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Healthcare Workers Reach Contract Settlement with Prison Health Services

Agreement includes key provisions aimed at protecting patient safety

Oakland – Members of SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West reached a contract settlement early Tuesday morning after Prison Health Services made a binding commitment to implement safer staffing levels within a definite timeframe.

“This settlement is a true victory for the many dedicated caregivers who fought hard to end the unsafe staffing practices that were jeopardizing their patients’ safety and for the patients who deserve humane, quality care,” said Dana Simon, a spokesperson for UHW.  

Other significant gains include:

  • An end to mandatory overtime except in emergencies.
  • Wage increases averaging 28 percent over three years. 
  • Phasing out of “double assignments” – whereby one nurse is directed to do the work of two. 

The workers planned a two-day strike set to begin Tuesday but reconsidered after PHS agreed to address staffing improvements, a key sticking point throughout negotiations.

The agreement commits PHS management to a 45-day process during which time the workers will help design a plan to rapidly create a safely staffed environment.  If an appropriate plan is not put in place at the end of 45-day period, caregivers will have the right to ask an arbitrator to order implementation of a plan to reduce staff shortages. 

Through bargaining, 120 RNs, LVNs, Physicians Assistants, Medical Records Clerks, Technicians and other healthcare workers at the Santa Rita and Glenn E. Dyer jails have worked to create more humane conditions for patient inmates and to address wages that were so far below market rates that recruitment of an adequate number of staff was made impossible.

A contract ratification vote is yet to be scheduled. 

SEIU United Healthcare Workers—West represents 140,000 healthcare workers.  It is the largest and fastest growing healthcare union in the Western U.S. SEIU UHW represents every type of healthcare worker, including nursing, professional, technical and service classifications.  Our mission is to achieve high quality healthcare for all.
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