Kaiser Spokane Pharmacy Techs - Union Update • February 23

We Pharmacy Techs know there are a lot of questions on the future of our union representation in Spokane and having a Union contract that addresses the issues that are important to us. 

An NLRB Election to determine if we would like to be represented by UFCW 21 will take place by mail over a four-week period. UFCW 21 has disclaimed the Pharmacists and currently the Pharmacy Techs are still represented. Only Pharmacy Techs in Spokane are eligible to vote. Ballots will go out by mail on March 8  and must be returned to the NLRB Regional Office by no later than April 5, 2021. The ballots will be counted and election results determined on April 7. 

Before the decertification petition was filed with the NLRB, bargaining was scheduled for February 23. Because the Pharmacists are no longer represented, we returned to bargaining as the Pharmacy Tech Unit. 

Our union bargaining team members are Tiffany Yeates and Jackie McFarlen, and Tiana Tupou is the alternate and helping lead the contract action team. 

Why are we bargaining while there is a pending NLRB Election? 

The NLRB Election on April 7 will determine whether we continue bargaining and are represented by UFCW 21. We currently have bargaining dates scheduled for April 1, 15, and 29. We are committed to sticking together and negotiating a strong contract for ourselves and our coworkers. Being at the bargaining table allows us to be informed directly from UFCW 21, the Alliance of Health Care Unions, and management- and have a voice in addressing and prioritizing the issues of Pharmacy Techs. 

Will we receive our merit pay increases and Rewards Bonus next month?

Yes. In bargaining, we discussed scheduled merit increases and the Reward for Results bonuses. The Alliance of Health Care Unions has negotiated nationally that due to Covid-19, all union represented employees will receive 100% of the bonus regardless of whether the Regions have met all their goals. The Alliance fought hard to make sure that the annual bonuses were paid at the maximum to all Kaiser workers, regardless of Union representation. 

This means that we will receive 100% of our Rewards bonus and it will be on our paycheck March 5. Over the next week and a half, Jim and Melanie will meet with us to let us know our individual bonus amount. We also secured that we will receive our merit increases as normal on April 2. If you have any questions about your individual bonus or increase, please reach out to our Union Representative Maureen Hatton, 509-340-7370. 

Bargaining Update

We focused bargaining yesterday on outlining the issues that are most important to us in Spokane:

• Maintaining our current Retirement Plan 

• Securing our current Kaiser Healthcare Plan for the Future

• Winning the wage scale in Western Washington for Pharmacy Techs in Spokane! UFCW 21 members in cities such as Olympia, Puyallup, Everett, Seattle, and Silverdale, all are on the same wage scale.

• Wages and premiums that allow us to recruit and retain Pharmacy Techs- including on-call, weekend, evenings, Optfill, IV Tech, Lead, and Float premiums

• Staffing and float coverage for covering vacations, sick time, and FMLA. We discussed creative solutions that included temporary part-time employees, more floats, and healthcare apprenticeship programs for Pharmacy Techs. 

• Rebalancing and ways that this process can be improved in the future

For questions or for more information, please contact Union Representative Maureen Hatton, 509-340-7370.

WhidbeyHealth - Bargaining Begins! WhidbeyHealth Claims “Financial Problems,” Again!

In 2019, WhidbeyHealth and the Pro-Tech/LPN and Support Services bargaining units reached a one-year contract agreement. At that time, the Hospital asked for a “longer runway” so that they could sort out their finances and plan for annual wage increases for 2020 and 2021.We granted them more time and decided we would fight for fair wage increases in 2020. 

We expected to begin bargaining in 2020, but the pandemic delayed bargaining and the Hospital did not respond to our requests to meet. After threatening to file charges against the Hospital for their unresponsiveness, we met with them early January 2021 to begin bargaining. 

We made proposals to improve contract language and increase premium pay. We were supposed to meet with the Hospital on February 3 to present our wage proposal, but the Hospital cancelled bargaining. The Hospital told us that they had negative three days of “cash at hand” (liquid money). This was the same excuse they made in 2019! We believe that they have negative days of “cash at hand,” but believe is unfair of Management to ask us to wait for wage increases when Management has received substantial increases since 2019. Our units have received no cost of living increases since 2018 and are having problems recruiting and retaining staff because of it! 

We think enough is enough! We must take action and hold WhidbeyHealth accountable! 

The Hospital is claiming “unprofitability,” meaning that they are making a profit, but not as much as they hoped for. On top of that, they are directing money towards Management’s salaries and other projects, instead of spending money on our wages! 

We are asking for all UFCW 21 members to attend the March 10 WhidbeyHealth board meeting and tell the board that we need wage increases and a fair contract now! We also will be asking community and labor organizations to support us in our contract fight and will be planning public facing actions in the upcoming weeks. For more information about contract negotiations and actions, please join us via Zoom on March 3 @ 6PM. 

If you have workplace or disciplinary issues, please contact your union rep, Adrian Noel at anoel@ufcw21.org or 360-419-4677. 

— In solidarity, Your Pro/Tech/LPN and Support Services Bargaining Team

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

PRMCE RN - Providence Proposes to Eliminate EIB and Reduce PTO!

In our past bargaining session, we finally received an economic proposal from Providence. Their proposal would eliminate EIB, reduce PTO, require nurses to pay for parking, and provide higher wage increases to future new hires. We expected Providence to propose the elimination of EIB, but did not expect the other proposals. 

In 2019, Providence proposed a similar plan to eliminate EIB and replace it with a short-term disability (STD) plan which would use a combination of the State’s short-term disability program and Providence’s STD that would not cover a nurse’s time-off for a family members’ illness. The different Providence units authorized a strike vote due to this proposal and now we are seeing that proposal at the bargaining table. 

In addition, Providence proposed below market wage increases! While we made the argument at the bargaining table that we need better wages to retain and recruit nurses, Providence said they would rather focus their attention on recruiting nurses than investing in their current workforce. 

We believe this economic proposal along with the lack of movement on contract language is disrespectful to the RN bargaining unit. Providence needs to hear from all nurses that this proposal will not do and we need better wage increases and contract language with no takeaways! 

As so, we are moving forward with a contract vote to show Providence that we are not interest in their proposal! Although we will still be bargaining with Providence and may potentially use a mediator in our next sessions, we believe we need to send out a clear message to Providence! As a committee, we are recommending a “NO” vote on the current contract proposal. 

We will be voting electronically on March 11 (online voting between 12AM to 11:59PM). We will be emailing out a link to the vote. If you do not receive emails from UFCW 21, please email Anthony Cantu acantu@ufcw21.org so we can update your contact info so you may vote. 

We will have vote meetings on Tuesday March 2 and March 9 at 8PM via Zoom to discuss the contract proposal and walk through the voting process.. 

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

North Valley Hospital - Management's Low Ball First Offer

The first economical offer from North Valley was exceptionally low and did not show respect for our work. The team is bargaining Via Zoom, and while this has its challenges, we are continuing to bargain for fair wage increase and clearer contract language to support the needs of North Valley Hospital members. 

We head back to the table this week and will keep you posted. The bargaining team appreciates your support.

Your Bargaining Team: Amy Radcliff, Jason Daniels, Megan Vickers, Michelle Beattie (also pictured: negotiator Matt Wood, union representative Maureen Hatton)

Lourdes United - Standing United for a Fair Contract

We will be holding an informational picket for safety, competitive wages, and a fair contract for Lourdes Counseling Center and Lourdes Medical Center.

Info Picket
March 1, 2021
3:30 PM until 5:30 PM
520 N. 4th Avenue, Pasco WA

Lourdes Counseling Center and Lourdes Medical Center have each had 10 bargaining sessions and the employer has not moved until just recently when our action have ramped up. 

We need to continue pressure with United actions.

Now is the time to show LifePoint we are United.

LifePoint, we are tired of carrying you on our backs!

Please join one of our Zoom meeting on February 24 for more information. Contact one of your bargaining team members or your Union Rep Austen Louden at 509-340-7372 for any questions or concerns.

Join Our Update Meeting on Wednesday, February 24!

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details.

Ashley House BX - Vote Dates are Coming Soon

We met with the employer on Friday, February 19 to continue negotiations. We have reached agreements in concept on all articles of the CBA and the bargaining team looks forward to presenting you with a Contract you can be proud of. We expect to finalize the legal language of the contract next week and then we will VOTE! 

Due to the Pandemic all voting will take place via secure email ONLY!

“Voting will be Online only due to the Pandemic. Please be sure to update your contact info so that you may receive your ballot. Reach out to any of your Bargaining team members with questions or concerns regarding contract negotiations.” 

— Kris Spencer, LPN

Update your personal email address and contact info through the link below!



PCC COVID Agreement Summary

After intense pressure from workers, shoppers, and community through petitions, leaflets, and other actions we reached an agreement on 2/10 with PCC regarding COVID safety and hazard pay for all stores outside of Seattle and Burien! Here is a summary of all the provisions of the COVID Agreement. Contact your rep with any further questions.

MultiCare - Bargaining Update - February 18, 2021

“United we bargain, divided we beg!”

Your Bargaining Team: Alexis Dotts, Glen Steele, Gregg Barney, Heidi Strub, Jamie Fenton, Julianna Van Enk, Kelly Gusman, Kurtis Chaffin, Patricia Brown, Rochelle Brummer, Ryan Boyd, Sammy Bainivalu, Teri Kruse, Wanda Rodriguez-Ramos, Yvette Broeckel

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Your Bargaining Team met with Management again on February 16.

Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with the extreme lack of movement from the employer. While the Bargaining Team took the time to thoughtfully respond to Management’s last proposal, the Employer responded by rejecting many of our proposals… status quo was almost always their response.

“Status quo, won’t go.”

— Kelly Gusman

We were also frustrated by an “emergency” proposal by Management regarding Medical Assistants covered under the clinical collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Management made a very divisive proposal to raise the wages of Medical Assistants at one clinic while leaving the other clinics out of a raise. They cited the desperate staffing situation at the singled-out clinic as the emergent need, which we know to be true across MultiCare, not at just one clinic. We made a counter proposal to accept the wage increase provided, however, that ALL Medical Assistants covered by the CBA would be included.

Before Management even responded to our proposal they implemented the change before we came to an agreement, which they labeled as a mistake and subsequently retracted. We must stand firm on the principle that our final contract must include fair wages for ALL members. We must stand united against Management’s attempts to divide us and fight to ensure that every single member win’s a strong contract, without exception.

Your Bargaining Team will meet with Management next on Monday February 22, then again on February 26 and March 9, 16, 23, and 30. We are currently working on a contract extension to continue negotiations past contract expiration.

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Tell the Bargaining Team about the staffing issues in your department, please spend 5-10 minutes to complete the MultiCare Staffing Survey.

Join the UFCW 21 MultiCare Facebook Page for the latest updates!

Summit Pacific Medical Center - Summit Pacific Finally Gives COVID Hazard Bonus

Our Bargaining Team has been sharing our stories for months at the bargaining table of what life is like on the front lines of this pandemic. Over the last two months, we’ve also been sharing our stories with Summit’s Board of Commissioners.

Summit has finally agreed to offer a one-time COVID Bonus on the March 19, paychecks based on hours worked in 2020.

• $1000 if you worked 1560 hours or more in 2020

• $500 if you worked 520-1559 hours in 2020

We are still waiting on dates for mediation to continue our negotiations with Management. Join us at our next Contract Action Meeting on Thursday, March 4 at 7PM. RSVP for details.

If you have any questions, please contact a Bargaining Team member or your Interim Union Rep, Alex Gallo-Brown @ 205-490-8334, agallobrown@ufcw21.org

Your Bargaining Team: Angi Swinhart—RN, Clinic; Barbara Ford—ED HUC; Jessee Bednarik—RN, ED

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RSVP to Our Contract Action Meeting!

Thursday, March 4
7:00 PM

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

PRMCE - Providence Has No Response to Our Wage Proposal!

On February 10, we met with Providence for a couple of hours. At this point, we have made most of our economic proposals, but have yet to hear a counterproposal from Providence.

We have proposed generous wage increases and improvements to EIB/PTO. At other Providence bargaining tables, Providence has proposed to eliminate EIB and implement a short-term disability plan which is a combination of WA Paid Family Medical Leave and an employee-only illness plan. This same plan was proposed by Providence at the Professional-Technical bargaining table in 2019 and that unit voted to go on strike rather than accept their proposal.

We believe we will see that same proposal, low wage increases, and no improvements to contract language in their counterproposal. In anticipation to this proposal, we must mobilize! The bargaining committee has discussed voting down Providence’s terrible proposal, if it includes low wage increases and eliminating EIB.

We ask that you talk to your co-workers about signing onto the financial transparency petition and potentially voting down Providence’s offer. The petition will show Providence that the RN unit is closely following bargaining and we will be holding them accountable to their “core values.” Also this petition is being signed onto by Providence St. Peter’s and Centralia, who are also in negotiations.

Our next sessions are on February 17, 23 and March 8, 9. If you have any questions about bargaining, please reach out to the bargaining committee or your Union Rep, Anthony Cantu—acantu@ufcw21.org or 206-436-6566.  

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

As Their Profits Soar, Kroger Announces Closure of Two Seattle Grocery Stores in Retaliation for Hazard Pay Law

For immediate release: 2/16/21
Contact: Tom Geiger, 206.604.3421, or tgeiger@ufcw21.org

Statement from UFCW 21

As Their Profits Soar, Kroger Announces Closure of Two Seattle Grocery Stores in Retaliation for Hazard Pay Law

Today, Kroger publicly announced the closure of two QFC stores in Seattle, in a transparent attempt to intimidate other local governments from passing ordinances that would provide hazard pay to front line grocery store workers. Essential workers, our local government, and our communities will not be threatened by this corporate bullying.

The COVID pandemic has caused serious illness and taken lives, and at the same time the amount of work and the level of stress and risk for grocery store workers has risen dramatically. Early on, companies like QFC agreed to pay $2/hour in hazard pay to employees all across the nation in acknowledgement of the risks workers faced and the essential nature of their work during a national crisis. Then they cut that pay in May -  with no explanation. Kroger’s profits continued to soar, as did COVID cases, and as more and more people got sick, and more and more people shopped for groceries, restaurants and schools closed.

Workers have tried for months to get the hazard pay that was cut re-instated. But month after month the pay cuts were kept in place. The level of stress grew, as did concerns about safety, higher workloads, fewer workers on shift, more customers, and rising COVID cases in stores. Several places in California passed local hazard pay ordinances. Kroger  announced the closure of two stores in that area in retaliation against that local hazard pay law.

In January, things had reached a breaking point and, working with Seattle City Council, UFCW 21 members were able to help pass a local and temporary $4/hour hazard pay law. That pay went into effect on February 3. Kroger announced their Seattle store closures on February 16.

Today’s announcement by Kroger to close these two Seattle QFCs is a case of over-the-top greed and bullying, and it shows how out of touch Kroger is with our community. The public overwhelmingly supports hazard pay and supports our grocery store workers. Other grocery chains, including PCC locally, have actually expanded hazard pay to stores beyond Seattle and Burien which have now passed new hazard pay laws. Kroger’s closures threaten workers, as well as shoppers and our local community. We need safety concerns addressed and we need hazard pay expanded.

Kroger’s intent seems perfectly clear: They are announcing these closings to try and intimidate any other local communities here in our state or around the nation from passing hazard pay. If Kroger cares about their employees and the local communities in which they operate, they should expand hazard pay and improve store safety practices, not file lawsuits and close our neighborhood stores.

Multicare - Bargaining Update - February 12, 2021

You’re Invited! Please join our next virtual MultiCare Campaign Update meeting on Wednesday, February 17 @ 7:30AM or 6:30PM.

Hear the latest directly from your Bargaining Team.

Wednesday, February 17
7:30AM or 6:30PM

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

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Your Bargaining Team: Alexis Dotts, Glen Steele, Gregg Barney, Heidi Strub, Jamie Fenton, Julianna Van Enk, Kelly Gusman, Kurtis Chaffin, Patricia Brown, Rochelle Brummer, Ryan Boyd, Sammy Bainivalu, Teri Kruse, Wanda Rodriguez-Ramos, Yvette Broeckel

Your Bargaining Team met with Management again on February 8 and 10.

Management is starting to get more aggressive at the table, for example, they proposed to make some significant changes to the current process of awarding extra shifts. They also made an attack on our recognized holidays, proposing to eliminate President’s Day from our contract.

Your Bargaining Team responded to Management by proposing to ADD additional holidays to our contract. We also make a strong proposal to address floating between facilities, asking that moving between MultiCare campuses be completely voluntary and that doing so would trigger a wage premium.

“You asked us to address floating, we made sure your voice was heard.”

— Wanda Rodriguez-Ramos

Our next bargaining date is Tuesday February 16, followed by 22 and 26. We are working with the Employer to additional bargaining dates in March.

Join the UFCW 21 MultiCare Facebook Page for the latest updates!

Providence Centralia Hospital Community Letter

Dear Community & Patients of Providence Centralia Hospital,

We are the Technical Unit at Providence Centralia Hospital, serving you, our patients in a variety of different ways including Ultrasound, Echo, MRI, Interventional Radiology (IR), CT, X-ray, Respiratory Therapy (RT), and Pharmacy. Our jobs are very fulfilling, but also at times stressful, as we face chronic staffing shortages and now a global pandemic. We also know that it’s important for Tech workers to come together to voice our shared concerns, and to collectively advocate for the work conditions that we need for ourselves and our patients. That is why we voted to join UFCW 21 and are now meeting with management to bargain our first contract. We have joined the RNs at Providence Centralia Hospital and other Techs, Service, Dietary, and EVS workers throughout the Providence system in Washington State.

However, since we started the bargaining process, it has become clear that Providence Centralia Hospital does not respect our Technical Unit. While the RNs have an annual leave and sick leave bank, the Tech unit has an extended illness bank (EIB) and paid time off (PTO) bank. As of January 2021, Providence has taken away our extended illness bank, which acts as a short-term disability plan during medical leaves of absence. Providence has implemented a lesser short-term disability plan and is benefiting from the WA Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) program, which is funded by the State and WA workers. Instead of providing more time off to frontline workers during a pandemic, Providence is decreasing sick time and PTO and saving money by using the State’s PFML program.

In addition, they offered us barebone proposals and are not agreeing to memorialize several important policies such as leaves of absence and PTO. They are undermining our good faith effort to advocate for time to be with our families and to get the time off that we need to do our jobs well.

We know that we will need to take actions to show Providence Centralia that healthcare workers and community are aligned in advocating for basic needs in our hospital. We hope that you will join us. Please let us know if you have upcoming meetings we can attend and give an update, or if there are other ways of connecting our struggle with other advocacy campaigns on access to healthcare and basic human needs such as housing and food.

We are so honored to be your healthcare team and look forward to better care for all our patients.

Sincerely,
Providence Centralia Hospital Bargaining Committee:
Jennifer (Mammography), Jamie (RT), Verity (Pharmacy), Jennifer (CT), Kathy (RT)

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Providence: Protect Your Frontline, Not Your Bottom Line!

We, the community members and patients of Providence, request that Providence keep healthcare workers safe and healthy in these unprecedented times. Caregivers are risking their lives and the lives of their families, every day to care for our communities. They face understaffing, insufficient PPE and possible loss of necessary time off.  We have heard from caregivers that Providence is claiming budget constraints preventing them from providing these necessary provisions to keep our hospitals safe. If this is the case, we are calling on Providence to be transparent regarding their finances and budget. 

We are aware that Providence received hundreds of millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief money, has billions of dollars in cash reserves, and is running two venture Capital firms in Seattle. We are asking that Providence protect the workers that care for us and our communities and not prioritize their bottom-line.

Given the lack of transparency with finances, we ask that Providence:

1) Respond to workers' information requests, including:

• Amount of COVID-19 relief funds awarded and how they are being used 

• Amount and type of PPE available at each Hospital  

• Providence's detailed financial reports for each Hospital   

• Detailed accounting of Providence's community benefits activities at each Hospital

2) Protect the front-line by making proposals that respect the care workers give to patients and our communities during the Global Pandemic.

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UFCW 21 and PCC reach agreement on COVID safety and Hazard Pay!

After intense pressure from workers, shoppers, and community through petitions, leaflets, and other action we have finally reached an agreement with PCC on hazard pay for all stores outside of Seattle and Burien!

• PCC agrees to extend $4 per hour hazard pay to all PCC workers in all stores through June, 5th 2021, expanding on the Hazard Pay ordinances won by UFCW 21 workers in Seattle and Burien.

• We have a commitment from PCC to bargain over extending this agreement, including hazard pay, at least 30 days before it expires.

• The agreement provides for Quarantine Pay for workers who get diagnosed with COVID 19 as well as other safety provisions.

• PCC will begin a curbside pickup program that captures work for union members instead of giving it away to the gig economy.

• We also reviewed our continued commitment to discuss new technologies in the stores before implementation.
  

  Your PCC Bargaining Team:
  Atsuko Koseki, Edmonds Deli
  Greg Brooks, Fremont Meat
  Keith Allery, Greenlake Village Deli
  Quinn Ráo, Ballard Front End
  Scott Shiflett, Redmond Meat
  Yasab Pfister, Burien Front End
  
  
  

Lourdes Counseling Center - 100% “No” Vote! Current Workplace Conditions are Unacceptable

100% of full time and part-time staff who voted on February 8 unanimously voted “NO”. We are all in agreement that the current workplace conditions are unacceptable as are the proposals the employer has taken over 8 months to put forth.

We had at the vote a new “strike pledge” petition, indicating to the employer that the vast majority of us will stand united in the event that a strike is necessary to obtain a more favorable contract. Those of you in the bargaining unit that were unable to attend the vote will be approached by bargaining team representative to get your commitment to our pledge.

We want to reiterate that this is NOT a strike authorization. This is a pledge to strike at a later date if it comes to that. These pledges can be very powerful in negotiations. We would hold a strike authorization vote if it becomes necessary.

Our next bargaining date with the employer is scheduled for Friday, February 19 and we look forward to presenting both our unanimous “NO” vote on the contract offer as well as a robust strike pledge petition.

If you have stories about workplace assaults, safety concerns, inadequate staffing levels, high patient to staff ratios, etc... We want to hear them! Please email your stories as the union is ramping up the media campaign. The unsafe workplace at Lourdes Counseling Center will be exposed.

We will be organizing a coordinated informational picket with the bargaining unit at Lourdes Medical Center (they, too, are bargaining with LifePoint/Lourdes). This approach will hopefully be a catalyst to get deals done at both tables. Please look for further details on this action.

Again, thank you for your showing your support to our union by taking a few minutes out of your day to vote as well as to the staff who were present during the voting times.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact one of your bargaining team members or your Union Representative Austen Louden at 509-340-7372 or Alounden@ufcw21.org

PCC Update - Fighting for Hazard Pay

PCC and the UFCW 21 member-led bargaining team continue to negotiate over Hazard Pay. it is our hope to reach an understanding with PCC that provides the same Seattle hazard pay $4/hour for the same length of time for all workers at the 15 PCC stores outside the city. That remains our goal and we feel we have been making good progress with PCC toward this end. While we have not yet reached a deal, we are close and will meet again on Wednesday 2/10!

“Time and time again, we are reminded of our status as ‘essential workers,’ but rarely are we treated as such. Now, we are in a moment where our workers are coming out in force to demand what we have been denied for months. The grocery industry needs to understand that it cannot silence and disregard its workers. What is at stake is our health, our safety, our dignity as workers who contribute essential labor. The last few weeks have shown the effectiveness of these collective efforts: workers speaking out, the community showing solidarity, media reporting on our struggle. We’ve managed to make tremendous progress in negotiations through this pressure, but it cannot and will not end here. I hope we can announce some meaningful gains soon, and encourage everyone to continue writing to management and showing up in support of your grocery workers.”

—Quinn Ráo, Bargaining Team member

Your PCC Bargaining Team:

• Atsuko Koseki, Edmonds Deli

• Greg Brooks, Fremont Meat

• Keith Allery, Greenlake Village Deli

• Quinn Ráo, Ballard Front End

• Scott Shiflett, Redmond Meat

• Yasab Pfister, Burien Front End

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Upcoming Contract Action Team (CAT) Meeting Dates

• Tuesday, February 16 @  9AM

• Wednesday, February 17 @ 2PM

• Wednesday, February 17 @ 7PM

Your’re invited to our CAT meetings!

Join us on Thursday, February 11 from 6PM – 7PM for a webinar on how to introduce a Hazard Pay Ordinance in your city

We have seen the organizing efforts of our members pay off in Seattle and Burien to pass hazard pay for essential grocery workers. We will be hosting a webinar to talk about how to start this process in your city, how to get your coworkers involved, and hear from some of the members who are doing the work now.

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Sign the Petition to Demand that PCC Reinstate Hazard Pay for All Essential Workers in All PCC Stores! 



Fred Meyer QFC Bargaining Update

"Today, we offered Fred Meyer & QFC multiple opportunities to work with us to improve safety and provide fair compensation. They showed us again that we must stand together and fight for what we need and deserve.” -Fred Meyer and QFC Bargaining Team

Today the Bargaining Teams for UFCW 21 and Teamsters 38 met with both Fred Meyer and QFC for the third time this year to bargain over our working conditions and hazard pay throughout the pandemic. The Employers decided to start bargaining off by dismissing most of our previous proposals, including proposals around increased availability of PPE like masks, gloves and facemasks. Our bargaining team came back with counter proposals on Hazard Pay, masks, capacity limits, moving Clicklist and Pharmacy Techs to Appendix A and other creative solutions on COVID safety and Hazard pay. We are committed to continue to fight for Hazard and safety measures.

Our initial proposal included:

• Reinstatement of $2 per hour Hazard Pay.

• Stronger enforcement of safety measures, including enforcement of masks and store capacity limits.

• Better notification to workers when COVID exposures occur.

• Moving Clicklist and Fred Meyer Pharmacy Techs to the higher Grocery A scale.

• Added pay including: Premiums for safety certifications, support for added childcare costs and compensation for off the clock hours after work spent keeping safe.

• Adding hours to the store to address increased need for sanitation and to enforce social distancing.

• Extending our previous agreement allowing for two-week replacement pay for COVID infections and quarantine.

At last month’s bargaining session, the employers agreed to more prompt notification of workplace COVID infections and premium pay of an extra $1 per hour for Pharmacy workers through end of March.

OUR GROCERY STORE BARGAINING TEAM

Maggie Breshears, Greenwood Fred Meyer
Sam Dancy, Westwood Village QFC
Amy Dayley Angell, Ballard QFC
Irene Garcia, Auburn Fred Meyer
Christina Harris, Lake City Fred Meyer
Robin Hillistad, N. Seattle QFC
Wil Peterson, Everett Fred Meyer
Jeff Smith, Snohomish Fred Meyer
Joanna Clapham, Benson Plaza Fred Meyer
Faye Guenther, President UFCW 21
Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21
Samantha Kantak, President Teamsters 38
Steven Chandler, Secretary Treasurer Teamsters 38
Tammi Bradey, Recording Secretary Teamsters 38
Jim McGuinness, Attorney

Organize for Hazard Pay in your city 

Join us on Thursday, February 11 from 6pm – 7pm for a webinar on how to introduce a Hazard Pay Ordinance in your city. 

We have seen the organizing efforts of our members pay off in Seattle and Burien to pass hazard pay for essential grocery workers. We will be hosting a webinar to talk about how to start this process in your city, how to get your coworkers involved, and hear from some of the members who are doing the work now.

MultiCare - Get to Know Your Bargaining Team

The Bargaining Team is made up of workplace leaders who have been selected to represent you during negotiations with MultiCare. The team is responsible for creating and responding to proposals, campaign planning, and will ultimately decide when to vote to approve a contact or authorize a strike. 

Please reach out to one of your Bargaining Team members if you have any questions regarding contract negotiations.

Alexis Dotts
Tacoma General Hospital
Food Service Worker
“I have amazing co-workers and want them to have the best contract possible.”

Glen Steele 
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
Biomed Equipment Tech
“I’m on the bargaining team because it’s important to have a contract that works for all our members. To have a safe work place with good wages to support our families.”

Gregg Barney
Tacoma General Hospital
Press Operator
“Fighting side-by-side with my Union sisters and brothers for a fair contract.”

Heidi Strub
Tacoma General Hospital
Respiratory Care Practitioner
“Here to make sure everyone’s voice is heard and we have a fair, competitive contract. 

Jamie Fenton
Multicare Clinic - Covington
Perioperative Tech
“I joined the bargaining committee to ensure fair contracts regardless of which building you are in.”

Julianna Van Enk
Tacoma General Hospital
Pharmacist
“As a pharmacist, I want to take the best care of our patients as possible. We can’t do that without employees taking care of each other.”

Kelly Gusman
Tacoma General Hospital
Surgical Tech
“I’m on the bargaining team because I love my co-workers and we need a great contract.”

Kurtis Chaffin
Tacoma General Hospital
Mechanic
“Here to expand worker’s rights and paychecks.”

Patricia Brown
Tacoma General Hospital
Licensed Practical Nurse
“I am on the bargaining team to make sure my voice and my co-workers voices are heard”

Rochell Brummer
Tacoma General Hospital
CV Tech
“I joined the bargaining committee to give voice to my fellow Union members.”

Ryan Boyd
Multicare Clinic - Covington
MRI Tech
“I’m here to make sure everyone has a voice at the table to create a better contract”

Sammy Bainivalu
Allenmore Hospital
Patient Registrar
“All for one and one for all!”

Teri Kruse
Tacoma General Hospital
CT Tech
“I’m excited to focus on collaboration with the team to make sure all voices are heard”

Yvette Broeckel
Multicare Clinic - Fife
Medical Assistant
”I’m on the bargaining team to help win a fair contract for all.”

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Update Your Information

It is very important that your personal contact information is correct in the union database to be sure you receive updates on bargaining as well as contract vote information. Please verify that your contact information is correct through the link below.

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Join the UFCW MultiCare Facebook Page 

Get the latest news on contract negotiations by joining our Facebook page. Bargaining updates, upcoming actions, member stories, and more will be regularly updated on the page!