New union contract is a winning scenario for everyone
by Richard Negri
Over the Labor Day weekend the Internet buzzed with union pride. Workers from every trade and sector wrote about what being a union member meant to them and their families. It is following those public displays of union pride that make this story so much sweeter than it is.
It was announced yesterday that 428 workers who organized their union last year with 1199SEIU in Lynn, Massachusetts ratified their first ever labor contract with Union Hospital, a part of the North Shore Medical Center.
The workers approved a contract that includes wage increases for all the employees and the implementation of an innovative new training program to improve patient care and help members further their career paths and to return to college.
The 428 workers at the facility include Housekeepers, Transporters, Food Service Workers, Cooks, Catering Associates, Unit Techs, and Anesthesia Techs. Also covered are EEG Techs, Central Service Techs, Patient Service Reps, Unit Secretaries, Medical Interpreters, Mental Health Workers, Nursing Student Techs, Nursing Assistants and Certified Nurses Assistants.
Helping Workers Helps Local Economies
Many union activists often point out that when workers are paid a living wage that matches their local economy, everyone benefits – them, the workplace and the economy.
“We are united together so we can work together to continue providing quality care to our patients and improve the lives of our families,” said Kwesi Jones, an Operating Room assistant. He said, “I love my daughter and I want to build a good life for her right here in Lynn. Having a good quality job makes a difference in our family and our city.”
A separate group of workers at the hospital, including Registered Nurses and other professional titles, organized to join 1199SEIU many years prior to the service workers who ratified this first contract last week.
Congratulations to these new union sisters and brothers for standing up for a voice in the workplace to better their lives and the services of the facility.
New union contract is a winning scenario for everyone
originally appeared on
SEIU.org
on Wednesday, Sep 8, 2010.
Posted:
September 8th, 2010 |
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