UFCW 3000 Episode 5: A Personal History of UFCW 3000 Organizing, Bargaining, and Community Activism with John Warring

From organizing a union to bargaining a contract to enforcing it as a shop steward, John Warring has done it all. Michaela sits down with this retired member and activist in her community to hear about the history of the local hospital in Grays Harbor, WA. Michaela and John get real about the value of being a union worker and the many different ways to be involved in your union. For John it went far beyond ensuring fair wages and enforcing job security, and included things like protecting departments from outsourcing and advocating for workers alongside fellow unions in a labor council. He also shares his experience and perspective on 40 years of UFCW 3000 history!

UFCW 3000 union shop steward Michaela is always ready to answer fellow members’ questions about their union. She’s also a devoted murder podcast listener. Put those interests together, and she decided to start a union podcast to get all her coworkers’ questions and her own questions answered, and to meet as many people as possible who could share what it means to be a part of UFCW 3000. (No murder on this podcast, only solidarity!)

*The information shared on this podcast is offered by rank and file union member leaders of UFCW 3000. There may be inaccuracies or misstatements shared, as members will be speaking from the lenses of their perspectives and life experiences. While members are doing their best to share good information, we can make no claims to 100% accuracy and this podcast should not be construed as legal advice.

Harbor Regional Health - Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Informational Picket!

Harbor Regional Health

Members of the local community came out along with many hospital workers to send a strong message to management: We need a contract NOW! At the end of the Informational Picket community members stepped up and spoke to HRH workers offering overwhelming support! It was a beautiful fall day, a perfect day to make some noise in front of Harbor Regional Health.

GHCH/HRH Workers Unite!

Buttons are showing up on so many workers at HRH! Keep wearing buttons!

On Thursday, August 11, union members joined forces to distribute buttons on both campuses. The buttons are being worn in solidarity with the HRH Bargaining Team demanding a fair contract. We will continue to wear the buttons. 

Starting today—Monday, August 15—we will be distributing a Strike Pledge Card.

In solidarity with the Bargaining Team, the Strike Pledge Cards let management know that we are willing to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract! 

If you have questions or concerns, contact Union Representative Brandan Zielinski at BZielinski@ufcw3000.org or call him at 206-436-6603.

Your Bargaining Team: Janet Byrd, Ricki Franklin, Dan James, Bambi Shope, Debbie Sturm.

Please remind your coworkers to update their information so that everyone can receive these updates!

Grays Harbor Harbor Regional Health - Bargaining Continues

Our union bargaining team has been hard at work creating a stronger and more efficient agreement between employees and management. We are proposing real wage increases because we have given up increases for the sake of the hospital. We are behind and need to catch up. 

We are proposing wages:

  • That are competitive with other local hospitals 

  • That meet the increasing cost of living

  • That recognize our value to the hospital and the community 

We have worked through difficult times facing the ongoing staff shortages that require you to work twice as hard!

Thanks for the burger HRH but show us the money!

For additional information or to get involved contract your union representative Brandan Zielinski @ (206) 436-6603.

“I joined the bargaining team to put my passion for social justice into action to benefit my coworkers and family. I grew up in union households and want to honor all those who have sacrificed for worker’s protections”

— Ricki Franklin, Medical Social Worker and Bargaining Team Member

Your Bargaining Team: Janet Byrd, Ricki Franklin, Dan James, Bambi Shope, Debbie Sturm.

Please remind your coworkers to update their information so that everyone can receive these updates!

Grays Harbor Community Hospital - Bargaining Begins

As the contract cycle comes to an end, our UFCW 3000 Bargaining Team met across the table from Management on April 8 and 13 with more sessions planned in the next month.

Day one and two, the Union Bargaining Team brought proposals to the table improving employee protections, while Management came empty handed.

Next session we will be discussing the Hospital’s below market wages and premiums.

Our Bargaining Team is committed to raising the overall economic package for UFCW workers at GHCH/HRH.

Please update your contact information to receive updates: ufcw21.org/update-your-information

Your Bargaining Team (L-R): Debra Sturm, Janet Byrd, Daniel James, Ricki Franklin, Bambi Shope

Grays Harbor - Tentative Agreement Reached

After lengthy negotiations with Management, we’ve reached a Tentative Agreement. Some of the highlights include:

  • Ratification Bonus

  • Wage Increases

  • Increases to annual maximums for Dental and Vision Insurance

  • Improvements to Paid Time Off

  • Improvements to Grievance Procedure

UFCW 21 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract. Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Representative for any questions.

“Our hospital continues to have poor revenue and we still made improvements to our contract.  We look forward to seeing everyone at the Zoom meetings so we can explain the improvements of Tentative Agreement.”

— GRAYS HARBOR COMMMUNITY HOSPITAL BARGAINING TEAM: Janet Byrd, Medical Records; Daniel James, Surgery; John Warring, Lab; Michaela McDonald, Cardiopulmonary; Chris Neeley, Registration; Debra Sturm, Pharmacy; Bambi Shope, House Keeping



Join us for a Zoom Contract Overview Meeting and learn more about the Tentative Agreement.

November 19, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

December 3, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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

Grays Harbor - Management Wants to Take Away Our Hard Earned Sick Leave During a Global Pandemic!

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Join Your Bargaining Team for a Zoom Meeting to discuss what we all can do to win a good contract with no takeaways.

“We need all members to show Management that taking away sick leave is wrong during this time of crisis”

Grays Harbor Hospital Bargaining Team


Tuesday, September 22

3:30PM – 4:30PM • 6:30PM –7:30PM

https://zoom.us/join 

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

Grays Harbor - During a Global Pandemic Management Wants to Reduce Our Sick Leave

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We continued to bargain with Management last week and were not able to reach a settlement.  Management’s relentless pursuit to take away our sick leave hours during a pandemic is their short sighted plan to reduce costs off of our working backs. Our Bargaining Team remains adamant that taking away our sick leave is not the answer to the hospital’s financial problems. We encouraged Management to look at other cost saving ideas, i.e. better billing practices and streamlining paperwork.

“We understand Shared Sacrifice and we want the hospital to succeed but having Management balance the budget off our backs is not acceptable. Join us at our Zoom Contract Action Team meeting on Tuesday evening  to discuss our next steps in getting a fair contract.”

Grays Harbor Hospital Bargaining Team


Tuesday, July 21

6:00 PM - 7:30PM

https://zoom.us/join

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

Grays Harbor Hospital - Management Still Trying to Balance Their Budget on Our Backs

In the midst of a global healthcare crisis, Management is still proposing to take up to 40 hours from our sick leave. Our plan is to eliminate some of that loss by adding additional time off that could be used not only as sick leave but as vacation. 

“As we continue to work short and make sacrifices to help with the financial woes of the hospital, we call on Management to meet us with a solution that mitigates some of the losses that they have proposed and provides us with an economic acknowledgment of the time we’ve spent bargaining this contract.”

Grays Harbor Hospital Bargaining Team