Tenet and Former Tenet Hospitals Contract Bargaining 2006

Thousands of SEIU UHW members working in hospitals throughout California have already won contracts with wages, benefits and working conditions that set the standard in the healthcare industry. Our current contract expires on December 31, 2006. This year, we’ll be negotiating a new union contract, giving us the opportunity to win the same contract standards. Our input will be critical to winning a strong contract. Click here to complete your Bargaining Survey.

SEIU UHW Contract Bargaining Standards:

Honoring Our Work

Free Healthcare Benefits
As caregivers, we have a unique perspective on the need for quality, affordable healthcare. Working families should not have to struggle to receive medical care. Hospitals can go a long way toward meeting their commitment to care by providing fully paid healthcare benefits to employees and their families -  including medical, dental, prescription drug and vision care benefits.

Wage Scales
Competitive wages that meet an industry wide standard are essential for developing a stable, experienced workforce.That means pay raises should not be determined solely at management’s discretion. Raises should be guaranteed and include wage steps that reward our years of service and experience.


Dignity & Respect On the Job

No Subcontracting
In an industry that often cuts costs by outsourcing jobs, our work – and the quality of patient services - should be protected with a ban on subcontracting to lower wage, non-union companies.

Career Upgrade and Training Fund
A training fund jointly managed by the hospital and our union can address staffing shortages by facilitating opportunities for employees who wish to advance their careers in healthcare. A Training Fund also reduces the high cost, and often compromised care, of temporary agencies used to fill staffing shortages.

Patient Care Committees with Arbitration on Staffing Issues
A joint committee of frontline caregivers and hospital managers allows caregivers to have a formal voice in key patient care decisions such as staffing. In the event that the Committee cannot reach a decision, a neutral healthcare expert settles the difference.

Every Effort to Avoid Layoffs
Displacing permanent staff should be the last option for hospitals. Management must make every effort to avoid lay-offs, reduction in hours and daily cancellations. If staff reductions are necessary, registry and temporary employees should be the first to be cut.

Building Our Strength, Building Our Power

Rights for Union Stewards
We are the union in our worksites. By ensuring that elected Union Stewards have the right to leave their normal work to address union issues, we gain a stronger voice on the job, ensure that our contract is enforced and build a stronger union in our worksite.

Bargaining Team Compensation
By compensating our Contract Bargaining Team for the days they miss work to attend negotiations, we level the playing field during contract talks and mark a major step toward good faith bargaining.

Successorship
With the hospital industry in constant change, it is essential that jobs, benefits and working conditions be protected in the event of the sale, merger or  transfer of a hospital. With successorship language in our contract, new owners are required to honor our agreement.

Organizing Rights
Workers’ fundamental right to form a union should be protected. The hospital should not interfere, intimidate or discourage workers who wish to form a union.

Bargaining Unit Work
The jobs covered by our union contracts should be clearly defined and management should not be allowed to create new job titles to exclude union members. Except in emergencies, union jobs should be performed by union members and not by management.

Fighting For Our Future

Healthcare benefits for retirees
Employees who dedicate their careers to caring for patients should not be left out in the cold when it comes to their own healthcare upon retirement. By providing healthcare benefits to retired employees, hospitals can also address the high staff turnover rates, promote viable careers in healthcare and improve staffing levels.

Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Through a Defined Benefit Pension Plan we negotiate the contribution that management will make to our pension fund. That means it’s guaranteed, we know what our monthly benefit will be when we retire and it’s paid out for the rest of our life. This type of pension plan secures our retirement income and minimizes the risk of individual plans.

Join the Fight
To find out more about how you can help win higher standards in contracts with Tenet and Former Tenet hospitals join the Contract Action Team (CAT). Click here to download a CAT Form. Return completed form to your Steward or  contact nchacon@seiu-uhw.org or call 323-888-8245.