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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2019)
PAGE 2 | September 20, 2019 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 in Portland, Oregon as a voice of the la- bor movement. Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non-profit mutual benefit corpo- ration owned by 20 unions and councils including the Ore- gon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Office location: 4275 NE Halsey St., Portland, Oregon Mailing address: P.O. Box 13150, Portland, OR 97213 Phone: (503) 288-3311 Web address: http://nwlaborpress.org Editor & Manager: Michael Gutwig Senior staff reporter: Don McIntosh Office manager: Jill Lukens Printed on recycled paper, using soy-based inks, by members of Teamsters Local 747-M. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Individual subscriptions are $15 a year for union members, $23 a year for all others. Pay by credit card online at nwlaborpress.org/subscribe, or send a check to our mailing address (above) along with your name, address and union affiliation, if any. Group rates of 47 cents an issue per member — $11.28 a year are available for 25 or more subscriptions; call 503-288-3311 for details. CORRECTIONS: See an error? Please let us know at editor@nwlaborpress.org or by phone at 503-288-3311. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you move, let us know at nwlaborpress.org/subscriber-services or by mail at our mailing address (above). Be sure to provide your old and new addresses and the name/number of your local union. Please allow three weeks for the change to take effect. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS P.O. BOX 13150 PORTLAND, OR 97213-0150 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING As hospital strike neared, McKenzie-Willamette settled For some of the least-paid hospital workers, wages will rise 10 percent in two years Six days before 415 hospital support work- ers were set to go on strike at McKenzie- Willamette Medical Center in Springfield, Service Employees International Union Lo- cal 49 and hospital management reached agreement on a new two-year contract. Workers ratified it in a Sept. 6 vote. The new contract contains two annual across-the-board raises of 3%, plus addi- tional one-time increases of up to 4% for housekeepers, CNAs, and dietary workers — jobs where both sides agreed that work- ers were underpaid compared to their coun- terparts at other facilities. Workers also got commitments to ad- dress understaffing, which could directly improve patient care: The medical center’s IN IT TOGETHER: The union bargaining team was prepared to call a strike, but came back with a deal. nurse staffing committee will add a second Workers did give ground on health insur- was to take place Sept. 10-12. Instead, they certified nursing assistant (CNA) represen- ance, agreeing to accept higher copays and have a new contract that runs through July tative. And a labor-management committee deductibles and increase their contribution 31, 2021. will double its membership and now add to premiums by up to 5% a year. But the Aaron Green, a CNA who works in staffing levels to its mandate. premiums are fully paid by the employer for McKenzie-Willamette’s recovery wing, The medical center also agreed to give full-time workers who earn less than called the contract a step in the right direc- CNAs and pharmacy technicians additional $38,000 (up from $30,000 in the previous tion that will help the hospital retain better credit for related hospital and military expe- contract). staff. rience, so that workers can be hired or move Local 49’s bargaining unit at McKenzie- “We want to provide the best care possi- up to a rung in the pay scale that reflects Willamette consists of over 100 occupa- ble to our patients,” Green said. “The goal their real experience level, not just their time tional classifications, including CNAs, is to have lower staff turnover so we’re not at McKenzie-Willamette. McKenzie- housekeepers, cafeteria workers, clerical constantly having to train new people.” Willamette’s union pay scale has 15 steps, support staff, and medical techs. They had — Don McIntosh and workers reach top pay for their classifi- announced plans for a three-day strike that cation after 20 years. CORRECTION In a profile of retiring labor leader Tom Chamberlain in our Sept. 6 edition, we failed to catch a typo- graphical error. Chamberlain was appointed by the Oregon AFL-CIO board to replace Tim Nesbitt in 2005, not 2015. Low Prices! Coats, etc. Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9:30-5:30, Sun 12-6
