Members Receive Long-awaited Retro Pay, Look Ahead to Bargaining
For three years, members at Centinela Hospital have battled for the retro pay guaranteed in our contract. We stood up to management's tactics and refused to be tricked into trading away our rights and protections in exchange for the money we were owed. When management tried to stall and keep us from our raises, we pushed back and delivered our notice to picket to let the hospital and our community know how Prime's Centinela was short-changing caregivers.
With a looming picket in sight, Centinela management informed us that they were finally ready to give us our retro pay and raises--and we got them. SEIU-UHW members at Centinela came together, held management accountable, and got results.
Members like Stephanie Allen were encouraged to see the strength of the union and thrilled to finally receive her check. "I'm glad that we're finally receiving our retro pay after three years of stalling" said Allen, a Respiratory Therapist at the hospital. "This is the power we have when we all stand together in SEIU-UHW. We delivered our picket notice on a Friday, and our checks were ready on Wednesday. Let's take this unity into our contract negotiations and win an even stronger contract."
Although management moved, we're not letting down our guard. We see what happens when we stay united in SEIU-UHW: We Win! After receiving our checks, members came together to sign a petition letting management know that we're staying united and holding Prime accountable for improving care and working conditions in our hospital.
"Our hospital refused to give us raises for three years. But we stood strong in UHW and we got our checks - with some people even getting up to nine thousand dollars" said Alex Colon, who works in Transportation at Centinela. "That's the kind of strength we need as we get ready to bargain our new contract."
