WhidbeyHealth Service & Support - Ratification Vote Notice

After our last negotiation session with WhidbeyHealth, the Employer presented us with a Last, Best, and Final offer via email in response to our last counter-proposal on all outstanding issues. This means that a vote on what that offer is will be forthcoming on Thursday, August 1. Upon review of the proposal we are recommending a "Yes" vote to ratify the offer.

Some of the highlights include:

Wage parity: We secured agreement that WhidbeyHealth would recognize past experience for represented workers at 100%. After discussion over many sessions, the Employer recognized that we need our most senior workers moved up on the scales the soonest. Their proposal partially reflects this, but also phases in less senior folks sooner whose resulting wage step increase would be less of a financial impact to the Employer in the immediate future.

Market adjustments of wage scales: When the mid-cycle wage bargain happened in 2022 the result (as with the Professional and Technical contract) was that many people further up the scale received increases that put them ahead of what workers earn at competing hospitals. This also resulted in workers on the earlier steps of the wage scale earning less than what workers earn at competing hospitals. Thus, management concentrated on increases at the lower steps in this bargaining cycle.

Ratification bonuses: If we ratify the contract with a "Yes" vote by Thursday, August 1, we will receive ratification bonuses. These bonuses will be pro-rated by FTE; folks with the most years at WhidbeyHealth will receive the largest bonuses.

More: Improvements to the weekend premium, shift differentials, standby pay, certification pay, and lead pay.

We look forward to seeing you at the following times on Thursday, August 1, to discuss the offer and vote on it:

Main Hospital Coupeville HEC Room C
6:00 AM - 9:00 AM
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Clinic #1 - Oak Harbor - Cabot Break Room
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Clinic #2 - Oak Harbor - Goldie Conference Room
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Clinic - Freeland Break Room
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Clinic - Clinton Break Room
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Bargaining Team: Marilyn Faber, Patient Financial Service; Liz Latiff, Health Unit Coordinator

Deep Roots - Deep Roots Sale

We received notice last week that Deep Roots has sold their studios to The Best Studio Ever effective August 5, 2024. We know that there are likely many emotions about the unknown and want to share that the Union has reached out to the new owners to have a conversation and determine next steps regarding the collective bargaining agreement and their plans after August 5. As soon as we have more information, we will send out communication to all members.

In the meantime, Deep Roots current management will continue to pay all employees for all wages, commissions, any overtime, and all accrued paid time off earned up to the sale date. If you have questions about any of the compensation listed, please connect with Deep Roots management and let us know if there is support needed. If you have made contributions to the Retirement IRA, you can access your account here.

Now is the time to get involved as a Union steward, helping to support coworkers and organize as needed. Please reach out to Union Representative Dominick Ojeda, (206) 436-6586, if you'd like to get involved, have questions, or if you have helpful information to share as we work through this transition together.

UFCW 3000 Urges Washington State Congressional Delegation To Call on Joe Biden to Step Aside For A New Generation of Leadership

July 18, 2024

Dear Washington State Congressional Delegation,

As the largest private sector Union in Washington State, representing 55,000 members in grocery, healthcare, cannabis, processing, and retail, UFCW 3000 is dedicated to our members in their workplaces, in their communities, and at home.

The accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration are nothing short of historic; from investing in public infrastructure, taking on corporate monopolies, appointing pro-worker appointees to the NLRB and FTC, and being the first President to join striking workers on a picket line. While President Biden has a record of accomplishments we can all be proud of, we cannot afford to go backwards when it comes to the rights of workers to organize, and the important protections we’ve won during President Biden’s term in office.

What’s at stake in this election is the future of our middle class. In Donald Trump’s war on Unions and on our democracy, working people across the country stand the most to lose.

If President Biden continues to demonstrate that he is unable to effectively campaign, and subsequently loses in November, the advances workers have made will be at immediate risk in a second Trump administration.

Unions cannot sit on the sidelines while working people are under attack. Working people need a leader who can effectively deliver a strong message between now and November, and then implement that vision over the next four years. We call on President Biden to pass the torch to the next generation. He has much to celebrate over his career of accomplishments fighting alongside working people, but it is time for him to retire with dignity, and campaign as hard as we all will for an alternative candidate. The stakes are simply too high to do otherwise.

We urge you, members of our Washington State Congressional Delegation, to call on President Joe Biden to step aside for a new generation of leadership.

Faye Guenther, President UFCW 3000
&
Joe Mizrahi, Secretary-Treasurer UFCW 3000

Seattle Children's Urgent Care MAs - Continued Movement by Management

We bargained again on Tuesday, July 16 and continued to make progress towards a final agreement. With most issues resolved, we primarily discussed wages, and continued to push for additional increases to ensure our wages remain competitive for the life of our new contract.

Our next bargaining session is scheduled for July 30.

"We are getting close to an agreement, but management still needs to close the gap on wages" — Joelyn Martin

Our Bargaining Team: Joelyn Martin, Angelica Acevedo Arreola, Wendy Rivas

PCC Meet our new Labor-Management Committee!

Emily Weisenburger, PCC Issaquah; Kelly Campbell, PCC View Ridge; Chloe Jett, PCC Bellevue; Scott Norman, PCC West Seattle; Scott Shiflett, PCC Redmond; Scott Jue, PCC Central District (Alternate); Kerry Hudson, PCC Burien (Alternate)

“The LMC will be able to make recommendations to the PCC Board of Trustees on various issues including staffing, scheduling, workflow and finances. We will have a voice in ensuring that the co-op thrives for workers and customers. I’m happy and honored to serve on this new committee. Open to hearing your ideas!” -- Scott Shiflett, PCC Redmond

After winning historic language during contract negotiations for a voice in the workplace, we, the PCC workers, democratically nominated 10 candidates for our Labor Management Committee (LMC). Those nominated were presented to the PCC Governance Board and Membership Committee for final selection.

Next steps: The LMC will write out their charter. The LMC charter will be developed by its members for review and approval by the Board of Trustees. The LMC will then meet 4 times a year and report deliberations to us, the PCC workers.

PRMCE - Update for Inpatient Rehab:

On July 11, 2024, we met with Providence Everett (PRMCE) management and continued to negotiate over the closure of the inpatient rehab at the Pacific Campus.

There are ongoing discussions to gain clarity from Providence on the transfer of caregivers and the benefits that will be moving with the caregivers that choose to go to Lifepoint.

We recommend that each caregiver make their own decision regarding the job offer from Lifepoint based on their personal circumstances. If you do not accept a position at Lifepoint now, we are unsure if a position will be available for you in the future. Nonetheless, all Pro, Technical, and RN bargaining unit members have the option to take a vacant position at the Colby Campus using the bumping language in their contracts.

Moreover, we presented a counter proposal that maintained PTO/EIB cashout and other benefits for all laid-off employees.

We have an additional bargaining date set for July 17, 2024. On July 18 we would like to invite you to join a Zoom meeting to give an update and answer any questions you may have. As this closure and layoff has the potential to impact caregivers at both the Pacific and Colby campuses, all workers from both inpatient rehab and acute care are encouraged to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact Jack Crow (Pro and Tech Union Rep) or Anthony Cantu (RN Union Rep).