Union workers at Sacred Heart reach tentative contract agreement

Unionized service and maintenance workers and Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center reached a tentative contract agreement early Wednesday.

The news involving the United Food and Commercial Workers 21 comes a day after registered nurses at Sacred Heart also reached a tentative agreement.

Three unions statewide that represent more than 13,000 nurses and workers at 13 Providence locations almost gave the nonprofit health care giant a strike notice at the start of the new year but backed off, announcing expedited negotiations instead.

“This win was a result of the strong unity between UFCW 21, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW and WSNA,” a release from UFCW 21 said.

Two UFCW 21 bargaining units representing workers at Everett Medical Center came to tentative agreements Wednesday as well. UFCW 21 also represents service and maintenance workers at Holy Family Hospital, who entered another bargaining round Wednesday. Nurses at Providence locations in Centralia and Olympia all represented by UFCW 21 were in ongoing contract negotiations Wednesday.

Nurses in Walla Walla, represented by UFCW 21, will go back to the negotiating table Thursday. UFCW 21 workers will have to vote to approve the tentative agreement, but that date will not be set until all UFCW 21 bargaining units are done negotiating.