Members of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West at eight Sutter Health hospitals in Northern California have reached tentative agreements on new labor contracts with management.
The agreements, reached Oct. 11, cover more than 4,400 employees at the hospitals, Sutter spokesperson Angeline Sheets said in a statement shared with Becker’s. The employees work at Sutter facilities in Oakland, Santa Rosa, Roseville, Berkeley, Lakeport, Vallejo, Antioch, Castro Valley and San Francisco.
Union members have not yet voted on the deal, although are expected to later this month, according to SEIU-UHW.
If the deal is approved, workers will receive 14% across-the-board raises. According to the union, the agreement also protects healthcare and retirement benefits for members.
It also averts a strike that union members had authorized.
“This tentative agreement shows that when we stand united, we can win improvements that protect both healthcare workers and our patients,” Dinora Garcia, a dietary clerk from Sutter Lakeside, said in a union news release. “Reaching this agreement wasn’t easy but we stood together to advocate for worker and patient safety, improved staffing levels, and fair wages and benefits that reflect the vital work we do every day.”
Ms. Sheets said Sutter and SEIU-UHW “have negotiated in good faith since July for an agreement that recognizes and rewards employees while supporting our ability to deliver safe, high-quality care. We believe the tentative agreements meet those goals. SEIU-UHW will soon hold a ratification vote for its membership.”
“We encourage all eligible employees to participate in the vote and support this fair contract offer,” the statement said.
Headquartered in Northern California, with executive offices in Sacramento and Emeryville, Sutter’s 57,000 staff and clinicians and 12,000 affiliated physicians provide care to more than 3.5 million Californians.
SEIU-UHW represents a variety of workers at the health system, including nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, licensed vocational nurses, environmental services, food services, X-ray technicians and others.
