Victories and Other News of Note

Grace Hospital, Allen Medical Center Both Ratify Second Contracts With 1199 Since Merger - In late April, Grace Hospital members unanimously ratified their new contract, which features:

3 percent annual raises
significant reductions to the cost of the "Cadillac" health insurance plan bringing down the premium share cost near the level of the "Core" plan
holiday premium pay for the first time
removal of on call requirements for maintenance employees and increases to their wages by $2.00 per hour
expansion of workers' rights to participate in Union activity at their workplace

By an almost unanimous margin, Allen Medical Center recently ratified what many Union leaders declared is their best contract in recent memory, featuring:

3 percent annual raises
2 additional steps at 12 and 15 years of service
increases to employees' longevity differentials at 15 and 20 years of service
a holiday differential for the first time
no increases in the employees' premium share percentage during the three year contract
a postponement of a design change in the health insurance plan until January 1, 2011
a $150 bonus for all employees who take the health insurance as of January 1, 2011
a $30 per pay waiver for all full time employees who choose not to take the health insurance

Major Harris: In Memoriam - Major Harris, a leader in every sense of the word, passed away Feb. 19. A young wall washer in 1964, brother Harris was a part of the original organizing drive at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland. When workers at Lutheran Hospital won the Union, he was elected to the SEIU bargaining team and remained a Union leader throughout his 44 years of employment. At Lutheran Hospital, brother Harris went on to become a painter, eventually retiring as a groundskeeper. When brother Harris retired in 2007, he was recognized by SEIU District 1199 for his tireless service for workers' rights and equality. He also continued to collect signatures for the Healthy Families Act campaign for paid sick days. As late as January, SEIU members continued to seek his advice and counsel from his bed as a patient at Lutheran Hospital. "Major Harris fought so strongly for the Union because he passionately believed in the principles of justice and equality," said SEIU 1199 President Dave Regan. "Throughout his entire career, his leadership and example has inspired countless others to stand with him, no matter how difficult the struggle." Major Harris was taken to Alabama for his funeral. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those touched by his life.

KDMC Workers Ratify Contract - Kings Daughters Medical Center workers ratified their contract on February 18th, 2008, by a vote of 434 to 32. KDMC workers fought off major health insurance concessions, wage freezes, open shop, advance step hiring, a five year agreement and many more takeaways. The union workers were able to win 3.5% wage increases for each year of the contract, a $1 annual increase in the pension, an increase in the vacation carry-over to 80 hrs, and increases in the uniform allowance. Members also won language on Delegate Pay and Union access for the first time in the history at the hospital. Congratulations to all involved in their successful efforts.

Cabell Pharm Techs Win Back Pay - Cabell Huntington Hospital pharmacy techs recently won an arbitration settlement. The hospital awarded a pharmacy position to an employee, without posting the position on the board as required by the contract. When the employee was off work, 8 employees took turns relieving her. This resulted in these employees working many hours, but not receiving the higher rate of pay, which was $2 more per hour. The settlement included: posting the job on the bid board, plus all 8 employees received back pay of $8,000! -->

Huge Victory at Cabell Huntington Hospital - Cabell Huntington Hospital ratified their contract November 2007, with 535 yes votes and 25 reject votes. Workers fought off an undesirable PPO Plan and kept their Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan, paid 100% by the employer. We also added 24 new provisions to the existing agreement, including: an added weekend shift differential, uniform allowance increases, short-term and long-term disability increases, 100% paid health insurance for part time who work 64 hrs per pay period, a $5,000 bonus early retirement option, recognition language expansion, seniority rights on job bidding language, and an additional 14 union bulletin boards. Operating Room Technicians and Mammography Technicians received 17% wage increases the first year of the contract.

Fairmont General Hospital Members Win Big - The settlement makes up for the last several years when members tightened their belts to help the hospital regain solid financial footing. FGH members will get raises of 4%, 4% and 3.5% in each year of the contract, a new annual bonus incentive, and increased availability of double-time shifts. In addition, we improved staffing language, access to staffing guidelines and actual staffing statistics to determine if the hospital is staffing the facility according to plan. But best of all, the hospital made NO CHANGES on health insurance. It is still free to most members, with a $10/$25 monthly payment for members on the most desirable plan. Plus, we added an optional dental plan. The contract was ratified by a vote of 160-2.

The bargaining unit ratified a modification to the union contract that lowers the cost of vision insurance.

Grievance Victories at St. Vincent Charity - When St.Vincent Charity management unjustly retracted a member’s approved vacation, he lost money on already purchased airfare. Through the grievance process, the member won back the airfare money he lost!

Recently, the hospital unilaterally implemented a proposal to have Pharmacy Techs work 7 days on and 7 days off and pay 80 hours for 70 hours of work. The employer agreed to make the workers’ whole, replacing vacation hours and sick time hours the employees lost due to this unjust implementation.

Grace Workers Maintain Free Healthcare - The bargaining unit ratified a one-year agreement that maintains 100 percent employer-paid health insurance. We also settled two grievances, without going to arbitration, for $10,000!

Weirton Medical Center Members Ratify Second Contract - The 575 District 1199 members at WMC won a huge victory by establishing a wage scale -- essentially the last major item that couldn't get done in 2004. The settlement guarantees minimum across-the-board wage increases in each year of the contract, and brings everyone to scale results in average wage increases of more than 4% in each year of the contract. Some workers will get raises of more than 20% over the life of the three-year contract! In addition, we fought back major cost increases in health insurance premiums. Congrats to all WMC members!

Victory at Forum Health! - In 2005, Forum Health management began lobbying hard for SEIU Members to take drastic wage and benefit cuts to subsidize the historic mismanagement of the system. These cuts included suspending pension benefits, substantial contributions to the health care premium share, and a possible five percent wage reduction. Union members were asked for these concessions despite Forum Health paying millions of dollars to out-of-town consultants and lawyers.

Throughout the next 18 months, SEIU members argued internally and in the community that Forum Health’s financial future was not as dire as predicted by their new management. SEIU launched a campaign to bring transparency to hospital finances and community voice into the process. SEIU members knew that the needs of all Forum Health stakeholders can be met through measured, responsible change.

Through this comprehensive community and internal campaign, SEIU members retained their pensions, fully paid health insurance and resisted wage cuts, while seeing the Hospital return to a financially viable footing.

There are struggles in store for SEIU members at Forum Health, but we know the only way to have a voice in our future is to work together!