Workers schedule strike vote, question banks’ involvement with Twin Cities hospitals

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_5230

By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
8 May 2012

MINNEAPOLIS - Members of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota will vote May 14 and 15 whether to authorize a strike at eight Twin Cities hospitals. They also are challenging the roles of bankers on hospital boards and a debt collection company that has garnered headlines for questionable practices.

A number of issues are coming together in the negotiations with Fairview, North Memorial, Methodist, Children’s Hospitals and Health East on contracts covering 3,500 workers, said Tee McClenty, executive vice president of the union.

“Our goal is to reach the best contract settlement for our members with no significant concessions,” she said. However, workers are concerned by management demands for changes in the workday and overtime provisions and vacation and sick time benefits. The hospitals also are seeking large increases in the employee contribution for health care coverage.

Hospital negotiators have adopted a “Wall Street mentality,” McClenty said. “These are non-profit community hospitals, but they’re operating more like a for-profit corporation.”

FULL story at link.