An Open Letter to our Friends and Neighbors in Whatcom County
We know how important our contract is to our caregivers, and we pledge to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement that supports them and their profession, provides competitive pay and benefits, and supports our ability to carry out our sacred Mission for the communities we serve.
We Remain Open and Ready to Serve
During the planned strike that involves our service, tech and lab caregivers at PeaceHealth St Joseph, our community can continue to count on the safe, high-quality care it has come to expect from us.
Our hospital will remain open, and we have secured the services of highly qualified, experienced temporary employees to work alongside our PeaceHealth caregivers. Learn more about hospital operations during the strike.
The union’s work stoppage has made it necessary for us to reschedule some elective procedures when our care teams determine it is appropriate to do so. We will contact patients directly in this event.
Highlights of Our Offer to SEIU 1199NW
We are deeply disappointed that the union chose to strike. Our current wage proposal would provide wage increases ranging from 15% to 36% over a four-year contract. These increases would ensure our pay rates are at or above market rates and well above the average $24/hr. wage for Whatcom County.
Additionally, all of these roles are benefits-eligible. PeaceHealth offers a wide-ranging benefits package, including health insurance, retirement savings, numerous support services and more. On average, these benefits are worth approximately 30% of caregivers’ total compensation.
We’ve broken down our last wage proposal into three groups. While groups not mentioned here would also receive competitive increases based on the local market, we prioritized improving the wages of our service job positions to further help with recruitment and retention.
| Position | Current Average Hourly Rate | Average Increase Over Four Years | Average Hourly Rate in Year Four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Caregivers | $24.72 | 27.3% | $31.28 |
| Tech Caregivers | $43.90 | 23.3% | $53.89 |
| Lab Caregivers | $34.85 | 21.1% | $41.81 |
SEIU continues to insist on massive pay increases that are out of touch with the local market and the healthcare industry. Not only do we view the union’s proposals as unrealistic, but the union’s lack of movement on this important topic, dating back to November, delays the bargaining process and our ability to reach an agreement.
In addition to the wage proposal, our team has taken great care to listen to and provide SEIU 1199NW with proposals that we believe are fair and generous, addressing the issues the union has identified as important to their members. This includes, among others, workplace violence prevention training, the right to use native language and enhanced bereavement leave. The current proposal does not include any takeaways or reductions.
Our Commitment to Whatcom County
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is extremely privileged to have served Whatcom County for more than 130 years. As the community has grown, so has PeaceHealth St. Joseph. We continually work to broaden access and enhance the services our community members and caregivers need.
PeaceHealth is an economic engine in Whatcom County. It costs over $737 million annually to run PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and our clinics in Whatcom County. Over half of this amount goes to paying our caregivers, including their salaries, benefits, and payroll taxes — that’s more than $1.1 million a day.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is a leader in community benefit, spending 10 cents of every dollar on community benefit in Whatcom County. Our focus is on maximizing health benefits for the community and ensuring access to high-quality, affordable care.
We’re growing to meet the needs of our community. In FY23, PeaceHealth invested $87 million in our community by expanding pediatric services, opening a new behavioral health clinic and a new primary care clinic in Lynden. We continue to invest in improving access to care and services, including the new West Pavilion, which is currently under construction.