A unit of several dozen workers at Seton Medical Center has a new contract after they were ready to strike for several days to stop the hospital from potentially subcontracting their jobs.
The approximately 40 workers, who include pharmacists, physical therapists, speech therapists, social workers, and dietitians, had set a May 26 strike date if hospital management didn’t relent on its subcontracting demand. But, sure enough, a week before the strike was set to begin, the workers reached an agreement.
“We had very clear goals for what we wanted in this contract, and we achieved them,” said Peggy Chiu-Wong, a lead pharmacist. “Management’s insistence on being able to subcontract our jobs was never going to be something we’d accept, and eventually they got the message and stood down.”
Seton workers also had support from local elected officials who contacted the hospital’s CEO, demanding a resolution that protected jobs and averted a strike.
In addition to the subcontracting ban, the contract includes:
- A wage scale that will provide members with an average increase of more than 9 percent in the first year, including retroactive pay, and an average of 15 percent over the life of the contract.
- Clinical levels for speech, occupational, and physical therapists
Subcontracting became a flashpoint in negotiations because it could lead to lower pay and benefits, and because the contract for more than 450 other workers represented by NUHW at Seton already included subcontracting bans.
“We prioritized job security, and we achieved it by staying united and being willing to strike for it,” said Marlene Strick, a lead clinical social worker. “This contract is a great springboard for us moving forward and working with our fellow NUHW members to improve our hospital.”
