The Inside Story: The right to form a union
More than 11,000 UFCW 21 members work in hospitals and clinics, providing health care for people across the state. Their union contracts set basic standards regarding wages, benefits, and fair treatment — plus a voice on the job that means a better work environment for members, and a better care environment for patients.
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A delegation of UFCW 21 stewards and leaders from MultiCare delivered a petition to Administration declaring a commitment to win language in their contract that guarantees the right of all MultiCare workers to form a union. |
The strongest contracts protect the right of all workers to join a union when they choose to, free from employer harassment, interference, and intimidation. Securing this right in more of our contracts means more workers get to join the union. That adds up to a stronger bargaining position and higher standards, not just at one employer, but throughout the entire health care industry.
As more and more health care workers have joined unions over the past several years, we’ve seen standards rise for everyone in the field. Why? Because workers win when employers have to negotiate with a larger, more united union membership that is ready to take action when necessary.
But when an employer can keep hiring new staff and expanding clinics into new locations — all without the new workers being union — then it puts union members in a weaker position in bargaining.
That’s why organizing new members means more than benefiting just these workers. It benefits everyone — including workers who are already in a union.
More Rite Aid workers vote to join our union
Three recent votes by workers at Rite Aid stores means more members and more bargaining power. UFCW 21 now unites workers at 31 Rite Aid stores in King & Snohomish Counties.
