Providence Centralia - Vote “NO” on the contract offer and “YES” to a Strike authorization

We have been at the bargaining table since October 2020 fighting for our first contract. One of the reasons we organized was to keep our EIB and PTO. Throughout bargaining, we have made thoughtful proposals which would improve our working conditions, make our pay rates competitive compared with similar sized hospitals in the area, and continue our EIB/PTO plan. We believe these proposals will help recruit and retain caregivers so we can provide better patient care, but Providence has rejected many of these proposals.

In our last bargaining sessions, Providence finally made their wage proposal for the technical unit and support services unit. Their proposal would continue their “minimum, midpoint, and maximum” wage table, merit increases which are dependent on your “core leaders,” and there would only be a guarantee of 1.5% pay increase for the life of the contract. This proposal deviates from all other UFCW 21 contracts with Providence. Other contracts have a wage scale, 2% wage increases on your anniversary date, and a cost-of-living increase every year of the contract. In addition, they continue to propose language which would give Providence the ability to change, potentially eliminate, your retirement plan, health insurance, education plan, non-legally mandated leaves of absence, and PTO plan.

Given this, we believe we need to vote down the contract to show Providence that we will not accept their proposals!

Additionally, Providence also changed our PTO plan on January 1, 2021 without bargaining with us. We have filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)! The NLRB has already found merit in the ULP we filed for Providence St. Peter’s around the same subject and we believe they will find merit in our ULP at PCH.

Given the rejection of our proposals and the unfair labor practice, we are calling to vote “NO” on the contract and “YES” to a strike authorization! To go out on strike, two-thirds of voters must approve the strike. Going out on strike is always our last resort, but it is clear to us at the bargaining table that Providence is not willing to listen and does not respect us so we must take further collective action! Authorizing a strike means that your Tech and Support Services bargaining team will have the ability to call a strike, potentially a ULP strike, if Providence continues to drag their feet at the bargaining table.

We will be joining about 1,700 nurses at Providence Everett who voted to authorize a strike earlier this month! Our vote will take place online via SimplyVoting and you will receive a link with your unique login information on June 16.

To better inform our units on what it means to strike, we will be holding an education meetings in-person and online on June 8, 10 and 15. Please update your contact information on the UFCW 21 website or email Union Rep Erin McCoy if you do not receive email notifications from the Union at: emccoy@ufcw21.org

Upcoming Strike Education and Contract Vote Meetings

Join in person at Fort Borst Park
June 8 • 5 PM - 7 PM
June 10 • 1 PM - 3 PM

Join online via Zoom
June 8 • 8 PM
June 15 • 6 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

June 16 • 12:01 AM - 8 PM
Contract vote instructions will be emailed to you via SimplyVoting