A number of employees at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen, Wash., will receive an early holiday gift.
The workers, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21, can expect to see a 2 percent increase in wages in their Dec. 23 paycheck, reports The Daily World.
The wage increase was announced Monday and is effective from Dec. 4.
Hospital CEO Tom Jensen said in a statement provided to the publication that he and other hospital leaders thought it was important to recognize GHCH staff this Christmas "because of the length of time we have spent at the bargaining table and to acknowledge the patience of our staff."
"This wage offer had no conditions attached and was merely an offer to bring some cheer this holiday season," he added.
The hospital and union are currently in labor negotiations. UFCW agreed to the wage increase, with the understanding that neither the hospital nor the union are giving in on their current wage proposals, and both sides will continue to negotiate over the timing and amount of increases for unit employees during the term of a new contract, in addition to other open items such as health coverage, according to the article.
Negotiations are scheduled to continue Jan. 20, 2017.
The hospital' announcement was made a day before UFCW Local 21 planned to hold several demonstrations in front of the hospital, including morning and lunchtime informational picketing and a candlelight vigil. The demonstrations were still slated to take place Tuesday, according to the report.