Approved agreement strengthens high standards for patient care and staff retention
Antioch, CA - Hospital workers at the Sutter Delta Medical Center voted decisively - 96% - in favor of a new contract that maintains high standards for patient care by retaining the facility's quality staff with 9.27% wage increases, compounded over the next three years, securing jobs with subcontracting protections, and protecting employer-paid health care.
"We made very clear to management that we are committed to our community and to providing quality patient care for the community. This contract will make sure we keep the quality staff needed to continue to offer the high level of care," said Laura Foster, a Lab Techat the facility. "It wasn't easy. But we presented a united and strong front to management to show that we were serious about securing a strong contract. Now we have an agreement that protects employees and gives us job security so we can provide the best care."
The approved contract includes:
- Minimum 9.27% Pay Raise, compounded over the next three years: 3% increase upon ratification; 3% in December 2010; and 3% in December 2011.
- Job Security: maintains language banning sub-contracting and prevents position transfers to other Sutter facilities.
- No cuts in healthcare - protects affordable family healthcare, including free HMO
- Signing Bonus: A signing bonus of up to $750
Workers at the hospital, members of the Service Employees International Union, United Healthcare Workers - West (SEIU-UHW), have been without a contract since October 2008.
The agreement will cover approximately 420members of SEIU-UHW who work at the Delta Medical Center in a variety of positions, including respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, and certified nursing assistants, among others.
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Contact: Adriana Surfas, 510.869.2246, media@seiu-uhw.org
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West (SEIU-UHW) is the largest hospital and healthcare union in the western United States with more than 150,000 members. We unite every type of healthcare worker with a mission to achieve high-quality healthcare for all. SEIU-UHW is part of the 2.1 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's fastest-growing union. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.
Source: SEIU-UHW
