Local 20 Bargaining Update – May 15, 2024

Negotiations between Washington Hospital Healthcare System (“WHHS”) and ESC/IFPTE Local 20 (“Local 20”) for a new 3-year Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) occurred on April 10, 2024 and again on May 8, 2024.

On April 10, 2024, Local 20 made a comprehensive economic counter proposal, which included proposed across the board (“ATB”) wage increases that amounted to a 32% increase in base wages over a 3-year contract period, with half of that increase (16%) proposed to occur in year 1 of the contract and include a 7% inflation adjustment.  This counter proposal also includes the following items:

• Significant increases in differentials by way of a proposed replacement of the current flat fee differentials with a percentage rate for evening and night shifts;
• Accelerated step movement with wage spread adjustments and additional proposed steps for the Laboratory, Pharmacy, and Therapy;
• A 4% equity adjustment for all Therapy positions in addition to the first year ATBs (resulting in a total of 20% wage increases for year 1);
• A 15% equity adjustment for Clinical Dietitians in addition to the first year ATBs (resulting in a total of 31% wage increases for year 1); and
• Increase in the per diem differential to 13.5% for all Local 20 represented groups, except Therapy.

In addition, Local 20 conditionally agreed to accept WHHS’s prior proposal to pay up to $400 annually as reimbursement for a unit member to obtain or renew a preferred specialty or advance certification that exceeds the minimum requirements of the unit member’s job classification.

WHHS countered on May 8, 2024 with the following:

• Proposed ATB wage increases as follows: 4.5% retroactive to 2/1/24, 4.5% on 2/1/25, and 4.0% on 2/1/26.  This amounts to a total increase of 13% over the life of a 3-year MOU. 
• Change the per diem differential for Clinical Dietitians from $3.00 to a percentage rate of 10% of the base pay per hour.
• WHHS also maintained its offer to consider making equity wage adjustments for the following job classifications if it identifies them as being below the midmarket range even with the ATBs: Clinical Dietitians, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, and/or Clinical Laboratory Scientists.

Given the significance of Local 20’s economic asks, WHHS did not make any other notable movement at this time from its prior proposal from March 27, 2024.

At the end of the parties’ bargaining session on May 8, 2024, Local 20 withdrew its proposed inflation adjustment in the first year of the contract and countered with the following key economic terms:

• Proposed ATB wage increases of 9% on 2/1/24, 8% on 2/1/25, and 7% on 2/1/26, for a total of 24% over the lift of a 3-year MOU;
• Maintenance of its April 10^th proposal for accelerated step movement with wage spread adjustments and additional proposed steps for the Pharmacy and Therapy;
• Maintenance of its prior proposal to add a per hour training differential for employees who train other employees;
• Significant increases in the flat rate differentials for evening and night shifts, as an alternative to Local 20’s previously proposed replacement of the current flat fee differentials with a percentage rate;
• Maintenance of the previously proposed 4% equity adjustment for all Therapy positions and the 15% equity adjustment for Clinical Dietitians to be applied in addition to the first year ATBs; and
• Maintenance of a proposed increase in the per diem differential to 13.5% for all Local 20 represented groups, except Therapy.

WHHS and Local 20 are scheduled to meet again on May 24, May 31, June 12, June 19, and June 24.  WHHS remains hopeful that the parties will continue to make progress in closing the significant gap that still lies between them on the economic terms of a new MOU.  WHHS values its dedicated and qualified Local 20 staff and further remains committed to continuing to bargain in good faith toward a new MOU that provides Local 20 staff with market competitive compensation and benefits.