UFCW 3000 Member Story: Craig Kistler

Craig Kistler

Craig Kistler is a former Marine Deputy who now serves his community at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center as a Mental Health Counselor.

He joined the union about a year ago. He was happy to join because he saw the union addressing the needs of him and his coworkers. Craig and a co-worker talked about the benefits of the union and that the union started with the members at the work site, which is why he became interested in being more involved in helping build the power of the union.

He is happy to be a shop steward and is excited to be part of the bargaining team for the upcoming contract negotiations.

Planned Parenthood Bargaining Update

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

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

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

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

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

Jefferson County Public Employees - Contract Ratified!

“Participation in our ratification to confirm the agreement between the workers and the County is a crucial piece of union democracy- we appreciate everyone who came to vote!” - Tim Weissman, Environmental Health Specialist

On July 12, members attending the union contract votes at the courthouse and the public works conference room ratified the agreement by an overwhelming majority! Our Bargaining Team thanks everyone who showed up to vote for doing so.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Kelly Shaffer

Kelly Shaffer

Kelly Shaffer knows that being part of a union means having a collective voice on the job that the boss just can’t match, “Without our labor a business can’t operate, we effectively are the store.” Her sense of solidarity comes from how she was raised:

I'm from a working-class family, and my siblings are in unions too (shout out to the electrical workers and the teamsters!), and it's a genuine joy to be able to give back in my own workplace and look out for my fellow grocery workers.

So much of labor history is forgotten, and a lot of people don't realize that their basic rights as workers, the 8-hour day, their breaks, and weekends, are things that were literally fought for. It's important to me to honor that sacrifice and protect the things we might otherwise take for granted.

When Kelly is at work and organizing her coworkers she enjoys painting, drawing, video gaming, and tending to her vegetable garden. Sounds like a well-rounded life and a great shop steward!

Forks Community Hospital Service & Tech Contract Ratified!

Our Union Bargaining Team wants to thank you for participating in the contract vote. The collective bargaining agreement was ratified July 6 with 100% voting YES! This agreement:

• Increases wages a minimum of 15% over the life of the contract

• Protects affordable health care

• Adds multilingual pay to the contract

• Adds certification pay to the contract

PRMCE—Listen to Your Nurses and Community!

Since May 2023, we have been bargaining with Providence Everett management. Our objective has been safe staffing levels for our community and patients. Providence has rejected our staffing language and our ideas to retain and recruit nurses. It is time for our community and elected officials to hear about the staffing crisis at Providence Everett!

Nurses want the best for patients. Providence Everett wants the best for their pocketbooks.

It is time we take a stand.

Join us and bring your family and friends to one of the actions below and sign your strike pledge card! By signing a strike pledge card, we are saying that we are willing to strike in the future.

Wednesday, July 12

Snohomish City Council Meeting @ 10:30am

• 3000 Rockefeller Ave. 

• 8th Floor, Jackson Board Room

• Robert J. Drewel Building

• Everett, WA 98201

Everett City Council Meeting @ 6:30pm

• William E Moore Historic City Hall (Police, North Precinct)

• 3002 Wetmore Ave.

• Everett, WA 98201

Thursday, July 13

Banner and Leaflet at Everett Marina Summer Concert @ 4:45PM to 6:00PM

• On W. Marine View Drive (near Lombardi’s) underneath the Grand Avenue Park Bridge

Sunday, July 16

Banner and Leaflet Action @ 5:30PM to 7:00PM

• Broadway and Pacific Ave

• Everett, WA 98201

PCC July Contract Action Team Meetings

TUESDAY, JULY 25: 1:00PM – 2:00PM

BELLEVUE LIBRARY ROOM 4

1111 110th AVE NE, BELLEVUE, WA 98004

TUESDAY, JULY 25: 12:00PM – 1:00PM

SEATTLE LIBRARY: COLUMBIA CITY BRANCH

4721 RAINIER AVE S, SEATTLE, WA 98118

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

SEATTLE LIBRARY: UNIVERSITY BRANCH

5009 ROOSEVELT WAY NE, SEATTLE, WA 98105

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26: 6:00PM – 7:00PM

KINGSGATE LIBRARY

12315 NE 143RD ST, KIRKLAND, WA 98034

FRIDAY, JULY 28: 4:00PM – 5:00PM

ISSAQUAH LIBRARY

10 W SUNSET WAY, ISSAQUAH, WA 98027

FRIDAY, JULY 28: 4:00PM – 5:00PM

SEATTLE LIBRARY: WEST SEATTLE BRANCH

2306 42ND AVE SW, SEATTLE, WA 98116

LabCorp - Negotiations Continue

LabCorp
Negotiations Continue

Our LabCorp Bargaining Team met with Management on June 29 to continue negotiations. We proposed additional holidays (MLK day, Juneteenth and Veterans Day) to recognize Union members of color and former service members. We made proposals to address issues with excessive overtime, understaffing, and mandatory schedule changes. We also proposed additional bereavement and union leave, penalties for untimely resolution of paycheck errors, more training for management on medical leave processes, and better access to HR.

NEXT CAT MEETINGS:
Thursday, July 13 on Zoom
9am—10am and 6:30pm—7:30pm
Find the link at: linktr.ee/LabForce3000

NEXT BARGAINING DATES:
July 19 and August 1

“We shared your stories about overtime and staffing problems. Unfortunately, although we come prepared every session with full proposals and explanations for them, management has chosen not to respond to our contract language proposals and deferred addressing previous issues until they receive all our economic proposals as well. This delay tactic is unacceptable! Despite this, we remain prepared and ready for action as we head into our next two negotiations sessions.” —Matt Noll, Cytogenetic Technologist

STAY IN THE LOOP!
Please make sure to join and follow our Slack or Facebook group for important updates regarding Contract Action Team meetings and negotiations.

Questions or concerns? Reach out to our Bargaining Team or Union Rep, Christie Harris at 206-436-6606.

Jefferson County Public Employees - Contract Vote Scheduled

After meeting for one more bargaining session on June 27, our Bargaining Team has finalized the details of a tentative agreement! Improvements to the collective bargaining agreement include:

• Across the board wage increases all three years of the agreement

• Elimination of lower wage scale steps

• Addition of another wage step at the top of the scale in year three

• Conversion from a vacation & sick leave accrual system to a Personal Time Off (PTO) system that allows for greater flexibility of use and a larger carry-over of hours year-to-year

• Added steps for years of experience to longevity bonuses

This tentative agreement is recommended by our Bargaining Team.

Join your co-workers and vote “YES” to ratify your union contract!

Wednesday, July 12 @ 9AM—12PM
Jefferson County Courthouse, first floor conference room

Wednesday, July 12 @ 1PM—3:30PM
Public Works office conference room

EvergreenHealth - Evergreen Workers Show Their Strength!

Workers at EvergreenHeath took part in our first worksite action on Tuesday, July 20 by wearing union colors and holding a mass attendance at the board of commissioners meeting. We filled the room and showed management and board members that Evergreen workers are engaged and serious about winning a fair contract.

The sea of yellow forced management to sit up and take notice, and several voluntarily offered commentary on the importance of our work in the clinical and financial success of the hospital.

Make no mistake though, this action is not enough to move the needle at the bargaining table. We plan to attend the next board meeting on July 18 in even greater numbers and speak directly to management and the board about why we need a strong contract with fair wages, better benefits, and real solutions the staffing crisis we face every day.

Are you interested in raising your voice in support of a fair contract? Contact your rep Jack Crow at 206-436-6614 or jcrow@ufcw3000.org

Come to the next contract action meeting!

• July 11 • 5:30 PM

• TAN 138

Can’t make it? Join our Zoom meeting instead!

• July 10 • 10:30 AM

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

St. Michael Medical Center (Pro-Tech) - Contract ratified!

St. Michael Medical Center (Pro-Tech)
Contract ratified!

On Friday, June 30, we overwhelmingly voted to ratify our new collective bargaining agreement! Our new contract includes some of the highest pay in the region, a completely revamped wage scale with no ghost steps, increases to several differentials, and much more.

We will work with the Employer to get a final signed copy of your contract printed as soon as possible, but in the meantime, the redline version can be found HERE >>

Bargaining Team: Paul Harris, ER Tech; Chris Young, Transport; Don Szabo, Lead Medical Imaging; Rob Shauger, CNA 8th floor; Angela Roberson, Heart and Vascular; Connie Baker, RT; Kain McLeod, Pharm Technician; Alicia Krug, Surgery Tech

Mariners Team Store Retail Workers Update

On March 18, retail workers at the Mariners Team Store ratified our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which included a 30% Employee Discount, $1.50 to $3.50 raise for workers, improved full-time staff healthcare qualification, secured 4 game tickets per month, and more. Shortly after, however, the Employer took away long-standing benefits that workers had enjoyed in previous seasons—subsidized parking and promotional items. In response to this unilateral change, the union filed a Grievance and an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) claim, alleging that the employer was retaliating against workers for their union activity.

After filing the ULP and Grievance, the union received a decertification petition that aimed to eliminate the union and representation at Mariners Team Stores. A vote was scheduled for May 30, 2023. Before the vote, our union filed a Request for Review with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that the decertification vote was conducted in conflict with the intent of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and in conflict with decades of established NLRB precedent. The results of the vote are pending certification with the NLRB—the enforcement arm of the NLR—while the ULP and Request for Review are being resolved.

Here is where we stand:

Subsidized Parking and Promotional Items Grievance:

• Recently selected an arbitrator to hear the case and we are working to confirm a date for the arbitration.

Subsidized Parking and Promotional Items ULP:

• Currently under review with the NLRB

Decertification Election Process Request for Review:

• Currently under review with the NLRB

You and your coworkers deserve to have subsidized parking and promotional giveaways restored. It is unfortunate that the timeline for a resolution has not been quicker. The game-to-game impact of additional commute times, expensive parking, and missing out on great promotional giveaways is why we’re fighting to secure those benefits moving forward. Pending the certification of the election results, UFCW 3000 continues to represent you and your coworkers as unionized workers, and all provisions of your CBA remain in effect. One of the provisions of our CBA includes union dues deduction and collection. We are currently inquiring our International Union to see if we can delay the collection of union dues until the Election results have been determined.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your union representative Dominick Ojeda at (206) 436-6586.

Uwajimaya Meat Contract Votes Scheduled!

Drop by during the voting time to review the Tentative Agreement, have your questions answered, and then vote. These votes are open to all active members of UFCW 3000 Meat Workers at Uwajimaya.

Contract Vote: Thursday, July 13, 2023

Bellevue Store @ 9AM—10:30AM 699 120th Ave. NE (break room)

Renton Store @ 12PM—1:30PM 501 S Grady Way Renton (break room)

Seattle Store @ 2:30PM—4PM 519 6th Ave. S (break room)

Providence St. Peter Hospital PTAs / COTAs Bargaining Update

“Unfortunately Providence rejected our proposal to place employees on a wage scale per their years of experience in their job classification. Having our years of experience recognized is a top priority!”—Cynthia Miner and Heidi Ranger

Our Union Bargaining Team met with Management on Thursday, June 29 to discuss the terms of our accretion into the technical unit represented by UFCW 3000. Thus far we have not been able to come to an agreement with Management about the structure of our wage scale and retaining greater continuing education benefits than the minimum required in the technical unit’s union contract.

As such, we are scheduled to meet with them again August 15. While we wish this were possible sooner, we also could not accept the offer on the table just for the sake of expediting the process.

MultiCare Covington Medical Center Contract Ratified

Bargaining Units has Overwhelmingly voted yes to ratify the contract!

We won:

• Historic wage increases that can help recruit and retain qualified staff!

• Increased PTO cash out

• Low Census Limits for RNs

• Staffing Accountability Language

• And other great wins!

The contract will immediately go into effect. New wages will go into effect on July 16.

If you have questions, please reach out to one of your bargaining team members or your union representative Ian Jacobson.

Planned Parenthood Bargaining Update

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

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

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

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

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

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

Providence St. Joseph - New Three Year Contract Ratified at Providence St. Joseph Hospital for Service & Maintenance and Technical Units

Our bargaining team is excited to announce that on June 27, 2023, the new three-year contract was unanimously ratified at Providence St. Joseph Hospital for service & maintenance and technical units. This was a great time for everyone to learn about the new contract, ask questions, and vote. We connected with a lot of people and built our membership through this process. We are encouraged that the growth of our membership will strengthen the power that we have at the table.

The new contract has a competitive wage scale, increased premiums, an additional holiday, and cleaned up a lot of unnecessary language. The bargaining team spent some very long days with management, but they are excited, hopeful, and confident that this contract will help address retention and recruitment issues at St. Joseph.

If you would like to get involved, please reach out to your bargaining team. It takes all of us to fight for the benefits we work hard for!

Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Amy Radcliff at (509) 340-7370 with any questions or concerns.

Our Bargaining Team: Dawn Trotter, Financial Counselor; Bridgett McCoy, Coordinator; Terri Barbano-Cardin, Respiratory Therapist; Amy Radcliff, Union Representative

Olympic Medical Center - Bargaining Begins at Olympic Medical Center

Bargaining has begun for Pro-Tech and Support Services workers.

Your Bargaining Team has met several times to create contract proposals that address the challenges of retaining and recruiting workers. Low wages are at the center of the staffing crisis, resulting in long hours of work for the dedicated staff who are the foundation of OMC.

OMC needs to offer competitive wages and benefits that will not only get workers, but also keep them. Staffing issues need to be addressed, including the high number of travelers who have no commitment to the community.

On Friday, June 23, we had a full day of bargaining and made both economic and non-economic proposals.

Management seemed interested in what we had to say, but have not yet given any response to our proposals. The next bargaining date is July 13.

---

Our Bargaining Team

Pro-Tech: Amanda Beck, Surgery Tech; Nancy Dahl, Ultrasound Tech; Robert Elofson-Gilbertson, Radiology Tech; Joshua Johnston, CT Tech; Hector Pozernic, Physical Therapist; Jake Purvis, Pharmacist; Patricia Wood, Technical Specialist;

Support Services: Deviney Blore, Imaging Services Rep II; Cameron Van Winkle, Laundry Worker; Terry Wray, Patient Access Rep

---

For additional information, contact a bargaining team member or Union Representative Aimee Oien 360-662-1981.

Update your information!

https://ufcw3000.org/update-your-information

Ferry County Public Hospital - Bargaining Continues for Service & Maintenance and LPN Workers

Bargaining Team members met with management on June 22 and were scheduled for June 23, but management cancelled so they could prepare a response to our comprehensive proposal, which we introduced on the 22nd.

We are looking forward to a counter from the employer on June 29 that hopefully will address all of the very vital parts of our contract.  

We have had some very good conversations but still have a lot of work to do.  

Our next bargaining session is scheduled for June 29. Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Amy Radcliff at 509-340-7370 with any questions or concerns.

Our Bargaining Team: Amy Radcliff Union Representative; Chris Torres Lab; Nykole Silrus, LPN; Rebecca Thompson, Unit Coordinator.