SEIU-UHW Members Pressure Sutter to Put Care Before Profits
Despite a $100 million increase in quarterly profits, Sutter CPMC management seems intent of paying for its massive reconstruction project by cutting employee benefits without offering any guarantees of job security. SEIU-UHW members responded to this threat and a separate management effort to move jobs by coming out in force to a pair of highly successful informational pickets at Sutter Delta and Sutter CPMC last week. More than 300 attended, sending a loud and clear message to Sutter management that we are committed to winning a fair contract that protects jobs and provides fair wages and family health care. Look for more informational pickets in the weeks to come.
Another Week, Another Strong Contract: John Muir Members Ratify New Deal
John Muir Medical Center SEIU-UHW members voted overwhelmingly (97 percent in favor) to ratify a strong new contract that increases their wages and benefits. The new four-year contract covers over 440 members and will also ensure important workplace improvements. "While so many people are losing jobs everywhere, we're proud that we negotiated more than 10 percent in raises over the next four years," said Nenita de Leon, Unit Secretary at John Muir. "We kept our wages above other hospitals in the area and we protected all of our benefits. This is a great contract and I am impressed by what we were able to accomplish together as a strong union."
Workers at Windsor Homes Win New Contract
After months of tough negotiations with management, SEIU-UHW members at Windsor nursing homes in Monterey County and Fremont have ratified a new contract with significant wage increases. Ninety-three percent of Windsor workers voted on October 20 to approve the agreement that contains retroactive pay and strong annual raises. Robert Richardson, a cook and bargaining team member from Windsor Monterey Care Center, agreed. "As long as we were united, we found we could come up with a good contract. Time had no meaning for us. We were going to hold out as long as it took to win the improvements we wanted."
Home Care Workers Prevail: Marin County to Maintain Living Wage Ordinance
With over 40 home care workers, seniors, people with disabilities, community leaders and members of the clergy in attendance, the Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to put an end to an effort to abandon the living wage ordinance. The vote to support the living wage ordinance followed a more than 45-minute debate, during which more than a dozen members of the community spoke in favor of keeping the living wage ordinance intact.
"Today's vote is very heartening. It demonstrates the Supervisors' recognition that we are a community and share responsibility for protecting each other, especially in hard times," said Connie Barker, an In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider from San Rafael.
