PCSTMC Unfair Labor Practice Strike (ULP) Strike FAQ
Picketing will take place on each day of the strike 2/16 – 2/20 from 7AM – 12PM.
Keep an eye on this page for updates, including special strike events.
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Why are we going on an unfair labor practice strike?
- Your bargaining team has tried to negotiate a fair contract that values Caregivers and prioritizes patient safety, but management has bargained in bad faith.
- They asserted that changes to wages, benefits and working conditions are decided by Providence, and not subject to negotiation. This is the opposite of how bargaining is supposed to work.
- They have pressured the bargaining team to accept their demands, threatening to withdraw if the team doesn’t give in.
- Management has shown disrespect for Caregivers and disregard for the bargaining process.
What are some of the other key issues?
Management has proposed cuts to Caregivers’ benefits. They want to be able to eliminate your earned health incentive as soon as next year—a change that would make it even harder to retain experienced staff and to keep up with the rising cost of living. They have also proposed to increase your healthcare costs. At the same time, Caregivers face chronic unsafe staffing, harassment at the hands of doctors and supervisors, missing and broken equipment, and other ongoing workplace safety issues. Caregivers deserve safe conditions, transparency, and a contract that supports retention and reflects the reality of our lives and our work.
If we work at 6:45 am or before, do we still walk out at 7am?
- If you are scheduled to work before 7:00 a.m. on 2/16, report to work and clock in as usual.
- When the strike begins at 7:00 a.m., clock out and leave the unit.
- If you are providing active patient care at 7:00 a.m. and there is an immediate safety concern, take reasonable steps to stabilize the patient, then clock out and leave.
Will my patients be safe and taken care of if I strike?
The hospital has been given a legally required, 10-day advance notice that we will go on strike for 5 days.
This notice gives the hospital ample time to hire temporary staff. The hospital has already published information stating that they have everything ready to go to ensure continuity of care for patients, which is their legal obligation. Patients will be cared for by fully licensed staff.
If I am working Sunday night and my shift crosses 7am when the strike begins, what do I do with my patient?
Nurses should produce a detailed written report and hand it to another licensed RN, then make sure they document this in the EHR.
Must we call off if we are scheduled to work on the day of the strike?
No, the 10-day notice covers all bargaining unit members (i.e., SEIU 121RN members) for the full 5 days of the strike, starting at 7am on Monday, February 16. You are not required to call in at all from 2/16 – 2/21, nor to take calls from management during the strike. Your return-to work-date/time is 7am on 2/21/26.
Can I strike if I am a Per Diem?
Yes. Per Diem employees in the bargaining unit are protected by law and covered by the strike notice issued by the Union and may go on strike.
Can I strike if I am on a leave of absence?
Yes. You are still a bargaining unit member while on leave of absence and therefore you may strike.
Can I strike if I am on probation?
New employees are typically in a 90-day probationary period from their start date at the hospital. This period does not reset if you move to a different unit or role. Probationary employees are at-will, meaning they may be terminated without notice.
It is important to know that federal law protects all striking workers, including probationary employees. Striking workers may not legally be fired for their participation in the strike or for joining the picket line, whether they are on probation or not. However, because probationary employees can be let go with no explanation required, they must consider whether their employer will respect their legal rights in making their decision about participating in the strike.
I know that we’re picketing from 7am-12pm at my hospital. Should I go to work after 12pm?
No! The strike (not working at the hospital) covers the full 5-day period beginning at 7am on 2/16 and ending at 7am on 2/21. This is different from strike shifts, which apply to public actions at the hospital. No one should report to work at all from 7am on 2/16 through 2/21. You are not required to report to any shift prior to 7am on 2/21.
What date, shift, and exact time should we go back to work?
All members should be ready to report at 7am on the dot on 2/21, and you will work your first shift following that time. We will share additional information about returning to work before the end of the strike.
What if my Manager or Director asks me if I am going to strike?
If management approaches you in a hostile or coercive manner to ask you if you are going to strike, notify your Union Rep or Bargaining Team member immediately. They might ask if you’re planning to strike, but you are not obligated to tell them. You may say “I plan to stand united with my co-workers” or “Our Union has advised members that we have the legal right to keep our strike plans private.” Management must assure Nurses that there will not be any retaliation for their participation in the strike.
Can the Hospital discipline or terminate me if I strike and join the picket line?
By law, your employer must respect your right to strike. It is illegal for Management to terminate or retaliate against you for your participation in the strike. If any Manager or Director harasses you about striking, or if you feel like you are being retaliated against in any way (for voting, wearing a sticker, wearing purple), contact your Union Rep right away and we can file charges against Management with the National Labor Relations Board.
Will I be covered by my health insurance during the strike?
Our health insurance premium is paid at the beginning of the month and remains in effect all month.
Can we be locked out?
The hospital can have a “lock-out”, an exclusion of employees from the workplace during a labor dispute. However, they can’t lock us out in retaliation for going on strike. That would be illegal. And they can’t permanently replace us for striking in protest of their unfair labor practices. Lock-outs, especially in healthcare strikes, are extremely uncommon.
Can my vacation be canceled if there is a strike?
No, your already-approved vacation should not be canceled. If management cancels your vacation, it can be considered an act of retaliation and discrimination and could be chargeable under the NLRA.
Can I use PTO while on strike?
Unless your PTO request has been pre-approved prior to the strike, management may deny your PTO request for the days we strike.
Can I request PTO before and after the strike?
You may request PTO to use before or after the strike following your normal procedure. Supervisors may use their discretion to grant PTO requests. If you believe your PTO is being denied in a retaliatory way because of your participation in the strike, contact your Union Rep/Organizer immediately.
Will the union pay striking Caregivers?
Striking demonstrates to management that Caregivers are willing to make a sacrifice to win a fair contract. By stopping work, foregoing pay, and picketing, we show that we are unified and serious. If striking Caregivers received their full pay by other means, it would undercut the powerful statement of our collective action.
The union does maintain a Hardship Fund to support striking members. Per the Hardship Fund policy, eligible members in good standing may receive $50 per day, beginning on the 4th day of a five-day strike. For more details, direct questions to your Union Rep/Organizer.
Do I need to call the hospital on days we’re on strike?
No. As a healthcare facility, our Union is required by law to give 10 days’ notice of when we will go on strike to the hospital and to tell the hospital when we will return. We, as a Union, have already taken care of this notice on behalf of our members.
What if my manager calls me to work while I’m on strike?
You are not required to come into work during the strike if your manager calls. Management received a legally required 10-day notice, which is intended to give ample time to make staffing adjustments during the strike.
Will night shift workers be walking the picket line at night?
Night shift workers are expected to be on the picket line during the set picket times, at 7am to 12pm each day.
Will members be fined by the union for not striking? Will members lose any union rights if they do not strike?
No, the union will not fine or penalize any member for not going on strike. All members will retain the same union rights and benefits. However, your bargaining team strongly encourages you to strike and to join the picket line. We have strength in numbers. Our strike is a collective action, and we’ll be stronger if we’re all standing in unity.
Where should we park during the strike and while we’re picketing?
Before the strike begins, park as you normally would for your scheduled shift. Once your shift ends and the strike begins, move your vehicle off hospital property and proceed to the picket line. Do not park on hospital property during the strike.
