Western Medical Caregivers Ratify New Contract, also creates a Fast and Fair Election Agreement

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,113097.shtml

ANAHEIM, Calif., May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Caregivers at Western Medical Center-Anaheim, represented by SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW), voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract, strengthening their ability to improve patient care and ending months of negotiations.

The new 3-year agreement with Integrated Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (IHHI) includes safe staffing committees that give caregivers a real voice in patient care, significant wage increases that bring caregivers closer to industry standards, retiree medical benefits and a jointly funded Education program to provide career ladder training opportunities.

"We are thrilled to have made such amazing progress in this contract," said Joe Ruocco, a Senior Lab Assistant who's worked at Western Medical Center for 34 years, "What we achieved will give us a real voice to improve care for our patients and will help us attract and keep the best caregivers in the area."

The contract also creates a Fast and Fair Election Agreement, allowing caregivers in IHHI's other Orange County hospitals to organize without employer intimidation. "IHHI is giving caregivers the respect they deserve by allowing us to choose to form a union without interference," said Ruocco.

"Our mature, productive relationships with Kaiser Permanente and Catholic Healthcare West prove that we can work together toward our common goal of improving patient care," said Jorge Rodriguez, chief negotiator and Executive Vice President of UHW. "We are very pleased that IHHI has chosen a path to partnership where it can work constructively with caregivers to provide patients the highest quality care available. We call on other area hospitals to do the same."

The 200 caregivers covered by the contract include Nurse Assistants, Surgical Technicians, Radiology Technologists, and Lab Assistants, among many others.

The 140,000-member SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West is the largest healthcare union in the western United States and represents every type of healthcare worker, including nurses, professional, technical and service workers. Our mission is to achieve quality healthcare for all.

CONTACT: Melanie Myers

510-541-2558

SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West

CONTACT: Melanie Myers of SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West, [phone] Web site: http://www.seiu-uhw.org/