Ashley House We have reached a tentative agreement on a new Union Contract

This contract is fully recommended by the Bargaining Team. Our Union Bargaining Team: (L-R) Cindy Jones LPN Browns Point, Emily Guffin RN Spokane, Donna Iverson CNA Olympia

Highlights include:

• 3% Wage Increase

• Effective January 2024

• Maintenance of Health Benefits

• Expiration Date of August 1, 2024

Contract Votes Scheduled!

Monday, March 18 from 4:30pm-7:00pm

Olympia: 1240 Smith Street SE. Olympia WA 98501

Shoreline: 18904 Burke Ave N. Shoreline WA 98133

Tuesday, March 19 from 4:30pm-7:00pm

Brown’s Point: 4411 Browns Point Blvd. NE. Tacoma WA 98422

Kent: 25120 43 Avenue S. Kent WA 98032

Wednesday March 20, 2024 from 4:30pm-7:00pm

Edgewood: 11306 8th Street E. Edgewood WA 98372

Auburn: 30313 118th Avenue SE. Auburn WA 98092

Spokane: 4118 S. Cook Street. Spokane WA 99223

UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote. For additional information contact our Union Representative or a Bargaining Team member.

Swain’s General Store - Tentative Agreement Reached!

On Tuesday, March 6, our Union Bargaining Team met with management for our fourth and final bargaining session. We have reached a Tentative Agreement with the Employer that:

• Significantly reduces the number of hours required to attain Journey status.

• Increases wages.

• Includes retroactive pay to January 1 of this year.

• Maintains our quality healthcare through the Sound Health and Wellness Trust without passing hourly cost increases on the employees.

A notice of the specifics of when we will hold the ratification vote will be forthcoming. We appreciate everyone’s patience through this process and look forward to discussing the Tentative Agreement with you at the vote meeting.

Our Union Negotiations Team (left to right): Mike Nichols, Floor Clerk (Shoes); Robert Sommers, Receiving Clerk; Richard Drake, Receiving Clerk/Warehouse Contact; Shawn Price, Cashier/Person In Charge (not pictured)

Mason Health Diagnostic Imaging - Rad Tech Aide Position Changes Vote

Mason Health Diagnostic Imaging
Rad Tech Aide Position Changes Vote

Currently the Mason Health Diagnostic Imaging department utilizes the position of Rad Tech Aide to assist patients and technicians during appointments, as well as the scheduling of all imaging appointments.

Mason Health has proposed creating two different positions:

• D.I. Scheduling Specialist

• Radiology Assistant

A vote on this change to the contract will be held for effected employees

Friday March 15, 2024 @ 9am-10am
Mason Health—Pershing Room, 901 Mountain View Dr., Shelton WA 98584

For additional Information, contact Union Rep Naomi Oligario @ 360-662-1989.

Stay in the loop! Update you contact information to get the latest news at: ufcw3000.org/update-your-information

Olympic Medical Center Support Services - Vote to Change Eligibility Time to Use Vacation Accruals

We have a tentative agreement with OMC to shorten the amount of time worked before employees are eligible to use accrued vacation. This is a change to the current Support Services Contract and will require a vote of Union Members.

Voting on this proposed change will be held:

Port Angeles

• Tuesday, March 12, 2024

• 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

• PFS Building, Basement Breakroom

• 519 S. Peabody St., Port Angeles, WA 98362

• Tuesday, March 12, 2024

• 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• Olympic Medical Center, Linkletter Conference Room

• 939 Caroline Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362

Sequim

• Tuesday, March 12, 2024

• 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

• Medical Services Building (MSB), 2nd Floor Conference Room

• 840 N 5th Avenue, Sequim, WA 98382

UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote.

Questions? Contact Union Representative Aimee Oien: (360) 662-1981

Providence Sacred Heart (Technical) - CONTRACT REJECTED, STRIKE AUTHORIZED

Providence Sacred Heart - Technical
CONTRACT REJECTED, STRIKE AUTHORIZED

On March 1, Providence Sacred Heart Technical UFCW 3000 union members voted unanimously to reject the Employer’s last contract proposal and authorize a ULP strike.

After many long bargaining sessions with Providence Sacred Heart, the Bargaining Team felt that it was time to take a stand and let Management know that we are all standing together for a fair contract that has no takeaways to our benefits and addresses the sub-par wage scale that prevents us from recruiting and retaining quality staff and gives us the ability to provide adequate patient care to our community.

A Federal Mediator will be joining our next bargaining session on March 18, and we are hoping that we can get Providence to acknowledge the importance of recognizing that we are the HEART at Sacred Heart.

It is an unfair labor practice for Management to coerce members, to interfere in Union activities or change any working conditions. Please continue to advise our Bargaining Team or Union Rep if you believe your Manager has engaged in any type of this behavior.

A vote to authorize a strike is a collective stand for our rights and the well-being of our coworkers and communities. The prospect of a strike may be a last resort, but it is a powerful tool that can motivate change. It forces the Employer to reconsider their stance at the bargaining table and acknowledge our hard work and our commitment to our patients. Withholding our labor is one of the ultimate actions we can take to demonstrate our power in the workplace, show the Employer we are UNITED, and achieve our goal of a FAIR CONTRACT when no other methods have worked.

“I voted to strike simply because I feel disrespected by Providence. Costs have risen much faster than pay and the proposed cost-of-living adjustment will not cover half of the monthly increases that I have seen over the past couple of years. I cannot continue to fall behind because Providence will not offer a reasonable increase. Sacred Heart offers services that no one else in the region offers, yet Providence does not seem to care about the skill set needed to provide those services. I have observed several coworkers leave for more money in the same or lower priced areas of the county and have indicated that they have a better work life balance. Providence does not seem to care about these things. Without these adjustments, recruiting to fill vacancies is difficult if not impossible.” —Mark Kehoe, Pediatric Sonographer

Join us at the Spokane St. Patrick’s Day parade!

We will be marching in the Spokane to show our presence and hand out leaflets to members of our community. Bring your family, friends, and wear UFCW yellow.

Saturday, March 16 @ 11am
Flour Mill, 621 W Mallon Ave, Spokane, WA 99201

Please reach out to a Bargaining Team member or Union Rep Juanita Quezada @ 509- 340-7407 if you have questions or would like to get more involved in the fight for a fair contract.

MultiCare Health System Will MultiCare address our health insurance plan concerns?

“They basically showed us that our priorities are not their concern. We feel that we put a lot of thoughtful proposals on the table, and they were just unceremoniously rejected.” —Gregg Barney, Press Operator

Our Union Bargaining Team met with MultiCare on Friday, March 1 to continue negotiations with management on the nine contracts we’re represented in.

When it was the Employer’s time to respond to our evaluations and proposals over necessary changes to our health insurance benefits, it became clear that they had something else in mind entirely —rejecting all initial proposals made on the plan.

Our Bargaining Team has heard on countless occasions, from our union Bargaining Surveys and stories told by our coworkers, that our insurance benefits are not only one of our highest priorities in this round of negotiations —but one of the most consistently challenging aspects of being a MultiCare employee.

We work tirelessly every day to provide health care to our patients, why should we have to work even harder to seek health care for ourselves? Especially while being employed at one of the largest health care systems in Washington State.

While we feel disappointed that this is the response from the Employer, we know that one of the only ways forward is to stick together, and fight for what we deserve out of this process!

Sign the Unity Petition and stay up to date on all-things MultiCare bargaining ▸

Take action checklist:

• Sign up for a Contract Action Team meeting on March 5 & April 8

• Sign and share the petition, We Stand United for a Fair Contract at MultiCare

• Join the Facebook Group, MultiCare Workers United for a Fair Contract

Update on Efforts to Oppose the Proposed Kroger + Albertsons Mega-Merger

Our efforts to stop the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons reached a major milestone on Monday February 26 when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and nine State Attorneys General filed a lawsuit to challenge the merger. UFCW 3000 has been a national leader in opposing the proposed merger since the day it was announced in October of 2022. Since that time, we have been actively working with a core group of other UFCW locals as well as a wide range of over 150 diverse partner organizations across the nation and developed a “No Grocery Merger” coalition.
 
The effort to oppose the merger is not over yet. Kroger and Albertsons have both said they will challenge the lawsuits in court, so we expect it could be many months until an outcome is known. We will keep up the fight. And for right now we will also celebrate this major win in the struggle to protect workers, shoppers, and communities from the greed and over-reach of Kroger and Albertsons.
 
Another example of our effort to protect workers was our recent win on February 22 when we were successful in getting the Washington State Legislature to pass SB 6007 – a new law to provide protections for grocery store workers from the harm that can result when chains merge and the consequences include layoffs and store closures. 
 
For the thousands of members who have acted together – we are making a difference. The actions have included signing petitions, handing out leaflets to customers, raising our voices in local and national news stories, signing in support of our new WA law to protect workers, and so much more. And it shows that when workers and community come together and act as one, we can push back against some of the largest corporations in America.
 
Instead of spending all this time and money on a proposed merger that if allowed to proceed would lead to higher prices, closed stores, lost jobs, a reduced ability for union workers to negotiate strong contracts, and giving away billions to wealthy investors, these companies should be doing the necessary work to provide better wages and working conditions, and making stores safer.

More Detailed  Information:
On Monday February 26, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) challenged the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons siting concerns about how the merger would harm consumers and workers. Nine State Attorneys General (Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming) joined the legal action as well. These are above and beyond the two other Attorneys General lawsuits from Washington and Colorado. Your support of the “No Grocery Merger” coalition is an important part of what led to this success. The 150 organizations across the nation who joined together last year to fight this merger was a show of both the power of solidarity and a diverse array of interests.

We remain committed to continue our diligent efforts to defend workers, customers and communities from the devastating harm that would be caused if such a merger were to proceed. And we also look forward to beginning to fix the broken food systems in this nation.

Additional information and past updates

1. FTC Press release: FTC Challenges Kroger’s Acquisition of Albertsons. Largest supermarket merger in U.S. history will eliminate competition and raise grocery prices for millions of Americans, while harming tens of thousands of workers, FTC alleges

2. FTC Complaint: Kroger's/Albertsons: Administrative Part 3 Complaint (Public) (ftc.gov)

3. Our press release including link to coalition partners and highlights of some of the activities over past 16 months to fight the proposed merger.

Kaiser Permanente - PSP Victory!

Kaiser Permanente
PSP Victory!

As an Alliance, we pushed Kaiser to give higher PSPs and when we fight, we win.

For the Washington region, a full-time employee (having worked 1,800 hours) will receive $2,000 in your Performance Sharing Plan (PSP) bonus this year!

In 2023, we crushed the Affordability and Safety goals, yet didn’t meet the Quality and Service goals. With these PSP results and our region not meeting the financial gate, KP was only contractually obligated to pay each full-time member ~$750.

Yet we all know the region’s finances are not the fault of UFCW3000 members. With our below market wages, putting more money into PSP bonuses is the least KP can do. And because of our Wage Up! Staff Up! Partner Up! Campaign alongside our Affordability savings, KP said they’d pay $1,500 in our PSP bonus.

We responded to their $1,500 and said that’s not enough, and because we stood united and were quick to mobilize, we won more.

Washington, Colorado, and Mid-Atlantic regions—all regions that did not meet the financial gate—will be receiving $2,000.00 per member* which is over $5 million moved from Kaiser’s pockets and into those of its workers!

*If not a full-time, employee this amount with be pro-rated based on the number of hours worked last year

What to expect:

• March 15 paycheck: $1500 check (minus taxes)

• March 29 paycheck: $500 check (minus taxes)

For now, we celebrate our work to hold Kaiser accountable in doing the right thing, yet we know this doesn’t do what is needed: fix understaffing or raise wages.

Take action! Follow the links in the text below to:

>> Push Management for wage increases by signing our demand letter. >>

>> Organize our workplaces by attending steward training. >>

QUESTIONS? Reach out to Union Rep Lauren VanWormer @ 206-436-6584.

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center - Next chapter of bargaining

MultiCare Auburn Medical Center
Next Chapter of Bargaining

Our Bargaining Team: Pharmacist Brent Kirshenbaum, Social Worker Marci Pindi (standing in), and Mental Health Technician Ramona Strassburg

"We are excited to enter the next chapter of bargaining, as we have proposed all contact articles to MultiCare Management.” —Brent Kirshenbaum, Pharmacy

Our Bargaining Team has proposed all articles of contract language to the Employer, with the most recent including:

• Improved healthcare benefits

• Maintaining salaried positions for Social Workers

We ended our last bargaining session in February early in the day, as we continue to wait for MultiCare’s response to our wage proposal.

Our Bargaining Team is working diligently on your behalf and will continue to focus on securing the best contact possible including economics. Other bargaining dates that have been confirmed include March 7, 20, April 4 and 20; we will be requesting additional future bargaining dates from the Employer if necessary.

Throughout this negotiation process, we are committed to keeping you informed and engaged. We will schedule regular bargaining update meetings.

Join our next meeting to fight for a strong contract!

Thursday, March 21 @ 11am—1pm
Cascade Training Room

Engagement and involvement in this process are vital. Stay informed and stand together as a union demonstrates our collective strength. Our unified efforts and voices have the power to shape the future of MultiCare Auburn Medical Center.

Questions? Contact Union Rep Ian Jacobson @ 360-409-0587.

Providence Meal Waiver and Shift Length Changes

In December 2023, Providence issued a meal waiver to all members of the UFCW 3000 bargaining unit. As union members, we have the collective right to negotiate over the terms of this waiver. Earlier this year, we engaged in negotiations with Providence regarding the meal waiver language. Despite our reasonable proposal, Providence rejected our language. Furthermore, we informed Providence that, based on past practices and contractual agreements, they were not permitted to alter shift lengths.

However, in February 2024, Providence began informing members of their intention to implement changes to shift lengths. We believe Providence is sidestepping the bargaining process by unilaterally implementing these changes and acting in bad faith. Consequently, we are initiating unfair labor practice proceedings against Providence. We have issued a cease-and-desist letter to Providence and are demanding to return to the bargaining table to resolve this matter.

Given Providence's decision to proceed with extending shift lengths, we advise 10-hour and 12-hour shift workers to carefully consider their options. You may choose to accept an extended shift with two meal periods or opt to waive the second meal period and retain your current shift length. If you opt to waive the second meal period, you retain the right to revoke this decision at any time through your core leader.

However, we strongly advise against waiving the timing of your meal period, as you are entitled to 30 minutes of pay for late meal periods.

Question 1: I am voluntarily requesting to waive my second unpaid meal period if I am entitled to one.

Recommendation:
ACCEPT means your shift length will remain the same.
OR
DECLINE means your shift will be extended and you will receive two meal periods as a 10 hour and 12-hour shift worker.

Question 2: I am voluntarily requesting to take my unpaid meal periods at a time that may not be within hours two through five-hour block of work.

Recommendation:
DECLINE means if your meal period is not within the two-to-five-hour block then you should receive 30 minutes of pay. You can file a complaint with L&I if you are not paid accordingly.

Track your late meal periods here >>

Olympic Medical Home Health - Vote on Memorandum of Agreement

Olympic Medical Home Health
Vote on Memorandum of Agreement

Our Bargaining Team: Joseph Bridge, Danielle Green, Susan Montana, Sandra Villam

We have reached a tentative agreement with Olympic Home Health on a memorandum of agreement (MOA) which memorializes current law regarding union membership.

This addition constitutes a change to the current contract so will require a vote of Union Members. To vote, you must be an active Union Member in good standing.

Vote Details

Sequim
Monday, March 11 @ 8am-9:30am
777 N. 5th Ave, Suite 102, Sequim WA 93832

Port Angeles
Monday, March 11 @ 11:30am-1pm
Conference Room - 801 Front St, Suite D, Port Angeles WA 98362

Questions? Contact a Bargaining Team member or Union Rep Aimee Oien @ 360-662-1981.

Update Your Contact Info
ufcw3000.org/update-your-information

Olympic Medical Center Pro Tech Vote to Change Eligibility Time to Use Vacation Accruals

Olympic Medical Center Pro Tech

Vote to Change Eligibility Time to Use Vacation Accruals

We have a tentative agreement with OMC to shorten the number of months worked before employees are eligible to use accrued vacation.

This is a change to the current Pro Tech Contract so will require a vote of Union Members. Contract change votes scheduled:

Port Angeles: Monday, March 11, 2024 3:00pm-7:00pm

Olympic Medical Center in the Fairshter Meeting Room, 939 Caroline Street. Port Angeles, WA 98362

Sequim: Tuesday, March 12, 2024 8:00am-9:30am

Medical Services Building (MSB) in the Conference Room, 840 N 5th Avenue. Sequim, WA 98382

You must be a member in good standing to be eligible to vote.

If you have questions please contact Union Representative Aimee Oien at 360-662-1981

Make sure your personal contact information is up to date >>

Downtown Dog Lounge - Another negotiation session and petition delivery!

Downtown Dog Lounge
Another negotiation session and petition delivery!

Our Downtown Dog Lounge worker union Team met with Elise and her legal counsel on February 28 for another session. More back and forth on core issues such as application of seniority, protection from unjust layoffs to name a few.

Our Team also delivered our petition with super majority support, demanding quicker movement at the bargaining table. We look forward to meeting with Management again in March now that they’ve been reminded that we expect a fair contract!

As always the best place for information on the bargaining processes, contract information or anything union in general is our union Bargaining Team.

UFCW 3000 Executive Board Unanimously Endorses Movement to Vote “Uncommitted” in Upcoming Democratic Primary in Washington State

As the largest labor union in Washington State with over 50,000 members, and the largest UFCW local union in the nation, the UFCW 3000’s member-led Executive Board decided on Wednesday February 28th to endorse the effort to have people in the Democratic primary in Washington State vote “uncommitted” on the upcoming ballot.

While Biden has been an ally to workers over the last four years, low-wage workers cannot afford setbacks when it comes to the right to organize and the protections we’ve won during Biden’s time in office. To protect workers, we must give ourselves the best chance to defeat anti-worker forces in the General Election. The entire purpose of a primary election, unlike the general election, is for voters to cast their ballot to reflect their current wish for the party’s nomination.

Currently, many voters, and UFCW 3000 executive board, feel that the best path to have the best nominee, and to defeat Trump, is to vote “uncommitted” on the upcoming March 12 Washington primary. The hope is that this will strengthen the Democratic party’s ultimate nominee to defeat Trump in the General Election in November.

Once the Democratic National Convention takes place, our union is committed to sending staff, members, and resources to any swing state across the nation to support the Democratic nominee to win and defeat Trump.

We need a nominee who can run and beat Trump to protect workers across this country and around the world.

We stand in solidarity with our partners in Michigan who sent a clear message in their primary that Biden must do more to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Biden must push for a lasting ceasefire and ending US funding toward this reckless war.

We have many members who are deeply impacted by the war. The best way to send this message for policy change is through a vote of “uncommitted” on the upcoming March 12 Washington primary.

Harbors Home Health & Hospice - Things are heating up!

Harbors Home Health & Hospice
Things are heating up!

“When it comes to our hardworking staff at Harbors Home Health- it’s quality over quantity. We should be focused on keeping people here. Recruiting new employees is really only a band-aid if you can’t incentivize them to stay!” —Michal Bishop, LPN

We met with the Employer on February 26 and 27 to continue negotiations on our contract. On Monday, while presenting our economic proposal - we presented the petition which a supermajority signed (in just 2 weeks time)!

Harbors responded to this by finally coming to the table proposing an actual increase to our wages, along with an all-new wage scale. The Employer’s new scale, however, offers significantly less growth in wages over time than our current scale does. We’re glad to see the pressure we’ve applied has started to convince Harbors of just how valuable we are - but we won’t let up yet.

Join us at our next bargaining update meeting
Tuesday, March 19 @ 4pm-6pm

Grays Harbor County
Hoqiuam Timberland Library, 420 7th Street, Hoquiam WA, 98550

Pacific County
Harbors Home Health Office, 600 Pacific Avenue S, Suite 1, Long Beach, WA 98631

If you have any questions about bargaining, please contact one of our Bargaining Team members, or reach out to your Union Rep Naomi Oligario @ 360-662-1989.

Cascade Valley Hospital - We Reached a Deal!

BARGAINING TEAM: Carl Ramirez (Security Officer), Lisa Warriax (MSW)

On February 22 and 26, our bargaining team met with the Employer for two intense and final bargaining sessions. During these sessions, the team asserted the bargaining unit’s priorities and came out victorious with a fully recommended tentative agreement. The tentative agreement is a huge win for security officers and MSWs, which includes wage increases for the newly accreted unit.

Highlights include:

• Just Cause standard must be used when administering discipline

• Access to the grievance procedure in case of contract violations or discipline

• Seniority language that protects employees’ original date of hire

• Defined premium rates and health benefits

• Lay-off procedure

• Labor management committee to discuss workplace issues

• Body Armor will be made available for Security Officers and higher quality footwear provided for incoming new hires

• $2 per hour Float pay when assigned to work locations in Skagit County

• Yearly longevity wage increases

• Across the board wage increases

• New and innovative language which allows members to resubmit their resume for initial placement on the wage scale

“This has been a long road with a steep learning curve, but our persistence has paid off! During a very dark time, being part of a union has been a light. We have a voice to fight.”

A contract ratification vote will be held on Wednesday, March 6, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Pilchuck Conference room in Cascade Valley Hospital. To cast your vote, you must appear in person and be a union member in good standing. All members are encouraged to come learn about the new CBA and ask questions.

Your bargaining team recommends a “YES” vote!

Mason Health RN Contract Ratified!

Thank you to everyone who came out to vote on a new Union Contract Friday. The contract was approved by an overwhelming majority of Nurses and was ratified by the Hospital’s Board of Commissioners yesterday.

We appreciate our fantastic Bargaining Team who worked tirelessly to educate Management on the real issues and to help them understand that wages need to match Olympia hospitals to retain and recruit nurses.

For further information reach out to a Bargaining Team Member (Left to Right: Nancy Owenby, Megan Corbin, Tori Willis)

Macy's Check your check for the pay increases we won!

After two ULP strikes and months of fighting Macy’s proposed takeaways, we won a historic contract that protected MLK day as a paid day off, set the foundation for wage scales to not be eaten up by minimum wage, won the largest ratification bonus this cycle for Macy's workers, and secured stronger safety language in our contract!

Macy’s should not drag their feet on paying us the money we won! In past contract cycles it has taken Macy’s months to finally pay workers what we won in our contract. Last week Macy’s confirmed that our pay should be reflected on your next check dated March 1, 2024.  Make sure to check your check and confirm that you are getting your back pay, bonus and new pay rate. If you don't see it after Friday’s check, please contact the Member Resource Center at 1-866-210-3000 so they can add your name to the grievance we filed against Macy's last week for not paying us the money we won in a timely manner. 

Macy's contract and resource page >>

Providence St. Peter Case Manager RNs MOU Ratified!

On Friday, February 23, a supermajority of Case Manager RNs voted to ratify our Memorandum of Understanding. This historic win, after nearly a year of bargaining, places us into the larger body of the Union bargaining unit with 1,100 other RNs at Providence St. Peter. It also assures us of the protections of all the provisions of the Union contract.

We want to thank our co-workers for standing in solidarity with us through what was a much lengthier process than we anticipated. If there are any questions, please reach out to Union Steward Mary Briles or call Union Representative Madison Derksema at (206) 436-6603.

Our Union Bargaining Team (left to right): Mary Briles, Case Manager; Melissa Macchiarella, Case Manager; [not pictured]: Alison Studeman, Case Manager

EvergreenHealth Monroe - Vote on proposed PTO increase

EvergreenHealth Monroe
Vote on proposed PTO increase

We have reached a tentative agreement with Management on an increase to PTO hours for all Employees. As this change will alter the collective bargaining agreement, we have scheduled a vote to review the changes.

You must be a Union Member in good standing to vote.

Our Bargaining Team recommends a “YES” vote!

Wednesday, March 6
11am—1pm and 4—6pm
EvergreenHealth Monroe - Café Corner Meeting Room, 14701 179th Ave SE, Monroe WA 98272

For additional information, contact Union Rep Jack Crow @ 206-436-6614.