May 16, 2008

“They say they respect their workers. If they respect us as much as they respect each other (management), they would provide us with at least half of the dependent health care the provide for themselves.”

Becky Kinsey, Diagnostic Imaging

This year’s contract negotiations with Central Washington Hospital began with back-to-back sessions on May 13th and 14th.

At our first sessions, the Union bargaining committee presented Management with a complete contract proposal to boost wages, reduce the cost of dependent health care coverage, and make other improvements. Management has made a full counter-proposal of their own, and already rejected our proposal on dependent health care overage.

Highlights of Our Proposal:

The Union Bargaining Team offered a proposal based on responses to the bargaining surveys, proposal meetings and feedback from Union members. Highlights of our proposal include:

Wages:

Our wage proposal was based on a review of data from around the region on what other employers are paying for similar jobs. If the wages at Central Washington Hospital for a particular job class are in line with Union standards for the area, we then propose a basic cost of living increase. If wages for a certain job class fall below the Union standard for the area, we then propose wages above our basic cost of living increase for that job in order to make up the difference.

After reviewing the data, the Union Bargaining committee proposed the following:

• General wage increase of 5% at ratification this year for all classifications. This increase comes in addition to the step increases you receive annually on your anniversary date.
• Additional 2% increase for Specialty Pharmacy Techs and MLTs.
• Create two new job classifications: MLT 2, paid at 3% above the MLT rate of pay, and Lithotripsy Tech, paid at 10% above Radiologic Tech rate of pay.
• Improve the top of the wage scale to provide increases sooner. Employees would advance to Step 14 after 14 years of service, not 15 as in the current wage scale, and move to Step 15 after 16 years of service, not 17 years.
• Extend the wage scale to better reward long-term employees by adding a new Step 16 this year for employees with 18 years of service, and a new Step 17 next year for employees with 20 years of service.
• 4% general wage increase in 2009, and another 4% in 2010.

Medical Benefits and Other Issues:

Medical Benefits: The cost of dependent care is a big issue for many union members at Central Washington. Our proposal included Central Washington Hospital sharing the cost for dependent coverage for full-time employees at 50%, and 25% for part-time employees. Keep in mind that management’s dependents are covered at 100%.

Voluntary donations to the Union Political Action Fund: We proposed to allow union members at Central Washington the ability to voluntarily donate to the Union Political Action Fund through payroll deduction if they choose to do so.
Contract negotiations are at the heart of what the union is all about, but the union’s political action fund is also key. Some issues that affect working families that can’t be solved at the bargaining table include worker’s rights, the minimum wage, corporate accountability, and universal health care. At most other Local 21 work sites, union members can elect to voluntarily make a small contribution out of each paycheck to help us win these political battles. We deserve this right at Central Washington Hospital.

If you are still not a union member, it’s not too late to sign up. This bargain affects you too, the more members we have, the stronger bargaining strength we have. Please contact a bargaining team member to join.

What’s next:

Our next bargaining sessions are set for Thursday, May 22nd and Friday, May 23rd. In the meantime, the union bargaining committee will be surveying Union members about their current health care situations: Are your kids insured? Are they covered by a spouse or the State’s basic health plan? This information will help us to assess what we need to do to negotiate a fair contract.

We’ll keep you informed as negotiations continue. If you have any questions or comments please speak to a member of the union bargaining team, or call Union Representative, Patrick Silvernale 1-800-732-1188 , ext. 6525.

Union Bargaining Team:

Becky Kinsey, Diagnostic Imaging
Russ Reynolds, Ultrasound
Aaron Wright, Surgery
Wendie Dyal, Hematology
Nancy Woolbright, Respiratory Therapy
Debbie Tincher, Pharmacy
David Fleishman, Negotiations Director
Patrick Silvernale, Union Representative