Unity and strength deliver pay raises, retro, healthcare protection
The hard work and unity of SEIU-UHW members at all five Daughters of Charity Hospitals paid off as they voted by a 95% margin to approve a new contract that improves their wages and benefits, delivers full retro pay, and maintains high standards for patient care.
"It has been a long time coming, but this agreement will ensure that our hospitals continue their reputation as good places to work and good places to receive care," said Tess Guinto, a certified nursing assistant in the surgical acute care unit at Seton. "We stuck together and in the end our voices were heard."
Significant gains for workers include:
- Pay raises of up to 18% over the life of the agreement.
- Eighteen months full retroactive pay.
- No cuts in the fully employer-paid healthcare plans for all full-time and part-time employees.
- No management rights added to any contract.
Previous union leaders refused to extend the Daughters of Charity contract, leaving the workers unprotected for more than 20 months. Over the last eight months, the SEIU-UHW members built unity through system-wide informational picketing, signing and delivering a Unity Petition, and holding Management to an October 30 contract deadline.
The new contract covers more than 2,500 SEIU-UHW members who work at the five Daughters of Charity facilities in a variety of positions, including respiratory care practitioners, certified nursing assistants, licensed vocational nurses, radiology technicians, lab technicians and environmental services workers.