PeaceHealth Caregivers Ratify Their First Union Contract

PeaceHealth caregivers-- from certified nurses aids to kitchen workers-- will soon see changes in their compensation--and more. Last night, (Monday,) members of the Service Employees International Union --Local 49—voted to ratify their first union contract after voting to unionize last May.                                                                                                                                                                                       The yes vote for the new labor contract was overwhelming--- 533 to 11.  The new deal includes a  21-percent wage increase over three years-- as well as access to affordable health care-- and greater influence in staffing and patient care.                                                                                                           Union spokesman Jesse Stemmler says “this is an historic decision”, meaning it’s the largest healthcare contract for a group of newly organized caregivers in at least two decades.                           In a written statement, PeaceHealth Labor and Caregiver Relations Vice President Debra Miller said the hospital is “pleased with the collaborative spirit of the bargaining process.”                          About 11-hundred PeaceHealth caregivers will be affected.