It's Over: Butler Hospital caregivers overwhelmingly ratify new four-year contract
The 99% of Butler Hospital workers who participated in the vote, overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract, thus ending the state's longest hospital strike.
“We are proud to stand together to have an agreement that allows us to move forward with our shared goal of helping patients and caring for one another,” said Clinical Social Worker Brooke Huminiski.
“In
this agreement, there are lasting impactful changes that will impact workers,
patients, and the larger community. This resolution is a sign of true unity
that brings the hospital and its mission forward. We are incredibly thankful
for the support of so many in our community as well as elected leaders,
especially House Speaker Shekarchi, who helped us find a pathway forward toward
resolution.”
Yesterday, before workers ratified the new contracts, the
Hospital and the union, SEIU 1199NE released the following
statement:
“On behalf of both Butler Hospital and members of the
bargaining committee representing all job classifications of the hospital, we
are pleased to share that a tentative agreement has been reached. More details
will be forthcoming in the coming days.”
Here are some of those details:
- Wages:
The first year of the contract full time employees will have an increase
of at least $6,000. And by the end of the four year contract no employee
will earn less than $20 an hour.
- Healthcare: Maintained
benefits and controlled the costs for the HSA healthcare plan.
- Workplace
Safety: Financial support for workers injured by workplace
violence (a new workplace violence time bank seeded by the hospital and
members. Injured workers can draw from it to supplement their own
workplace compensation).
- Retirement: Secured
affordable retirement for current and future workers through the whole
agreement.
- Training: Educational
benefit worth $600,00 over four years, administered by the SEIU 1199NE
Training and Education Fund.
- Equity
and Inclusion: Employer will provide and share costs of
tri-lingual translation of medical and retirement benefits as well the
union contract.
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