Important & Concerning Update Re: Aspirus Negotiations

Today we began economic bargaining with Aspirus St. Luke’s for the next three year contract. As you may be aware we are currently working without a contract as it expired at the end of June. Your bargaining committee has consistently been pushing for more bargaining sessions so we can reach a fair contract in a reasonable time. As we enter this next phase of negotiating we are again calling on you to show your solidarity, now more than ever. Below we will detail Aspirus’s initial offer to emphasize how important it is that we stand together to fight for a fair contract. 

TLDR: They want to in effect cut your pay by giving less than inflation raises, removing your annual step increases, reduce benefits, and weaken policies across the board.

Wages: They have offered a 1.5% raise for each year and removing your step increases that you gain after working 2080 hours. This would mean a 4.5% increase over the next three years which does not keep up with inflation, not even close. They proposed doing “market adjustments” instead of your step increases with no guarantee of a raise or even prohibiting a decrease in the ranges if the market analysis “warrants” it.

On-Call: Aspirus wants to reduce the minimum call back hours to two instead of four and lower on-call pay worked on holidays.

Insurance: Move to a general health care plan that non-union employees are under and remove the contractual guarantee that Aspirus will pay a certain % of the premium. Currently it’s a similar % is covered by Aspirus but this would allow them in the future to change this at their will.

Holiday Pay: Aspirus wants to reduce holiday pay from 2x to 1.5x if you work on a holiday. 

Sick Leave: Aspirus wants to put the maximum amount of sick days used to 7 in a year. 

Scheduling: Aspirus wants to move to a six week schedule rather than our current eight week.

Your solidarity is critically important, closely follow for updates. There will be more information being shared and an opportunity to ask your questions in person or by zoom shortly. You can also reach out to the Unit Chair Elijah Sullivan at (651) 392-4673