PRMCE - The Hospital Recognizes Our Staffing Complaint Forms!

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On October 28, 2020, we met with the Hospital. We have spent the last two bargaining sessions talking about staffing. In this past session, the Hospital told us they would recognize our CSI staffing complaint form—available on ufcw21.org/csi. Their position has changed since our last bargaining session. Also, we talked about PPE with the Chief Nursing Officer and she has promised to ensure that all nurses are able to receive more than one mask during their shift if the nurse requests one. 

As for our proposals, the Hospital has rejected a majority of our proposals except for recognizing gender identity in the non-discrimination article. We discussed the parameters of professional development under the education funding article. We want to ensure nurses are not being denied funding for relevant courses and we are trying to increase available funding. 

Bargaining is going slowly, but we hope they will start hearing our demands to change language, which currently does not benefit the Hospital or the nurses. One way to pressure the Hospital, is by taking part in our car sign action. If you have not received a car sign, please contact the bargaining team or Anthony Cantu, Union Rep @ 206-436-6566. 

In addition, we currently have a 30-day contract extension which expires on November 30, 2020. During a contract extension we are not able to call for a strike, picket, or work stoppage, but we can take other actions like a car sign action. We will continue extending the contract as long as we are making progress at the bargaining table. 

Our next contract action team meeting will be on November 10, 2020 @ 8 PM via Zoom. Our next bargaining sessions are on November 13 and 17.   

OUR RN BARGAINING TEAM: Juan Stout, ER; Kimball Conlon, ER; Betsy Bourg, Glasgow; Cindi Dyson, Float Pool; Bill Hisaw, OR; Jenney Gannon, L&D; Madison Hamilton

PRMCE RN - Staffing is a Major Concern!

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On October 21, the RN bargaining team met with Providence for the second time this bargaining cycle. We discussed several articles like union membership, nurse staffing committee, seniority, union access, and staffing. The Hospital rejected most of our proposals and wishes to keep current contract language.

We mentioned to Providence that staffing is a huge concern for the RN unit. In the past few weeks, we have received and forwarded several CSIs (staffing complaint forms) to Providence. Providence is currently refusing to recognize the Union’s staffing complaint form, which was created in coalition with other healthcare unions (WSNA and SEIU 1199NW). Although this is their position, the State recognizes our form and we can file complaints with the State, so we encourage you to continue submitting the CSI forms on ufcw21.org/csi.

We will continue to discuss staffing issues and fight for appropriate staffing for the safety of the RN unit and the patients.

In addition, we will have a car sign action in solidarity with Providence Centralia and St. Peter’s. If you want to distribute signs to your co-workers/community please contact your Union Rep, Anthony Cantu 206-436-6566. 

Our next bargaining session will be on October 28 and November 13 and 17. We will be holding a contract action team meeting on November 10 @ 8 PM via Zoom.

OUR RN BARGAINING TEAM: Juan Stout, ER; Kimball Conlon, ER; Betsy Bourg, Glasgow; Cindi Dyson, Float Pool; Bill Hisaw, OR; Jenney Gannon, L&D; Madison Hamilton

Join our online CAT meeting! 

Tuesday, November 10
8:00 PM

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

PRMCE - RNs Begin Bargaining with Providence Everett

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Back in August 2020, the RN unit overwhelmingly voted to reject the Hospital’s offer to: 1) extend the contract through 2021, 2) 4% across the board wage increase, 3) require nurses to pay for parking starting 2021. 

On October 6, the RN bargaining committee and the Hospital began contract negotiations. The RN contract expires on October 31, 2020 and currently we do not have a contract extension, meaning we can take workplace actions like picketing.

On our first session, we made a proposal around union membership, union representative workplace access, and successorship language. The RN bargaining team put together a contract proposal which reflects the unit’s bargaining survey feedback and workplace concerns. Our goal this bargaining cycle is to hold Management accountable and obtain a contract with competitive wage increases, EIB, closed shop union membership, and better staffing language.

We are joining our fellow workers at Providence St Peter’s (Techs) and Providence Centralia (Tech and Support Services) at the bargaining table. These units are bargaining their first Union contract. We will be fighting together for good contracts and a fight with one unit is a fight with all!

Our next bargaining dates are October 21, October 28, November 13, and 17. We will be holding a car sign action at the end of October. Please contact your bargaining team or Anthony Cantu, Union Rep, to get your car sign. 

If you want to be involved in the bargaining process or want more bargaining details, please join our Contract Action Team meeting on October 20 @ 8PM via Zoom.

Join our online CAT meeting! 

Tuesday, October 20

8:00 PM

https://zoom.us/join  

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

PRMCE RN Contract Extension Vote

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Contract Extension Vote

At the end of May 2020, Providence approached the Union and proposed a contract extension for the RN unit through June 2021. The current RN contract expires October 31, 2020 and we had planned to start bargaining before October.

It is typical that the Union and Providence enter a contract extension of three months during regular bargaining in order to keep the contract in effect. Since this is a longer than typical extension, we started having weekly calls amongst the bargaining committee and key RN leaders to discuss the benefits and negatives of an extension.

After many meetings, your RN bargaining committee/leaders have decided that an extension would NOT be beneficial for the unit.

Currently Providence is offering a 4% increase in 2020, but all RNs would start paying for parking as of October 2021. Meaning that a portion of your increase would go towards parking. Parking was a huge issue during the professional and technical units’ bargaining last year. They fought to postpone paying for parking until the RNs started paying for parking. As so, an extension with paid parking would affect the RNs, Pros, Techs, and even other union members at PRMCE. Although a 4% increase sounds enticing, all units would loss the benefit of free parking and we likely will never be able to win back that benefit!

That said, your bargaining committee and RN leaders are recommending a “NO” vote! We will be conducting the contract extension vote via standard mail. All ballots must be postmarked by August 7, 2020 in order to be counted. If you do not receive mail from the Union, please update your contact information online: ufcw21.org/update-your-information or contact Anthony Cantu, Union Rep (206)436-6566.

Vote meeting to explain the contract extension: Tuesday, July 28 at 8pm via Zoom Meeting After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.