Frontline healthcare workers have been sounding the alarm about MultiCare’s failure to bring forth proposals that will address recruitment and retention, as well as the Tacoma-based healthcare organization’s disregard for workers’ rights under the NLRA through retaliation against workers for union activity, and refusal to provide information requested to support the bargaining process.

At stake at the bargaining table is the hospitals’ ability to recruit and retain without competitive wages and premiums that align with the Spokane market, among other issues. MultiCare has proposed changes to the workers’ healthcare benefits that would increase out-of-pocket costs, reductions to PTO and sick leave, and has so far refused to implement protections around overtime, rest between shifts and call-back language.

Healthcare workers issued a 10-day unfair labor practice strike notice to MultiCare executives on Wednesday, March 27. The bargaining process began Aug. 30, 2023, and the parties have held 19 bargaining sessions since. The workers authorized their union bargaining team to call a strike with a membership vote that concluded March 16; the workers overwhelmingly voted to support the proposed action, with 93% voting yes. The strike will begin on Sunday, April 7.

Sign below to join MultiCare workers on the picket line!