HCA Southern California Bargaining Update

In a development that our Bargaining Committee sees as positive, this week, management delivered to the Union proposals on…

• Every effort to avoid call-offs;
• Every Effort to avoid lay-offs;
• Safe staffing language that would give the right to strike during the term of the contract over staffing issues;
• Successorship language (making the contract binding on any company that might buy the hospitals);
• The right of workers to vote to join the union in a "fast and fair election process";
• Subcontracting;
• And a commitment to attempt to resolve other outstanding issues at the table.
  

While the language of each of these proposals will need much work in negotiations, the proposals do re-flect some positive movement.

Bargaining Dates:

Management also proposed bargaining dates for next week: Tuesday 7/25 and Wednesday 7/26 in Pasadena and Thursday 7/27 in San Jose.

For the first time, management agreed to provide release time for UHW San Jose committee members who want to attend Southern California bargaining, and, release time for 121RN and UHW Southern California members who want to attend San Jose bargaining.

In Other Developments…

SEIU members at all five HCA hospitals in California have now voted overwhelmingly to authorize our bargaining committee to set a date for a strike if bargaining does not move forward in good faith.

There are many other issues that need to be solved in bargaining, including wage scales, pension, retiree health insurance, benefits and many issues specific to the individual hospitals. But with management’s com-mitment to attempt to work through issues in negotiations next week, our Bargaining Committee will take a wait and see approach to the question of scheduling a strike date.