FAQs

A union is a membership organization that represents employees in the workplace. If elected, it will negotiate a new contract for you and your peers that governs your compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions. 

Northwest Medicine United is a labor union that is part of the American Federation of Teachers. Northwest Medicine United’s office is located in Springfield, Oregon. 

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent U.S. federal agency that enforces the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), protecting employees’ rights to organize, collectively bargain and participate in other mutual aid or protection activities without interference from employers or unions. The NLRB investigates unfair labor practices, conducts union elections and resolves labor disputes to promote a peaceful resolution of issues in private sector workplaces that affect interstate commerce. 

With a union, things like pay, work schedules, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment must be negotiated through collective bargaining between a union and an employer. Collective bargaining is a complex, time-consuming process that, on average, takes over a year to complete. 

By law, they are allowed to contact you, and likely will. We respect your right to privacy, but if Northwest Medicine United files a petition with the federal government, we would be required by law to provide them with a list of all eligible voters and your personal contact information including your cell phone, home phone, home address and personal email address. Under any other circumstances we would NOT share your personal information with an outside group. 

Northwest Medicine United organizers and other non-employee representatives of any outside organization are prohibited from soliciting or distributing literature on Providence Medical Group or Swedish Medical Group property. Therefore, union representatives are not allowed to hand out flyers to patients, visitors or caregivers in the parking lot.

Union representatives are permitted in any area on our campus that is otherwise open to the public. However, Northwest Medicine United representatives are not permitted in patient care areas or other work areas where access is restricted to PMG or SMG caregivers. Caregivers should be aware that Northwest Medicine United frequently seeks publicity or support for its campaigns, and may reach out to patients and visitors, politicians and members of the community. If a patient or visitor asks about the union campaign and you are uncomfortable having that conversation, you should refer them to a core leader.

If you are represented by a union, you’d be expected to comply with two sets of rules:

1. The contract, which could determine new rules regarding scheduling, seniority, vacation time and other things that affect your day-to-day work, and
2. Northwest Medicine United rules as outlined in the union’s Constitution and Bylaws. 

The Northwest Medicine United Constitution provides that “A member in good standing is defined as a member who is current in payment of dues to the organization. A member who is more than thirty (30) days delinquent in dues payment shall be considered to be a member in bad standing and shall be promptly notified of such status. A member shall be removed from membership in this organization, with notice, following three (3) months of dues nonpayment, unless a plan to pay back dues is made and approved by both the Executive Board and the member” Northwest Medicine United Constitution Article III Section 4. Additionally, you may be required to pay dues.

Yes, but that process will take at least a year and likely much longer. After one year, if there is no contract in place, members of the bargaining unit can petition the NLRB to conduct an election to potentially remove, or decertify, the union. But if PMG or SMG and the union reach a contract agreement during the first year, or thereafter, you are committed to staying with the union for the duration of that initial contract. Most first contracts last 2-4 years. Additionally, PMG or SMG is prohibited by law to provide any assistance to employees in removing the union.

If you are disciplined or fired for some reason you think is unfair, you can ask the union to file a complaint, or grievance, on your behalf. That does not guarantee you will get your job back or that the discipline will be reversed. It only guarantees a process — called a grievance procedure — and possibly arbitration that would decide whether you can be returned to work or have the discipline removed from your record. 

Collective bargaining is a negotiation between a union and an employer to decide things like pay, work schedules, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment. Collective bargaining is a complex process that is time intensive. On average, it takes more than a year to get to a first contract. 

Not necessarily. As a result of negotiations, there are always trade-offs for both sides. You and your family could end up with more, the same or less than what you currently have.

Over the life of a typical 3-year contract based on Northwest Medicine United most recent financial report, membership would cost you about $5,000.

No. Dues may not be the only expenses. The union’s constitution (Article X, Section Y) allows them to charge you fines, fees and other assessments if you violate the constitution. Some unions have fined members for crossing a picket line to work even if that’s what they decided is best for them and their family. 

Many union elections are determined by a handful of votes. If you don’t vote, you’re giving others the power to make decisions about YOUR paycheck. YOUR life. YOUR workplace.

Under federal law, elections are decided by a majority of the votes cast — NOT the majority of caregivers who work at SMG. For example, if 1,500 hospitalists work at PMG or SMG, but only 500 vote in the election and 251 vote for the union, then all 1,500 hospitalists at PMG or SMG will be union-represented. So that means other providers — maybe only a few — will make a choice for you and speak for you. That’s why it’s so important that everyone votes.

Yes, you can and should! Signing an authorization card does not impact your election vote in any way. You are still legally and morally free to vote NO.

No. Your vote is private. The union and PMG or SMG will never know who you voted for unless you choose to tell them. 

This means that you can still vote NO, even if you told someone you were in favor of the union. 

If the union wins the election, every eligible provider will be represented by the union, even if you didn’t vote, even if you voted against it and even if you don’t like the way the union operates. The outcome of the election impacts everyone, so it is very important that everyone votes.

Unions have the right to strike during negotiations. During a strike, striking workers receive no pay from their employer. And some unions can even fine you for not participating in the strike or crossing a picket line to go to work