PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Bargaining Update #02
Pushing for Your Priorities at the Bargaining Table
Your elected bargaining team met for the second time with management on Thursday, July 17, to continue working towards a strong contract. We presented and discussed a number of proposals to reflect changes in the law, strengthen union communications and ensure a fair workplace including:
Building a Stronger Union by Improving Communications:
Your bargaining team proposed changes to Article 4, including allowing for longer union orientation for new employees and holding yearly union information meetings on paid time.
Improving Rights and Protections at Work:
By shortening the introductory period (Article 7) to 90 days so members have quicker access to all the protections of the contract and by proposing changes to the discipline and discharge process (article 9) so that disciplines are removed after one year and unrelated disciplines are not “stacked” to move to a higher level of discipline.
Aligning the Contract With New Laws and Changes:
We reached a tentative agreement to broaden the language about mediation and arbitration (article 24) because the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which used to handle mediation and arbitration, was cut by DOGE and is no longer functioning. Your team also proposed changes to the Leave of Absence (article 19) to reflect the new Oregon Paid Leave program and eliminate the requirement that people use PTO while on Oregon Paid Leave.
Expanded Bereavement leave:
Your team proposed increasing the amount of paid bereavement leave to 5 days and expanding the eligibility for bereavement leave to include people who are not legally family but are like family and explicitly include domestic partners in all categories.
Fighting for Your Priorities:
Members from every shift and department filled out bargaining surveys to set the priorities for bargaining. The top issues identified were: Wages, Health Care Costs, and Staffing.
Wages: Members want competitive wages and an end to poverty wages at PeaceHealth. 83% of members could not afford an unexpected $400 expense.
Health Insurance: Members are struggling with the cost of health care; premium costs are part of the problem, and plan design changes have made the plans unaffordable. 60.9% of members reported they had avoided seeking needed healthcare because of the cost.
Staffing: Adequate staffing is essential for good patient care and to address workload issues. 53.3% of members reported that there was only enough staff to ensure good patient care sometimes, rarely, or never.
To win on these key priorities and make other improvements at PeaceHealth will require unity and coordination with all SEIU PeaceHealth members.
Take action today to win a strong contract:
Sticker Up on Tuesday, July 29 for Bargaining to show your support!
Update your contact info: Stay informed by opting in to receive text and email from your union. (Be sure to check your Junk/Spam folder if you aren’t receiving updates.)
Join the Contract Action Team (CAT) Help keep your co-workers informed and involved. To join CAT, help share news about bargaining updates and union actions. Email Lorie Quinn at lorieq@seiu49.org.
Next bargaining is Tuesday, July 29, in Room 200A. Stop by bargaining between 9am-5pm to observe.
We’re modernizing & strengthening SEIU 49 for the future!
It's time to update our Constitution & Bylaws, and we are calling on all members to cast your vote. Join us in Portland on August 27 or one of our Labor Day picnics on September 1 in Portland and Springfield.
