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SEIU Caregivers Win Tentative Agreement at Eden Medical Center

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 06:00 CST

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif., March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- After seven days on strike and a continued lock out at Eden Medical Center, hospital workers represented by SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) have achieved a tentative agreement with management. U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee mediated negotiations that resulted in an industry standard contract featuring a real voice for caregivers in staffing levels, an employee education fund, and the right for hospital workers to join the union without intimidation and harassment from management. In addition, Eden management agreed to reimburse hospital workers for wages lost when they were barred from returning to work after the planned seven day strike ended yesterday.

UHW caregivers at Eden achieved minimum wage increases of 18% over the life of the contract, including 10% in the last two years. The contract is set to expire on June 30th, 2008, a date held in common with six other Sutter hospitals. If ratified by a simple majority of voting UHW members at Eden, the locked out caregivers are set to return to work on Thursday, March 9 at 6 a.m.

"Sutter Eden management said we would never get an industry standard contract like all the other Sutter-owned hospitals in the Bay Area. But after seven days on strike and the backlash of the lock out, we won a tentative agreement that puts us in line with everyone else," said Lisa Pereira, a Cardio-Pulmonary Administrative Assistant at Eden Medical Center. "It is also incredibly vindicating to have the hospital pay us back the wages we lost when they locked us out."

SEIU UHW caregivers who work as Licensed Vocational Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Operating Room Technicians, Clerical Staff, and other hospital classifications at Eden began their planned seven day strike on February 28th. They were scheduled to return to work on March 7th at 6.a.m., but were locked out by management.

The tentative agreement features the same industry standard contract proposals already adopted by Sutter-owned Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Sutter Solano Medical Center, Sutter Delta Medical Center, California Pacific Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital. An industry standard contract has also been implemented throughout Kaiser, Catholic Healthcare West, and Daughters of Charity.

"This contract is a major victory for patients. It is unfortunate that these workers had to strike for 7 days and get locked out in order to win better patient care standards. But now standards at Eden are finally in line with those at every other Sutter hospital in the Bay Area," said Sal Rosselli, President of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West.

150 members of the UHW Service Bargaining Unit at Eden Medical Center have been working without a contract since their last one expired on June 30, 2004. The tentative agreement is the first for 150 members of the UHW Clerical Bargaining Unit.

Contact:

Thea Lavin c. 510-520-7732

SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West

CONTACT: Thea Lavin of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, cell,+1-510-520-7732

Web site: http://www.seiu-uhw.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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