UE Local 696, whose members work at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, ratified a new three-year agreement on June 24.

For the first time, members will be compensated based on a wage scale — a pay structure that the local has been seeking since its inception in 2021. The year one average wage increase will be over 12 percent, with all members receiving a minimum increase of six percent in the first year. The hourly starting base rate for all jobs will increase from $3.50 to $4.50 an hour, and the base rate for the lowest-compensated job will increase from $18/hour to $21.50/hour. The second and third years of the agreement include a minimum increase of four percent each year, with most workers receiving additional increases on their employment anniversary.

Additional compensation for performing tasks that go beyond one’s base job duties will expand to include multiple additional $1/hour pay differentials.

“These new wages are life-changing for our membership,” said President Sophie Nighswander. “We work at Planned Parenthood because care deeply for our patients and delivering the best healthcare to them. But we are also human beings needing to take care of ourselves and our families. In order to make the sacrifices we are asked to make, and take the physical risks that come with the job, we need to be able to pay our bills. This contract goes a long way in making that a reality”

“Our new contract will allow us to retain the great staff we have, and welcome and keep future staff,” said Chief Steward Jocelyn Kirkwood. “To put this in perspective, before unionization in 2021, I was making $16 an hour as a Health Care Assistant. This new contract will have the same worker with that same seniority [that I had] compensated at $23.50 an hour, with better healthcare and benefits.

“That’s the union difference. That’s what can be accomplished when workers collectively join forces and fight for the common good.”

The local significantly improved its health insurance benefits. Employee monthly premium costs will be frozen for the duration of the agreement, and the medical, vision, and dental plans will see no increased out-of-pocket costs. In another huge win, a new Health Savings Account (HSA) will be provided to all employees enrolled in the employer medical plan, with the employer contributing $750 each year to every enrolled employee to help cover their out-of-pocket costs. Free access to medical services provided by the affiliate will now be included in the contract as a guarantee to employees and their dependents.

“Health Insurance was another central issue of our contract campaign and demand of our members,” said Recording Secretary Leaf Freeman. “From the beginning, we have stressed to everyone that an organization like Planned Parenthood that prides itself on advancing accessibility to healthcare is morally bound to ensure its own employees are able to access healthcare themselves. We feel we have taken a gigantic step in the right direction with this agreement.”

The local won major improvements to its paid time off benefits. A new provision giving paid time off to employees during primary and general elections is included in the new contract so that all employee will have the opportunity to vote regardless of where they live or what hours they work on election day. An additional day will be added to the paid bereavement benefit, and the yearly paid sick day allotment will be increased by an additional day. The local also won new language preventing the company from insisting that workers exhaust the remaining six paid time off days while on an approved leave, such as FMLA.

“Look, when loved ones die, we all need adequate time to pay our respects and mourn for those we care about,” said Vice President Nina Mulroy. “Improving our bereavement was yet another win that helps us live lives with dignity as workers. Similarly, continuing to build on our sick time benefit means more of us will be protected when we get sick through no fault of our own.”

The local ran a strong campaign during negotiations to keep the rank-and-file active. During an “all-staff” meeting run by management and conducted on Zoom, the local performed “virtual” actions to turn the heat up on the employer, including members displaying union slogans and collectively turning their video cameras off at once during a meeting with the employer.

“We kept our members well-informed during bargaining, and kept the process very open,” said UE Local 696 Financial Secretary Milo Hynes. “We surveyed the members before bargaining and knew what our goals were heading in. Updates were regularly given to everyone. We were united and ready to fight for a good contract. The employer was aware and responding accordingly,”

“[I] Couldn’t be prouder that we are union,” said Nighswander. “This contract builds off the first one and all the previous struggles by the workers here. We recognize and appreciate all the effort of current and former PPWP staff starting the union, building the union. We know that future workers will benefit from what we accomplished here, and that makes you feel really good.”

The UE Local 696 Bargaining Committee consisted of President Sophie Nighswander, Vice President Nina Mulroy, Chief Steward Jocelyn Kirkwood, Recording Secretary Leaf Freeman, and Financial Secretary Milo Hynes. They were assisted by UE International Representative Ben Wilson. UE Research Director Karl Zimmerman and UE Eastern Regional President George Waksmunski also made contributions to the campaign.