Planned Parenthood - Bargaining Moves Forward

Bargaining Team: Shantelle George, Sr MA Phlebotomy; Alison DeBoise, Insurance Biller 1; Charlie King, Union Rep; Nico Montanero, Negotiator; Mackenzie Weiland, Float Clinician; Michel Avery, Clinical Trainer 1

We exchanged economic proposals during our two recent bargaining sessions. Key decision makers from management were candid about the financial situation looking ahead. We had reservations on management's proposals, but we did get creative and come up with counterproposals that we believe help address management's financial concerns while still respecting our hard work. 2026 will be an unpredictable year, but we are working with management to add language to the contract that would help find alternatives to layoffs and health center closures. They proposed a two-year agreement in hopes that PP is in a better place financially in 2027.

Management is confident that health insurance premiums will be going up significantly next year and they proposed that both staff and employer share the cost of the increase and that staff take on the majority of that increase. We countered that management should take the bulk of that increase if not all of it. Management is also proposing staff accrue PTO and sick leave instead of the current preloading practice and we are pushing back.

Talks are still ongoing with management on creating more equitable access to training and advancement for staff. We're continuing discussions with management in hopes of making progress towards an agreement, and our next sessions are scheduled for September 29 and 30.

Planned Parenthood Coworkers Party Sunday May 5

Planned Parenthood Coworkers Party
Food, Fun, & Solidarity!
Sun. May 5, 1-4pm

We have a seat at the table and we need to use our voices that we fought so hard to be heard.
How do we build better workplaces? Through our numbers and our ability to communicate effectively with each other!

Your coworkers enthusiastically invite you to gather this Sunday from 1 pm - 4 pm to eat, drink, have fun, and share ideas about how to build great workplaces with safe staffing to provide superb patient care.

Event Details

Time: 1-4 PM
Date: Sunday, May 5th
Location: UFCW Local 3000 (23040 Pacific Hwy S Suite 101, Des Moines, WA 98198) | View map
Food & drink to share, provided by your coworkers!

Questions? Please call Charlie King at (206) 436-0606 or Christie Harris at (206) 436-6606

Planned Parenthood - New 2 Year Contract ratified with Resounding 99% YES Vote

Planned Parenthood
New 2 Year Contract ratified with Resounding 99% YES Vote

Our contract was ratified on October 26, 2023, and it includes improved wages, benefits and working conditions.

“The past 6 months of bargaining has been a humbling experience. Bargaining Team members were both inspiring and dedicated. Their commitment to establishing labor rights for our bargaining unit, most of whom we have never formally met, is to be commended. We represented a diverse bargaining unit during this process, and I am proud of every individual that shared their personal story with me or my team members. It is your testimony that inspired the changes we fought for. I could not be prouder to be a part of a Bargaining Team that genuinely argued for equality and equity for our entire unit. I am honored to be a part of this process and to have colleagues that are TRULY aligned with labor rights.” —Melissa Grindstaff, Bargaining Team

“As a Planned Parenthood employee and UFCW member for the last 12 years, this was my first contract negotiation, and I learned so much! It was fascinating to see how negotiations worked from the inside and how to manage the dynamics of the process both virtually and in person. I enjoyed not only being able to provide my colleagues with information about how negotiations were going, but also being able to be a sounding board about their concerns as things progressed. I am eternally grateful for the passion, knowledge, and support of everyone who served on the Bargaining Team!” —Michel Metcalf, Bargaining Team

“Thank you to all my coworkers who bravely and vulnerably shared their stories in effort to win new and Improved benefits, safeguards and fairer pay. This new contract builds upon all the hard fought victories of years past since we unionized in 1985. When we talk, we realize we are not alone. We are stronger together asking for what we need to do our work and serve our patients, to thrive not just survive.” —Alison Deboise, Bargaining Team

Please reach out to a Bargaining Team member or contact Union Rep Charlie King @ 206-436-6518 with any questions or concerns.

Planned Parenthood Tentative Agreement Reached!

Our Union Bargaining Team is Unanimously Recommending a YES vote.

The proposed contract includes wage increases for ALL staff paid retroactively to June 1, 2023 as well as another wage increase on June 1, 2024, increase to vacation, additional Holidays, additional bereavement days, Reimbursement for screenings and vaccinations, new equity review language and staffing language as well as maintaining Health Care, PTO and Retirement.

This is a two-year contract that will expire on May 31.2025. This will give us time to enforce our contract and build a foundation of Strength and Solidarity for when we return to the table in early 2025.

Online Contract Vote: 5:00am to 5:00pm on October 26, 2023

On October 26 at 5AM you will receive an email with your unique log-in credentials and a link to all vote materials and secure ballot. The vote will be held online from 5:00am to 5:00pm on October 26, 2023. All members in good standing are eligible to vote. This will be the only way that you can vote so make sure your personal contact information is up-to-date before the online vote begins!

Update your personal contact information! >>

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Bargaining Team on-site visits!

Our Union Rep and Bargaining Team will be on-site at several different locations October 23, 24, and 25 to help answer any questions you might have about the proposal.

October 23: 9:30am-11am at Olympia
October 23: 1-3pm at Bremerton
October 23: 9:30-11am at Lynnwood
October 23: 1-3pm at Everett
October 24: 9:30-11am at Tacoma
October 24: 1-3pm at Puyallup
October 24: 9:30-1pm at Central District/Admin
October 25: 9:30-11am at White Center
October 25: 1-2pm at Federal Way
October 25: 11am-12pm at Bellevue
October 25: 1-2 pm at Northgate

We will also hold a zoom Q&A on October 25 from 3:00pm and 5:00pm for those members that we were not able to speak with while we were out in work sites. If you wish to join the online Bargaining Team Q&A ask our Union Rep or check the emailed version of this bargaining update.

We thank you for your patience and hard work and we look forward to answering any questions you may have. Please reach out to one of our Bargaining Team members or our Union Representative Charlie King at 206-436-6518.

Planned Parenthood Bargaining Update

Our Bargaining Team met with PPGHNAIK Management for a second time in less than a week on Thursday, September 21. Although PPGHNAIK Management joined us via ZOOM again, our Bargaining Team was able to be together in person at the UFCW 3000 Des Moines office.  

Management came to the table in the morning with a very similar proposal to what they gave at the prior session with very little change.  Our Bargaining Team spent hours trying to come up with a counter to the Employer’s morning proposal that we thought would create a fair and equitable wage scale. However, Management came back at the end of the day with their LAST, BEST, and FINAL which included once again a wage range and not a wage scale. We are assessing the impact that Management’s proposals will have on our futures and what our next steps will be. 

Please reach out to our Bargaining Team or Union Representative Charlie King with any questions or concerns.

Our Union Bargaining Team: Charlie King, Representative, Michele Avery, Mollie Overby, Melissa Grindstaff, Monalisa Bauman, Alison Deboise. 

Planned Parenthood - Bargaining Continues

The bargaining team met again on Monday September 18 at the UFCW 3000 Des Moines office. PPGHNAIK management joined us via ZOOM again.

Both sides made concessions on non-economic issues in the name of progressing toward an agreement. We have now reached a tentative agreement on the large majority of the non-economic articles in our contract. Since we provided the last proposal on economics, we await management’s response this Thursday. We are optimistic more progress will be made at our next bargaining session on Thursday September 21, 2023. 

Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Charlie King (206) 436-6518 with any questions or concerns.

Your Bargaining Team, left to right: Charlie King, Representative, Alison Deboise, Michele Avery, Melissa Grindstaff, Monalisa Bauman. Not pictured: Mollie Overby

Planned Parenthood We’re in the room but Management is far away!

In an effort to make more progress than our previous virtual bargaining sessions, our fellow union workers traveled by bus, car, and airplane from afar to meet at the UFCW 3000 Des Moines office. Management joined us virtually via ZOOM to respond to the proposal we provided at our last bargaining session on July 31. The team will continue to encourage Management to meet in person for bargaining in hopes to get to an agreement that we can recommend to members.

We had a chance to review Management’s economic proposal and ask a lot of questions that needed answers before we responded with a counter proposal. The Employer’s proposal uses market analysis and proposes market adjustments based on job classification. Staff would see a one-time raise between 4% and 15%. A few staff members receive a one time bonus of 2% bonus. We are now researching the impacts of their proposal in order to present a counter-proposal before our next session on September 18 in hopes Management will be able to prep a response to start the day.

Management finally delivered their latest non-economic proposals. We were happy to see a proposal increasing bereavement leave from 3 to 5 days, but disappointed to see Management wants to start the bargaining process all over again in the Spring with a proposed contract that would expire in less than a year and that the “act of god” clause (also known as force majeure), which would allow HR to void the contract in the case of a power outage etc., is still included in Management’s proposal.

Finally, our team was willing to compromise on many of our original proposals for the sake of making some progress without compromising our position on many other things. We added a new article addressing vaccines and continue to push our proposal requiring PPE be covered by Planned Parenthood. We will not agree to a less than one-year contract or to any language allowing the contract to be negated for any reason. We’re satisfied with the progress we’ve made and look forward to the September 18 session.

Please reach out to our bargaining team or Union Representative Charlie King with any questions or concerns.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Mackenzie Weiland

Mackenzie Weiland

Content Warning: This member story mentions abuse, violence, and sexual assault. If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault and need help, call the National Sexual Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

Meet Mackenzie Weiland, a nurse practitioner who specializes in sexual and reproductive health. Mackenzie and her partner relocated to the Pacific Northwest from Atlanta, Georgia, at the end of 2021. Soon after, she got a job at Planned Parenthood and has been quick to put down roots in their new home:

“My partner and I are building a home in Everett and enjoying every bit of exploration and adventure in this awesome region of the country. We are avid sea kayakers, hikers, triathletes, dog fosters, microbrewery supporters, board game enthusiasts, and big-time foodies!”

Working in reproductive healthcare is more than just a career to Mackenzie—it’s a calling. In addition to being a nurse practitioner, she is a board-certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE):

“Sexual violence and advocacy work is my truest passion, and I continue to serve my community in this way. After my busy weeks in clinic at Planned Parenthood, I take call shifts as a full-scope forensic nurse in Snohomish County. In this role, I provide trauma-informed, person-centered, compassionate, and excellent forensic nursing care and services to survivors of all forms of violence including child abuse and neglect, physical assault, sexual violence and assault, domestic and interpersonal violence, and more.

Caring for my community in these ways is both a calling and a gift. The careful culmination of my skills, training, and passion are all in service to uplift others and create a braver, safer world for us all.”

Mackenzie further serves her community by teaching nursing students at Seattle University how to be SANE nurses and speaks at conferences to advocate for better care for victims.

While her work at Planned Parenthood is very rewarding to her, Mackenzie has come to understand how important it is to have a union on the job, although she didn’t always think so:

“In my naiveté, when I was first hired at Planned Parenthood, I was weary of the union aspect of the position. Having been employed for just over 1.5 years, I cannot imagine being a Planned Parenthood clinician without my union. I am lucky to work closely with Charlie King, my union representative, who has always made himself available to me and my coworkers. We communicate regularly, and his efforts to care for me and my team have made the biggest difference. […] Unfortunately, no healthcare center/system is perfect, and just knowing I have the full, unyielding support of my union behind me, and in strong solidarity with the folks I work alongside and for, I am able to continue to show up and provide excellent community care.

It is an honor to be a UFCW 3000 member with all of you rock stars. Thank you, each of you, for all you to do serve one another and our communities.”

Mackenzie is becoming more involved with her union but was unable to be on the bargaining committee for the new union contract because she had no extra time (see all of the above). That’s okay! Being in a union means that when we all step up as much as we can, we don’t have to do everything ourselves.

Planned Parenthood Bargaining Update

Today our Union Bargaining Team proposed good faith non-economic counters to Planned Parenthood. We were hopeful to receive Planned Parenthoods’ counter on non-economics today, however Planned Parenthood countered instead with their economic proposal. In this economic counter, Planned Parenthood proposed a non-equitable new system that would not include annual raises and only a one-time equity bump. We will have a counter on economics to Planned Parenthood at our next session on August 9 but will not counter until they respond to our final non-economics. We want to ensure our staffing language and Labor Management Committee (LMC) proposals are responded to in good faith, instead of what Planned Parenthood is doing which is ignoring our counters.

Planned Parenthood is continuing to propose Force Majeure, this would allow them to not follow the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in the event of anything they deem a natural disaster/pandemic. We believe YOU should be protected with your CBA, no matter what happens.

“Time is precious and our families can’t afford to wait!” — Monalisa Bauman

Planned Parenthood Bargaining Update

The bargaining team knows you all want to hear about your raises. In order to keep leverage, we must first address issues like holding Management accountable for staff safety, adhering to a strong non-discrimination clause, treating all workers fairly, responding to staff concerns in a reasonable time, and the amount of time low level discipline remains in a personnel file.

Management offered many packaged proposals, a “we will agree to this, if you agree to that” but we could not accept most packages because what they would have us agree to was out of the question. As a result, we unpackaged things in our counters. For example, Management is holding to their proposed language allowing them to negate the contract in the case of a natural disaster (power outages, snowstorms, epidemics), only now it comes as a package deal with totally unrelated articles. We disagreed. Again.

We are standing strong on our proposed non-discrimination language, language that strengthens our Labor Management Committee, and language addressing safe staffing concerns. Management seems to have little interest in countering as all their proposals just remove our own reasonable proposals, adding no counter to any of our language proposal except their language, that would not ensure we all have safety and security at work. United in our efforts, we look forward to the next bargaining session on Monday, July 31.

“My frontline coworkers deserve agency in deciding safe staffing levels and security issues that impact them.” - Alison DeBoise

“After witnessing and participating in 6 years of DEI policy attempts, work groups and staff turnover I’m deeply disappointed by GNHAIK’s disinterest in including DEI language in the contract throughout this process. We’re giving them simple ways to demonstrate action toward being the inclusive organization we apparently strive to be and they keep slashing DEI language without offering anything in return.” - Mollie Overby

Planned Parenthood Bargaining Update

Bargaining Team: Michel Avery, Alison Deboise, Melissa Grindstaff, Monalisa Bauman, Mollie Overby

Today in Negotiations we got some wins in our non-discrimination language, as Planned Parenthood agreed with our language including: having your name, email, and ID badge match whatever name you choose. Planned Parenthood agreed with adding the anti-racism statement (public health crisis) we proposed and agreed that systemic and individualized racism deeply impact the health and wellbeing of communities. Planned Parenthood agreed to our proposal to email us via our work email about new job postings. Planned Parenthood is still refusing to agree to more than a one year contract, even with upcoming elections threatening your day to day safety. We are asking for a three year contract.

We are still fighting for strong language for stewards, as well as ensuring only 14 days notice for resignation for members.

Planned Parenthood told us that our staffing language proposal that ensures you have ways to voice concerns, as well as requiring Planned Parenthood to have a timeline to follow up on said concerns was not “one size fits all and doesn’t address issues that an employer sees”. We disagree with that, you deserve to have proper staffing that allows for quality patient care and services. Planned Parenthood wont even counter our staffing language, they are just saying NO. We will continue to propose safe staffing language, this is non-negotiable.

We asked that “when it comes to safety issues or other life threatening issues” that Planned Parenthood, The Union and Labor Management Committee must meet within seven days of a request for an emergency meeting. Planned Parenthood has said they were not interested in this. Given the recent safety concerns you have faced, we would hope Planned Parenthood would agree to this important proposal.

If you have questions contact our Union Rep Charlie King at 206-436-6518

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Alison DeBoise

Alison DeBoise recording a solidarity video for California Planned Parenthood workers fighting for a union

Alison DeBoise (she/they pronouns) works as an Insurance Biller for Planned Parenthood in Seattle and is an active shop steward at her work location. They talk about how they got involve in being a steward:

After college, I knew I wanted to work for Planned Parenthood because I'm passionate about access to reproductive healthcare for all. I began working at the Bellevue location in the Refill Center mailing patients their medication and became interested in the union after getting to know my coworkers better, attending general membership meetings, and our contract expiring not long after the pandemic started. Other stewards in my workplace inspired me to become a steward because I wanted to be a helpful resource to my coworkers.

Alison is now serving on the bargaining committee for the Planned Parenthood contract during negotiations this year, and has also stepped up to offer solidarity with Southern California Planned Parenthood workers fighting to organize a union with UFCW Local 324 by recording a video to offer those workers solidarity:

Being a part of a union with my coworkers has given us greater power to ask for and get what we need. Better wages, better working conditions, better work-life balance, and better time-off benefits.

We couldn’t agree more with Alison!

UFCW 3000 Member Story: August Silva

August SIlva

August Silva (she/they), is a Patient Access Center Representative and Shop Steward at Planned Parenthood Tacoma. As a trans woman, she has faced a lot of challenges at her previous jobs, many of them coming behind the boss’s door:

I knew I wanted to work for Planned Parenthood because when I started transitioning in the Fall of 2021 and I couldn't think of a place that'd be more accepting of trans people like me than the place I get my hormone replacement care. My previous employer felt like I was taking "too much time off for frankly unnecessary office visits" and I applied the very next day! I love working with transgender patients.

August completed her first steward training this spring, and sees her work at Planned Parenthood and organizing her coworkers as being two sides of the same coin:

I want to do whatever sort of work I can for employees and patients to make sure there are equitable practices for everyone within the organization, and I think being a part of UFCW [3000] gives me the safety to be a voice for transgender employees in states that aren't unionized.

Outside of work, August enjoys listening to Jazz and helping provide mutual aid to unhoused people with Serve The People Tacoma. August is a great example of solidarity in action.

Planned Parenthood - Bargaining Continues

Join your Contract Action Team for an update on negotiations via zoom:

Thursday, June 8 @ 7pm
Thursday June 15 @ 7pm

Contact a Bargaining Team member for meeting details OR call Union Rep Charlie King @ 206-436-6518

“Appointment access shouldn’t come before patient and staff safety”

– Michel Avery, Clinical Trainer

We went into bargaining hoping for movement from Management’s side, but instead were shown that Management is not interested in countering our language on items, with no counter to our non-discrimination language initially. We responded by stating that not responding to our non-discrimination language is unacceptable and we expect a counter on that language. At the end of the session, after stating that, “Planned Parenthood is already walking the walk on non-discrimination,” they countered with a limited response that we will be countering on. We were told our non-discrimination language was “over-kill” and redundant on Planned Parenthood policies, however we deserve to have strong non-discrimination language in our contract.

We proposed staffing language around understaffing and workloads of each unit, that included a step-by-step process with a timeline to allow staffing concerns to be addressed. Planned Parenthood has yet to respond but did respond to our Labor Management Committee proposal stating that they were not interested in having a timeline in which the Labor Management Committee respond to items discussed. Planned Parenthood wants the Labor Management Committee to be informal, however a Labor Management Committee is meant to address problems at the worksite by creating solutions. Without a timeline, how can we expect solutions?!

Our next bargaining date is scheduled for Thursday, June 29, where we expect to continue on non-economic items. We are hopeful to get to economic proposals, but that will only happen if Management responds to our proposals instead of just saying they are just interested in “current contract language”. We deserve a contract with strong language, as well as strong wage increases. Our Bargaining Team will continue to fight in solidarity for a great contract.

Planned Parenthood - Bargaining Begins

Planned Parenthood
Bargaining Begins

“Hopefully Planned Parenthood still cares about their employees No Matter What.”

– Monalisa Bauman, Medical Assistant, Bargaining Team

Bargaining has kicked off with Planned Parenthood! On day one of bargaining, we talked about non-economics (language pieces that have no monetary value) and will get into economics (pay, benefits, etc.) in future bargaining sessions.

We discussed the following language:

• We proposed non-discrimination language, including ensuring the contract is gender neutral, access to all-gender bathrooms, respect for pronouns, chosen names on badges and emails.

• We proposed language that ensures you do not have to give 30 days’ notice of resignation, yet the Employer wants to only be able to give you 7 days’ notice of termination. We want to ensure all job positions have the same requirements for resigning or facing termination.

• The Employer proposed a one-year contract and cited that they are worried about funding through the election-cycle, but we are holding strong to a three-year agreement to ensure you are protected throughout the upcoming election cycle when Planned Parenthood is in the news even more and your safety and patient safety is at higher risk.

• The Employer proposed language in the contract stating if an emergency happens whether it be a natural disaster, pandemic or as they stated “Acts of God” that the contract would be suspended. We wholeheartedly REJECT that proposal. You deserve to be protected through all cases of emergency including the offensive language they proposed “Acts of God”.

Bargaining Team: Michel Avery, Alison Deboise, Melissa Grindstaff, Monalisa Bauman, Mollie Overby