The Healthcare Coalition, made up of representatives and members from 22 different unions, met with representatives from the state of Washington to iron out an agreement on healthcare benefits for state employees. The room was packed. With me bargaining for SEIU 925 members were Anne Lawson, Tom Small and Dornie MacKenzie. We used creative thinking to arrange the tables to allow equal access to the bargaining table for everyone in the room.

It took 9 hours to come to an agreement. The Coalition rejected the state’s first request to increase the percentage that state employees would pay for their premiums.

Creating the Future

Reneschia Brown, Patient Representative, Harborview Medical Center, Financial Services

Today’s bargaining session was the first time it did not feel like watching paint dry. Management not only submitted two proposals and requested additional feedback on the dress code but more of the management team spoke up. The bargaining team presented presentations from the Medical Assistance and OB Techs.

One of the proposals presented dealt with ...  

 

Live From The Table 
So far today's session has been business-like. Management brought two proposals to the table. Our team did a great job of challenging management on aspects of their proposals that we found problematic. I've been on several teams in the past and this is the most productive set of meetings I've seen at auch an early stage. It gives me confidence that when we get to big issues around money and benefits later this summer we'll be able to to get some good work done rather than just spin our wheels.

I'm sure many of you have ideas about what the bargaining table is like - maybe you picture yelling and arguing back and forth or mabe you envision lawyers shooting legal-eeze across the table. But that's not it. Right now Allison Bigelow is very effectively and very calmly explaining to management why their dress code is obnoxious. If you were here, you'd be proud. 

• Chris Lakey is now explaining that because our patient population is a cross section of diversity its perfectly acceptable for our employees to be a cross section of diversity.
• Reneschia Brown compares the Harborview dress code to auditioning for "Harborview's Next Top Model."

Anyway ... that's a snap shot. Later today our MA's will be doing a presentation on career ladders.

Stay tuned for our bargaining report ...