PRMCE RN We walked the line to ensure safe staffing!

We Walked the Line to Ensure Safe Staffing – Our Community, Patients and Co-workers stood with us 

Over the last five days over a thousand nurses, family, friends, labor unions, elected officials, and community have walked the picket line with us to demand that Providence consider our common-sense staffing proposals in good faith.  

Over the last five days, one thing is for sure: Providence has heard us loud and clear. 

Watch the strike round-up slideshow! >>

This morning, 11/19, we return to work with the hope that Providence will engage in meaningful bargaining and really listen to the solutions we are demanding. If you have any issues with your return to work, call your Union Representative Anthony Cantu or the Member Resource Center at 1-888-210-3000. 

Throughout the ten-day strike notice period and throughout the ULP strike, Providence chose not to negotiate. But now, with our ULP strike concluded, they've expressed an interest in returning to the bargaining table. This time, as we resume negotiations, a federal mediator will join us to facilitate a fair and productive process. 

While we await the negotiation date, it's essential to plan our next steps and reflect on the impact of our ULP strike. Join us for a strike captain meeting on Tuesday, November 21st, at 8 pm to debrief the strike and discuss next steps. 

If you completed 20 hours of strike duty and filled out your W9 form completely, your strike benefit check will be sent by Friday November 24 via regular mail to your address.  If you did not complete your W9 form, please fill it out and arrange a time to submit your form in-person to UFCW staff. >>

“We are not going let our community suffer—that’s not what we’re here for. Providence has to step up. They need to understand: all that we ask is that you come to the table with open minds, open hearts, open ears, open eyes. Let’s get this done so we can get back to work.” -Juan Stout, bargaining team member 

“We all could have made the decision to believe Providence when they said the best they could do is what we’ve been experiencing for the past year and a half, and that that’s what they wanted for us in the future. We disagree. They can do better and we need them to do better.” -Kelli Johnson, bargaining team member 

Our journey is far from over. Together, let's persist, let's continue to stand united, and let's keep pushing until we secure the changes we're fighting for. 

Strike Captain Meeting (& open to all nurses!)- Tuesday 11/21 8pm via zoom 

• Debrief Strike- lessons learned, feedback, what went well and could be improved in future 

• Discuss Next Steps 

UFCW 3000 Podcast Episode 10: Voices from the strike line at Providence

It's our first STRIKE EPISODE! UFCW 3000 member and self-taught podcast host Michaela (plus Episode 1 guest Kristina) drove out to both picket lines at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, where nurses have been out on an unfair labor practice strike since 6AM on Tuesday 11/14. Hear directly from these striking nurses about what's at stake in their fight for a fair contract that respects their dedication and supports safe patient care for their community. To hear more from Providence Everett nurses, check out Episode 7: “It’s your hospital, it’s your health care, it’s your community” for Michaela's interviews with nurse bargaining team members.

UFCW 3000 union shop steward Michaela is always ready to answer fellow members’ questions about their union. She’s also a devoted murder podcast listener. Put those interests together, and she decided to start a union podcast to get all her coworkers’ questions and her own questions answered, and to meet as many people as possible who could share what it means to be a part of UFCW 3000. (No murder on this podcast, only solidarity!)

*The information shared on this podcast is offered by rank and file union member leaders of UFCW 3000. There may be inaccuracies or misstatements shared, as members will be speaking from the lenses of their perspectives and life experiences. While members are doing their best to share good information, we can make no claims to 100% accuracy and this podcast should not be construed as legal advice.

PRMCE RN Plans for our return to work

Our ULP strike will end on Sunday November 19 at 6am. You should receive a message from your supervisor with instructions on your return to work if you are scheduled to work on November 19th. 
 
If your November 19 shift start time is before 6am, please report to work at 6am. If your November 19 shift end time is between 6am to 7am, please report to work at 6am unless your supervisor tells you otherwise. 
 
We encourage you to join us from 4am to 6am to help walk nurses back to work and finish our ULP strike strong.We stand united and will continue to be united until PRMCE bargains in good faith and we reach a contract which addresses the staffing needs of our patients and community! 
 
We will send out a bargaining update on Sunday November 19 with details of our next steps. 

The Doctor’s Clinic - CONTRACT VOTE SCHEDULED

After months of bargaining we have reached a tentative agreement! The Bargaining Team is recommending a “YES” vote! UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

• Drop-in between

• 12:00 pm — 8:00 pm

• UFCW Silverdale Office

• 3888 NW Randall Way #105

• Silverdale Washington 98383

Highlights include:

2023:

• 5% to 6% Wage Increases retroactive to July 1, 2023

• Step Increases for all eligible employees

• New Step 18 on the wage scale

2024: 

• 2.5% Increase to the scale 

• Step Increases for all eligible employees

• New Step 19 on the wage scale

2025:

• 2.5% Increase to the scale

• Step Increases for all eligible employees 

• Lump Sum Payment for those at Step 19

Premiums and Reimbursements:

• $2.00 per hour Shift Differential.  ​

• $3.00 per hour Weekend Premium.

• $2.00 per hour Rotator Premium

• $50.00 BLS Certification Reimbursement

• TDC will pay for one MA Certification test for each MAR who is an employee of The Doctor’s Clinic on the date of ratification.

For additional information reach out to a Bargaining Team member of Union Representative Naomi Oligario 360-662-1989

Our Bargaining Team (Left to Right): Alec Andren, Terri Dumont, Anna Snyder, Katy Turek

Please make sure your contact information is up to date! ufcw3000.org/update-your-information

Macy's 3-Day ULP Strike Announced

At a press conference this morning held at Southcenter Mall, UFCW Local 3000 announced that Macy’s workers will be going out on a 3-day unfair labor practice strike starting on Black Friday through Sunday November 26.

“Workers don’t feel safe in our store, and now they are scared of retaliation, so they’ve stopped calling for help when they see a threat. Macy’s needs to step up and make our stores safer for workers and customers. And I’m asking our customers to shop elsewhere this holiday while we are on strike.” — Liisa Luick, Alderwood Mall

“Until Macy’s shows that they respect and value us with better security and better pay, they will lose more workers. I hope our customers will stand with us in this fight and not shop at Macy’s while we are on strike.” — Azia Domingo, Southcenter Mall

UFCW Local 3000 staff will be on the strike line for the entire duration of the strike to answer any questions and ensure everything runs smoothly. We also have other UFCW members and staff from around the United States who have made arrangements to support our fight for a fair contract.

To kick-off our ULP strike there will be the “Macy’s Striking Workers Parade” at the Southcenter mall on Black Friday @ 9AM. The parade will feature hundreds of supporters from around the community, a speaker line up, and a Cher impersonator just like Macy’s parade in New York City!

We encourage all members to attend an informational zoom meeting tonight (11/17) to learn more about the impending strike and have your questions answered.

What happens with our strike benefit during a 3-day strike?

Members who withhold their labor and walk twenty hours on the picket line during the three days will still earn a $500 strike benefit. However, a new option is available that offers a $300 benefit for members who spend just 12 hours on the picket line instead. While taxes will not be withheld from your strike benefit, members are still required to complete a W-9 form to receive payment.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Friday, November 17 @ 5PM: All Member Virtual Meeting! >>

Tuesday, November 21 @ 1PM, Picket Sign Making Party! Alderwood Strike HQ (Residence Inn by Marriott 18200 Alderwood Mall Pkwy, Lynnwood, WA 98037)

Black Friday 9AM, Southcenter Mall: Macy’s Striking Workers Parade >>

Macy’s Strike HQ Website >>

C.C. Filson - Layoff severance and amendments to Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Vote

C.C. Filson
Layoff severance and amendments to Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Vote

Last week, we met with Filson’s regarding the upcoming layoff of 25 Manufacturing positions. We reached a tentative agreement that includes severance pay and extends the timeframe for healthcare benefits. Additionally, Filson’s had proposed some amendments to Article 12 to eliminate the Productivity Bonus Pay. We were able to get Filson’s to accelerate the February 1, 2024 wage increases, and provide an additional wage increase for all employees effective April 1, 2024.

We will be holding a vote to allow all members an opportunity to vote on the proposed MOU (Memorandum of Agreement) regarding the layoffs as well as the proposed amendments to the contract.

Vote Details

Monday, November 27
10:30am—3:30pm
C.C. Filson break room, 6111 S 228th Street, Kent, WA 98032

All the details of the proposed amendments will be available at the meeting.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Union Rep Jose Veliz @ 360-409-0615.

NO DEAL REACHED with Macy’s. Macy’s Workers, It’s Time to Stand UP.

OUR UNION BARGAINING TEAM: Azia Domingo, Curtisy Bryant, Emily Hunter, Liisa Luick, Nicole Hardin, Sean Embly, Faye Guenther.

Last night, we did not reach a deal and after 3 bargaining sessions, Macy’s refused to in good faith consider bargaining proposals to address our concerns. We remain ready and willing to bargain at any time when Macy’s is ready to bargain in good faith and can send a decision maker to the Bargaining Table.

Next Steps:

1. Join the press conference on Friday, November 17 at 9 a.m. at the Southcenter Mall or view it at the Facebook Live.

2. Sign up for at least 20 hours on your store’s Strike Schedule (see your store’s Picket Captains).

3. Complete a W9 form and return the completed form to a UFCW 3000 Union Representative or complete a W9 online by visiting Macysunited.com/strike to make sure you will get paid your strike benefit.

In the event we do end up on a ULP strike, our Bargaining Team has planned a “Macy’s Striking Workers Parade” action on Black Friday at the Southcenter location that will be supported by community partners and other UFCW 3000 members.

We Are in This Together to Improve Safety and Increase Worker Pay

We need safer workplaces. We need better security. We need to retain our staff. We need better wages to retain staff. Macy’s CEO gets over $11 million per year, while some of us rely on food banks and can’t afford to see the doctor.

Macys Striking Workers Parade, Black Friday, 9AM, Southcenter Mall

Downtown Dog Lounge - Another Session at the Negotiation Table!

Your union team met with DDL management and their lawyer again Tuesday, November 14, and dug in on bereavement, vacation, and management’s dress code. After many back and forth we walked away with no deals yet on any of these important subjects. We hope to have a more fruitful session December 2 when we meet again!

Talk to your union bargaining team for updates and more information!

From L to R: Joe Mizrahi (Union Secretary-Treasurer), Ayla (Bather), Maribeth (Night Owl), Grace (Evaluator/Concierge), Judy (Concierge), Elsie (Pack Leader), and Faye Guenther (Union President)

Macy's - BARGAINING TODAY!

Our Bargaining Team will meet with Macy’s management again today, November 15, beginning at 2PM and possibly into the night. We have a late start today due to the availability of the federal mediator.

We come today trying to find a path to an agreement that will both improve workers lives by putting more money into our checks, but also creating a safer working environment that addresses the increasing amount of crime in our stores.

However, we come to the table today in the face of continued unfair labor practices from the employer that has frustrated the bargaining process. Such behavior from Macy’s has made it difficult to have honest and fruitful talks with the employer.

Regardless, we are committed to bargaining in good faith today and hope management comes to the table with a similar mindset.

We will keep you updated as the situation develops.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Thursday 11/16

• 11AM - 1PM: W-9 Collection in Breakroom (All Stores)

• 1PM - 2PM: Southcenter CAT Meeting
  Southcenter Mall Food Court (2800 Southcenter Mall, Seattle, WA 98188)

Friday 11/17

• 11AM - 1PM: W-9 Collection in Breakroom (All Stores)

• 5PM - 6PM: All Member Virtual Meeting
  >> Link to Zoom Meeting

Black Friday 11/24

• 9AM: Macy’s Striking Workers Parade, Black Friday, Southcenter Mall
  >> RSVP Here!

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (Technical) - Bargaining Begins

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (Technical)
Bargaining Begins

Our Bargaining Team met with Providence Administration on November 9 and November 10.

On the first day, our union Bargaining Team was able to get all proposals, including economics, to the Employer and the Employer responded on the second day. We have tentative agreements on expanding the grievance timeline to 21 days in step one, transferring onto an online staffing form and cleaning up language in areas that we no longer use. Unfortunately, the parties are very far apart in terms of compensation, and the Employer has proposed significant changes to Medical, Dental, Credit for experience, attendance and some other articles that we consider takeaways.

Our next bargaining dates are December 18 and December 19. In the meantime, our Bargaining Team will be meeting to discuss further steps and actions going forward. There is no time better than the present to get organized so that our voices are heard.

“It is my first time on the Bargaining Team, and I am very happy to be part of the process and to represent my co-workers during this very difficult time. Hopefully, each bargaining session gets better. Right now, it looks like we will have to STAND STRONG TOGETHER MORE THAN EVER.” —Lee Lidman, IR Tech and Bargaining Team

Providence Sacred Heart Technical Workers in Spokane Support Providence Regional RNs on ULP Strike!

Our Providence Sacred Heart Bargaining Team: (Top L—R) Joseph Sikkila, Respiratory Therapist; Craig Kistler, MHC; Derek Roybal, CV Tech; Lee Lidman, IR Tech; Janelle Mathias, Pharmacy Technician; Shane Sullivan Peds Echo; Teresa Bowden, Respiratory Therapist; (Bottom L—R) Holly Granly, Surgical Technologist; Angela Holmes, Surgical Technologist; Juanita Quezada, Union Rep; (Not pictured) Miriam Critelli, Pharmacy Technician

QUESTIONS? Please reach out to a Bargaining Team member or Union Rep Juanita Quezada @ 509-340-7371.

Invitation to Join our Live Telephone Town Hall - 11/15/23

Good day to our grocery store members from east of the Cascades! We would like to invite you to join our live Telephone Town Hall on Wednesday November 15 at 4:30 PM to discuss our upcoming contract negotiations. We have been building our collective strength for several months – taking surveys, filling out updated contact information, and making commitments to do what is necessary to win better staffing and training, higher wages, protected health and pension benefits, and more.

When we call you at 4:30 on Wednesday, simply answer your phone to join the call.

If for some reason by 4:35 on Wednesday you do not receive a call, or your call gets disconnected, you can join us by dialing 888-652-0384 and entering Meeting ID: 7644.

We look forward to speaking with you on Wednesday and taking your questions live on the call.

Macy's Know Your Rights

Has your manager threatened to discipline workers who participate in the unfair labor practice (ULP) strike? Perhaps they threatened to mark you down as a no-call no-show, remove attendance credits, or even terminate striking workers?

If so, your manager likely violated federal law and you should notify your Picket Captain and/or Union Representative immediately.

UFCW Local 3000 has been investigating reports of Macy’s managers making illegal and false threats against workers in an attempt intimidate workers into not participating in protected activities such as striking. If these threats are verified, the local will be filing federal charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Macy’s.

Federal law safeguards workers participating in protected concerted activities, such as a legal strike, from any retaliation by management. This protection explicitly prohibits management from disciplining workers (e.g., removing attendance credits) who join our increasingly likely ULP strike.

Furthermore, federal law prohibits management from making threatening or intimidating statements intended to discourage workers from participating in the strike. Even if management is unlikely to carry out these illegal threats, the mere act of making such threats is, in itself, against the law.

If the reports Local 3000 have been receiving turn out to be true, then this is further evidence of Macy’s engaging in unfair labor practices, hindering the bargaining process. The best way to fight against their behavior is to continue preparing for an unfair labor practice strike!

Shoppers have pledged not to shop at Macy’s if we go on strike!

A petition has been circulating throughout the community to support our fight for a fair contract.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Craig White

Craig White

Craig came to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (PRMCE) a year and a half ago. Craig might be relatively new to Prov Everett, but he is not new to the staffing labor/management committees required at hospitals. Craig was also on a staffing committee at his last hospital and knows how important it is for nurses to fight for the proper staffing levels to ensure patient safety and nurse longevity on the job. When he quickly joined his staffing committee at PRMCE, he showed how passionate he is about patient care and proactively securing the working conditions that make safety possible.

As we write this, the nurses at PRMCE are less than 24 hours away from an unfair labor practice strike, where the main issue is Providence’s failure to bargain in good faith over safe staffing conditions. Since 2021 staffing levels have deteriorated with 600 nurses leaving the hospital, and Providence failing to attract new staff to replace them. This is a crisis that has put patients and nurses at risk as quality patient care eroded. Providence has so far refused to listen to the nurse-led bargaining committee to fix this problem.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 14th, 2023 at 6 a.m. 1,300 nurses will be going on strike and forming picket lines at both the Colby and Pacific locations of PRMCE. If you are one of the nurses who will be on strike, stay up to date with the latest info on our Strike page. If you are a UFCW 3000 member who works at another employer you can pledge your support here, RSVP to our Candlelight Vigil, or just show up at either PRMCE location to join the picket (coffee and doughnuts are always a plus on a picket line)!

PCC workers overwhelmingly voted NO on PCC’s latest offer

Yesterday, November 9, PCC workers overwhelmingly voted NO on PCC’s latest offer, with over 92% rejecting the contract. Our bargaining committee will be seeking more bargaining dates with PCC and continue fighting for the best contract possible. In the meantime, if we are unable to reach a deal that benefits all workers at PCC, we need to get ready to take action. Upcoming Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings are being scheduled and information will be sent out as soon as possible. It’s important to attend one of those meetings, as we will be prepping for informational pickets at various locations. 

Solidarity is key as we try to secure a contract that we hope will put us ahead of other union grocers in the region. You can stay updated by visiting our news & updates section on our website, reaching out to your union rep, or attending an open bargaining session when they resume.

It is important to get informed and stay informed during this process, It is your right to talk about these negotiations on the shop floor. You can always send a message to our PCC union bargaining team here >>

Macy's Week of ULP Strike Preparations

Next week is very important as we intensify our preparations for the increasingly likely unfair labor practice strike around Black Friday. By the end of next week, it is imperative that we finalize all ULP strike logistics and ensure that every member is prepared to meet the criteria for the $500 weekly strike benefit. This entails signing up for 20 hours on the picket line and submitting a completed W-9 form, which Union Representatives will start collecting next week.

WHAT IS A W-9? 

A W-9 is an IRS tax document used to report your strike benefit as income to the IRS. Although taxes won’t be withheld from your strike benefit, the W-9 is a required IRS tax document used to document that you’ve received payment from UFCW Local 3000. To be eligible for the strike benefit, you must provide a completed W-9 form. 

While we have added November 15 as an additional bargaining date, we are not slowing down or altering our plans for a ULP strike. Macy’s can only avoid the ULP strike by addressing unfair labor practices and offering a fair contract.

It’s up to you Macy’s - the clock is ticking.

PRMCE RN 5 days until ULP strike!

We will begin our ULP strike on Tuesday November 14 at 6am at Pacific/Pavilion Campus and Colby Campus!

We made our position clear by an over 97% strike authorization vote - that Providence had to either come to the table and in good faith consider our common-sense solutions to the major issues facing our coworkers and our patients, or we were ready to engage in a ULP Strike. Providence chose to continue bargaining in bad faith. Going on strike is not a choice we make lightly, but it is evident that we must act to obtain a contract.

Now let’s stand together for a fair process and good contract for our patients and community. To have a successful strike we need nurses to attend the following events:

November 10 Strike Captain meeting (open to all nurses) at 8:00pm to discuss strike logistics for November 14: Click here Friday, November 10 @ 8pm to join the Zoom Meeting ID: 813 7325 4464 Passcode: 757437

November 11 Neighborhood Leaflet Canvass from 10am to 12pm, meet at Drew Nielsen Park on 13 St. and Colby Ave. Bring your walking shoes!

November 14 ULP Strike Day 1: ULP Strike begins at 6am- wear blue and yellow scrubs!

November 15 ULP Strike Day 2:  “Patients over Sponsorships”

November 16 ULP Strike Day 3: Candlelight Vigil for Patient Safety at 5:30pm at Drew Nielsen Park 13th St. and Colby Ave

November 17 ULP Strike Day 4: Adverse Events Action

November 18 ULP Strike Day 5: Thankful for RNs

November 19 ULP Strike Ends at 6am

For the most up-to-date information, go to ufcw3000.org/strike

Downtown Dog Lounge - Negotiations go on!

Downtown Dog Lounge
Negotiations go on!

Downtown Dog Lounge Management and legal council met with our union Bargaining Team and continued back and forth on both parties proposals. Management didn’t budge on many of their original positions and maintained their stance on a majority of their initial concepts. Our Team made movement on dog benefits, dress code, and vacation.

We hope Management comes back to the table next week able and willing to make progress.

Macy's NO DEAL. ULP STRIKE PREPARATIONS CONTINUE

NO DEAL. ULP STRIKE PREPARATIONS CONTINUE

Our Bargaining Team met with Management again on November 6 and 7, with the parties failing to reach an agreement. 

While our team worked hard to address some of Macy’s core concerns, we did not receive a proposal from the Employer. However, we did have a productive discussion about potential paths to an agreement and agreed to add November 15 as a bargaining date.

Throughout the bargaining process we have come to the table in good faith while we feel Macy’s has done their best to frustrate the process, including their intimidation of a bargaining team members for their union activity along with attempting to prematurely declare an impasse, which would permit the employer to implement the contract offer we rejected on October 6. We believe that actions taken in bargaining are inconsistent with impasse.

Then just last week Macy’s made what we believe is an illegal attempt to alter our contractual right and long standing the practice of Union Representatives to communicate with members on the sales floor, leading to UFCW Local 3000 filing another unfair labor practice charge against the employer.

1. As we prepare for next week’s bargaining date, we need to continue to prepare for a possible ULP strike by: 

2. Signing up for at least 20 hours on your stores Strike Schedule (see your stores Picket Captains).

Completing a W9 form and returning the complete form to a UFCW 3000 Union Representative to make sure you will get paid your strike Benefit of $500.

In the event we do end up on a ULP strike, our Bargaining Team has planned a “Macy’s Striking Workers Parade” action on Black Friday at the Southcenter location that will be supported by community partners and other UFCW 3000 members. 

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER! 

UFCW Locals from around the United States have pledged their support, coordinating efforts to send their staff and members to the Pacific Northwest to walk our ULP strike line, and over 8,000 community members have also signed a petition pledging not to cross our picket line in the event of a ULP strike.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

---

RSVP here

RSVP here

Upcoming Contract Action Team MEETINGS:

Alderwood: November 14 @ 1PM—2PM
Elemental Pizza (3000 184th St SW #948, Lynnwood, WA 98037)

Bellingham: November 15 @ 1PM-2PM
Bellis Fair Mall Food Court (One Bellis Fair Pkwy, Bellingham, WA 98226)

Southcenter: November 16 @ 1PM-2PM
Southcenter Mall Food Court (2800 Southcenter Mall, Seattle, WA 98188)

Providence St. Peter COTA/PTA - Tentative Agreement Reached!

On Monday, November 6, our bargaining team met with Management for our fourth bargaining session and managed to reach a Tentative Agreement on our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). 

This MOU will:

• Bring us into the larger bargaining unit with our Union siblings in other technical jobs at PSPH so that we can negotiate from a position of strength in future contract fights.

• Guarantee a minimum of at least 2.5% in raises to all Physical Therapy Assistants and Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants one full pay period after we hold a ratification vote; we will also have a wage scale that we advance on by years of experience moving forward.

• Allow us to challenge workplace discipline such as suspensions or terminations through a formal grievance procedure, helping ensure management handles such situations in a more fair and reasonable manner.

We will be announcing a date, time, and location for a ratification vote for the MOU in the near future. We are strongly recommending a “YES” vote! Please speak with bargaining team members for details or call Union Representative Brandan Zielinski at (206) 436 6603.

Bargaining Team Members: Cynthia Miner, Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant; Heidi Ranger-Geh, Physical Therapy Assistant

PRESS RELEASE: Providence Everett Nurses with UFCW 3000 to Strike November 14

Providence Everett Nurses at their press conference announcing the strike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2023

Find a livestream video of the press conference here >>

Everett, WA – After bargaining with management at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett since April, UFCW 3000 nurses publicly announced an unfair labor practice strike at the hospital starting at 6:00 a.m. on November 14 and continuing until 6:00 a.m. November 19.

At a press conference this morning, nurses, union leadership, and community leaders spoke out about the need for a fair union contract for nurses in order to address chronic staffing shortages at the hospital.

“We are distressed that it has come to this step,” said Juan Stout, emergency department nurse at Providence Everett, union bargaining team member, and executive board member of UFCW 3000. “Nurses take our job of caring for this community extremely seriously. We see you and your families through some of the most difficult moments of your lives. But while we don’t take the idea of a strike lightly, at some point our responsibility to patients means more than just the medicine and care we can give on a single shift… We have to take a stand for our patients.”

Talks with Providence ended this past Friday night (11/3) without reaching a resolution. The union has given a 10-day strike notice to the hospital and reiterated a desire to come to a contract agreement, but only if Providence can cease committing unfair labor practices, come to the table, and in good faith consider practical long-term solutions to the serious safety issues nurses are raising.

“Providence has not considered our proposals in good faith throughout this process, they’ve rejected proposals we previously agreed on, and they’ve obstructed and undermined our bargaining process, stopping us from finding a resolution,” said Kristen Crowder, labor and delivery nurse at Providence Everett and a union bargaining team member. “I hope that our strike is a wake-up call to Providence executives, and we look forward to returning to the bargaining table when they are ready and willing to come to the table and bargain in good faith to help us resolve our staffing issues.”

“If nurses have to be on the outside rather than at the bedside, then you know something’s wrong, and we have to fix this for the long-term,” said Faye Guenther, UFCW 3000 president. “All it takes is a fair contract, and we can only achieve that if Providence acts in good faith... They have the resources to invest in this community, and they certainly have a responsibility to do so.”

Nurses were joined by local community leaders who made clear that the community supports its nurses and joins the call for Providence to bargain fairly.

“Everett’s firefighters stand with the nurses of UFCW 3000 in their fight for safe staffing at Providence Medical Center,” said Don Huffman, Everett firefighter and president of IAFF Local 46. He outlined the impact of Providence’s staffing crisis on first responders, who may wait hours for the patients they transport to the hospital to be admitted and receive care. “When Everett firefighters are tied up at the hospital, fire engines and paramedic units are pulled into the city from the surrounding areas to respond to calls, leaving the communities that they serve with reduced fire protection. The staffing emergency at Providence hospital is an emergency to all of us.”

“The Sisters of Providence who started the first permanent hospital in this state did so out of their faith-based values of compassion and charity, and the nurses of Providence continue this noble tradition in their work to care for the sick and the injured,” said Pastor Carol Jensen with Faith Action Network. “The Faith Action Network is proud to stand with the Providence nurses of UFCW Local 3000 today as they commit to strike, so that Providence will negotiate in good faith to improve the conditions of those who care for the most vulnerable in our communities. The commitment of these nurses is to make this a healthier, safer community for all of us.”