EvergreenHealth - Bargaining Continues

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Bargaining has continued to be challenging but we have been making progress with the help of a federal mediator for the past two months. Management has started to understand that our coworkers are leaving and going to higher paying jobs. We have focused on economics that will make retention of current employees and recruitment of new employees a priority. Work/life balance has been another focus for us as we have proposed language on staffing, low census, rest between shifts and on-call. Patient safety has been at the forefront of all of our proposals.

Communication between managers and techs is essential for Evergreen to be a good place to work.

We worked late into the night Friday, December 8, and made some progress on economics. Our next mediation session is Friday, December 15.

For more information, talk to a bargaining team member or to Union Representative Jack Crow at 206-436-6614.

EvergreenHealth Kirkland - Bargaining Continues

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Although we have been making progress bargaining for wages that are equitable to surrounding hospitals, Management has announced they won’t move forward without the help of a mediator, so we are requesting mediation from PERC (Public Employment Relations Commission). We agree that mediation could expedite the process.

The ongoing fight is over wages.

Management initiated and implemented a wage increase earlier this year (6% for most jobs) and says they are unable to fund any additional across-the-board wage increases in 2023.

We recognize the financial challenges of the hospital and want to work with them, but something needs to be done to retain workers NOW! They recognize there is a problem as they are severely short-staffed and struggling to hire. They get it, but seem reluctant to make significant movement.

We are committed to getting a good contract, whatever it takes, and will let you know when we have additional bargaining dates.

For more information, talk to a Bargaining Team member or Union Representative Jack Crow.

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EvergreenHealth Kirkland - Bargaining Continues

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We continued to bargain on Monday, August 7, and Management is clear that they do not want to increase wages in 2023. They say Evergreen already pays competitive wages and they don’t want to have the highest wages in the area, but would rather be “in the middle”. They don’t seem to understand this competitive job market and how it impacts our staffing when they refuse to pay competitive wages.

We have reached tentative agreements in many other areas including: overtime language for 7/70 shifts, rollover of Continuing Education Funds, travel time when floating to a different work location, and reinforcing the Labor Management Committee language.

There is still much work to do. We need to stand together to fight for a fair contract!

Please join us at the Board of Commissioners Meeting!

Tuesday, August 15 @

EvergreenHealth

12040 NE 128th

Kirkland WA 98034

Meet at 6:15 PM by the Café on the second floor of TAN

Bring friends and family! We will have an opportunity to speak directly to Hospital Commissioners during the public comment period and share why we need a fair contract and fair wages.

For additional information about this meeting or how you can get more involved, contact Union Representative Jack Crow @ (206) 436-6614.

EvergreenHealth Kirkland - Bargaining Continues—Not Where We Need to Be Yet

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We bargained with Management on July 25 and 26. Management has increased their wage offer but we’re not where we need to be yet. They feel they have already given us a wage increase in 2023 so they don’t need to give us anymore.

The overall tone of bargaining seems different than in prior years. Management seems antagonistic. Although we have discussed the reasoning for our proposals, management’s response has been NO on several things. Unfortunately, Management doesn’t seem interested in engaging fully with us on our issues and seems more focused on our differences.

Bargaining continues next week and we invite you to drop in afterwards and talk with the bargaining team:

  • Monday, August 7

  • 5:00PM—6:00PM

  • EvergreenHealth Kirkland

  • 12040 NE 128th Street

  • Kirkland WA 98034

  • Room TAN 134

For additional information, contact Union Representative Jack Crow at 206-436-6614

EvergreenHealth Kirkland - Bargaining Continues

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Join our bargaining Team as we plan out next moves:

Wednesday, June 14
5:30pm
EvergreenHealth Kirkland - Tan 100
To RSVP, go to: bit.ly/432v1ct

EvergreenHealth Kirkland
Bargaining Continues

Our Union Bargaining Team met with Management on June 9 to discuss the challenges of work we do. They listened to what we had to say, asked some questions, and had a few responses. However, they don’t seem to get it.

Management needs to understand why WAGES and STAFFING improves RETAINMENT and RECRUITMENT!

We have proposed many changes to our contract, including improvements to compensation.

What keeps Management from saying “YES”?

  • Maintaining low overhead?

  • More $ for Management?

  • More $ for equipment or building improvements?

We understand they have a budget. Do they understanding the cost of living and working in Kirkland?

If we have to be on-call and live within a half hour of the hospital, where can we live and how much will it cost? The cost of living has gone up significantly in the past three years.

Does Evergreen understand this?

READY TO GET MORE INVOLVED? Join your union today and go to: join.ufcw.org/join/3000

QUESTIONS? Talk to a member of the Bargaining Team or call Union Representative Jack Crow @ 206-436-6614

EvergreenHealth Hospital - Fighting for changes in our workplace

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EvergreenHealth Hospital
Fighting for changes in our workplace

We had four full days of bargaining and made countless proposals. Management finally responded to some of our proposals but were unwilling to accept many that are important to us:

  • STAFFING: We proposed staffing language which would empower workers to collaboratively address the big staffing issues we face every day. Management failed to address the obvious need for a dialogue on this urgent issue.

  • EQUITY: We proposed contract language that promoted equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism. Management responded that they see no need to exceed the minimum protections required by law.

Our next bargaining date with Management is Wednesday, May 31. We anticipate Management will respond to our economic proposals at the next session.

We are ready to have an extensive conversation with them about what is important to workers at Evergreen.

For additional information, contact a Bargaining Team member or Union Rep Jack Crow @ 206-436-6614.

STAY IN THE LOOP! It is very important that your personal contact information is correct with your Union to be sure you receive updates on bargaining with your Employer, union benefits, bargaining surveys, as well as contract vote information.
https://ufcw3000.org/update-your-information

EvergreenHealth Medical Center - Bargaining Continues

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EvergreenHealth Medical Center
Bargaining Continues


On April 28, we bargained with EvergreenHealth Management and are continuing to propose changes that will strengthen our contract and improve working conditions. Management has not provided any response to our proposals.

Compensation and staffing are the primary focuses and are essential to retention and recruitment.

We need to make EvergreenHealth competitive with other local hospitals. Our next bargaining date is Monday, May 8.

EvergreenHealth Bargaining Team: Justy Hedrick, CT Scanning; Anna Hennager, Resp Therapy; Chris Dizon, Echocardiology; Desiree Huttinger, Cardiology; Kimberly Mitchell, Surgery/ Labor and Delivery; Jennifer Bradshaw, Mammography; Kevin Daly, Lab; David Dimalanta, Radiology; James Kerr, Surgery/OR

QUESTIONS? Reach out to one of our Bargaining Team members or Union Rep Jack Crow @ 206-436-6614.

Communication is key! If you know someone who is not receiving these updates, they can join the loop by going to: ufcw3000.org/update-your-information

EvergreenHealth Kirkland - UFCW 3000 Bargaining Team Meets With Evergreen Management! 

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It’s time for change. We feel unappreciated, underpaid and understaffed. 

Our Union Bargaining Team met Friday, March 31 and made initial non-economic proposals. Management did not respond to any proposals made, but committed to review. 

We are scheduled to bargain again on April 12. The Bargaining Team is now focused on fine-tuning economic proposals in anticipation of our next session. 

Meet Our Union Bargaining Team:

Front Row: Kim Mitchell, Labor and Delivery Surg Tech; Justy Hedrick, CT Tech; Desiree Huttinger, Cardiology Tech; Back Row: Jack Crow, UFCW 3000 Rep.; Jennifer Bradshaw, Mammo Tech; David Dimalanta, Rad Tech; Chris Dizon, Echo Tech; James Kerr, OR Surg Tech. Not Pictured: Anna Hennager, Respiratory Care; Kevin Daly, Lab Med Tech

“If you have any issues, come to me and I will do my best to bring your thoughts to the Bargaining Team. I’m always willing to facilitate ideas.”

— DAVID DIMALANTA, Surg Tech, 8 years

“I wanted to be on the Bargaining Team because I want to help my team. We started to fall apart when we went through Covid. We need to focus more on retention. The hospital could do a better job and that is what I am hoping for.”

— JUSTY HEDRICK, CT Tech, 5 years

“Now is such an important time. There are so many things that we need, and I wanted to be on the Bargaining Team to make sure our department is represented. I didn’t want to let my coworkers down.”

— DESIREE HUTTINGER, Cardiology Tech, 12 years

“I was on the Bargaining Team last contract, and it was a lot of fun. I never realized how much goes into it. It helped me to have a better understanding of the contract itself.”

— ANNA HANNAGER, Respiratory Care Practitioner, 7 years

“I come from Wyoming and Idaho, and I cannot stress enough how much better the benefits are in Washington than over there. That has a lot to do with the Union and the market that we are in. Having a say in how you’re treated at work through the Union helps tremendously. If you come from a right to work state, like Wyoming or Idaho, it’s hard to get any kind of concession from Management on anything. That’s why I am here. I have experienced the other side of the coin. The Union makes a difference.”

—  KEVIN DALY, Lab Med Tech, 12 years 

“I want to be involved in making changes and improving things at Evergreen. I don’t want to just be a grumbling voice. I want to feel like when I go home at the end of the day that I was able to give good patient care. I don’t always feel that. It is something that has been an issue the last couple of years.”  

— JENNIFER BRADSHAW, Mammography Tech, 17 years 

“I feel proud to say I am a healthcare worker. But I have seen and experienced first-hand how important it is to have representation and make sure everyone is treated fairly. That’s why I wanted to be a part of the Bargaining Team.”

—  KIM MITCHELL, Labor and Delivery Surg Tech, 2 years

“I’ve been in this field for 14 years now, and I’ve been around enough hospitals to know what works and what doesn’t. I joined the Bargaining Team because I was hoping to influence some of those positive changes for the hospital.”

—  CHRIS DIZON, Echo Tech, 2 years

“There hasn’t been a surg tech on the Bargaining Team for the last two contracts and it’s time we had someone. A lot of folks don’t understand what goes into our job, and they don’t understand the responsibilities that go into our position.”

—   JAMES KERR, OR Surg Tech, 8 years

 

EvergreenHealth Kirkland and Clinics - Bargaining Begins

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EvergreenHealth Kirkland and Clinics
Bargaining Begins

After months of trying to schedule dates to negotiate for our new contract, we have confirmed that our first bargaining session with Management will be on Friday, March 31. Additional dates scheduled for bargaining are April 12 and April 28.

Our Bargaining Team is busy reviewing the contract and writing proposals. We heard loud and clear that workers want competitive wages and benefits, improved staffing and a voice in the workplace!

Stay tuned!
Look out for upcoming meeting information for updates on our contract negotiations.

If you are not receiving bargaining updates, scan or go to: ufcw3000.org/update-your-information

EvergreenHealth Kirkland and Clinics Bargaining Team: Jennifer Bradshaw, mammography; Chris Dizon, echocardiology; Kevin Daly, laboratory; David Dimalanta, radiology; Desiree Huttinger, cardiology; Anna Goodsell Hennager, respiratory; Justine Hedrick, CT scanning; James Kerr, surgery/OR; Kimberly Mitchell, labor and delivery

Questions? Please contact Union Rep Jack Crow @ 206-436-6614.