Lourdes Clinics and Urgent Care Health RNs - Tentative Agreement Reached on a First Contract

Lourdes Clinics and Urgent Care Service and Technical

VOTE SCHEDULED
November 25, 2024
12:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Lourdes West Pasco Conference Room
7425 Wrigley Drive, Pasco, WA.

The Bargaining Team is recommending a YES vote.

Our bargaining team is encouraging all employees covered by this agreement to join them on November 25, 2024 any time between 12:00 AM and 7:00 PM in the Lourdes West Pasco Conference Room at 7425 Wrigley Drive, Pasco, WA. This is a great time to learn about the new contract, ask questions and vote. The new contract guarantees 2 wage increases each year of the contract, a competitive wage scale, additional paid time off, job security, grievance process, continuing education reimbursement, union security and much more.

We are excited, hopeful and confident the first contract will lay a strong foundation for an even stronger future. We believe equality and fairness has been achieved in this three-year contract. We now have a voice and a seat at the table to discuss wages, benefits and working conditions. WE CAN ONLY GO UP FROM HERE. Ask your bargaining team how to get involved.

Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Juanita Quezada at (509) 340-7407 with any questions or concerns.

Our Bargaining Team: Jennifer Medrano MA, Jose Munoz Lazo MA, Kaylene Kuhn, Radiological Technologist, Amy Brown LPN, Sandra Pineda MA.

“We came together as a group, asking for fairness and security. After many months of hard work, we have achieved it! The more unified we are, the stronger we become.” 

— Kaylene Kuhn

“Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved”

— Jose Munoz Lazo

“I love my Lourdes team, and no matter what position or role you play in this company, we are ALL VITAL employees. Looking forward to a better future for all with a YES vote on this initial (first) contract.”

 — Amy Brown 

Lourdes Clinics and Urgent Care Health RNs

VOTE SCHEDULED
November 25, 2024
7:30 AM and 10:00 AM
Lourdes West Pasco Conference Room
7425 Wrigley Drive, Pasco, WA

The Bargaining Team is recommending a YES vote.

Our bargaining team is encouraging all Nurses to join them on November 25, 2024 any time between 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM in the Lourdes West Pasco Conference Room at 7425 Wrigley Drive, Pasco, WA. This is a great time to learn about the new contract, ask questions and vote. The new contract guarantees 2 wage increases each year of the contract, a competitive wage scale, additional paid time off, job security, grievance process, continuing education reimbursement, union security and much more.

We are excited, hopeful and confident the first contract will lay a strong foundation for an even stronger future. We believe equality and fairness has been achieved in this three-year contract. We now have a voice and a seat at the table to discuss wages, benefits and working conditions. WE CAN ONLY GO UP FROM HERE. Ask your bargaining team how to get involved.

Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Juanita Quezada at (509) 340-7407 with any questions or concerns.

Our Bargaining Team: Kimberly Edwards, RN and Leilany Garcia, RN

Summit Pacific Medical Center - Bargaining Update

Our Bargaining Team is working hard to make sure that everyone has competitive wages and a fair and equitable place to work!

We have provided Summit with wage charts from many other area hospitals and clinics. We have discussed the cost of living and how competitive pay is for jobs in the area. Management has said they are listening and understand how recruitment and retention works. Our last bargaining session, management came to bargaining and told us why competitive wages are important to Summit's success.

WE AGREE! It's what we have been saying all along.

We all need to make enough money to pay bills and support our families.

Summit will be expanding soon and we know this means better service to our community. Management needs to understand that we are part of this community and we need to be paid fair wages.

OK Summit Management, it's time to put money in people's pockets.

Our next bargaining session is Friday, November 8.We hope that management will be ready for us.

Bargaining Team:Kimberly Starkweather, Allison Felder, Monica Ortiz, Barb Ford, Judea Prouty, Kurt Phillips.

To update your contact information:

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Summit Pacific Medical Center - Bargaining Update

Our bargaining Team met with SPMC management Friday and received their initial economic proposal. The proposal included increases to wages, premiums and differentials.

Management provided lists of the wages paid at neighboring hospitals and clinics and made a proposal to try to bring us closer to those facilities. The data they provided did not include wages from contracts that have been recently ratified.

We are reviewing the accuracy and effective dates of the wage scales that SPMC used for their comparisons, to figure out how they determined the proposed increases. Our bargaining team questioned management about the accuracy of their information and management seemed interested in making sure the data they are using is up-to-date.

We are working on a counter proposal and will present our data on wages and other compensation.

It is important that SPMC fully understands our goals for this contract. We need to be competitive to retain current employees and recruit new ones.

Next bargaining dates: August 12 and 19.

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For more information contact a member of our Bargaining Team: Kim Starkweather Patient Coordinator, Allison Felder RN ED, Monica Ortiz RN ACU, Barb Ford ED Tech, Judea Prouty Medical Assistant, McCleary Clinic, Kurt E Phillips Lead Building Engineer.

Union Representatives:
Kiambo White (206) 436-6515
Madison Derksema (206) 436-6603

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"Management is being very receptive and open to feedback."

— Judea Prouty, MA, McCleary Clinic

"They're willing to meet us and are looking at data that shows them where we need to be."

— Monica Ortiz, RN

PRMCE Union Grievance Newsletter June 2024

Through grievances, we can enforce our contracts and assert our rights! If you have experienced issues with your supervisor not following the contract language, please reach out to your RN union rep, Anthony Cantu, at (206) 436-6566, or Pro/Tech union rep Jack Crow at (206) 436-6614.

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Labor & Industries Meal Period Guidance

On July 1, L&I will begin to enforce compensatory damages for missed or untimely meal periods. As a result of this new rule, Providence has added more meal period questions to the Kronos time clock. We encourage you to do the optional training on the Kronos changes so you can correctly log your meal periods. If you do not receive appropriate compensation for untimely or missed meal periods, we encourage you to file a complaint with L&I here.

Additionally, we currently have an active grievance which is on Step 3 for Pros, Techs, and RNs. We are seeking compensation for missed and untimely meal periods. We are also looking into potential litigation over this matter.

An example from L&I guidance:
Jimmy works a 12-hour shift as a nurse in a regional hospital. On his last shift, Jimmy received only one hour-long lunch break at the fifth hour of his shift. Jimmy has not received compliant meal periods for this shift because he did not receive his second, 30-minute meal period and he worked more than five hours after his first meal period ended without starting that second meal period. The second meal period is a missed meal period. Jimmy must be paid 11 working hours for the time he worked and must also receive an additional 30 minutes of pay at his agreed wage rate because of the missed meal period.
Pay for Missed Break: 30 minutes
Pay for Additional Time Worked: None

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Meal Periods/Time Clock Rounding Class Action Lawsuit

Providence has appealed King County Superior Court’s decision on the class action lawsuit (Bennett et al v. Providence Health Systems) regarding missed pay for time clock rounding and missed second meal periods. This lawsuit covers all Providence hourly employees who were employed from September 2018 to May 2023. We will be keeping an eye on the Appellate Court’s decision, which likely won’t occur for several months.

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RN Contract Signature

We are working through finalizing the contract with PRMCE. We have found typos in the document they submitted to us and have asked them to correct the typos. Although the final contract has not been signed, we have a valid and enforceable agreement. Please refer to the redline in the meantime: ufcw3000.org/find-your-contract/2015/2/12/providence-regional-medical-center-everett-rn-contract

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RN Anniversary Wage Increases/Years of Service Step Progression

This grievance concerns RNs who did not receive their step increase between February 21, 2024, and March 2024 and did not receive an additional step. PRMCE responded to the grievance stating that they are working on providing retroactive pay to nurses owed step increases and are still getting their system in place to track additional step progressions. We find their answer unacceptable and are waiting to meet with PRMCE for Step 2.

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RN Low Census Extra Shift Incentive

PRMCE responded to our grievance and stated that the new extra shift incentive language allows them to cancel/low census incentive shift RNs prior to travelers/agency RNs. We strongly disagree with PRMCE and believe that incentive shift RNs should be low censused with premium shift RNs. We are awaiting Step 3 meeting dates.

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RN Low Census Index

PRMCE has not provided access to the low census index in every unit. The low census index tracks each nurse’s low census hours and helps determine the low census order. We are waiting for PRMCE’s response to our Step 2 meeting.

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RN FMC Per Diem Scheduling

We have filed a demand to bargain for FMC per diem RNs who have been told they can only pick up 12-hour shifts. We believe this is a change in employment conditions. Additionally, we filed a grievance for FMC RNs who are being excluded from incentive shift pay, even though they have worked two shifts in a pay period. We will be meeting with PRMCE on July 29 to bargain over these changes.

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Inpatient Rehab Closure

Providence has announced they will be closing inpatient rehab sometime in October 2024 and moving inpatient rehab services to an offsite Lifepoint/Providence facility. We are currently bargaining with PRMCE over the effects of this closure. Our next bargaining date is on July 17.

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RN Self-Scheduling

Providence announced that some units will be moving from templates to self-scheduling. We have demanded to bargain over the effects of this change and are awaiting a meeting date.

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RN Biweekly Weekend Rotation

Around June 19, Providence announced RNs will be working weekends biweekly to be “compliant” with the weekend language in Article 8. Under the new contract, we changed the definition of a weekend but did not change weekend scheduling language: “The Medical Center will make a good-faith effort to schedule all regular full-time and part-time nurses for every other weekend off.” We believe Providence is misinterpreting this language. We will be having a discussion with Providence next week to resolve this issue. If our discussion is not productive, we will be taking necessary next steps like a grievance.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett - Next Steps for Inpatient Rehab

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett
Next Steps for Inpatient Rehab

On March 12 we met with Providence Everett (PRMCE) Management about the future of Inpatient Rehabilitation at the Pacific Campus. PRMCE told us they plan on moving Inpatient Rehabilitation to an offsite location near South Everett/Lynnwood which will be managed by LifePoint. The new site will have 40 beds and is expected to open sometime in the late summer.

PRMCE plans on closing inpatient rehab at the Pacific Campus once the new site can take patients but does not know the exact date of when this will occur.

Under our contracts and federal law, RN, Tech, and Professional caregivers have the right to bargain over the effects of a unit closure. Additionally, PRMCE must provide caregivers with a 14 to 30-day notice of layoffs and current employees can bump existing employees (please refer to the seniority article 7.1).

While we do not have a set date for when the closure will occur, we will be setting a bargaining date to negotiate over the impact of the closure.

Join the closure discussion and work on proposals!

Tuesday, March 19 @ 6pm
Contact your Union Rep for Zoom details

Questions? Please contact Union Rep Jack Crow (Pro and Tech) @ 206-436-6614 or Union Rep Anthony Cantu (RN) @ 206-436-6566.

Providence St. Peter Hospital RN - Grievance Update

Providence St. Peter Hospital RN - Grievance Update

Being a union member at PSPH means that we have a stronger voice and the right to collectively bargain with our employer.

Through the bargaining process, our members have fought to improve our workplaces by bargaining for strong benefits, better pay, and robust safety procedures. We also have the right to make our voices heard and build power by organizing around workplace issues, organizing non-union workers into our union, and participating together in community and political actions, such as advocating for safer staffing through legislation and in our contract. Over the past several months, PSPH has allegedly violated our contract in a number of ways. Below is a summary of the grievances we have filed against these violations. If you have any additional questions or have been affected by one of these violations, contact the MRC at (866) 210-3000.

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PSPH RN et al. Work on Day Off Premiums

Filed November 9, 2023 Step 1 Meeting: March 21, 2024

In 2022, our union bargaining team negotiated improvements to the Incentive Shift Letter of Understanding (LOU) and moved that LOU into the body of the PSPH RN Contract as Article 9.16. Those improvements included immediate access to time and a half pay or double time, dependent on RN’s FTE, for picking up an extra shift. This change was implemented to further incentivize picking up extra shifts and protecting RNs from loss of all premium pay in the event the RN missed a shift due to illness.

This was a huge win.

Recently, members noticed that the new Work On Day Off language is being challenged both directly and through timekeeping errors. We have discovered that time and a half pay and double-time pay (OT/DT) are subject to additional approval by Kronos timekeepers and that this has led to multiple errors resulting in RNs getting paid less than the contractual rate. This includes the appropriate rate of pay based on FTE worked being erroneously denied due to illness and additional premiums such as Charge, Preceptor, Certification Pay, and Overtime or Double Time rates not being included as an RN’s regular rate of pay as established in the contract.

A group grievance has been filed on behalf of all PSPH RNs to ensure that Providence follows the contract and compensates RNs for any and all lost wages and premiums. We are currently working to set grievance meeting dates.

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PSPH RN et al Work on Day Off Shift Requests

Filed December 21, 2023 Step 1: TBD

When our union bargaining team negotiated changes to the Incentive Shift LOU in 2022, one of the most important changes was the removal of the bidding process. On the 21st day of the scheduling period, FTE RNs are able to select open shifts according to the language in the CBA. The goal was for us to remove the chaos of the “bidding” process that accompanied the original Incentive Shift LOU. We believe the new language changed that.

Nurses noticed that we were not being notified timely if approved for the extra shifts as selected. Instead, the Employer has reverted to the previous practice, and we believe they are “screening” shift selections for the “cheapest” RN requesting the shift. If this is true, it would be a violation of our union contract and in direct contradiction of the conversations the PSPH RN bargaining team had with management during contract negotiations in 2022.

We have filed a grievance demanding that PSPH honor the language they agreed to in bargaining and immediately ensure that requesting or selecting extra shifts will be based on a first-come, first-serve basis as intended. Meeting dates have been requested, and we will report back with news and updates.

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PSPH RN et al Team Leader Pay

Filed November 2, 2023. Step 1 TBD

RNs in several units noticed they were being offered “Team Leader Pay” premiums for assuming partial Charge RN or precepting duties. This premium is not in the CBA and has not been negotiated with the Union.

Our Union filed a grievance not only to stop this practice and to ensure the Employer follows its own policies regarding appointed assignments. The Employer ceased the practice once the grievance was filed, but we have requested to meet in order to address concerns that Charge duties are being assigned piecemeal to multiple RNs to avoid paying Charge Premium. We are also exploring filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge for creating a new premium without first negotiating with us.

If you believe your unit is also being affected, please contact your union representative Madison Derksema or MRC directly with concerns. We are committed to holding the Employer accountable and ensuring RNs are paid the correct premium pay!

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PSPH RN West SADU Mandatory OT

Filed January 23, 2024 Step 1/Bargaining Date TBD

RNs working in Surgery West have been notified they will be “scheduled late” on a rotational basis in violation of the Washington State RCW regarding Mandatory Overtime.

Our Union filed a grievance on behalf of impacted RNs and have issued a demand to bargain over scheduling changes and implementing call in accordance with the CBA.

We have requested bargaining dates from the employer and will work to keep you all updated as we work through this process.

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As all of the grievances above progress updates will be sent including information on the grievance meetings, next steps, and any potential resolution. In the meantime, please contact your union representative Madison Derksema or MRC directly with issues or concerns.

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)

PRMCE Post-Ratification Meeting

Join us on Thursday, February 29, at 7:30 PM for a Zoom meeting. We'll dive into the nuances of the new contract language and touch on topics such as the meal waiver, participation in the Hospital Staffing Committee (HSC), strategies for further improving workplace conditions at PRMCE, and discuss voter turnout.

While our contract was ratified, we must ensure that our new contract is enforced and we hold PRMCE accountable!

Thursday, February 29 at 7:30 PM

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

PRMCE RN Contract votes set for February 20 & 21

We've achieved a significant milestone! On February 9, 2024, a tentative agreement was reached with PRMCE after ten months of negotiations and persistent advocacy. This marks a historic moment in our journey towards enhancing staffing levels and prioritizing patient safety.

Given the new language in our tentative agreement, we believe voting in-person is the best way to inform one another and ensure that we are prepared to enforce the collective bargaining agreement. We’ll also discuss opportunities for nurses to become stewards and actively engage in Hospital Staffing Committee. If you are on medical leave or on PTO outside of the State and cannot vote in-person, we encourage you to reach out to Anthony Cantu, union representative. This will allow us to review the tentative agreement with you and answer your questions.

The vote document will be available for all to read on February 16 on the UFCW 3000 PRMCE RN contract page: ufcw3000.org/find-your-contract/2015/2/12/providence-regional-medical-center-everett-rn-contract ▸

To vote for the tentative agreement, you must attend an in-person vote and be a union dues paying member in good standing. You can sign up to be a union member on the day of our vote or by calling Membership Services 1-866-210-3000 prior to the vote.

Our RN union Bargaining Team fully recommends a “YES” vote.

In-person vote information:

February 20: 7am-9am, 11am-2pm, 5-8pm @ Pacific Campus: CR Main Floor classroom / Colby Campus: Cascade Conference Room (MOB)

February 21: 7am-9am, 11am-2pm @ Pacific Campus: CR Main Floor classroom / Colby Campus: Cascade Conference Room (MOB)

Mason Health RNs Contract Vote Set

We are happy to announce that after months of bargaining for a new contract we have reached a tentative agreement. Details of the tentative agreement will be available at drop-in informational meetings on February 20 and 21. The vote will be held on February 23.

Our Bargaining Committee is fully recommending a yes vote.

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

• Significant wage increases

• New wage scale competitive with Olympia hospitals

• Higher Differentials and Premium Pay

• Improvements to Earned Time and Sick Leave process

learn more about the changes to our contract:

Tuesday, February 20: 11am-2pm and 4pm-8pm
Ellinor & Pershing Meeting Rooms, Mason Health 901 Mountain View Drive, Shelton WA 98585

Wednesday February 21: 8:30am-12:30pm
Washington Room, Mason Health 901 Mountain View Drive, Shelton WA 98585

In person contract Vote on the new contract:

Friday February 23: 11am-2pm and 4pm-8pm
Ellinor & Pershing Meeting Rooms, Mason Health 901 Mountain View Drive Shelton WA 98584

For additional information reach out to one of our union Bargaining Committee member: Tori Willis, Megan Corbin, Nancy Ownby.

Mason Health RN Bargaining Update: Significant Progress Made

Bargaining Team: Nancy Ownby, Megan Corbin, Tori Willis

We have been working long hours this week, trying to reach agreement on a new contract that brings us up to the standards of other local hospitals and keeps us competitive over the next three years.

This has been a complicated process, and we have dug deep into many internal hospital practices and policies. In the process, we have challenged management on many levels. We have made significant progress and are hoping we can get to a tentative agreement soon.

Stay tuned for additional information.

Need to update your contact information on file with the union? Click here >>

Mason Health RN Bargaining Update

“We feel that we have fulfilled our full workload for yesterday and today.” -Megan Corbin

Today we delivered an economic package proposal to management including significant increases to wages and premiums including Resource RN Differential, and BSN/MSN Premium. We are trying to find ways to make the wage scale more competitive with other nearby hospitals.

We have also proposed changes to the definition for full time and part time to be inclusive of 12 hour shifts (so three twelves per week equals full-time.) Management continues to fight us on this.

Other changes include redefining the clarification of longevity increases and Report Pay process, and a significant overhaul of Earned Time. We meet again with Management on January 29.

​For additional information reach out to a Bargaining Team Member. Our Union Bargaining Team: Tori Willis, Megan Corbin, Nancy Ownby.

Mason General RN Contract - BARGAINING UPDATE

We met with Mason General management on January 17 to continue negotiations on our contract!

Your Bargaining Team:

• Is getting close to reaching an agreement on Extra Shifts language (which we feel very good about!)
• Anticipates getting the employer a counter proposal on wages early next week!
• Is awaiting some additional and important information from the employer in order to make a strong counter!

If you have questions about bargaining, reach out to our bargaining team!

If you have questions about anything else, please reach out to our union representative Naomi Oligario at (360) 662-1989.

Our Bargaining Team, Left to Right: Nancy Ownby (RN), Megan Corbin (RN), Tori Willis (RN))