Raises and protections in agreement strengthens staff retention
LAKEPORT, CA - Licensed vocational nurses, certified nurse assistants, ER technicians and other caregivers who are members of Service Employees International Union, United Healthcare Workers - West (SEIU-UHW), at Sutter Lakeside Hospital have ratified a new union contract that will help the local hospital maintain high standards for patient care.
The three-year contract, ratified overwhelmingly last night, covers 140 staff and includes raises of up to 9.27% compounded over the next three years, improved health insurance, and job security and a ban on subcontracting jobs.
"This agreement will help ensure that our community continues to receive high quality care from the hospital's skilled and experienced staff," said Paula Capps, a pharmacist at the facility.
The contract includes:
- Minimum 9.27% raises, compounded over the next three years: 3% increase upon ratification; 3% in March 2011; and 3% in March 2012.
- Job security: maintains language banning sub-contracting.
- Improved healthcare coverage - for the first time a fully-employer paid family healthcare option and kept costs down for other health insurance plans.
In 2009, SEIU-UHW-represented hospital workers received on average wage increases for the fist year of their contract well-above the national average of 2.3%.
Over the past three months SEIU-UHW workers at five other facilities within the Sutter system have settled contracts, including Amador Medical Center in Jackson, Delta Medical Center in Antioch, Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, Roseville Medical Center in Roseville, and Sutter Solano in Vallejo.
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For Immediate Release: February 25, 2010Contact: Adriana Surfas, 510-869-2246
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
