Increases in Pay and Health Benefits Highlight New 3 Year Deal
Congratulations to the SEIU-UHW members at Pratap Poddatoori! After a series of tough negotiations with management, Pratap Poddatoori nursing home workers won a new three year agreement with significant increases in wages and health care benefits. The agreement covers all four Poddatoori homes, Elmwood, Kyakameena, San Leandro and Willow Pass.
Workers unanimously voted 108-0 to ratify the agreement on December 3rd, one day after reaching the tentative agreement with management.
Wage increases start with a $.50 increase effective back to February 16, 2009, and continue with another $.40 increase effective back to August 1st. "The wages we won are very good. We got 50 cents in February, now we're getting another 40 cents, that adds up to 90, and we're getting retro pay from August," said Marge Fairbanks, CNA and bargaining team member.
Wages will increase again by $.50 on August 1, 2010, and another $.60 on August 1, 2011.
Another big victory for workers in the contract is the increased health insurance benefits. Effective January 1, 2010 workers of 20 years service and above will have 90% of benefits paid by the employer, a 10% increase from what they now. Workers of 10-20 years service will have 85% of benefits paid by the employer, a 5% increase. And workers with 0-10 years of service will continue to get 80% paid by the employer.
"We have to vote yes on this contract, because the health insurance is good. 90% for 20 years and up, and 85% for 15 years and up," said Helen Docena, CNA and bargaining team member (fifth from left in picture) right before the vote was taken. "We worked hard for this agreement."
Workers also won several other important items such as a new labor management committee, maintaining their pension, and new language on subcontracting, low daily census and disciplinary notices
