Sept. 11, 2015
www.swedish.org/negotiation-news
Issue No. 11
Tone of New Bargaining Process is Positive and Productive
Open, direct dialogue brings us closer to mutual goal of finishing by Sept. 30
As we reported in the last Negotiation News, Swedish and SEIU 1199NW are now using a new negotiating process
designed to speed up bargaining and help us reach agreement on new contracts for SMC and Swedish Edmonds by
Wednesday, Sept. 30. We have met nearly every business day since the new process kicked off Aug. 26, and we are
tackling the key issues one at a time with the assistance of three federal mediators. Both sides are working hard to
identify problems and jointly develop practical solutions. After roughly three weeks, progress has been made on a
number of issues, and work continues on the outstanding items.
Swedish proposes free or discounted medical coverage for eligible caregivers
Groundbreaking program is a response to our shared interest in affordable health care
Both leadership and the union believe affordable health care is critical to retaining the great caregivers we already have
while also recruiting new talent to the system. This is a concern we have heard loud and clear from the union bargaining
team. In response, Swedish has proposed a financial assistance program that would offer eligible caregivers free or
discounted medical premiums. What makes this proposal unique is that it offers support based on household income and
family size. For example, medical premiums would be:
 Free for the Swedish Group Health HMO Medical Plan for a family of four with a household income of $60,000
per year
 Discounted by 50 percent for a family of four with a household income of $97,000 regardless of which of the
three proposed medical plan options is elected
The eligibility guidelines are based on the Affordable Care Act. See the eligibility requirements. We are very excited
about this innovative approach.
Staffing: Four days of meaningful conversations
Chief Nurse Margo Bykonen and nurse executives from all campuses actively involved in
this important discussion
While we have not yet reached agreement on all issues related to staffing, we are coming to a common understanding of
the problem and working toward a reasonable solution to an issue affecting every hospital nationwide. This topic is so
important that Chief Nursing Officer Margo Bykonen and nurse executives from all campuses joined the conversation on
all four days to listen to the union’s concerns, as well as share leadership’s perspective on the is.