Women's History Month Member Story: Tacoma General Lab Techs Organize to Be Heard

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Cheyenne Corneau

Cheyenne Corneau had been working as a Medical Lab Technician for about a year in 2022 when her and her coworkers Colleen, and Marisa were talking about the need to get their coworkers involved in the union for better representation for lab techs at the next bargaining table. Looking around the region, they saw that their wage scale was below market value and they knew that in order to change that, their coworkers needed to be involved and ready to show MultiCare that their compensation needed to change.

So they reached out to their union representative to start building their Tacoma General med lab unit for the next negotiations. Cheyenne, Marisa, and Colleen talked to their coworkers about what they all thought the goals for negotiations should be, and asked them what they thought was needed to get it done and if they would take action to show MultiCare that they were serious.

When surveys for the MultiCare contract went out, they made sure that their coworkers filled them out and made their priorities clear. After that, they moved on to hosting meetings to talk to coworkers about the next steps. These were gatherings at their residences where everyone took ownership of the campaign and mapped out the workplace to make sure the message got out to everyone. Not only were Cheyenne, Colleen, and Marisa leaders, they were recruiting and training others to take the lead. That is how the rank-and-file builds power for themselves as a union.

In late 2023, Cheyenne was asked to serve on the MultiCare bargaining committee and agreed, giving lab workers a seat at the negotiation table. Other labs involved in the bargain heard about what is going on at the Tacoma General Med Tech Lab and have started to get more engaged right as these negotiations kick into high gear.

The women of UFCW 3000 are making history for workers every day. We are proud to be able to feature just a few of their stories for Women’s History Month!

UPDATE: MultiCare’s Dirty Tactics Shut Down Community Caravan Supporting Its Workers, Community Vows to Return in Force!

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Health care workers, faith leaders, labor unions, and community allies in Pierce County planned a car caravan around MultiCare-owned Tacoma General and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospitals today, in support of a fair contract for MultiCare’s essential workers. Workers who risked their lives to show up for patients during a yearlong global health crisis are now having to fight for pay that respects their work, for their own access to affordable health care, and for safe staffing in their hospitals and clinics. Workers have been bargaining since January with little movement from MultiCare in agreeing to fair wages and working conditions, and the Tacoma and Pierce County community is ready to step up and support their health care workers.

But before the caravan could begin, MultiCare sent a last-minute cease and desist letter to block it from taking place, saying they consider cars with signs to be unlawful picketing activity and threatening legal action if it continued.

This community will not be silenced. MultiCare workers will not be silenced. If MultiCare is so scared of our voices that they are already resorting to threats, we know that our solidarity and determination are working. The numerous community allies and workers who organized this public event are already spreading the word about MultiCare’s dirty tricks and planning our next action calling attention to this important fight.

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We thank the Tacoma NAACP, Tacoma DSA, Union of American Physicians and Dentists, Tacoma Ministerial Alliance, Political Destiny, Unite Here Local 8, and SEIU 1199NW for joining us today and for committing to this fight for health care workers’ rights and for safe, quality patient care in Tacoma and Pierce County. MultiCare workers have taken care of our community through a traumatic year, and it’s time for MultiCare to take care of its workers.

MultiCare members Informational Picket

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Joined by community allies, UFCW 21 MultiCare members held an informational picket outside of Tacoma General Hospital to demand a fair contract.

Tacoma City Councilmember Anders Ibsen joins hardworking UFCW 21 MultiCare members in their informational picket outside of Tacoma General Hospital as they demand a fair contract on April 16, 2015.

MultiCare UFCW 21 health care members demand a fair contract as they walk the picket line at Tacoma General Hospital during their informational picket on April 16, 2015.

Community ally RJ Johnson of the Kent Black Action Comission joins UFCW 21 MultiCare Members during their April 16, 2015 informational picket.


MultiCare members take part in an informational picket outside of of tacoma general hospital on thursday april 16, 2015.

MultiCare Fair Process Video

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Our ability to have a fair contract that protects us and our patients is connected to having a fair process to join and stay in our union. Hear from two MultiCare workers (Heidi from Allenmore and Fran from Gig Harbor) talk about what having a union would mean to them. There are also some great quotes from Pam Milan (Covington) and Jose Moreno (Allenmore) about why this is so important for current members. Check out the newly released YouTube video: