Union Siblings,
On Monday, January 20th, your Bargaining Committee and the Medical Center met for the 20th session for negotiations.
After some clarifications on both parties on outstanding non-economic articles, the Medical Center maintains their position to limit your rights under Article 7: No Discrimination. We maintain ours: it should be up to YOU whether you should litigate or pursue arbitration in any dispute you may have with the Medical Center. Despite such position, your committee moved forward presented its first economic proposal to the medical center.
The committee submitted several economic proposals. They included proposals on the following:
- Improved contribution percentages for our retirement plan.
- Increasing rate of PTO accrual.
- Increase in stand-by rate.
- Increase in shift differentials.
- Two more recognized holidays, to be paid by the Medical Center and not by our PTO hours.
- Keeping the Blood Assurance Blood Program Benefit.
- Retention bonuses to recognize and show that we value employees with longevity.
- Hazard pay. In the future, we must not be forgotten in times of crisis.
- Performance bonus. Hard work must be compensated.
- Patient ratios to better serve and protect our community and ourselves.
The Medical Center initially rejected these proposals and their lead negotiator called them “unrealistic.” They also said that their proposal contained “significant wage increases.” We disagree!
The bottom line is that we continue to fight for LIVEABLE WAGES! Will you stand with us in our fight for better lives and working conditions? Join us at our next membership meeting on January 29th @ 4:00pm to discuss next actions! It is ultimately up to all of us to determine the next three years of our lives and our families’ lives.