OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Certified nurse assistants, respiratory therapists, ER technicians and other caregivers who are members of Service Employees International Union, United Healthcare Workers - West (SEIU-UHW) at Tenet Hospitals have reached a tentative agreement that will help the hospitals maintain high standards for patient care.
The three-year contract covers 3,000 staff and includes a strong voice for caregivers on patient care issues, guaranteed raises of up to 18% compounded over the next three years, employer-paid health insurance, and a ban on subcontracting jobs.
“I’m so glad we have the strength of our union, SEIU-UHW. In these tough economic times, we were able to win a contract that will let us properly provide for our families and care for our patients,” said Karen Cain, a respiratory therapist at Tenet’s Doctors Medical Center in Modesto.
The tentative agreement includes:
- Quality of Care Committees that ensure a strong voice for caregivers on key patient care and staffing issues.
- Guaranteed 2% – 4.5% raises for all full-time and part-time employees over the next three years: increases in July 2011, July 2012 and July 2013.
- Job security: maintains language banning sub-contracting and provides additional protections for employees if hospital is sold.
- Protected healthcare coverage: maintains quality family health insurance coverage free of premiums for full-time and part-time employees.
SEIU-UHW represents caregivers at nine Tenet hospitals in California: Los Alamitos Medical Center, Desert Regional Medical Center, Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Doctors Medical Center, JFK Memorial Hospital, Lakewood Regional Medical Center, San Roman Regional Medical Center, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital. On May 19, a group of radiology technologists at Tenet’s Doctors Medical Center of Modesto who had unsuccessfully struggled for more than a year to get a contract through NUHW voted to join their co-workers in SEIU-UHW.
SEIU-UHW members at Tenet hospitals across California will vote to ratify the agreement the week of June 6, 2011.
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 2.2 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's fastest-growing union. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.
CONTACT:
For SEIU-UHW
Elizabeth Brennan, 323-888-8183
KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Hospitals Professional Services Human Resources
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