Sutter Roseville Hospital Workers Ratify Contract

Hospital Workers at Sutter Roseville Resoundingly Approve New Contract

Roseville, Calif.-– By an overwhelming margin –84% hospital workers at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, voted in favor of a new contract which despite the difficult economy, includes a pay raise, halts sub-contracting efforts by management, protects employer-paid health care and maintains high standards for patient care. 

‘By staying strong and united we were able to demonstrate to Sutter management our commitment to quality, well-trained staff and to providing quality care to the community,’ said Nicole Otewalt, an Operating Room Tech and bargaining team member. ‘Because we stayed true to our values, we now have a contract that protects our wages and healthcare and provides job security.’ 

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

The approved contract includes: 

• Minimum 16.39% Pay Raise: immediate 5.5% increase; 2.25% in May 2010; 4.25% in May 2011; and 3.5% in May 2012.
• Job Security: maintains language banning sub-contracting and prevents staff transfers to other Sutter facilities.
• No cuts in healthcare – protects affordable family healthcare, including free HMO and guarantee of 6 months paid benefits if on non-industry medical leave 

‘It takes good staff to provide the quality care patients receive here at Sutter Roseville and with this contract we will keep that staff,’ said Melissa Jones, who works in the trauma/neuro intensive care unit.  ‘This is a welcome change from the union’s former leadership, who let our contract lapse and left us vulnerable.’ 

Workers at the hospital, members of the Service Employees International Union, United Healthcare Workers – West (SEIU-UHW), had been without a contract for 18 months because of the failure of the previous SEIU-UHW union leaders, who were ousted in January for misconduct, including improperly moving $3 million in members’ dues money to a bogus non-profit for their own use. 

The agreement was negotiated by the member-elected bargaining team and will cover the approximately 620 members of SEIU-UHW who work at the Roseville Medical Center in a variety of positions, including operating room technicians, certified nurses assistants (CNAs), lab technicians and environmental services workers among others.