Local urgent-care workers ratify a new contract, avoid a strike. Here are the details
MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care providers represented by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists voted to approve a new contract.
Represented workers in September were considering a potential multi-week work stoppage after nearly a year of negotiations with the Tacoma-based health system. Ahead of its final round of negotiations, the workers took a strike vote that was approved by a 96 percent margin.
UAPD Washington state director Ray Quintanilla told The News Tribune on Friday that represented workers unanimously ratified MultiCare’s most recent offer in a vote that concluded 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5.
“We have a new contract that covers the remainder of 2023, and 2024 and ends in December 2025,” he said via email, adding that the contract “prevents a strike and any other provider actions.”
MultiCare told The News Tribune on Friday in a statement that it was pleased with the outcome.
“This contract allows us to maintain market-competitive salaries and a supportive work environment,” it added.
According to Quintanilla, the agreement calls for a 5 percent pay increase for MDs, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Key issues during the negotiations were workloads and lengths of shifts, with anecdotes shared by workers of shifts commonly extending beyond clinic closing times.
“There will now be a formal committee between providers and management to consider reasonable solutions for how this can be addressed,” Quintanilla wrote. “Providers want to work with management to balance those patient loads while ensuring every patient receives quality care.”
He added that the committee “will also meet to ensure providers get time for a 20-to 25-minute lunch break each day.”
On Sept. 29, MultiCare announced it had reached a tentative agreement with UAPD on a contract for physicians and advanced practice partners its Indigo clinics.
“We are gratified to have reached an agreement that reflects the high value we place on our physicians and APPs and allows us to provide exceptional care for our patients,” MultiCare said at that time.
MultiCare’s Indigo website notes the system has 40 clinics across Washington and Idaho. UAPD represents around 80 doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners at more than half of the sites.
This story was originally published October 6, 2023 at 1:35 PM.
