WhidbeyHealth - Management is Listening!

There was movement in bargaining on September 23. While we did not reach a tentative agreement, Management increased their across-the-board wage proposal and was open to removing the ghost steps / zero steps. WhidbeyHealth confirmed that their wage proposal would be in addition to the wage increases members received on July 31, 2022. 

We counter proposed with a competitive across-the-board increase for all employees, removal of all ghost steps, and increasing certificate premiums to $1. 

In the Support Service and Pro-Tech-LPN contracts, there are about ten steps where an employee does not receive an increase when they move from one step to another. By removing ghost steps, employees are no longer penalized for their loyalty to the Hospital. For example, Step 10 and 11 earn the same wage rate. Under our proposal there would be a step increase between Step 10 and 11 in addition to any other ghost steps. 

We began bargaining for both Service & Support Unit and the Pro-Tech/LPN Unit together to show solidarity as a bargaining unit at the end of July. On September 23, WhidbeyHealth has countered and tabled bargaining for Service & Support until October 1.  We will continue to fight for UNITY and an increased wage for ALL. 

Our next bargaining session will be on October 4 and 19. We will be holding a contract action team meeting to discuss bargaining on September 28.  

Contract Action Team Meeting

Wednesday, October 5 • 11:00 AM

In-Person Casual Get-Together

Thursday, October 6 • 6:00 PM

Organized by WhidbeyHealth stewards

Applebee’s Grill 

31810 State Route 20

Oak Harbor, WA 98277

If you have any questions, please reach out to your bargaining team members or union representative, Celia Ponce-Sanchez.

Our Bargaining Committee:

Jennifer MacNeill, Rosalie Nguyen, Qiana Johnson, Marilyn Faber,  Gwendolyn Cole, Lisa Olds, Marty Riley, Elke Rogers