Skagit Regional Health - New Contract Ratified!

“We are happy to announce that the contract ratified with a 94% YES vote. We appreciate everyone who came out to vote.”

-Mike Koening, Engineer/SRH Bargaining Team Member

Skagit Regional Health union members have overwhelmingly ratified their new 3.5 year contract with a 94% YES vote! We won historical wage increases, a minimum of 14.75% wage increase with many classifications receiving wage increases of up to 30.25%. There is also an additional 8 hours of PTO, an additional convenience day, an increase in premium pay, and per diem differentials increase of 4.0%.

Proposed wage increases should be effective the second full pay period after ratification. Our Bargaining Team thanks you for your solidarity as we fought hard for strong new language, per diem differentials, and so much more!

Skagit Regional Health Bargaining Team:
(Front Row L - R)
Katie Davis, Social Worker
Jill Douglass, Data entry Clerk
Cindy Tjaden, Surg Tech
(Back Row L - R)
Aaron St. John, CS Tech
Mike Koenig, Engineer

WhidbeyHealth - Management is Listening!

There was movement in bargaining on September 23. While we did not reach a tentative agreement, Management increased their across-the-board wage proposal and was open to removing the ghost steps / zero steps. WhidbeyHealth confirmed that their wage proposal would be in addition to the wage increases members received on July 31, 2022. 

We counter proposed with a competitive across-the-board increase for all employees, removal of all ghost steps, and increasing certificate premiums to $1. 

In the Support Service and Pro-Tech-LPN contracts, there are about ten steps where an employee does not receive an increase when they move from one step to another. By removing ghost steps, employees are no longer penalized for their loyalty to the Hospital. For example, Step 10 and 11 earn the same wage rate. Under our proposal there would be a step increase between Step 10 and 11 in addition to any other ghost steps. 

We began bargaining for both Service & Support Unit and the Pro-Tech/LPN Unit together to show solidarity as a bargaining unit at the end of July. On September 23, WhidbeyHealth has countered and tabled bargaining for Service & Support until October 1.  We will continue to fight for UNITY and an increased wage for ALL. 

Our next bargaining session will be on October 4 and 19. We will be holding a contract action team meeting to discuss bargaining on September 28.  

Contract Action Team Meeting

Wednesday, October 5 • 11:00 AM

In-Person Casual Get-Together

Thursday, October 6 • 6:00 PM

Organized by WhidbeyHealth stewards

Applebee’s Grill 

31810 State Route 20

Oak Harbor, WA 98277

If you have any questions, please reach out to your bargaining team members or union representative, Celia Ponce-Sanchez.

Our Bargaining Committee:

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

Cascade Valley - SEIU Members Join us for Bargaining Kick-Off

We are about to start union negotiations. Our ability to win a strong contract depends on having active, informed, and united union members in the workplace. 

Join us for our Bargaining Kick-Off meeting on Tuesday, October 4 from 11:00am to 2:00pm, or from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. 

We will be meeting to discuss what our priorities provide in the bargaining survey sent on August 9, 2022. 

We will be meeting at Rainier A Conference Room on the second floor of Cascade Valley Hospital.

Fresenius Renal Care - Workers Ratify New Contract!

Fresenius Workers Ratify New Contract!

On Thursday, September 22, members of UFCW 3000 at Fresenius overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract!

The contract included significant wage and premium increases and improvements to contract language. Thank you to bargaining team members Tiffani Davis and Michele Hardy.

To review the details of your contract or if you have a contract question, contact your rep Ryan Degouveia at 360-662-1989 or rdegouveia@ufcw3000.org.

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If you know someone who is not getting these bargaining updates by email, or you need to update your contact information, please go here:

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Aleda Adams

Aleda Adams, UFCW 3000 member, shop steward, and healthcare worker at Forks Community Hospital

It’s time for another #MemberMonday! Today, we are spotlighting Aleda Adams, who has worked at Forks Community Hospital for over 15 years. Since 2018, Aleda has also been a union shop steward, identifying issues that her coworkers face on the job and advocating for collaborative solutions. Her leadership has extended to Aleda joining both the Labor Management Committee and her unit’s bargaining team. During a recent wage increase contract vote, Aleda met with coworkers to ensure that each person understood the voting process. Aleda answered questions about wage scales and the tentative agreement, so that her coworkers could submit their ballots feeling confident about the information they had been given.

Beyond her own participation, Aleda is always encouraging her coworkers to become more active in our union. In fact, Aleda has convinced coworkers throughout the years to receive steward training as well! As she says, “There are ongoing benefits & wins we can get by being active in our union.”

Thank you for all of your hard work, Aleda!

Providence St. Mary's | Vote Scheduled - Tentative Agreement Reached

PROVIDENCE ST. MARY’S | VOTE SCHEDULED
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED

After three days of bargaining, we have a tentative agreement with Providence St. Mary’s for a new three-year contract.

We accomplished so much including across the board wage increases, tuition reimbursement, new premiums, increase in existing premiums, bonuses, secured process for creating floating practices and improved standby/call back.

Please join us and vote on our new contract!

Monday, October 3
6:30am – 9am or 5pm – 8pm
Marian Room

You must be present and a member in good standing to vote. A full document of the tentative agreement will be provided at the vote, and we encourage everyone to come ask any questions and vote.

“With unity comes knowledge and power. I am encouraging everyone to join us in voting Yes on this new contract.”

-Brittany Reusse, RN ICU

“This was my first experience with negotiations, and I have learned so much about the process and appreciate all of the hard work my team has put into this contract. I am very positive about the changes we can make when we stand together.”

-Danielle Board RN Float Pool

“This process has been really exciting. Both parties worked hard to get a workable solution in a timely manner.”

-Bruce Curnuck, RN OR

Providence St. Mary’s Bargaining Team (R-L): Brenda Gales-Groom, Med Surg. RN | Deidre Hyde, Home Health RN | Brittany Reusse, ICU RN | Caitlyn Ives, Surgical Floor RN | Danielle Board, Float Pool RN | Amanda Fortney, OB RN | Bruce Curnuck, OR RN

Capital Medical Center RN Bargaining Update

Capital Medical Center

There is Still work to be done

We had another bargaining session with management on September 22. Overall we have made great progress and feel like Management has come a long way. However, while a lot of things are promising there is still some work to be done before we can settle a contract that is equitable for everyone. Between the last two bargaining sessions we have discussed economics, staffing, safety, and made a lot headway on some of those issues but Management still needs some more nudging. 
Join us in signing this petition and let Management know that we are united for a strong contract.  

Sign our Petition: United for Strong Contract!>>

“We as nurses are compassionate about safety, our concerns were heard after a hard fight leading to an agreement around safe staffing.” 
–Bonnie Verellen and Carol Cairone  

“Management is trying to take away pay from those who work on-call. Individuals on-call already have a family work life balance burden and now management is trying to reduce pay. We Deserve Better!” –Cindy Dixon and Elisabeth Hildebrand.

PRMCE Technical | Welcome to UFCW 3000 - Tentative Agreement Approved

PRMCE Technical | Welcome to UFCW 3000
Tentative Agreement Approved

On September 21, the newly accreted Pharmacy Technicians at Monroe approved the tentative agreement! You will be placed onto the existing Technical wage scale based on your years of relevant experience in your job classification. Placement onto the wage scale will result in more than a 10% increase for employees.

All the current provisions of the Technical collective bargaining agreement (CBA) will apply to the newly accreted Pharmacy Technicians. Your union contract gives you a voice in your workplace and protects your benefits/wages. Additionally as a union member, you have the right to request for union representation if you are called into an investigatory meeting.

If you have any questions about your contract or experience workplace issues, please contact your Union Rep Sharra Oakley 206-436-6614.

Please join us at one of our virtual new member meetings! learn more about your union rights and receive union dues credit. Scan the QR code to Sign up or go to: ufcw21.org/new-members

PRMCE Professionals | Welcome to UFCW 3000 - Tentative Agreement Approved

PRMCE Professionals | Welcome to UFCW 3000!
Tentative Agreement Approved

On September 20, the newly accreted classifications in the Professional unit at PRMCE approved the tentative agreement! You will be placed onto the existing Professional wage scale based on your years of relevant experience in your job classification. Placement onto the wage scale will result in a 6.0% - 25.0% increase for employees!

All the current provisions of the Professional collective bargaining agreement (CBA) will apply to the newly accreted Professionals. Your union contract gives you a voice in your workplace and protects your benefits/wages. Additionally as a union member, you have the right to request for union representation if you are called into an investigatory meeting.

If you have any questions about your contract or experience workplace issues, please contact your Union Rep Sharra Oakley 206-436-6614.

Please join us at one of our virtual new member meetings! learn more about your union rights and receive union dues credit. Scan the QR code to sign up or go to: ufcw21.org/new-members

Skagit Regional Health - Tentative Agreement Reached

Skagit Regional Health
Tentative Agreement Reached

“Our team was dedicated to working endless hours to fight for a fair contract. While SVH offered up an acceleration of bargaining to be fair and quick...it still didn't meet the needs of SVH employees. We worked until 5:30 am to ensure work life balance needs were improved....work practices would be more fair....and wage increases were reflected with competitors. Both sides of the team brought their best forward.”

-Alina DeLano, SRH Ultrasound and Bargaining Team

Our Bargaining Team is excited to have reached a tentative agreement. After a final marathon bargain where our bargaining team members bargained for a total of 21 hours straight, our priorities were reached, including competitive raises over the next three and half years, better staffing, scheduling and ensuring practices that promote patient safety and compassionate care.

We are proud of a contract that includes:

• Higher across the board wage increases.

• Market adjustments for all job classifications

• More PTO

• Stronger language for standby and callbacks

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Join your coworkers and vote on your new contract!

Skagit Regional Clinic *Additional location added!
Monday, September 26 @ 11AM - 2PM
Skagit Regional Clinic- Riverbend, 2320 Freeway Dr, Mount Vernon

Skagit Valley Hospital
Monday, September 26 @ 6AM - 9AM | 11AM - 2PM | 4PM - 8PM
Sahale Conf Rm - 1415 E Kincaid St, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273

SRH - Camano Island Clinic
Tuesday, September 27 @ 10AM - 11AM
Clinic Break Rm - 127 NE Camano Dr, Camano Island, WA 98282

SRH - Stanwood Clinic
Tuesday, September 27 @ 11:30am – 12:30pm
Conf Rm - 9631 269th St. NW, Stanwood, WA 98292

SRH - Smokey Point Clinic
Tuesday, September 27 @ 7AM - 8:30AM | 11:30AM - 1PM
Conf Rm - 3823 172nd St. NE, Smokey Point, WA 98271

Cascade Valley Hospital
Tuesday, September 27 @ 7am - 8:30am |11:30am - 1:00pm
Rainier B Conf Rm (Floor 2) - 330 Stillaguamish Ave, Arlington, WA 98223

SRH - Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic
Tuesday, September 27 @ 9:30am - 11:30am
Break Rm - 1019 24th St, Anacortes, WA 98221

You must be in good standing to be eligible to vote. Click HERE

C.C. Filson contract overwhelmingly ratified!

Duty Free Americas - 5 Cents Won’t Pay Our Rents

Duty Free Americas
5 Cents Won’t Pay Our Rents

Our first day of bargaining with the Employer had its high points:

• We clarified that if people are sick after they have given their 2 weeks’ notice they can use their paid sick leave

• Grieving workers no longer have to attend a funeral to use their paid bereavement leave.

• More time between scheduled shifts

But Duty Free Americas offered us just a $.05 increase to the yearly raises we get in January. That does hardly anything for us keeping up with the increasing costs of living. They also rejected our proposals for access to more vacation time, premium pay for working on the busy Canadian Holidays, overtime for long hours worked in one day, and better matching contributions for our 401(k) retirement.

We bargain next on Monday, September 26.

“Duty Free’s proposed $.05 increase shows what they think of us. We know that we are worth more! We need to show them that we are serious about real wage increases.”

-Kassidy Oddo, Duty Free Shop

Sign the petition today demanding that Duty Free Americas do more for the people that serve their customers and make their business profitable! Scan the QR code or go to: https://bit.ly/Duty-Free22

Three Rivers Hospital Vote Notice - Change of Benefits

Three Rivers Hospital Vote Notice
Change of Benefits

Three Rivers has proposed a new benefits package that will be made available to part-time staff.

Because it is a change to our contract, we will need to have members vote on the change. The proposal and other information will be provided at the vote.

All members are encouraged to vote YES!
Friday, September 30
11AM – 11:30AM
Mckinley Conference Room

You must be in good standing and present to vote.

Capital Medical Center RN - SAFE STAFFING SAVES LIVES

Our Bargaining Team:

Cindy Dixon (PACU), Carol Cairone (OR), Bonnie Verellen (Labor & Delivery), Dennis Verellen (ICU/PCU)

Not Pictured: Elisabeth Hildebrand (Cath Lab)

Although the burden of presenting responses & counter proposals rested on management yesterday, September 14, your UFCW bargaining team knew it was time to finalize and present our official contract language on safe staffing. 

After receiving CMC’s proposals in the morning hours, we put our heads together to layout a very strong article which would aim to protect nurses & patients. This was presented it in the early afternoon, and Management expressed that they understand the need for staffing language, but appeared apathetic in it’s application. 

This did not deter us. 

We reworked our proposal, and when we met with management again, we lead our revisions with testimony from bargaining team members. This, paired with our revised language, made a proposal so compelling it pushed management into a discussion with us about the necessity of protections not only for ourselves, but for our patients. 

Nurses are the most trusted profession in the United States, and when we stand together to demand basic protections, we expect management to listen. 

Please reach out to your Union Rep or if you have any questions or concerns. 

Brandan Zielinski @ 206-436-6603 or BZielinski@ufcw3000.org 

PRMCE Professional - We Have Reached a Tentative Agreement!

On September 12, we were able to reach a tentative agreement with Providence Everett management. In our first bargaining session, Providence told us they were not interested in placing newly organized employees onto the wage scale dependent on their years of experience. We brought to their attention that new hires will have their years of experience recognized upon hire, but the newly organized employees would be treated differently. 

After that first session, Providence proposed recognizing all newly organized employees’ years of experience for their placement onto the existing Professional wage scale! Employees will be receiving at least a 10% increase upon ratification and receiving all the benefits of the existing Professional contract! 

On September 20, we will be voting on the contract from 2:00PM to 6:00PM at Providence Everett Pacific Campus. If you have any questions, please reach out to your union representative, Sharra Oakley 206-436-6614. 

Contract Vote Scheduled

Tuesday, September 20 

2:00PM to 6:00PM 

PRMCE Pacific Campus

Pacific Conference Room Main Room

All are encouraged to attend the vote meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract.

Forks community hospital Technical & Service - Wage Increases Ratified

Forks Community Hospital Technical & Service

WAGE INCREASES RATIFIED

Thank you to all union members who came out on September 12 and voted to ratify wage increases! The vote overwhelmingly passed. You should see the increase on your paycheck this Friday, September 16.

If you did not this notice through email, please update your contact information at: ufcw21.org/update-your-information

For further information on your new wage increase or if you have any contract questions, contact Union Rep Brandan Zielinski at bzielinski@ufcw3000.org

PRMCE Technical - We Have Reached a Tentative Agreement!

On September 12, we were able to reach a tentative agreement with Providence Everett management. In our first bargaining session, Providence told us they were not interested in placing newly organized employees onto the wage scale dependent on their years of experience. We brought to their attention that new hires will have their years of experience recognized upon hire, but the newly organized employees would be treated differently. 

After that first session, Providence proposed recognizing all newly organized employees’  years of experience for their placement onto the existing Pharmacy Tech wage scale! Employees will be receiving at least a 10% increase upon ratification and receiving all the benefits of the existing Technical contract! 

On September 21, we will be voting on the contract from 12:00PM to 1:00PM at Providence Credena Monroe. If you have any questions, please reach out to your union representative, Sharra Oakley 206-436-6614. 

Contract Vote Scheduled

Wednesday, September 21 

12:00PM to 1:00PM

Providence Credena Monroe

All are encouraged to attend the vote meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract.

Mason General Hospital - Wage increases ratified!

Mason General Hospital
WAGE INCREASES RATIFIED!

Thank you to all Union Members who came out on September 9 and voted to ratify wage increases! The vote overwhelmingly passed. Wage increases go into effect on Sunday, September 18, and you should see the increase on the October 7 paycheck.

If you did not this notice through email, please update your contact information at: ufcw21.org/update-your-information

For further information on your new wage increase or if you have any contract questions, contact Union Rep Brandan Zielinski at bzielinski@ufcw3000.org.

St. Joseph Medical Center Pharmacy - Bargaining Continues

St. Joseph Medical Center Pharmacy
Bargaining Continues

Our Bargaining Team met with Management on September 12. We achieved a tentative agreement on increases in funding for professional membership, continuing education and conferences in Article 6.5. We also tentatively agreed to an improved process for PTO access. Your feedback on the surveys was instrumental in crafting these improvements.

Our next bargaining session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28 at which we intended to discuss economic proposals. We also agreed to additional bargaining dates in October.

“Today’s session was very productive and we look forward to moving closer to a final agreement.”

– Becky Mountjoy, Pharmacy/Bargaining Team

Skagit Regional Health - Bargaining Continues

On September 8, our bargaining team met with management for our 14th negotiation session. We discussed staffing, wages and economics at the table. Our next session on September 14 is a marathon bargaining session, members from your bargaining team will potentially be bargaining through the night into the early morning hours at the table to try and get as much done as possible. 

We are hopeful that Skagit Regional Health will continue to take into account that YOU deserve living wages that help SRH attract and retain workers. Our team will continue to bargain in good faith with SRH and work to ensure you are being compensated market standard rates for your next contract. 

Together, we provide exceptional care to our patients, who are our neighbors and our friends. Now is the time to stand together. Sign our petition affirming you deserve living wages.

Your Bargaining Team: 

Aaron St. John – Central Supply Tech

Alina Delano – Ultrasound Tech

Ashley Price – Medical Assistant Certified

Jill Douglass – Data Entry Clerk 

Maria Muñoz – Environmental

Megan Osborn – Med Tech

Mike Koenig – Engineer

Rindi Atkins – Radiology Tech 

Thomas Kean – Exercise Physiologist

Katie Davis – Social Worker 

Cindy Tjaden – Surgical Tech