SANTA ROSA, Calif., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, November 19, SMCSR and SWH (Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa & Sutter Warrack Hospital) received formal notice that the Service Employees International Union Local 707, which represents approximately 925 SMCSR/SHW employees, plans to conduct a strike beginning December 1. The following statement can be attributed to Mike Cohill, Chief Executive Officer of SMCSR/SWH:
“We want to assure our patients and our community that we have taken all the necessary steps to ensure continued, quality care is delivered during this union-led strike. We are prepared to deliver the same quality care that we have provided to our community for well over 100 years. We take pride in the fact that typically our dealings with our labor partners are positive and constructive. For the past 5 months, we’ve been working hard to reach agreement on a new contract with Local 707. We’re very proud of the offer we proposed for our employees, which includes: -- Wage increases of as much as 10% in the first year and as much as 4-7% in future contract years. These increases ensure our wages meet and beat pay at other hospitals in our market. -- Improved pension benefits with higher contributions from the hospital; -- Continued health care coverage for employees and their families with no increase in employee contribution to premiums; -- Increased education funding and education leave time; and -- An account of up to $20,000 to help pay the cost of health premiums after retirement. I am disappointed that SEIU leaders announced this strike without even letting our employees vote on our offer. It is clear that this strike is not about getting our employees a better contract. Instead, SEIU is using strikes to try and force us into accepting a “master contract” with Sutter Health -- all in an attempt to gain more membership for the union. SMCSR/SWH is proud to be a locally-governed, not-for-profit medical center. We believe operational decisions are best made locally, where we can focus on the needs of our employees and our community. We will not accept any contract that forces us to give up that local governance. It is unfortunate and sad that SEIU Local 707 has decided to further advance the political and growth agenda of SEIU at the expense of our employees. We are hopeful that we can resolve this contract soon so that we can provide our employees with the significant wage and benefit enhancements that are currently being proposed.”
Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa
CONTACT: Mitch Proaps of Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa,+1-707-523-7312
Web site: http://www.sutterhealth.org/