CHW, SEIU reach contract agreement

A tentative agreement on a new contract has been reached between two locals of the Service Employees International Union and Catholic Healthcare West, the operator of several Central Valley hospitals as well as others throughout California. The contract affects 12,000 certified nursing assistants, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, dietary aides and other employees at 24 hospitals in the state. The union and hospital chain had reached an agreement in March but negotiations continued over retirement benefits. Members of the SEIU are impressed with the new contract and say they hope to reach a similar agreement with HCA, which owns nine medical centers in California. A vote on the contract is scheduled for next week.

- read this article from the San Francisco Chronicle
- see this article from the Central Valley Business Journal

PLUS: Managers at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are bracing for an organizing drive by the SEIU. Report