VFHM St. Joseph Medical Center Pharmacy - Bargaining Begins

Our Bargaining Team, Left to Right Top to Bottom:

Amanda Carter, Becky Christensen, Beau Chiba, Aimee Cooke

On August 11, your Pharmacy Bargaining Team met with management to begin our contract negotiations. While wages will come at a later bargaining date, we had a productive first day. The team was able to discuss PTO concerns, some economic items, and many of the concerns identified thru your surveys and feedback.

Future bargaining dates include August 24, August 31, September 12, and September 28. There’s still room for new Contract Action Team members. If interested, reach any of the bargaining team members below for more information.

“Good conversations were had today at the table. We presented some of our priorities and I look forward to managements response at our next negotiations.”

— Aimee Cooke

Conifer St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth - We Are All Worth Retaining and No One Should Be Left Behind!

Conifer has given wage increases to employees at St Michael Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital and others while intentionally leaving out St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth.

UFCW Local 3000 has formally requested wage increases for members at St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth to help with recruitment and retention as well as to counter the rising cost of living.

Management quickly responded to our request by saying they were not interested in giving us a mid-cycle wage increase. Management specifically said that they believe our “compensation is appropriate and additional market adjustments will not be provided nor are we required to take such action.”

We are all worth retaining and deserve better wages! We have coworkers who continue to leave to go elsewhere because they can get better somewhere else. If management wants to retain and recruit others, they need to respect us by paying us what they have given others and what we deserve.

“To get the same raise from Conifer that were given to other workers would show that the company values us as employees. It would lessen the stress of high costs we are dealing with because of many years of raises that have not even kept up with inflation. The pandemic has been a really difficult time for all healthcare workers and acknowledging our hard work and the contributions made to our community and our hospital would be REALLY meaningful. Conifer is treating union employees differently from our counterparts. We feel that St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth facilities are being discriminated against by not being offered the same raises that are given to other Conifer employees. Management has even told hospital employees that we can’t be given the raises since we are members of a union. Union employees need to be treated fairly by Conifer! We have stood with Conifer during the worst of times during the Covid crisis and we need Conifer to show that we are valued by extending us the same raises as our fellow employees.”

— Diane Demorest, Patient Account Rep at Conifer St. Elizabeth Hospital

“Conifer not giving us the 10% Market Increase is over a $2 an hour lost income for me. Equaling over $5,000 a year! If they value us as employees they need to pay us market rates. Not punish us because we are union. Many other companies out there paying more and that’s why we have such a high turn over in staff. The company is losing a lot of money onboarding and training people only to lose a lot of them in less than a month. Rather than paying more to retain their staff.”

— Marne Lint, Patient Access at St. Joseph Medical Center.

Sign a petition calling management to do the right thing and give us the wages we deserve!

Confluence Health - Job Classification Addition Pharmacy Tech

Confluence has proposed an increase to the current wage scale for all Pharmacy Tech, Pharmacy Tech I and Pharmacy Tech II mid contract.

Because it is a change to our contract, we will need to have the affected members vote on the change. 

All affected UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to vote “YES” on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 from 12:00pm – 2:00pm in Conference Room E. You must be in good standing and present to vote. 

You will be provided with the proposal at the vote meeting. 

Confluence Health - Job Classification Addition Endoscopy Technician III

Confluence has proposed an additional job classification for an Endoscopy Technician III and would create an additional wage scale.

Because it is a change to our contract, we will need to have the affected members vote on the change.

All affected UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to vote “YES” on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 from 11:00am – 11:30pm in Conference Room E. You must be in good standing and present to vote.

You will be provided with the proposal at the vote meeting.

Richland Fred Meyer - This community has our back - give us a fair contract!

Richland Fred Meyer

This Community Has Our Back, Give us a Fair First Contract!

Our Richland Bargaining Team met on August 16 and 17 and exchanged many proposals with the company including; arbitration procedures and grievance processes, workplace safety language, union security guarantees, just cause protections, paid holidays, sick leave and other important issues. We are very close to an agreement on many of these critical matters. We have dates set in September to continue negotiations with the employer over these critical issues.

Our team continues to fight for:

• Fair wages with an enforceable wage scale and increases.

• Affordable and quality health care that cannot be changed without the agreement of our union team.

It’s time to show Fred Meyer that this community is clearly on our side and demands that we get the fair first contract that includes fair wages, good health care, secure retirement, and a voice on the job that we deserve!

Save the date:

‘This Community Has Our Back, Give us a Fair First Contract’

Richland Community Rally, October 7 from 1:00-3:00PM

Kaiser Pro-Tech & Optical - Online Vote on NEW CONTRACT EXPIRATION DATE!

Kaiser Pro-Tech & Optical - Online Vote on NEW CONTRACT EXPIRATION DATE!

After lengthy negotiations, UFCW and Kaiser have agreed to change the contract expiry date from April 30, 2025 to October 1, 2025. This new expire date lines up with the National Alliance Agreement! This change is fully recommended by members of the Bargaining Team!

The full proposal language will be made available during the online vote on August 30, 2022 from 5am–5pm .

You will receive an email from UFCW 3000 via “SimplyVoting” with your unique login information. All members in good standing are eligible to vote. To vote online make sure your information is up to date!

In order to receive a secure ballot to vote on this contract expiration date change, make sure your personal email is up to date in our records. If you did not receive this announcement via email please visit ufcw21.org/update-your-information to update or scan the QR code with your phone camera ▸

If you do not receive an email to vote on August 30, 2022, please reach out our Union Representative Rhonda Fisher-Ivie at 206-436-6584 to provide an updated email address.

PRE-VOTE INFORMATION MEETING August 29!

Drop in between 9–10am or 7–8pm on August 29. It is important that members attend the Zoom Meeting to review the proposed expiry date change and have your questions answered.

Providence Everett, listen to your caregivers!

We are facing staffing issues across all units daily, and Providence refuses to listen to our staffing solutions! We will be sharing our stories with the community during our leaflet action:

Wednesday, August 24
10:30am - 12pm
Colby and Pacific Campus Entrances

Fresenius Renal Care - Bargaining Update

We have been working hard during contract negotiations August 15 and are scheduled to meet again August 22.

Our bargaining sessions now include a representative from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to help both sides come to an agreement. Management is saying they appreciate us, but the cost of living keeps going up and management is not offering wages to meet the increased costs we are facing every day. All this while we continue to be understaffed and are covering extra shifts.

Workers at Fresenius are standing up against low wages!

Many Fresenius workers have signed the petition asking management for fair wages and to respect the work we do!

Let management know that we need to be treated with respect!

If you have not signed the petition, here is the link:

For additional information contact Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

In solidarity, representatives from both UFCW and WSNA will be distributing buttons, which we are asking workers to wear. If you have not received a button, reach out to Union Representative Ryan Degouveia 360-662-1989 or rdegouveia@ufcw3000.org

If you or a coworker are not getting emails from us, use this link to update your contact information.

GHCH/HRH Workers Unite!

Buttons are showing up on so many workers at HRH! Keep wearing buttons!

On Thursday, August 11, union members joined forces to distribute buttons on both campuses. The buttons are being worn in solidarity with the HRH Bargaining Team demanding a fair contract. We will continue to wear the buttons. 

Starting today—Monday, August 15—we will be distributing a Strike Pledge Card.

In solidarity with the Bargaining Team, the Strike Pledge Cards let management know that we are willing to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract! 

If you have questions or concerns, contact Union Representative Brandan Zielinski at BZielinski@ufcw3000.org or call him at 206-436-6603.

Your Bargaining Team: Janet Byrd, Ricki Franklin, Dan James, Bambi Shope, Debbie Sturm.

Please remind your coworkers to update their information so that everyone can receive these updates!

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Sonia Padilla

Sonia Padilla, UFCW 3000 member and health care worker at North Valley Hospital

This week’s #MemberMonday spotlight is on Sonia Padilla, who has worked at North Valley Hospital in Tonasket, WA for 20 years!

Sonia immigrated to to the United States from Mexico at the age of 15. For 3 summers, she worked in the orchards while learning English. In her senior year of high school, Sonia told her dad that she wanted to try something other than farm work. Sonia enrolled in the CNA program offered through her high school.

Sonia recalls going to the North Valley Hospital DNS every other day, asking if any positions had opened. Finally, she was offered a position as a sitter; at the time of her hire, Sonia was also the only Latina worker at the hospital. In the two decades since, Sonia has advanced her career from CNA to currently a MA-C in the Emergency Room.

Sonia's patients love that she always treats everyone as if they are her family, providing the most compassionate care she can to her patients and their families. Her co-workers deeply respect Sonia, seeing her as a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise. Sonia is always looking out for her co-workers' rights, bringing forward issues, and helping to enforce their contract.

She is a bright star to her co-workers and community. Sonia — thank you for all that you do!

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center - New three-year contract Ratified by SUPER MAJORITY VOTE

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

New three-year contract Ratified by SUPER MAJORITY VOTE in RECORD time and far before expiration

Our Bargaining Team met with the Employer for expedited bargaining sessions where we focused on wages. Through this new process we were able to secure wage increases 5 months earlier than the contract expiration for all Service and Maintenance employees represented by UFCW 3000 and compensate them fairly for the work they do. The wage increases are the largest collectively that we have seen at Providence Sacred Heart and will make us market competitive within our Region.

Thank you to all members who joined one of our vote meetings and participated in this process.

Contact a bargaining team member or your Union Representative for any questions or concerns as they were the ones participating in the process at the bargaining table.

“Every negotiation I learn something new. This years expedited bargaining was certainly a plus! It seemed a smoother process.” – Kaye Balk, Registrar

“This was my first negotiation. I am loving feeling heard. I also feel a part of a team that spoke and worked for over 1100 of my co-workers/caregivers.” – Margaret Lauricella, Monitor Tech

“it’s nice to see the excitement and all the voices come together to make the changes they deserve.”– Aaron Leigh Food Service,

“The Union Members’ voting have been extremely positive! Good news for everyone today.” – Patty Martin, Financial Counselor

“I am so Proud of the members who came together and made this contract happen. YOU Earned This.” – Michael McDonald ER Tech

“Felt Great to help be part of the process of getting people the pay raises they deserve.” – Brad Starkey, Environmental Services

“It was great to come up with an agreement that’s good for All of our members.” – Nicole Taylor, ER Tech

“This experience was incredibly interesting and an eye opener” – William Volpone, Lab Assistant

“Seeing my coworkers throughout the hospital of all ages and backgrounds have their voice heard makes me proud to be a UNION MEMBER.” – Ryan Walton, Sterile Supply Tech

Planned Parenthood - Upcoming Union Rep Meetings

Hola Planned Parenthood Staff,

A reminder of the new clinic visit schedule for next week. I hope you’ll all have some time to say hello, though I fully understand staffing is an issue. If you will not be available at the scheduled visit time, feel free to reach out to Charlie at 206.436.6518 or contact a shop steward. I know you’re very busy with patients, but I hope you have a few minutes to meet the folks who represent you. We are here to listen to your concerns. You’ll also be able to update any contact information and offer your opinion on t-shirts and button slogans we’re considering.

Thank you again for your hard work in trying times. We appreciate you!

Mon 8/15/22
Bremerton HC | 8:30am - 10:30am
Port Angeles HC | 12:30pm

Wed 8/17/22
Olympia HC | 10:30am - 12:30pm
Puyallup HC | 2pm - 4pm

Thurs 8/18/22
Federal Way HC | 9am - 11am
White Center HC | 1pm - 3pm
Bellevue HC | 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Marysville HC | 9:30am - 11:30am
Everett HC | 1pm - 3pm
Lynnwood HC | 3:30 - 5:30pm

Fri 8/19/22
Northgate HC | 8:30am – 10:30am
University District HC | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Tacoma building | 8:30am - 11am
Central District HC | 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Capital Medical Center RN - Bargaining Goes Virtual

Photo Left to Right:

Dennis & Bonnie Verellen, Brandan Zielinski, Elisabeth Hildebrand, Steven Toff, Malando Redeemer, Carol Cairone

During our first virtual bargaining session with Capital Medical Center, we received management’s response to our initial proposals, and used the remaining time to dig deeper into the issues facing RNs at Capital Medical Center!

“We’re working hard to identify a better process for all of us to recognize issues with payroll and quickly fix them. Our payroll systems are just too difficult to read!”

— Bonnie Verellen

“It’s time to rectify the differences between Capital Medical Centers healthcare with the rest of MultiCare at large!”

— Elisabeth Hildebrand

As we continue our hybrid model of bargaining, we also want to continue to stress the importance of hearing your voices throughout this contract negotiation. Reach out to anyone of us on the bargaining team, or our union rep Brandan Zielinski at (206) 436-6603 or via email BZielinski@ufcw3000.org

Capital Medical Center RN - We Are United for a Strong Contract

Our Bargaining Team (Left to Right):

Dennis Verellen (ICU/PCU)

Elisabeth Hildebrand (Cath Lab)

Bonnie Verellen (Labor & Delivery)

Carol Cairone (OR)

Cindy Dixon (PACU)

We had our first bargaining session and led on our vision of what a great Capital Medical Center looks like. With your input we presented our priorities to MultiCare management and told them that our team is united for:

• Competitive Wages that recruit and retain workers

• Safe Staffing for us and our patients

• Safe working conditions for all our coworkers

• Raising standards to meet other MultiCare Units.

“As we began bargaining, we shared with management the important of raising us to the standards of other MultiCare units up north. Just because we are in Olympia doesn’t mean we deserve less than others. We deserve the same services, benefits and resources as others.”

— Dennis Verellen

“We had a successful start to our bargaining coming to some agreements right out the gate. With your support and involvement I believe we will have a successful bargain and win a strong contract.”

— Carol Cairone

Together we can win!

Many hands make light work! If you are interested in being involved and staying up-to-date please join the Contract Action Team (CAT). Reach out to anyone of us on the bargaining team or our union rep Brandan Zielinski at (206) 436-6603 or via email BZielinski@ufcw3000.org.

Fresenius Renal Care - Bargaining Continues

This week we met with management and a federal mediator to let them know the wages they are offering are not enough! We need to pay our bills, feed our kids, put gas in our cars to get to work. We also need recognition for our long work hours and experience!

We have additional bargaining sessions set up for:

August 15 • August 22

Tell management they need to listen to workers and show some respect. Sign the petition:

https://bit.ly/Fresenius22

Join the Contract Action Team Meeting!

Thursday, August 11

10:00 AM • 6:00 PM

https://zoom.us/join

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

If your coworkers are not receiving this update, they can go to: 

www.ufcw21.org/update-your-information

“We’re continuing to fight for higher pay. We hope to win this war on wages!”

— Tiffani Davis, Bargaining Team

“Management said they appreciate our work but are not showing that in the wages they are offering. We need to stand together to get management to see we are united.”

— Michele Hardy, Bargaining Team

For additional information contact Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

Capital Medical Center RN - Bargaining Begins

We’ve received your bargaining surveys, reviewed your priorities, and now we’re preparing to meet management at the table. 

UFCW and Capital Medical Center are scheduled for Thursday, August 4 to begin negotiations around the RN Contract & your suggested improvements. 

GET INVOLVED!

Please contact your rep Brandan Zielinski at (206) 436-6603 or via email at BZielinski@ufcw3000.org if you’d like to be on our Contract Action Team! 

Please update your contact information to make sure you receive any future updates: 

Hudson Dufry Group - Tentative Agreement Reached

We have reached a tentative agreement with Hudson/Dufry. Our Bargaining Committee is recommending a YES vote on this contract. There are NO TAKEAWAYS to members and improvements include:

• New wage scales that shorten the time to the top rates by years

• Historic pay increases

• Improved 401(k) funding

• Improved vacations

• Other important improvements

Join your co-workers and vote on your new contract at one of these locations:

Thursday, August 11 @ 9:30am - 10:30am
Hudson/Dufry Warehouse, 19320 Des Moines Memorial Dr, SeaTac, WA 98148

Thursday, August 11 @ 12:30pm - 4pm
SeaTac Airport Conference Center - Beijing Room, 17801 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA 98158

WhidbeyHealth - WhidbeyHealth Responds to Our Proposal!

Prior to June, we requested bargaining dates from Management to start wage reopener negotiations. Finally in July, Management provided us with a bargaining date and a wage proposal which Management sent to all employees. The wage scale that Management released was a proposal and needs to be approved and voted on by YOU, UFCW 3000 members! Management has said this proposal is a “done deal,” but that is NOT THE CASE!

Management has the right under the contract (Article 18) to give everyone a wage increase, but they cannot implement a new wage scale. For example, they can implement a percentage wage increase for all current employees in all classifications while we are in negotiations and keep the wage scale as is.

On July 28 the Pro/Tech/LPN and Support Services bargaining team met with the WhidbeyHealth management bargaining team. We reviewed Management’s wage proposal and there are several classifications whose pay rates are below area hospitals. Management proposed higher wage increases for some classifications anything between .5% to 2.5% for other classifications. Given this, we proposed a 25% wage scale increase for both Pro/Tech/LPN and Support Services, along with the removal of all ghost/zero steps and replacing those steps with a 2.5% step increment. Management did not meaningfully respond to our proposal and gave us a second bargaining date for late August.

We are disappointed with Management’s lack of response and delay to the bargaining process! We have request sooner bargaining dates. It is important that we show Management that we need higher pay and they should not delay implementing wage increases!

We will be holding a contract action team meeting on Thursday, August 4, 1:00pm and 6:00pm over Zoom and Tuesday, August 9 at 6:00pm (tentatively in the Education conference room at WhidbeyHealth) where we will be talking about actions and discussing bargaining.

If you have questions, please contact your union representative Celia Ponce-Sanchez cponcesanchez@ufcw3000.org 360-419-4678 or your bargaining committee.

Your bargaining committee,

Jennifer MacNeill, Rosalie Nguyen, Qiana Johnson, Marty Riley, Gwendolyn Cole, Lisa Olds, Marilyn Faber, Elke Rogers

Join the Contract Action Team Meeting!

Thursday, August 4

1:00 PM • 6:00 PM

Confluence Health - Job Classification Addition

Confluence has proposed an additional job classification for a Technical Assistant that would create an additional wage scale. 

Because it is a change to our contract, we will need to have the affected members vote on the change. 

All affected UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to vote “YES” on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 from 11:30am – 1:00pm in Conference Room K. You must be in good standing and present to vote. 

You will be provided with the proposal at the vote meeting. 

Safety and Workers' Rights in Extreme Heat Situations

More and more, we face hazardous weather events like extreme heat that can affect us at work and at home. In dangerously hot conditions you can take action to stay safe and healthy, like drinking plenty of fluids, staying out of the sun, checking on vulnerable people, and taking extra precautions when outside.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized serious hazards in the workplace, including heat-related hazards. Especially if you work outside, be aware of your health and safety during any Excessive Heat Warning, and check in with your coworkers. If your workplace doesn’t feel safe, tell management and contact your Shop Steward or Union Rep as soon as you can. Find our FAQ on refusing unsafe work assignments here.

This kind of extreme weather is dangerous in our workplaces and our communities, which is why UFCW 3000 members work for climate policies that will help protect us and our future health.

Contact Us:

• Find your Union Rep (call 1-866-210-3000 to be connected)

• File a safety report by emailing safetyreport@ufcw21.org with your name, work location, contact information, and a description of the safety issue

• Not a union member? Get in touch if you want to organize your workplace.

Check National Weather Service Excessive Heat Warnings in Washington:

Extreme Heat at Work

OSHA has three basic recommendations for safety in extreme heat are: 💧 water, 🪑 rest, and ⛱️ shade.

Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat. An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program.

• Provide workers with water, rest, and shade.

• Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimatize, or build a tolerance for working in the heat.

• Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention.

• Monitor workers for signs of illness.

If you perform work outdoors for more than 15 minutes in a 60-minute period, you may be considered an Outdoor Worker in Washington, and your employer may have responsibilities to you under Washington State’s emergency heat exposure rules effective through June 15, 2022. When temperatures are at or above 89 degrees, employers must provide outdoor workers with cool water and additional paid cool-down rest time, and when the temperature is at or above 100 degrees, employers must also provide other ways to cool down like a shaded area and ensure you have a paid cool-down rest period of at least 10 minutes every two hours.

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Safety & Heat-Related Illnesses Information

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Heat illness can be very serious. Learn the symptoms of heat illness and basic safety recommendations so you can stay safe at work and home.

Information from Washington State Dept. of Health:

Information from King County Public Health:

Basic HEAT Safety Tips:

• Spend more time in air-conditioned places if possible

• Dress in lightweight clothing

• Drink plenty of water and avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol, and large amounts of sugar—sip frequently, don’t wait until you’re thirsty

• Do not leave children or pets unattended in vehicles under any circumstances

• Reduce activities that are tiring or take a lot of energy

• When outside, limit the time you’re in direct sunlight

• Do outdoor activities in the cooler morning and evening hours

• During outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments

• Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 11.

Learn the signs of heat-related illnesses:

Heat Stroke

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

• High body temperature (103°F or higher)

• Hot, red, dry, or damp skin

• Fast, strong pulse

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Confusion

• Losing consciousness (passing out)

WHAT TO DO

• Call 911 right away—heat stroke is a medical emergency

• Move the person to a cooler place

• Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath

• Do not give the person anything to drink

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Heat Exhaustion

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

• Heavy sweating

• Cold, pale, and clammy skin

• Fast, weak pulse

• Nausea or vomiting

• Muscle cramps

• Tiredness or weakness

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Fainting (passing out)

WHAT TO DO:

• Move to a cool place

• Loosen your clothes

• Put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath

• Sip water

• Get medical help right away if:

  • You are throwing up

  • Your symptoms get worse

  • Your symptoms last longer than 1 hour

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Heat Cramps

WHAT TO DO:

• Stop physical activity and move to a cool place

• Drink water or a sports drink

• Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity

• Get medical help right away if:

  • Cramps last longer than 1 hour

  • You’re on a low-sodium diet

  • You have heart problems

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

• Heavy sweating during intense exercise

• Muscle pain or spasms