St. Michael Medical Center - Questions About the Overpayment Settlement?

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Come Talk to a Rep About the Overpayment Settlement!

On September 26, our UFCW union rep and MRC rep will be at the SMMC cafeteria to answer questions about the overpayment settlement.

Tuesday, September 26

  • 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM  

  • 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM  

  • 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Read about the settlement on your contract page: 

>> St. Michael Medical Center RN
>> St. Michael Medical Center Pro-Tech
>> St. Michael Medical Center Service & Dietary

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - 2022 overpayment settlement

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Find your contract and learn more about the settlement!

St. Anne: https://ufcw3000.org/find-your-contract/2015/2/11/highline-medical-center-contract

St. Joseph (Pharmacy): https://ufcw3000.org/find-your-contract/2015/2/11/st-joseph-hospital-contract

St. Joseph (Technical): https://ufcw3000.org/find-your-contract/2021/6/7/conifer-st-joseph-medical-center

St. Michael (Nurses): https://ufcw3000.org/find-your-contract/2015/2/11/harrison-medical-center-rn-contract

St. Michael (ProTech): https://ufcw3000.org/find-your-contract/2015/2/11/harrison-medical-center-pro-tech-contract

St. Michael (Service/Dietary): https://ufcw3000.org/find-your-contract/2015/2/11/harrison-medical-center-service-dietary-contract

Virtual Health: https://ufcw3000.org/find-your-contract/2018/12/13/virtual-health-contract
 
In October and November 2022, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) experienced a cyberattack and as a result shutdown Kronos (timekeeping software). To ensure that employees were paid on time, VMFH estimated the amount of pay based on employees’ FTE and estimated employee’s premium payments based on the amount of premium payments on the October 7, 2022 paycheck. 

On the November 4, 2022 paycheck, VMFH paid every affected employee the total of regular hours and premium pay earned for both the October 2-15, 2022 pay period and the October 16-29, 2022 pay period. Given this, many employees were overpaid and VMFH sought repayment from employees. 

Although VMFH can recoup the overpayment, they needed to negotiate with our union prior to implementing a repayment plan. Since they didn’t do so our union filed an unfair labor practice with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and grievances for all bargaining units. Additionally, a demand to bargain over the repayment process. 

After months, we were able to settle the matter. Employees who were overpaid less than $2000 will repay the amount in four equal installments and employees who were overpaid more than $2000 will repay the amount in six equal installments. If you do not agree with the amount due, you can submit a written notice within ten business days of receiving the “repayment request” from VMFH. This request was sent on or around September 8 to your work email. 

If you have need help navigating through the process, please feel free to reach out to our union representative or the Member Resource Center (866) 210-3000. 

St. Michael Medical Center (Pro-Tech) - Contract ratified!

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St. Michael Medical Center (Pro-Tech)
Contract ratified!

On Friday, June 30, we overwhelmingly voted to ratify our new collective bargaining agreement! Our new contract includes some of the highest pay in the region, a completely revamped wage scale with no ghost steps, increases to several differentials, and much more.

We will work with the Employer to get a final signed copy of your contract printed as soon as possible, but in the meantime, the redline version can be found HERE >>

Bargaining Team: Paul Harris, ER Tech; Chris Young, Transport; Don Szabo, Lead Medical Imaging; Rob Shauger, CNA 8th floor; Angela Roberson, Heart and Vascular; Connie Baker, RT; Kain McLeod, Pharm Technician; Alicia Krug, Surgery Tech

St. Michael Medical Center (Pro-Tech) - Tentative agreement reached - Vote Scheduled

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Ratification Vote

Join your coworkers and vote on the new contract!

Friday, June 30
6 AM—9 AM • 12 PM—3:30 PM • 6 PM —9 PM
St. Michael Medical Center - Conference Room G920 (near cafeteria), 1800 NW Myhre Rd, Silverdale, WA 98383

Our Union Bargaining Team is excited to announce that after negotiating late into the night of June 20, we have reached a tentative agreement with Management on our new contract!

Highlights of the proposed agreement include:

  • Goodbye to ghost steps: We have completely revamped the wage scale, ensuring that each step represents a meaningful increase. No more steps with a 0% increase.

  • Historic wage increases: Substantial raises for each classification that recognize the value of our work and dedication.

  • Healthcare maintained: Our healthcare coverage remains intact, providing the same level of comprehensive coverage, low cost, and support as before.

  • Standby pay for professional and technical roles will see an unprecedented increase.

  • We have restored the Per Diem differential back to 15%.

  • Our new contract also includes improved language on critical issues such as low census, preceptorship, certification pay, grievances, and much more!

The above highlights only scratch the surface of all the improvements proposed for our contract. More details, including copies of the entire proposed contract, will be available at the ratification vote.

Bargaining Team: Paul Harris, ER Tech; Chris Young, Transport; Don Szabo, Lead Medical Imaging; Rob Shauger, CNA 8th floor; Angela Roberson, Heart and Vascular; Connie Baker, RT; Kain McLeod, Pharmacy Technician

St. Michael Medical Center Service & Dietary - Tentative agreement reached - Vote scheduled

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St. Michael Medical Center - Service & Dietary
Tentative agreement reached
Vote scheduled

After many months of bargaining, we finally have a tentative agreement! We worked hard to get a contract that works for all, and won historic wage increases that can help recruit and retain qualified staff. Our new agreement includes:

  • New wage scales and job classifications

  • Filled in all ghost steps

  • Pay for call in advance of shift

  • Management will pay for certifications including food handler’s card

  • Pandemic Language

  • And much more!

The vote will be in-person and members will have the opportunity to speak to Bargaining Team members before casting their ballot. Please arrive during the posted vote times as we cannot allow members to enter the vote room outside of the advertised times.

Join your co-workers and vote on the new contract

Wednesday, May 17
8:30am—10:30am | 12pm—3:30pm | 5pm—7pm
St. Michael Medical Center, conference room 1.939 (first floor of the new hospital by the blue elevators)

St. Michael Medical Center Protech - Bargaining Continues

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Our Bargaining Team: Paul Harris, ER Tech; Chris Young, Transport; Don Szabo, Lead Medical Imaging; Rob Shauger, CNA 8th floor; Angela Roberson, Heart and Vascular; Connie Baker, RT; Kain McLeod, Pharm Technician

Bargaining continues, but it is slow. We have made proposals that would protect all our coworkers and help us recruit and retain qualified workers. Management fails to listen to our concerns and address our needs. We are frustrated and disappointed that instead of seeking to find mutually beneficial solutions, they have threatened our union security and healthcare benefits. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! We work hard day in and day out taking care of patients and our community, but management proposes language that would harm us instead of strengthen us. Management needs to listen, and give us what we deserve; Better Pay, Better staffing and More Respect!

We believe it is vital that Management listens to our concerns and gives us the respect and support we deserve. We are asking for better pay, better staffing levels, and more respect at work. These are reasonable requests that would benefit not only us but our patients and the community we serve.

We need your support now more than ever—if you believe that it is time for Management to respect and protect us, please sign the petition calling on them to do the right thing at the bargaining table. Your voice is essential in helping us to achieve a fair and equitable contract that benefits everyone.


“The cost of living has gone up and their wage proposals are not competitive and keep us below the market.”

— Rob Shauger

“Inflation is not an imposition, it’s an opportunity to work more—don’t get more money, just work more—that’s Management theory.”

— Paul Harris

“Management continues to try and divide us by stating, ‘nurses are more valuable because their skillsets cover everyone.’ It’s time for them to recognize that we are all valuable for our skill to make the patient healthcare team, we all work hard to take care of our patients.”

— Connie Baker

St. Michael Medical Center Service & Dietary - We Have a Historic Tentative Agreement!

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Our Bargaining Team:
Vanessa Rosadino, Dietary Caterer
Christy Sammons, EVS Relief
Susan Meyer, Dietary Cook
Pam Reese, EVS Discharge

After many months of bargaining, we finally have a tentative agreement. We worked hard to get a contract that works for all! We won historic wage increases that can help recruit and retain qualified staff!

We also won:

  • New wage scales and job classifications

  • Filled in all ghost steps

  • Pay for call in advance of shift

  • Management will pay for certifications including food handler’s card!

  • Pandemic Language

  • And other great wins!

“We did it! We are DONE!!!”

— Pam Reese

“This is a historic contract. I have never seen such high percentages in my 20 years of working here! “

— Susan Meyer

“I am so happy for our new contract. We worked really hard and we got a successful contract and we encourage everyone to vote YES!”

— Vanessa Rosadino

“We worked really hard to get a contract that will help us recruit and retain new workers! “

— Christy Sammons

Please keep stay tune for more information about vote times so you can vote on your new contract!

If you have any questions, please reach out to your Bargaining Team.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: St. Michael Medical Center Bargaining Team

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Susan Mayer, Pamela Reese, Vanessa RosaDino, and Christy Sammons

The bargaining team at Saint Michael Medical Center has been meeting with the Employer for over a month to negotiate a new contract working conditions for themselves and their coworkers. The bargain is now well into the economic parts of the agreement, and the committee is learning fast that their employer, Catholic Health Initiatives, needs to not just hear from them, but from everyone working at St. Michael Medical Center.

So, Susan, Pamela, Vanessa, and Christy are talking to their coworkers and collecting stories to share at the bargaining table about what would make their workplace better, and what effect of management’s proposals would have; because an injury to one is an injury to all.

St. Michael Medical Center - Protech Bargaining Continues

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Our Bargaining Team: Paul Harris, ER Tech; Chris Young, Transport; Don Szabo, Lead Medical Imaging; Rob Shauger, CNA 8th floor; Angela Roberson, Heart and Vascular; Connie Baker, RT; Kain McLeod, Pharm Technician

After evaluating the issues of the workplace and listing to you, our coworkers We have met with management for the first time and presented our non-economic language proposals. We had good discussion and look forward to start talking about wages the next time we meet.  

“After the first day of sitting across the table with management I am hopeful that they have heard our concerns and will respond positively. It’s time for management recognizes that we are the ones who do the work everyday and they need to respect our voices and our experience.” 

— Don Szabo, Lead Medical Imaging  

We are just beginning but if you want to be connected and get more information, please join one of our Contract Action Team meetings!

Thursday, February 23, 2022

10:00 AM • 7:00 PM

In-Person:

UFCW Silverdale office  

3888 NW Randall Way #105, Silverdale, Wa. 98383

Or join by Zoom:

https://zoom.us/join

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

St. Michael Medical Center (ProTech) - Bargaining Begins

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St. Michael Medical Center (Pro-Tech)
Bargaining Begins

We met with Management for the first time and proposed our first set of non-economic proposals. We the Bargaining Team are ready to fight for a strong contract that addresses the many needs we have in our departments and that gives equitable and competitive wages!

“Looking forward to the employer’s response” - Kain McLeod, Pharmacy Tech

“We are united in the fight to address the staffing crisis here at St. Michael’s.” - Connie Baker, RT

“Optimistic and ready to work to meet our goals.” - Angela Roberson, Heart and Vascular

If you have any questions about bargaining please reach out to any of our bargaining team members or our Union Rep Aimee Oien @ 360-662-1981.

Our St. Michael Medical Center ProTech Bargaining Team: Paul Harris - ER Tech, Chris Young - Transport, Don Szabo - Lead Medical Imaging, Rob Shauger - CNA 8th floor, Angela Roberson - Heart and Vascular, Connie Baker - RT, Kain McLeod - Pharmacy Tech

St. Michael Medical Center - Bargaining Begins

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St. Michael Medical Center
Bargaining Begins

We met with Management for the first time and proposed our first set of non-economic proposals. We the Bargaining Team are ready to fight for a strong contract that addresses the many needs we have in our departments and that gives equitable and competitive wages!

If you have any questions about bargaining please reach out to any of our Bargaining Team members or our Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

“We will not give up without a fight!” - Pamela Reese, EVS Discharge

“I am excited and optimist about the new contract!” - Vanessa Rosadino, Dietary Caterer

“I feel like we had a productive first day and all of our concerns were heard.” - Susan Mayer, Dietary Cook

“We are ready to fight for a strong contract and get what we need to get done!” - Christy Sammons, EVS Relief

Our St. Michael Medical Center Bargaining Team: Susan Mayer- Dietary Cook, Vanessa Rosadino- Dietary Caterer, Pamela Reese- EVS Discharge, Christy Sammons- EVS Relief

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - Management ignores cease and desist and demand to bargain over overpayment demands

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In October 2022, the Employer overpaid wages to a large portion of members within St. Michael Medical Center, St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Anne Hospital, and Virtual Health bargaining units. They notified UFCW 3000 that they would be seeking recuperation of the excess wages, which they are legally entitled to do. When the Employer began deducting overpayment members realized that the deducted amounts were incorrect.

We sent the Employer a cease and desist letter asking them to stop the deductions and allow us to bargain over the overpayment recovery plan. Management has ignored our request, so we have filed a group grievance on behalf of all bargaining units regarding the overpayment recovery plan. Additionally, we have filed an unfair labor practice against the Employer for ignoring our request.

If you believe you have been deducted an incorrect amount, please email your paystubs and a brief description of how much money you believe is owed to you at: Virginiamasonwagegrievance@ufcw3000.org. We will continue sending out updates to all VMFH bargaining units.

We also encourage you to file a L&I complaint with the State: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/wagecomplaint/#/ and file a PAR with VMFH human resources.

UFCW 3000 Calls for Resignation of St. Michael Medical Center Leaders in Petition of No Confidence

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UFCW 3000 is publicly circulating a Petition of No Confidence in the leadership at St. Michael Medical Center, after years of inadequate response to issues at the hospital, including the recent experience of UFCW 3000 members in the Emergency Department who had to request assistance from the local fire department as conditions were unsafe due to short staffing.

Hospital staff, emergency services workers, physicians, local leaders, and the entire community of patients and residents in the Kitsap area served by the hospital are invited to sign on to this petition calling for accountability from Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

We, the undersigned, hereby submit the following letter to Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Chief Executive Officer Ketul Patel:

Our community has been advocating for a safe hospital for years as workers repeatedly sound the alarm on the serious issues plaguing St. Michael Medical Center. Unfortunately, after years of ineffective response, and after workers have had to repeatedly report their concerns to hospital leadership through committee meetings, contract negotiations, and very publicly through picketing, media, and outreach to legislative officials, the health care workers’ pleas have been met with empty promises as the situation continues to deteriorate.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! We demand change, we demand action, we demand that you take the concerns of your workers and the community seriously and make significant changes at St. Michael Medical Center.

We have lost confidence in the leadership team at St. Michael Medical Center and request that you start with the resignation of both President Chad Melton and Chief Nursing Officer Jeanell Rasmussen.

St. Michael Medical Center RN - New Agreement Ratified

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After six months of negotiations, our Bargaining Team is excited to announce that nurses voted to ratify their successor contract. St. Michael Medical Center will now have one of the highest wage scales and charge nurse premiums in the state, a much stronger staffing committee, and much more.

However, the fight is not over! Our new contract will not solve the chronic staffing issues and mismanagement that continues to plague St. Michael Medical Center, no amount of money could fix that. We need to continue to elevate the pressure by submitting official complaints to state agencies, running petitions of no confidence against incompetent managers, and fight to pass legislation on staffing ratios.

While changing the law may take time, we are taking action NOW to impact change. The first petition of no confidence will begin circulating this month and you can begin to file complaints with the state today through the following links.

Please contact Union Representative Aimee Oien at (360) 662-1981 if you have any questions or need assistance filing a complaint with the state. 

Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks. 

DOSH Complaint

Report safety issues and/or hazardous working conditions directly to the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).

DOH Complaint

Report unsafe staffing directly to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). We encourage members who file a DOH complaint to also follow-up with a CSI report, ensuring the hospital as a record of the issue. 

Collaborative Staffing Intervention (CSI)

Report unsafe staffing and/or missed breaks and lunches.




 

St. Michael Medical Center RN - Contract Vote Scheduled

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After six months of negotiations, your Bargaining Team was able to reach a tentative agreement with management on a new contract. The Bargaining Team is recommending a YES vote:

  • One of the highest wage scales in the state, exceeding St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma General Hospital, Swedish Medical Center, and most others! The 4.00% raises in year two and three will ensure that we’ll stay competitive throughout the life of our contract.

  • Significantly improved staffing language,

  • $3.25/hr charge nurse pay immediately! This is the highest charge nurse pay in the state (and 18% higher than St. Joes!).

  • Removal of ghost steps 17, 21 and 23 (steps with 0% wage increase),

  • Per Diem differential increased to 15% (and they will continue to receive holiday pay),

  • Double time when called back to work from standby during a holiday,

  • NEW B.S.N. / M.S.N. differential,

  • NEW language to prepare for the next public health emergency,

  • And much more!

While we were unable to get staffing ratios added into our contract, your Bargaining Team did win unprecedented staffing language that will help address the long-term issues at St. Michael Medical Center. However, the fight for staffing ratios is not over! Our Union is working to make staffing ratios state law, because every hospital across Washington State should be held accountable when they fail to provide high quality care to their community.

Our fight has also shined a light on the serious problems at St. Michael Medical Center. Our community, state leaders, and even Dignity Health have heard directly from nurses that our hospital is in crisis. We will continue to challenge those with authority to work on solutions to the problem that we cannot address in contract negotiations.

Voting Process:
DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
On Friday, June 24, electronic copies of the vote documents will be made available on ufcw3000.org and emailed out to nurses who have an accurate email on file with the Union.

ONLINE MEETINGS
Wednesday, June 29
9AM, 6PM, 8:30PM

The Bargaining Team will run through the vote documents, provide details about the progress of negotiations, talk about what it means to go on strike, and answer any questions. Voting will NOT occur during these meetings.

VOTE DAY
Thursday, June 30
6AM-9AM, 12PM-2PM, 4PM-9PM
St. Michael Medical Center – Garden Room
1800 NW Myhre Rd, Silverdale, WA 98383

The vote will be in-person and nurses will have the opportunity to speak to Bargaining Team members and Union staff before casting their ballot. Please arrive during the posted vote times as we cannot allow members to enter the vote room outside of the advertised times.

NOTE: The Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings scheduled for Wednesday, June 22 have been CANCELED and replaced with the online vote meetings mentioned above. This will allow nurses time to review the vote documents before the online meetings.

Your Bargaining Team: Brett Moore, Cindy Franck, Kimberly Fraser McMillan, Michael Nord, Tammy Olson, and Janice Jones.


St. Michael Medical Center RN - Tentative Agreement Reached

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After six months of negotiations, your Bargaining Team was able to reach a tentative agreement with management on a new contract. The Bargaining Team is recommending the offer, which includes:

  • One of the highest wage scales in the state, exceeding St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma General Hospital, Swedish Medical Center, and most others! The 4.00% raises in year two and three will ensure that we’ll stay competitive throughout the life of our contract.

  • Significantly improved staffing language,

  • $3.25/hr charge nurse pay immediately! This is the highest charge nurse pay in the state (and 18% higher than St. Joes!).

  • Removal of ghost steps 17, 21 and 23 (steps with 0% wage increase),

  • Per Diem differential increased to 15% (and they will continue to receive holiday pay),

  • Double time when called back to work from standby during a holiday,

  • NEW B.S.N. / M.S.N. differential,

  • NEW language to prepare for the next public health emergency,

  • And much more!

While we were unable to get staffing ratios added into our contract, your Bargaining Team did win unprecedented staffing language that will help address the long-term issues at St. Michael Medical Center. However, the fight for staffing ratios is not over! Our Union is working to make staffing ratios state law, because every hospital across Washington State should be held accountable when they fail to provide high quality care to their community.

Our fight has also shined a light on the serious problems at St. Michael Medical Center. Our community, state leaders, and even Dignity Health have heard directly from nurses that our hospital is in crisis. We will continue to challenge those with authority to work on solutions to the problem that we cannot address in contract negotiations.

More information about offer and the upcoming ratification vote will be announced early next week.

Your Bargaining Team: Brett Moore, Cindy Franck, Kimberly Fraser McMillan, Michael Nord, Tammy Olson, and Janice Jones.

St. Michael Medical Center (RN) - Nurses vote to authorize a strike

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Bargaining Team: Brett Moore, Cindy Franck, Kimberly Fraser McMillan, Michael Nord, Tammy Olson, Janice Jones.

On Thursday June 9, Nurses at St. Michael Medical Center overwhelmingly voted YES to authorize a strike and NO on the Employer’s latest contract offer.

Our Bargaining Team will return to bargain with the Employer next week, now with the authority to call a strike.

We hope the results of the vote will force the Employer to improve their offer in a meaningful way and, therefore, avert a strike. However, if the Employer continues to drag their feet then our Bargaining Team will initiate the 10-day strike countdown. Nurses have sent a strong message to the Employer; NOW IT’S TIME FOR MANAGEMENT TO LISTEN!

Next Steps:
Monday, June 13
Bargaining with Employer

Wednesday, June 15
Contract Action Team Meetings
9AM // 6PM // 8:30PM

Thursday June 16
Bargaining with Employer

Wednesday Jun 22
Contract Action Team Meetings
9AM // 8:30PM

Wednesday Jun 22
Telephone Townhall
6PM

For questions and meeting details please contact a Bargaining Team member or Union Rep Aimee Oien @ (360) 662-1981.

St. Michael Medical Center RN - ULP Strike Authorization Vote Notice

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Your Bargaining Team met with Management on May 31 to continue negotiations for the St. Michael Medical Center RN contract. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach an agreement.

We focused our proposals on addressing the staffing crisis at St. Michael Medical Center, demanding that the Employer implement safe staffing standards on every unit and raise wages to help retain and recruit nurses. Management has failed to seriously address these issues, refusing to be held accountable for our chronic staffing issues.

The Employer has made matters worse by committing several unfair labor practices (ULPs) in an attempt to intimidate nurses from engaging in union activity. We have filed unfair labor practice charges against the Employer when Management (1) threatened discipline to nurses wearing union stickers, (2) prevented nurses from distributing strike pledge cards, and (3) threatened discipline to nurses leafleting to patients during the picket.

Given the Employer’s serious ongoing unfair labor practices that are negatively impacting the bargaining process, our Bargaining Team has announced a ULP strike authorization vote. 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 our Bargaining Team that Management will not listen unless we take serious action. Authorizing a strike will empower our Bargaining Team to call a ULP strike if the Employer continues to drag their feet at the bargaining table.

It's imperative that everyone participate in the vote to show management that we stand in solidarity for a fair contract and against their unfair labor practice charges.

Voting Process:
DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
Links to the vote documents are now available and and will be emailed out to nurses who have an accurate email on file with the Union.

www.ufcw21.org/s/SMMC-RN-Strike-Vote-Highlight.pdf
www.ufcw21.org/s/SMMC-RN-22-25-Proposed-Contract-Redline.pdf

ONLINE MEETINGS
Wednesday June 8
9AM // 6PM // 8:30PM
Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Rep for details. Details will also be emailed.
The Bargaining Team will run through the vote documents, provide details about the progress of negotiations, talk about what it means to go on strike, and answer any questions. Voting will NOT occur during these meetings.

VOTE DAY
Thursday June 9
6AM-9AM // 12PM-2PM // 4PM-9PM
Best Western Plus Silverdale Beach Hotel 3073 NW Bucklin Hill Rd
Silverdale, WA 98383
The vote will be in-person and nurses will have the opportunity to speak to Bargaining Team members and Union staff before casting their ballot. Please arrive during the posted vote times as we cannot allow members to enter the vote room outside of the advertised times.

St. Michael Medical Center RN Management is unresponsive — Time to take action!

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St. Michael Medical Center RN

Management is unresponsive — Time to take action!

Our Bargaining Team will be meeting with Management today and tomorrow with a Federal Mediator, continuing contract negotiations for St. Michael Medical Center nurses.

We haven’t met with the Employer since May 6 and, except for a small package proposal, haven’t received a substantive proposal from Management since our last bargaining date in April. We continue to be frustrated with the lack of progress from the Employer but have hope that the Federal Mediator will be able to help during this week’s bargaining sessions.

As of Monday morning, everything is in the Employer’s court. Our Bargaining Team is looking forward to seeing the proposal they’ve had weeks to work on.

It is imperative that nurses make a strong statement of solidarity at this week’s informational picket, showing Management we are serious about winning a fair contract. Nothing will move the employer more than a high turnout by nurses and the community at the informational picket.

We invite nurses to attend our next Contract Action Team meeting on Wednesday May 25 at 9AM & 6PM, where your bargaining team will share the latest news from negotiations and talk about the logistics of Thursday’s picket.

Informational Picket: Thursday, May 26

3:00PM – 5:00PM

@ St. Michael Medical Center

1800 NW Myhre Rd, Silverdale, WA 98383

RSVP and Join the Informational Picket!

go to: bit.ly/smmc-info-22

Join the Contract Action Team Meeting

May 25, 2022 @ 9:00AM & 6:00PM via Zoom

St. Michael Medical Center RN - SAVE THE DATE – INFORMATIONAL PICKET

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“The Employer made very little movement and has requested federal mediation. RSVP to our May 26 Informational Picket to show management that we stand in solidarity for a fair contract!”

Your Bargaining Team: Brett Moore, Cindy Franck, Kimberly Fraser McMillan, Michael Nord, Tammy Olson, and Janice Jones.

Our Bargaining Team met with management again on May 3 to continue negotiations for the St. Michael Medical Center RN contract. 

Your Bargaining Team worked hours on crafting a comprehensive proposal for the employer on wages, staffing, and other important issues. However, the Employer only responded with a small package proposal regarding charge nurses and holiday call but nothing else. They failed to even provide an economic counteroffer!

Then at the end of our bargaining session the employer surprised the Bargaining Team by requesting that the parties bring in a federal mediator to help work through the remaining issues on the table.

We are very disappointed with the progress of negotiations and the lack of proposals from the employer at this session only furthered the Bargaining Team’s frustration. Therefore, we have agreed to begin the process of federal mediation.

Unfortunately, we must also report that we believe the employer has violated nurses’ rights on at least two occasions, forcing the Union to file Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against the employer with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). 

These incidents occurred when management asked for members to remove their “Hello Staffing Crisis” stickers in early April, then again when nurses handing out strike pledge cards at an employee entrance were told they were in violation of company policy and must leave. In addition to filing charges, we are reviewing other actions that we can take to ensure the employer will cease violating the rights of bargaining unit nurses. 

We are scheduled to meet with the Employer again on May 6, which will be our first session with the federal mediator. We’ve also signed a contract extension agreement through the end of the month, meaning that all protections of your contract remain fully intact.  

What is mediation? 

When the Union and Employer have reached a point when little progress is being made, the parties have the option to bring in a neutral third-party mediator to help move things along. The federal government provides a free mediation service (Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service) that works exclusively on union-employer disputes and has assigned a mediator to help us reach a deal with management. The role of the mediator is to help the parties better understand the other’s point of view and to push both sides towards an agreement. However, the mediator has no power to force either side to make any changes to their proposals.

RSVP to the Info Picket!

After months of bargaining, our Bargaining Team has announced that nurses at St. Michael Medical Center will be holding an informational picket on Thursday May 26 from 3:00PM to 5:00PM. We invite bargaining unit nurses who are off-the-clock, their families, and any member of the community to RSVP for the event. RSVP through the code or link below!

Thursday, May 26 • 3PM - 5PM
1800 NW Myhre Road, Silverdale, WA 98383