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Sutter Roseville pact awaits union vote

Sutter Roseville Medical Center and the Service Employees International Union, United Healthcare Workers-West have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that includes a 15.5 percent raise over three years and protects benefits for hospital workers.

Officials said the agreement was reached last Friday morning, and a ratification vote is scheduled for this Friday.

SEIU-UHW represents more than 600 service and technical workers – such as housekeepers, radiological technicians, operating room technicians and certified nursing assistants – at Sutter Roseville.

"We demonstrated to Sutter management that we are committed to standing strong and united to maintain quality staff and quality care. As a result, we now have a great contract that protects our wages, job security and health care," said Nicole Otewalt, an operating room technician and bargaining team member.

"We are pleased to have achieved our goal to reach agreement on a new contract to get our employees their well-deserved wage increases in these challenging economic times," said Patrick R. Brady, CEO of Sutter Roseville.

SEIU-UHW workers at the hospital have been without a contract for about 18 months, and negotiations were slowed by an internal dispute within the union. An attempt by some workers to decertify the unit in August failed when the union was retained on a 327-225 vote.

Sutter Roseville officials said the tentative agreement provides the following for SEIU-UHW-represented employees:

• A minimum 15.5 percent across-the-board wage increase over three years. In the first year, diagnostic and respiratory technical employees will receive a minimum increase of 5 percent upon contract ratification and a 3 percent increase six months after that. All other workers will get a 5.5 percent increase upon ratification and a 2.25 percent increase six months after that.

• New career ladders for diagnostic imaging and respiratory care practitioners.

• New long-term disability insurance for all employees paid for by the medical center.

• Doubled annual longevity bonuses for full-time employees.

• Enhanced paid time off accrual.

• Expanded employment security provisions.

• Health benefits protection while on a leave of absence.

SEIU-UHW spokeswoman Adriana Surfas said the union typically does not release specific contract terms prior to a ratification vote. She did say that the tentative agreement contains language to protect employer-paid health care and to halt subcontracting efforts by management.

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