This page is for members to find relevant and timely updates about ongoing contract negotiations. Negotiations are summarized here, and in the links below you can find detailed information as well as our current contracts. These updates are provided by the SEIU Union Negotiating Committee: Tracy Fair, Sarah Engelhardt, Shanella Hawkins, Doreen Draper, and Amberly Burum.

There are things YOU can do right now to support your Union Negotiating Committee and our work to win the contract that we deserve. First, sign the pledge! Then, drop by a negotiating meeting to show your support. Negotiations are every Thursday at 10am to 5pm at the Holiday Inn Express, Oak Ridge. All members are invited to come observe your Negotiating Committee hard at work fighting for all of us.

Day 1: August 15, 2024

We opened the first day of negotiations by clearly stating what our priorities are, which include living wages, maintaining safe staffing levels, enhancing working conditions, and having a healthy work life balance. It became obvious that staff will be a big area of focus through negotiations, including hiring and retention policies. Many voices, from both the management and employee side, will be part of these discussions as we move forward. Read the full update here and watch the video update or access them at the links below.

Day 2: August 22, 2024

On Day 2 we got into several specific proposals that align with our priorities. Some of those included improving the classification committee function, expanding eligibility for protection under Mandatory Shifts addendum to more job classes, expanding the Steward training and availability, plus several others. MMC Management also put several proposals on the table, some of which we outright rejected. The Committee needs to review several more of management’s proposals before the next meeting, including proposals that change the “Pulling and Floating” language and eliminate “voluntary lay offs.” We are very concerned about some of Management’s proposals, so we need your support! Read the full update here and watch the video update or access at the links below.

Day 3: August 29, 2024

This week we continued to focus on staffing issues and how urgent our needs are, across multiple departments. We made it clear that everyone is being asked to do more with less staff and that finding ways to address this is our priority. We put several proposals on the table, including doubling On Call pay and adding provisions about applying double pay for on call hours worked in excess of 8 hours, and for it to apply to all employees. Read the full update here and watch the video update (recorded live from the Labor Day celebration!). The next session is Thursday, September 5th beginning at 10am – everyone is welcome to come observe!

Day 4: September 5, 2024

A lot happened on our 4th Day of negotiations. We put forward many proposals that will strengthen our contract and improve our working conditions all while MMC management put forward proposals that would break down our protections and give them unchecked control. Our Union Negotiating Committee argued for increased holiday time and pay, pay differentials, and better policies regarding mandatory shifts, and more. Management’s proposals include things that will harm staffing, like removing the team model as a staffing priority, eliminating closed units, and moving RNs without pull pay; plus others like eliminating severance pay for some employees, significantly and drastically changing several aspects of the attendance and family emergency policies, and more. We are adamantly against many of their proposals. Read the full update here or watch the video update. We need everyone to know about these changes and what’s at stake. Reach out to the Negotiating Committee for more info about how to help.

Contact Jason Brown for additional questions or information.