engaged in what we felt was productive dialogue about where the parties are at in this process.

With all of that said, we do want to make it clear that despite our agreements on various provisions of our contract with MultiCare, we are beginning to narrow down to our highest priorities, likely to be the most challenging part of our bargain so far…

For instance, our bargaining team was deeply concerned to hear MultiCare's proposal to introduce employees into our Union Wage Scale at a pay rate that closely mirrors their current one (with no pay decrease), rather than aligning compensation with our years of experience. Our experience as healthcare professionals not only defines our skill but also enables us to deliver the quality of care our patients deserve. Moreover, we strongly believe that this approach could adversely affect retention in our departments, especially when many other employers recognize and reward years of experience.

As we dig into health insurance benefits, wages, years of experience, and more; it is more important now than ever that we are showing our solidarity and strength TOGETHER to win a STRONG first union contract!

Join us at our next round of Contract Action meetings to learn how to stay involved and support your Union Bargaining Team!

July 10 (In-Person & via ZOOM)

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Auburn Medical Center – MOB Classroom

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Auburn Medical Center – Cascade Training Room

Multicare Health System - The Power Of Solidarity

For those of you who joined our Telephone Town Hall on the evening of June 27, you know that after our recent meeting with MultiCare to bargain our nine union contracts, we don’t have much to say other than we are fed up, and our patience is nearly exhausted.

We have spent months putting together proposals that we strongly believe address the workplace issues that matter most to us. We have communicated to MultiCare why competitive market wages and changes to the health insurance plan are so important, yet we feel that the Employer has failed to address the root of these issues.

However, following our informational picket earlier this month, it is evident that our collective power is beginning to shift the dynamic at the bargaining table. MultiCare has come to negotiations more willing to address some of the other issues, including an agreement to expand our bereavement leave, which management had previously shown little interest in. Nevertheless, we must apply additional pressure to secure the improvements we need on wages and benefits.

We are scheduled to continue negotiations with the Employer on July 8 and July 12. In the very near future, your Union Bargaining Committee will be announcing vote meetings to be scheduled after our bargaining date on the 12th.

Stay tuned for updates, and remember that it is our collective power that will win us strong contracts.

“It’s coming down to the wire, and we need your support. Wear your Union buttons & keep your solidarity strong.”

— Karen Towne, Medical Assistant @ Tacoma Family Medicine