myUHW: HCA

It is not a mystery or rocket science, when workers stand in unity when confronting a challenge, they win. When workers allow themselves to be misled and divided, they settle for less.

Here in CA, we belong to the biggest union in the U.S (Service Employees International Union), the strongest healthcare union in CA (United Healthcare Workers-West), representing all 5 HCA facilities in the State and we stand united for a fair contract with our RN sisters and brothers (SEIU 121RN in the South), IFPTE workers in the North and SEIU Nevada, who are all currently renegotiating their new contracts with HCA.

Today we submitted 9 more proposals to management bringing the grand total thus far to 19. Some of the proposals we made include:

• Who performs our work when we have been called off? We made it clear that Supervisor's and/or Volunteers should not be performing barg unit work when mgmt. is flexing and there's no work for barg unit employees.




• Under Article 8, Distribution of Available Work, we proposed the employer should make a reasonable effort to fill available shifts and any extra shifts should not be filled without going through the sign-ups first, by seniority.




• Under Article 19, Reductions In Force, we proposed language clarifying the order of displacement as well as strengthening recall rights for full-timers taking part-time positions.




• We proposed language clarifying the rights of Stewards.




• We proposed no sub-contracting, period.

After several months of waiting to negotiate our new contract, we're very pleased to report that we met this week (Feb. 11th and 12th) and began negotiations with HCA.

The first day consisted of us asking clarifying questions regarding our current contract. We used the remainder of the first day to finalize our first set of proposals we presented to management the 2nd day of bargaining.

When HCA management tried to implement a program of mandatory flu vaccinations and cheap paper masks for caregivers at our hospitals, we stood up together to call for a real program that protects workers and patients.

SEIU-UHW members at Calif. hospitals across the state have filed a Federal lawsuit against HCA because this is a change to our working conditions--a violation of our contract--and to call for real protections.

Members at all five HCA facilities statewide are united for a great new contract in 2010. Across the state, we're completing surveys to identify our top priorities, adding our names to the Unity Petition, and nominating our co-workers for the bargaining and contract action teams.

As your HCA Bargaining Team gets ready to bargain for a new contract, our surveys are coming back in and workers are making their priorities clear. For that story and more - including members' reaction - Click here to read the full update.

Haga clic aquí para download en Español.

You and your co-workers are always subject to evaluation by management at HCA. It's time for SEIU UHW members to turn the tables -- please fill out the survey below to tell us how effectively management is performing.

Click here to read or download in English.

Haga clic aquí para Español.

Updated June 29th -- As we prepare for bargaining in 2010, workers in all five HCA facilities are uniting to fight for a better contract.

You can read all about it--in their words--in the new HCA unity flyers:

• Good Samaritan and Regional members and leaders stand united
• Estamos unidos para lograr un buen contrato en HCA
• Los Robles, Riverside, and West Hills members and leaders stand united