St. Michael Medical Center RN - Management Rejects All Staffing Proposals at Ninth Bargaining Session

St. Michael Medical Center RN
Management Rejects All Staffing Proposals at Ninth Bargaining Session

On June 12, we met with hospital management for our ninth bargaining session. At our last session, we presented proposals aimed at addressing the ongoing staffing crisis, including:

• $5/hour staffing premium for nurses working below the staffing plan

• $5/hour Charge RN premium for nurses carrying a patient load due to understaffing or working double charge assignments

• Double-time pay for picking up vacant shifts after the schedule is posted

• Incentives for vacant call shifts

• Break relief RNs for all inpatient units—including the OR and Emergency Department

The hospital rejected every single one of these proposals.

When we asked management to explain why they turned down solutions designed by bedside nurses to fix a staffing crisis we live through every day, their response was insulting:

"You are asking for things that we do not think you need."

Let's be clear—hospital executives do not get to decide what nurses need to safely care for patients. Nurses do.

Our patients need more RNs and more support on the floors. The only way to get there is by recruiting and retaining nurses—not just offering flashy sign-on bonuses while ignoring the needs of the people already showing up every day.

Instead of investing in long-term staffing solutions, SMMC is choosing to underpay current staff and reject common-sense incentives. They're prioritizing temporary staff over the stability and experience that long-term nurses bring to the bedside.

SMMC must face the reality: you cannot fix staffing by ignoring the nurses doing the work.

We've made it clear: We need to be competitive—with St. Joseph's, with hospitals across Puget Sound, and even with Seattle, where many Kitsap nurses are now working for better pay and better conditions.

We're awaiting a response from management, and we hope they come back with a counterproposal that reflects what we know is needed—not what they think we can settle for.

Our next bargaining session is June 18. 

Join our CAT Meeting!

June 25
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM

Bargaining Team: Kim Fraser, Pre-Op; Janice Brown, FBC; Meredith Francisco, Med Surg; Lindsey Gearllach, Obs; Tammy Olson, ICU

Providence St. Peter RN - We're at the Table. Real Solutions Are Not.

On Thursday, June 5, our union bargaining team met with Providence to keep up our fight for better wages, safe staffing, real workplace safety measures, a retirement we can count on, and a strong healthcare plan.

Despite a relatively productive day of discussions on the non-economic sections of our contract, this meeting marked the second session in a row without responses from the employer on our core issues.

Furthermore, management's non-economic proposals still haven't properly addressed some of our key demands. For instance:

• Their proposal on Charge Nurse staffing did not guarantee that our Charge Nurses would be free from a dedicated patient assignment so they can ensure quality patient care and unit safety—without being stretched dangerously thin

• Their workplace safety proposals ignored our demands for emergency distress beacon towers in the parking lot and a weapon detection system in the Emergency Department

• They continued to reject language guaranteeing free on-site parking for nurses at PSPH; which at this time is simply maintenance of current practice

• They refuse to ensure release from work duties for union bargaining team members; essential for ensuring consistent & meaningful representation at the bargaining table

We remain committed to fighting for a contract that recognizes the skill, professionalism, and dedication of every nurse. However, given the serious and ongoing safety concerns facing both staff and patients, we are deeply concerned by Providence's refusal to engage meaningfully with these proposals. We feel that these solutions are not just reasonable—they are necessary.

Lastly, despite a productive day of discussions with Providence on the non-economic sections of our contract, June 5 now marks the second session in a row without responses from the employer on our wages, safe staffing language, or retirement & health plan proposals.

We continue pushing for meaningful progress on the issues that matter most: safe staffing, real workplace safety measures, strong union rights, and protections that reflect the work we do every day. We remain committed to fighting for a contract that recognizes the skill, professionalism, and dedication of every nurse.

Your bargaining team: Mary Bloomberg, Surgical Acute RN; Haley Sweet, Neurology RN; Jacob Kostecka, PACU RN; Kelly Williams, Inpatient Psychiatry RN; Melanie Oakes, ED RN; Darlett Holm, SADU West RN; Andy Dusablon, PACU RN; Grace Kraege, ED RN; Julia Douglas, Sepsis RN; Ashley McBride, L&D RN Not Pictured: Mike Staley, SADU RN

Contract Action Meeting (CAT)

June 12, 2025
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
In Person: 906 Columbia St SW STE 330 Olympia WA 98502

Providence Mt. Carmel RN - Our Bargaining Team Met Strong Resistance from Providence the First Two Days of Bargaining

We just completed our first two days of negotiations with Providence. Our bargaining team came ready to bargain and gave a complete comprehensive proposal to Providence that included:

• Market wage increases that are competitive with Spokane Holy Family and will help us retain and recruit nurses to serve our rural community

• Paid education days like other Providence Hospitals

• Supplemental scheduling

• Premiums for nurses who are unable to move to newly awarded positions because Providence hasn't resolved their staffing crisis

• Sleep area for call staff required to stay on premises

• And more!

These sessions were not just hard; they were frustrating and at times deeply uncomfortable. Providence's attorney created an environment that made members of our team feel dismissed and disrespected. It quickly became clear that Providence doesn't see rural hospitals as deserving of the same standards or respect as our peers in urban hospitals.

"We walked away from the table deflated and discouraged. We don't feel like their attorney came prepared to bargain in good faith. We are hoping when we get back to the table it will be different. Now is the time to RALLY together, we must be prepared just in case it's not."

— Our bargaining team

We asked Providence for additional dates through the next few months; however, management claims they are only available to meet in person again on July 29, 30, and 31. Our bargaining team finds it difficult to believe that Providence is not available until the end of July, and this delay feels like a tactic to frustrate progress at the table.

Please watch for additional information on how you can get involved in fighting for a fair contract we all deserve.

United we stand, divided we beg.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our bargaining team or the Union Representative Lenaya Wilhelm at 509-340-7369.

Bargaining Team: Georgia Davenport, RN; Rebecca Landers, RN; Laura Swanson, RN

St. Michael Medical Center RN - Bargaining Update

This Wednesday, May 21 our bargaining team met with leadership of Saint Michael Medical Center for what was our eighth bargaining session.

In the morning we presented ideas on how we might come to agreement on major outstanding economic issues, including:

• Staffing

• Charge Nurse duties

• Mandatory Call

• Open Call

• Break relief shifts

While we caucused after this, we began the process of crafting our next set of other economic items not addressed above such as wages and premium pay.

In the afternoon, management responded on the outstanding non-economic issues we do not have Tentative Agreements on already. This shrinking group of sections of the contract we need to respond to them on includes the Residency Program, precepting, and our proposed workplace violence prevention program.

"We have many Tentative Agreements, but we are still hoping for some more movement from management on major economic issues."

— Lindsay Gearrllach (OBS)

We're asking everyone to start wearing gold and blue UFCW 3000 swag on bargaining days! We'll be distributing bandanas and other items to show unity and solidarity.

Next Bargaining Dates

• June 12

• June 18

• June 26

Strike Pledge Card

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Contract Update Meeting

May 27
7:00 PM

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Bargaining Team: Kim Fraser, Pre-Op; Janice Brown, FBC; Meredith Francisco, Med Surg; Lindsey Gearllach, Obs; Tammy Olson, ICU