OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ --
What When Where Kaiser Permanente Northern Monday, Dec. 20 at SEIU 250 office, California, Catholic 2:30 p.m. 560 20th St., Healthcare West, SEIU 250 Oakland Workers announce historic training fund
In an historic move that will ensure a future hospital workforce with the highest skill level, Kaiser Permanente and Catholic Healthcare West will join the health care workers union, SEIU 250, in signing the final papers and convening the first meeting of the trustees for a training and education fund Monday. The statewide training and education fund, which will be jointly administered by the union and hospital management, will continuously grow and eventually hold tens of millions of dollars. Kaiser Permanente, CHW and SEIU 250 envision training centers up and down the state, ensuring the next generation of health care workers so that patients get the best possible care.
“Catholic Healthcare West’s participation in the training and education fund is an expression of our commitment to our employees and to our core value of collaboration,” said Ernie Urquhart, Senior Vice President for Human Resources at CHW. “The establishment of the Education Fund will help us retain and attract the highly qualified staff who provide the excellent care our patients expect and deserve.”
“Kaiser Permanente and CHW are enlightened employers who have listened to their frontline caregivers and worked cooperatively with us to address a vital need for training and education,” said Sal Rosselli, president of SEIU 250. “Now, it is up to other health care providers to follow their lead and live up to the standard they have set.”
“Kaiser Permanente is proud to join in this historic venture with our labor partners,” said Mary Ann Thode, president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of Northern California. " We are committed to providing opportunities for the health care workers of today and to educating the next generation of workers to meet the needs of patients in the years ahead.”
The “Taft-Hartley trust fund” will receive contributions from multiple employers and will be administered by six trustees, three representing SEIU 250 and three representing management. CHW will be contributing an amount equivalent to .22% of overall payroll to the fund and Kaiser Permanente will be contributing a lump sum. Five Daughters of Charity facilities, Alameda Hospital, Doctors Medical Center San Pablo/Pinole and Washington Hospital in Fremont have also agreed to contribute.
With 100,000 members, SEIU 250 is the largest and fastest growing health care union in the Western U.S. We represent every type of health care worker, including nursing, professional, technical, paramedic and service classifications. Our mission is to achieve high quality health care for all.
Media Contacts
Kathleen Miller 510-773-7102
SEIU 250
CONTACT: Kathleen Miller SEIU 250, +1-510-773-7102
Web site: http://www.seiu250.org/
