New contract averted strike at local hospitals
Adventist hospitals’ workers ratify contract, ensuring pay increases, benefits
– Approximately 400 healthcare workers at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton have ratified a new contract this week, averting a planned strike, according to a press release from the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West. The agreement includes a 14% wage increase over the next three years, a minimum wage of $23 per hour, and fully paid family healthcare benefits. These two hospitals are the only Adventist-owned facilities nationwide offering fully-paid family healthcare.
“This agreement ensures that we can provide the quality care our patients deserve while demonstrating that Adventist Health values our contributions and recognizes the challenges we face,” said Chris Ferreira, an emergency room tech at Twin Cities Community Hospital. “Addressing understaffing is crucial to delivering exceptional care, and this contract signals a new day for frontline healthcare workers and patient safety alike.”
The agreement outlines annual raises starting with a 6% increase in the first year, followed by 4% raises in the subsequent two years. It also guarantees that workers earning below $23 per hour will receive adjustments to meet the new minimum wage.
Healthcare workers previously held pickets in July outside Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital, protesting issues such as understaffing, low wages, and rising healthcare costs proposed by the hospitals. Workers expressed concerns that increased healthcare expenses would worsen staffing shortages, affecting patient and staff safety. In September, the workers authorized an unfair labor practice strike, but the new contract was reached before any strike action occurred.
Adventist Health acquired Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital from Tenet Healthcare earlier this year. The contract covers a variety of healthcare roles, including certified nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, emergency room workers, and lab assistants.
SEIU-UHW is a union of more than 100,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists advocating for affordable, high-quality care for all Californians. More details are available at www.seiu-uhw.org.
