Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital's new contract includes creation of labor-management committee

SEIU-UHW members who work at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital voted overwhelmingly to approve a new three-year contract that immediately improves their wages, benefits and voice on the job.

"This contract vote is a victory for Hazel Hawkins workers, our patients and our union," said Olga Rodriguez, who works in Housekeeping and serves as a union steward. "It's been a long road to get here - and we had to take on more than just management, but it has been worth it."

Eighty-six percent approved the new contract, which includes:

• Nine percent pay raises over the life of the contract, including an immediate 3 percent retroactive to July 1, 2 percent in July 2010, 1 percent in January 2011, 2 percent in July 2011, and 1 percent in January 2012.
• Important contracting protections, highlighted by a 45-day notice before any proposals to contract out union jobs goes to the Board of Directors.
• Improvements to scheduling provisions, overtime allocation, and retiree medical care.
• The creation of a labor-management committee to discuss, approve and implement changes in the workplace that will improve patient care.

"Our members earned this contract, just like they earn every cent they make," said Lupe Ortiz, who served on the SEIU-UHW bargaining team and works in Dietary. "Thanks to their support and the hard work of our team, we can all be proud of this agreement."

Workers at Hazel Hawkins worked for months to fend off an attempt to divide them, ultimately electing new union leaders, building support for focused bargaining, and winning their new contract.