Catholic Healthcare West and union reach landmark contract

Published: 2004-06-03

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In a landmark move Catholic Healthcare West and the Service Employees International Union have reached a tentative agreement on a California-wide master contract covering 14,000 workers in 28 Catholic Healthcare West facilities across the state. The four-year agreement includes an average wage increase of 5 percent a year and a $4 million training fund. The jointly operated fund will provide tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 a year and paid educational leave to help the hospitals and their employees meet -- from within -- the growing needs for skilled health care workers. The agreement also provides employer-paid health insurance and significant increases in pension benefits. In a June 2 media teleconference announcing details of the agreement, chief SEIU negotiator John Borsos said it gives health care workers a major voice in staffing and other decisions affecting the quality of patient care.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .