SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Luke’s leaders today expressed disappointment with SEIU Local 250’s decision to proceed with a strike on December 1st.
“We have taken steps to ensure that quality care will not be impacted by union leaders’ misguided and self-interest decision to call for a strike,” said hospital spokesman Rob A. Seide. “It is unfortunate union leaders felt compelled to call a strike given their unwillingness to make themselves available to negotiate or respond to the very competitive offer we have proposed for our employees.
“For more than six months we have tried to get union leaders to sit down and negotiate a new contract for our housekeepers, food service workers, lab technicians and others represented by Local 250. While we offered to meet virtually any day, union leaders made themselves available just 4 days. After trying to schedule a meeting for more than a month, St. Luke’s decided to deliver our final offer to the union. That offer would ensure our employees’ wages competitive with California Pacific Medical Center and other San Francisco hospitals, while also implementing new programs and benefits, and enhancing existing benefits. Specifically, our final offer includes:
-- 16% wage increases for all employees and additional wage increases for certain employees to keep the pay competitive with others -- A new retiree health care spending account valued up to $20,000 to help employees pay the cost of health premiums and other medical expenses after retirement; -- Up to $1,200 annually to pay for the cost of tuition and books to assist employees with training, education and career enhancement -- Continued fully paid health care for employees and their dependents
“Ideally, employees would have already had the opportunity to vote on our final proposal. But, rather than call for a vote, Local 250 union leaders are asking our employees to strike. Union leaders unrealistically want a one-size-fits-all master contract for all hospitals affiliated with Sutter Health so that they can organize more members at other hospitals. St. Luke’s is a locally governed community hospital, and we will not give up our local control and ability to make decisions independently for our employees. We think negotiations should focus on providing our valued employees competitive wages and benefits and providing a rewarding work environment, not on the union’s political agenda.
“We are encouraging employees to come to work on the day of the strike, but we have contracted for qualified replacement workers to ensure continuity of care.
“We are hopeful our employees and community leaders will ask the union to put the interest of our employees and our patients above that of their own self-interest and allow our employees to vote on our final offer.”
St. Luke’s Hospital
CONTACT: Rob A. Seide, Manager, Marketing & Communications of St. Luke’sHospital, +1-415-641-6580